Antoine Bethea

Antoine Bethea

39-Year-Old SafetyS
 Free Agent  
2023 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Antoine Bethea in 2023. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Released by the Giants in March of 2020.
Wraps up career
SFree Agent
January 7, 2021
Bethea announced his retirement via his official Twitter account Thursday.
ANALYSIS
After going the entire 2020 season without latching on with a new team, Bethea has now officially decided to wrap up his 14-year career. A sixth-round pick of the Colts back in the 2006 NFL Draft, Bethea earned three Pro Bowl nods while playing in Indianapolis, San Francisco, Arizona and New York over the course of his impressive career. He started the Colts' Super Bowl XLI win over the Bears.
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NFL Stats
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2019
2018
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2019 NFL Game Log
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2018 NFL Game Log
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2017 NFL Game Log
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2016 NFL Game Log
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2023 Antoine Bethea Split Stats
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Measurables Review
How do Antoine Bethea's measurables compare to other safeties?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
5' 11"
 
Weight
206 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.39 sec
 
Shuttle Time
4.11 sec
 
Cone Drill
6.99 sec
 
Vertical Jump
36.5 in
 
Broad Jump
127 in
 
Bench Press
19 reps
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Antoine Bethea See More
2020 NFL Team Previews: New York Giants
May 19, 2020
The Giants have many of the pieces in place for an explosive offense, but to reach those heights Daniel Jones will need to show measurable improvement.
IDP Analysis: Week 15 Matchups
IDP Analysis: Week 15 Matchups
December 11, 2019
December 11, 2019
Against an overmatched Atlanta team, the 49ers should be playing with a lead, offering their already great pass rushers, including Nick Bosa, great opportunities for a big day.
IDP Analysis: Week 7 Matchups
October 15, 2019
With running the ball against Chicago an exercise in futility, Jim Coventry expects Saints QB Teddy Bridgewater to throw plenty, setting up a big day for the Bears‘ pass rush featuring Khalil Mack.
IDP Analysis: Week 3 Matchups
IDP Analysis: Week 3 Matchups
September 16, 2019
September 16, 2019
Jim Coventry says Washington’s lack of a quality offensive line means Akiem Hicks and the Bears’ pass rushers will have a busy day.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
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2013
2012
2011
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2009
2008
2007
2006
If IDPs had a Hall of Fame, Bethea would be first ballot. Aside from anecdotally explained deviations in 2015 and 2017, he's been an IDP monster going back to 2006, surpassing triple-digit tackles seven times since 2008. He turned 35 in July, but the Giants appear committed to him for at least a year, and following an elite DB1 season in 2018 it's just difficult to bet against him until he decides he's done. The Giants have no noteworthy safety prospects behind him, and historically he's just about automatic if he's getting snaps.
Bethea was a tackle machine in the first two stops of his career, reaching triple-digit tackles in six of his first 11 seasons between Indianapolis and San Francisco. A bit of regression was to be expected as he entered his age-33 campaign last fall, but he proceeded to record his few stops (57) in a year in which he made at least 13 appearances. Bethea has spent the bulk of the offseason recovering from a torn pectoral suffered Week 16. No matter, he's currently embedded as the starting free safety after the Cardinals released Tyrann Mathieu and opted not to bring back Tyvon Branch.
After two blatantly average seasons with the 49ers, Bethea had a resurgence in 2016, recording 110 tackles, three passes defensed, one interception and forced fumble in 16 games. It was the first time the veteran notched over 100 tackles since 2013, and he used his performance to leverage a three-year contract with the Cardinals. The 33-year-old will look to shore up an Arizona pass defense that ranked fourth worst in the league last season, while at the same time bestowing knowledge to young safety Tyrann Mathieu and second-round selection Budda Baker. While it's tough to judge just how well Bethea will fit the Cardinals' scheme, he's certainly surrounded by more secondary talent than in years past.
There may be a considerable amount of risk in a 32-year-old safety returning from a season-ending shoulder injury, especially when San Francisco was reportedly looking to move him in the offseason, but since they found no suitors, the 49ers might as well capitalize on what Bethea offers. He's one of the league's elite tacklers at safety; a great bet to breeze past 100 in a starting role. Now that he's playing for a max-tempo Chip Kelly team, Bethea could see enough snaps to have a career year, even with several excellent seasons already to his credit.
Bethea predictably produced well for IDP owners in his first season in San Francisco last year, though the change resulted in a significant drop in tackles. In his six previous seasons with Indianapolis, Bethea averaged about 109 tackles per year, but at least he offset the decrease in tackles by tying a career high with four interceptions, scoring his first touchdown. The San Francisco defense likely will regress without coach Jim Harbaugh and a number of playmakers who either retired or left in free agency. That could mean more tackle opportunities for Bethea due to longer drives and runners breaking through to the secondary.
