Antrel Rolle ranked among NFL's best safeties, but how high?

When Antrel Rolle was inexplicably left off the original Pro Bowl roster last year, he was disappointed. Rolle thought he was better than most of the players selected ahead of him last season, particularly Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu.

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks agrees. He put together a list of the 10 most dynamic safeties in the NFL today and Rolle came in third. Rolle also came in at No. 72 on the NFL's Top 100 list of players earlier this year.

Seattle's Earl Thomas and Kansas City's Eric Berry finished 1-2 in the safety rankings. Polamalu, 33, didn't make the list.

Brooks was clearly impressed by Rolle's 2013 season when he finished with career highs in tackles (98), sacks (2.0), passes defended (12) and interceptions (6). Brooks called it his "best professional campaign," and it eventually earn him a spot as a Pro Bowl replacement for Thomas, who was playing in the Super Bowl.

Here's the full explanation:

3) Antrel Rolle, New York Giants: The cagey veteran remains one of the top playmakers in the game despite entering his 10th season in the league. In fact, Rolle is fresh off his best professional campaign. As a former cornerback, he's comfortable manning up against tight ends and receivers in the slot, but he's also adept at patrolling the deep middle. His versatility allows defensive coordinator Perry Fewell to use him in a variety of roles in the Giants' sub-packages to keep quarterbacks guessing in the pocket. Rolle is a proven playmaker with a knack for picking off passes (23 career interceptions, including six in 2013) and creating disruption on the second level. He's an ideal Swiss army knife to counter the versatile offenses setting the pace in today's NFL.

It's interesting to note that Rolle even ranked one spot ahead of Jairus Byrd, who signed with the Saints this offseason for six years and $56 million. Rolle, 31, is on the last year of his contract.

Of course, Rolle won't get that kind of money. He turns 32 in December. But if he plays at anywhere near the level he did last season he'll command a pretty lucrative short-term deal, especially if he hits the open market.

That's just what happens when you're playing like one of the top safeties in the league, and everyone is noticing.


(nj.com)