Impressive new ranking shows just how far the Lions have come on defense

The Detroit Lions have crafted one of the best rosters in the league over the last few seasons, and the reason has been due to some fantastic drafting.

Brad Holmes has mined gold in nearly every round where he has selected, and at no position is that more evident than safety. The Lions have a pair of all-world home grown talents in Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, and finally, the duo is generating some well-deserved respect for their play.

Pro Football Focus looked at naming the best duos in the NFL. In the past, it would have been a shock to see the Lions occupying one spot let alone two. Not only did Detroit expectedly have the top running backs, Branch and Joseph made Zoltan Buday's cut as the best safety pair.

"A second-round pick in 2023, Branch is already one of the best safeties in the league, although he has also spent a lot of time in the nickel. Joseph had a breakout season in 2024 after two somewhat disappointing years, leading all safeties with a 90.4 PFF overall grade and a 91.1 PFF coverage grade."

"Branch also graded out as a top-five safety (83.7) and led the position in PFF run-defense grade (90.8). Joseph placed seventh in passer rating allowed in coverage (71.1), while Branch slotted into 11th (74.0)."

Whether against the run or pass, Branch and Joseph have become a formidable pairing in the defensive backfield for the Lions. Their physicality and play making has them on a big trajectory moving forward. The best part? They might even re-set the bar of how good they can become.

Safety coach Jim O'Neil giving Lions' duo tools to get even better

As good as Branch and Joseph look heading into the 2025 season, there's a chance that they could be even better once this coming season ends. The work that the pair has been doing over the summer to prepare has them in a position to take another leap.

O'Neil has been working with the duo closely, and has been giving them tips from tape to hone their skills ahead of this season. His hands-on approach leaves him confident that each player can take another step forward.

"We make tapes for each guy and pull the critical things they need to see, but also all the different techniques so they can go back and study themselves. It's been pretty cool (to be) like 'Hey Brian (Branch), watch all your blitzes. I'll watch them and then let's talk about it the next morning.' I think when they watch it instead of just telling them, you get more out of it. If they're seeing the same thing that you're seeing, instead of you saying "Hey this is what I saw. You need to get better at this,' they come back to you and say 'Hey coach, I saw I was doing this. I agree. Let's work on it this way.' I think that's a better chance to get better."

As O'Neil explained, there's only one goal for the pair in 2025. Improve in spite of some of the league flowers they have already received.

"They got to get better. (They've got to) find a way to get better. They definitely had a great year (in 2024), but we're expecting even more from them this year."

Is it possible that Branch and Joseph, already seen as the best safety duo in the league, actually improve? If they do, that's scary for the opposition considering their overwhelming talent.