Bethea would be listed as a top-10 or top-five IDP in the secondary if he were playing for almost any other team, but the long-time Colts star headed to San Francisco in free agency, and the 49ers tend to post modest tackle totals in the secondary. Donte Whitner averaged just 72 tackles per season the last three years for the 49ers, so Bethea's odds of maintaining his six-year average of 109 tackles per season don't seem very good, especially when you factor in the possibility of losing snaps to rookie first-round pick Jimmie Ward. But Bethea is likely better than Whitner, and he should be able to stay in the 90-tackle range with a little luck.
Bethea has shown little playmaking ability in recent years, but if you need an absolute lock for tackle production, he's arguably the best choice you could make among defensive backs. Although Bethea has just one interception the last three years, he amassed 345 tackles over that same span. He hasn't missed a game since 2007, either. Even with two tackle machines like Jerrell Freeman and Pat Angerer playing in front of him, Bethea should have plenty of cleanup work to do in the secondary with Andrew Luck forcing opponents to keep up on the scoreboard. Bethea was also highly consistent last year, making five or more stops in all but one game, and six or more tackles in 13 games.
With just 12 interceptions in his six-year career – including none in 2011 – Bethea’s ability to make plays in coverage is limited. That said, he’s one of the most reliable defensive back IDPs year after year thanks to his exceptionally consistent tackle production. Bethea has 441 tackles (301 solo) the last four years, including a career-high 139 (80 solo) in 2011. That total will likely drop in 2012 since the Colts should be both significantly better on offense and slightly better on defense – resulting in fewer snaps for Bethea. But with no missed games the last four years, Bethea should remain consistent in leagues that primarily emphasize tackle production, even if his ceiling is on the modest side.
He might not have gigantic upside, but with three consecutive years in the 100-tackle range, Bethea is hard to beat when it comes to year-to-year consistency. He has the skills to play both free and strong safety, which allows him to make plays against the run and the pass. He also hasn’t missed a game since 2007. It would be nice if Bethea could make some more big plays, but he remains a moderate-ceiling, high-floor option.
Bob Sanders has a Defensive Player of the Year award on his resume, but Bethea has been the most productive Indianapolis DB the last few seasons — at least partly because he’s done a much better job of staying on the field. Bethea fell just shy of a second consecutive 100-tackle season in 2009 and has a knack for big plays (10 INTs in the last three seasons, four in 2009). The Colts used a first-round tender to retain Bethea’s services this offseason, so he’ll be back in a familiar role making plays for Indy this fall.
With reigning NFL Player of the Year Bob Sanders fighting a variety of injuries, Bethea stepped up his production in a big way, leading the Colts’ secondary with 101 tackles and two interceptions and playing all 16 games. Sanders is obviously the bigger name, but at this stage of their careers, Bethea is a far safer pick in IDP leagues. He had 90 tackles in 2006 before being limited by injury in 2007. If healthy again for a full season, Bethea can be counted on for strong a tackle total.
Bethea dropped from 90 tackles in 14 games as a rookie in 2006 to 65 stops in 13 last season. He did increase his interceptions from one to four, a sign that he is roaming more freely and taking more chances. This makes him less predictable than a player who relies more on his tackling ability. Bethea has missed a total of five games the past two seasons, another reason to pass on drafting him too early. Just don't avoid him too long, because at 24 years old in July, there are still a lot of reasons to like Bethea. He has the tools to be a hard-hitting safety with decent interception potential for years to come.
Fellow rookies Dawan Landry and Donte Whitner had flashier stats, but Bethea was just as impressive last year. He had 90 tackles and a pick in 14 games, but that's really 12-and-a-half since he left one game early and another at the half. That puts Bethea on pace to match Whitner’s strong year. It makes sense, since he’s a similarly bruising hitter. He bursts into the box in run support, takes excellent angles and is fundamentally sound in open space. His bad ‘tude is just what a weakened Colts linebacker and secondary corps needs. Granted, his exceptional tackling came in a season largely absent of the talented Bob Sanders. Will he be just as prolific with Sanders back? The Colts don’t figure to be as poor against the run with a full season of Sanders, but Bethea is good enough on run support to create his own opportunities.
Ads depth in the secondary with good speed.
More Fantasy News
Cut by Giants
SFree Agent
March 18, 2020
The Giants will release Bethea on Wednesday, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.
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Wraps up 2019 with 110 stops
SNew York Giants
January 6, 2020
Bethea recorded 110 tackles (81 solo), six defended passes and one interception across 16 contests in 2019. He also forced two fumbles.
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Registers six tackles
SNew York Giants
December 24, 2019
Bethea totaled six tackles and one pass breakup during Sunday's victory over the Redskins.
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Breaks up pass in win
SNew York Giants
December 17, 2019
Bethea made five solo tackles and broke up a pass in Sunday's win over the Dolphins.
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Forces TO on first play from scrimmage
SNew York Giants
November 5, 2019
Bethea recorded nine tackles (seven solo), one pass defensed, one interception and a fumble recovery in Monday's 37-18 loss to the Cowboys.
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