Lions' Ihedigbo stumps for Quin as NFL's best safety

Allen Park — Lions free safety Glover Quin led the NFL in interceptions in 2014, and he's one of 13 players with two picks already this season.

And James Ihedigbo, the Lions' strong safety, has clearly been impressed by Quin's performance since coming to Detroit last season.

"I think G.Q. is the best safety in football," Ihedigbo said Monday.

Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas is the most popular pick for the top safety in the league, and the Lions will see him next Monday night in Seattle. San Diego's Eric Weddle, Minnesota's Harrison Smith and New England's Devin McCourty are other players high on the list of top safeties.

After watching Quin make plays like his diving interception on a tipped ball in the second quarter Sunday, Ihedigbo is taking his teammate over the other safeties in the league. The pick ended a drive in which Denver reached the Detroit 13.

"I told him today, I was like, 'I don't know how the heck you got to that thing,' " Ihedigbo said. "He literally had a cape on his back. Heck of a play, and it was a game-changer for us."

Quin had seven interceptions along with 73 tackles last season. So far, he had 15 tackles along with the two picks this year, and besides playing through an ankle injury for much of 2013, Quin has been a free-agent bargain for the Lions.

"Why is that?" Ihedigbo said when asked why Quin is the best safety in the NFL. "You watch football? You look at what he does week in and week out. If there's a play to be had, he's the one to make it. And this league is all about consistency and what you do week in and week out. And you know what you're going to get from 27 every time he steps on the field."

jkatzenstein@detroitnews.com

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