NFL News & Analysis

Safety Glover Quin set to retire after 10 seasons in the NFL

A few rough seasons with the Houston Texans to begin Glover Quin’s 10-year career quickly gave way to a few top-notch ones with the Detroit Lions. Quin was bombarded with targets while with the Texans while playing mostly cornerback, facing the 25th-most among all players from 2009 to 2012. And with that, he allowed 16 touchdowns while reeling in just six interceptions. In four years, he was unable to grade out any higher than his 65.4 mark in 2010.

When free agency came calling following the 2012 season, Quin opted to sign a five-year deal with the Detroit Lions, where he ultimately made his mark as a potent cover safety. In six seasons with the Lions, Quin notched 19 picks while surrendering nine touchdowns in coverage — a stark contrast to his time in Houston. In 2014, he was PFF’s top-graded safety in coverage (90.4). And in 2017, he earned the second-highest coverage grade (91.3) among qualifying safeties.

After an inability to break out in his first few seasons, Quin graded above 75.0 in four of his six years in Detroit; he graded as the third-best safety in 2014 and the fourth-best in 2017. The deep ball was his specialty in those six years: He faced 30 targets of 20 or more yards in that span and allowed a whopping nine completions for no touchdowns to go along with four interceptions. He is one of two safeties to have faced at least 30 deep targets since 2013 with no touchdowns allowed — in his prime, Quin was unmatched.

Admittedly, Quin fell off in 2018, failing to record an interception in a season for the first time in his career and allowing the most yards in coverage since joining the Lions. He earned a 66.1 overall grade that slotted him 62nd among qualifying safeties.

But Quin won’t be remembered for an off-year that was ultimately his last. His lockdown coverage skills throughout his time with the Detroit Lions separated him from a crowded pack and defined a solid 10-year career.

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