Can you believe this? ESPN just dropped their top NFL safety rankings, and somehow, Kam Curl didn't get a *single vote* for the league's best. Not one! It's an absolute head-scratcher when you look at what he did last season. Honestly, the disrespect for Curl and Quentin Lake from so-called league evaluators is just wild.
The League Is Sleeping On These Guys, Big Time
The coaches, executives, and scouts polled by ESPN? They are clearly missing something huge. Inside the Rams' building and among their fans, the safeties are seen as a serious strength. We're talking Kam Curl, Quentin Lake, and Kamren Kinchens forming a solid trio, with Jaylen McCollough also making an impact. Yet, when the "official" rankings came out, not a single Rams player cracked the top 10. That's a gut punch right there. Even worse, neither Curl nor Lake made it onto the honorable mention list, which had five players. Only Lake was among the 12 guys who "also received votes." So, yeah, Curl literally got zero votes. Zero! People are quick to point fingers at a "lack of turnovers" from these safeties, but that's just a lazy take. These guys are still outstanding players, period.The Numbers Don't Lie, So Why Is ESPN So Wrong?
Let's talk about the cold, hard facts. Quentin Lake is a difference-maker with his versatility, covering both the slot and deep safety spots, which has been huge especially with the team's cornerback struggles in recent years. But Kam Curl? He was a one-man wrecking crew last season. The guy was second on the entire team with a staggering 122 tackles. On top of that, he racked up two sacks, two tackles for a loss, two interceptions, and five passes defensed. Get this: Curl was the *only* safety in the entire NFL in 2025 to hit at least 100 tackles, two interceptions, and two sacks. He was in a club with just seven other players that season, and all of them were linebackers! Pro Football Focus backed it up too, with Kinchens ranking eighth among qualified safeties at 78.0, and Curl right behind him at ninth with a 77.8 grade. Lake wasn't far off at 24th overall with a 69.5 grade, boosted by a solid 76.8 in run defense. There's just no question Lake and Curl are two of the best safeties out there, and Kinchens absolutely deserves recognition as a top talent too. So, yeah, the league might be sleeping on these guys right now. But anyone watching knows what Curl and Lake bring to the field. This disrespect? It's just fuel. Watch them go out there and prove every single one of those so-called evaluators wrong this season. The numbers don't lie, and eventually, neither will the recognition.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.