For years, the Detroit Lions have struggled to build a consistent, dominant defense—but it looks like those days are finally behind them. Thanks to smart drafting and serious development, the Lions have built one of the league’s most promising young secondaries, and the rest of the NFL is starting to take notice.
The spotlight? It’s shining bright on Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph.
Pro Football Focus just ranked them as the best safety duo in the NFL—yep, you read that right. Detroit, once a defensive afterthought, now boasts the top dogs in the backfield.
Branch, a second-round pick in 2023, is already playing like a seasoned vet. He’s graded as one of the league’s top safeties and dominated in run defense last year. Meanwhile, Joseph had a major breakout in 2024, finishing with the highest PFF overall grade among all safeties and showing off elite coverage skills.
The numbers back it up: Joseph allowed just a 71.1 passer rating in coverage (seventh-best), and Branch wasn’t far behind at 74.0. Together, they’ve become the backbone of a Lions defense that’s finally living up to the hype.
And here’s the scary part—they’re not done improving.
Lions safeties coach Jim O’Neil has been working closely with the duo this offseason, using film study and personal feedback to sharpen their already impressive skill sets. O’Neil says the goal is simple: keep getting better, no matter how much praise they’re already getting.
If Branch and Joseph keep trending up like this, quarterbacks across the league better be on high alert. Detroit’s defense is cooking—and this might just be the beginning.
Detroit’s Defensive Rise: Branch and Joseph Get National Respect from PFF
