Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
Rookie safety bringing athleticism to secondary
Green Bay — Whether it’s safety or cornerback, no area of the Green Bay Packers’ roster has received more maintenance in recent years than the secondary.
Before this year, six of the Packers’ past eight picks in the first two rounds of the NFL draft were spent on defensive backs. Five were used to select cornerbacks.
All that did was leave a gaping hole in the deep middle of their defense.
The Packers’ safety position regressed drastically in 2018. Their pass coverage deep down the middle of the field was so poor, general manager Brian Gutekunst was forced to spend money and draft capital on the position this offseason. The Packers signed Chicago free agent Adrian Amos to a four-year, $36 million contract this spring, making him the eighth-highest-paid player at his position. A month later, Gutekunst traded into the first round to select Maryland’s Darnell Savage Jr. with the 21st overall pick.
Amos and Savage, the first safety drafted this spring, overhaul a position the Packers badly needed to address. They join a plethora of young corners, as well as veteran Tramon Williams.
The hope is after so much work the past few years, the Packers finally have a secondary that can hold up in a passhappy league.
Secondary
Roster locks: Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage Jr., Kevin King, Jaire Alexander, Josh Jackson.
Good bet: Tramon Williams.
On the bubble: Raven Greene, Natrell Jamerson, Tony Brown, Ka’Dar Hollman, Josh Jones.
Long shots: Tray Matthews, Mike Tyson, Kabion Ento, Javien Hamilton, Will Redmond, Nydair Rouse, Chandon Sullivan.
Biggest offseason move
Hard to say which is bigger: a freeagent splash or a trade to move up for their second first-round pick. Let’s just say the safety overhaul as a whole. One year ago, the question was whether Ha Ha Clinton-Dix would get a second contract from the Packers (he didn’t), and whether Jones or Kentrell Brice would emerge as young, up-and-coming starters (they didn’t). Now, Clinton-Dix is in Chicago, Brice wasn’t tendered, Jones also appears likely headed out of town, and there are two new starters. A lot can change quickly in the NFL.
Position battle
On the surface, it doesn’t appear many position battles loom in the secondary. Amos and Savage are starters. King, if healthy, will be a starter alongside Alexander and Williams in the preferred nickel package. Jackson should be the first cornerback off the sideline, and the likely dime. The biggest revelation in the offseason might have been Greene filling the hybrid safety role that likely would have gone to Jones, a development that improves Greene’s shot at a roster spot. Barring surprises, the secondary appears set. That’s good news for a position that could use stability.
Keep an eye on
With such a young position group, there are a few things to watch. Savage’s transition to the NFL, Alexander’s and Jackson’s second-year jumps and King’s health history are among them. On the other end of the spectrum, there’s Williams. Entering his 13th season, the 36year-old Williams is at an age when most cornerbacks have retired. It’s a testament to the professional he is, and his unyielding athleticism, that Williams has played in the NFL this long. His veteran experience in an otherwise young secondary is important, but Father Time is undefeated. Williams isn’t an exception, though he’s sure tried to win that battle. He was durable and spry enough to lead the Packers’ defense with 1,059 snaps last fall, rewarding the team for its two-year, $10 million contract investment. If he has lost a step, it probably wouldn’t be noticeable until the regular season begins. Still, it’ll be worth watching at the start of every season from here on out. Just the nature of playing so long at such a demanding position.
Key question
Will the Packers find a trade partner for Jones? The third-year safety skipped voluntary organized team activities this spring and requested a trade, according to ESPN. When he spoke to reporters during mandatory minicamp, Jones said all the right things. He assured he wasn’t disgruntled over seeing his chance at starting vanish this offseason. He also passed on the chance to publicly request a trade. However, Jones did not participate in the mandatory minicamp, standing instead on the sideline with what was labeled a hamstring injury, and Gutekunst said there is “constant communication” between Jones and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. It seems best for player and team that both sides move on, but in order for there to be a trade, there must be a trade partner. It’s likely the Packers will want to build Jones’ trade value in the preseason.
Prediction
Savage won’t win defensive rookie of the year, but for the second straight season, the Packers will have a defensive back on the NFL’s all-rookie team. Last year, it was Alexander who cracked that list. Savage will get the necessary playing time this fall. If healthy, it’s hard to envision a scenario when he’ll leave the field. Safety is an unforgiving position for a rookie, and Savage will have his growing pains, but his speed and ball skills translate to being an NFL playmaker. A former cornerback, Savage had seven interceptions in his last two college seasons. Undersized but quick, Savage athletically profiles similar to Alexander. He’ll have a similar transition to professional football in his first year, using his speed to erase many rookie mistakes.