We are getting closer to Detroit Lions football everyday, and as time marches forward this Summer, so does our roster preview series.
Next up, we have yet another 2024 First Team All-Pro, safety Kerby Joseph. Selected in the third-round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Joseph is another draft pick of general manager Brad Holmes that has blossomed into a foundational piece for one of the NFL’s most complete teams.
Previous previews: QB Jared Goff, QB Hendon Hooker, RB Sione Vaki, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Jameson Williams, WR Kalif Raymond, TE Sam LaPorta, OL Colby Sorsdal, OT Giovanni Manu, OT Penei Sewell, G Graham Glasgow, EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, DT Brodric Martin, DL Pat O’Connor, LB Malcolm Rodriguez, LB Grant Stuard, LB Jack Campbell, CB Ennis Rakestraw, CB Terrion Arnold, DB Brian Branch, LS Hogan Hatten, K Jake Bates.
Kerby Joseph
Expectations heading into 2024
After a 2023 season that was a bit up-and-down for a myriad of reasons, there were some around the league who (mistakenly) began to doubt Joseph’s ceiling after such a stellar rookie season. Could he develop into the type of safety who can generate a ton of takeaways while also being a dependable tackler as the last line of defense on the field?
As far as the 2023 season is concerned, there were times that looked like Joseph was compensating too much in order to make a play, and it resulted in him being out of position at times. On top of that, his technique as a tackler could be inconsistent in terms of wrapping up, finishing, and getting the ball-carrier on the ground.
Being more consistent as a tackler, as well as playing within the confines of the scheme—if Joseph could be more consistent with those two things, then we could be potentially dealing with a really special player.
Actual role in 2024
18 games (18 starts) — 1,158 defensive snaps
Stats: 83 total tackles, 9 interceptions, 12 PBUs, 1 QB hit, 1 TFL
PFF defense grade: 90.7 (1st out of 106 qualifying safeties – min. 20% of defensive snaps)
PFF run defense grade: 83.6 (12th out of 106)
PFF tackling grade: 86.9 (9th out of 106)
PFF coverage grade: 91.5 (1st ouf of 106)
PFF pass rush grade: 61.8 (36th out of 106)
Thankfully for the Lions, Joseph did just that, and his league-leading nine interceptions are proof.
To say that Joseph is really comfortable in his role would be an understatement. Going into his fourth season as a pro, he understands the scheme inside and out. And because of that, Joseph is now playing chess instead of checkers—allowing him to dictate how the defense is aligned pre-snap if he thinks it can fool a quarterback. Just ask fellow defensive back Brian Branch.
In an episode of the St. Brown Brothers Podcast, Branch broke down an interception of his from the first of two wins over the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.
“It was really cover 2 man to J.J. (Justin Jefferson), and then quarter-man away,” said Branch when explaining the call on the play. “And so, J-Kerb (Joseph) told me let’s disguise single-high coverage. So he thought I was really playing the post, and I went to my half, the crossing route came to me, I just jumped it.”
This also shows the kind of confidence the Lions’ coaching staff has in Joseph, allowing him the autonomy to switch things up at the last second when he deems it appropriate.
The turnover production from Joseph is the best in the business, but one aspect of his game that I think took a big leap from 2023 to 2024? Tackling. Unlike some other defensive backs out there, it was never an effort or ability issue with Joseph. However, it is important to remember that he hasn’t been playing defense all that long, and tackling is a skill that requires reps to really dial in.
“You’re really looking for two things when you’re known as a post safety,” said Lions safeties coach Jim O’Neil. “Obviously, a guy who can go get the ball. And a guy that can erase mistakes when the ball pops, and I thought he did an outstanding job of that. That was a huge point of emphasis for us coming off his season two years ago to last year. We worked it a lot at the end of practice, and it showed up on the field.”
“I knew it was good,” continued O’Neil on Joseph’s tackling. “I didn’t know it was as good as it was. It’s a cut-up that I’ll hold onto for the rest of my career because every time the ball popped, Kerby got the guy on the ground. I don’t know if he missed one.”
Outlook for 2025
Besides continuing the level of play that we saw in 2024, I would expect Joseph’s leadership to continue to grow in 2025. Both with his on-field leadership, and as a vocal presence in the secondary.
“Leadership—I think we talked about this some in my last press conference,” said O’Neil. “One of the things Kerb did last year was he had all the guys go over to his house on Thursday nights, just to kind of create some group camaraderie. He paid for a chef so they could eat dinner, and just so those guys could kind of hangout together.”
Joseph, along with Branch, should almost be extensions of the defensive coaching staff at this point. Both have a lot of big-game experience under their belts despite being so early in their respective careers, and that experience should pay dividends with other members of the secondary still being so young.