NFL free agency 2020: Best safeties available

4. SS Vonn Bell (New Orleans Saints)

It’s somewhat hard to imagine that the reigning NFC South champion New Orleans Saints would even let safety Vonn Bell test the free-agent market. He comes off a very complete year in which he finished second on the team with 86 tackles. He also came up with 1.5 sacks, knocked down five passes, forced a pair of fumbles, recorded one interception and came away with five fumble recoveries. That latter figure led the NFL and he returned one of those miscues for a touchdown. And he managed those numbers despite missing three contests. In the overtime playoff loss to the Vikings, he came up with seven tackles and yet another fumble recovery.

A second-round pick from Ohio State in 2016, the consistent performer has racked up at least 80 tackles in each of his four seasons. The physical Bell has totaled eight sacks, seven forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries in 61 regular-season outings. He’s lined up at a variety of spots on Dennis Allen’s defensive units and is very much a tone setter for a unit that has made major strides in recent seasons after playing second fiddle to Drew Brees and the Saints’ offense for years.

Despite some shortcoming in terms of pass coverage, the 5’11”, 205-pound defender should be in line for a big pay day after Sean Payton’s club was able to get the heady safety at a bargain price the past four seasons. But will he remain in the Crescent City?

Next: No. 3