Green Bay Packers: Second-Year Player Performance Grades

First Round Picks

Rashan Gary – EDGE

The pick of Rashan Gary at 12th in the 2019 draft was highly criticized for many of the same reasons that people ridiculed the Jordan Love pick this year. The Packers are in a window with a chance to win a Super Bowl, and they drafted a project with lots of raw talent when they have a top-tier player at the position he plays already. Of course, we didn’t know Za’Darius Smith would be THIS good with the Packers, but they had invested a lot of money in the Smith Brothers that offseason already. The situations are also a bit different because Gary, at a position where guys rotate in and out, did have a chance to contribute right away.

He was labeled a bust early for his lack of production, but as this year has gone on, the pick has looked better and better. He’s making clear improvements to his game, and the regression of Preston Smith has afforded him the chance to be in the game, even more, making the first three starts of his career, and his contributions seem even more needed.

This year, he’s up to five sacks and ten quarterback hits and is emerging as an impact player off the edge, with 2.5 of those sacks coming in the last two games. He’s still a bit raw, and most of his sacks come by sheer power and effort, but that’s not a bad thing when he can make an impact without having developed perfect technique. Still, only five sacks in twelve games may not be enough from a first-round pick for some people, so that is reflected in his grade as well.

Overall Grade: B-

Darnell Savage – Safety

As the 21st pick and a player that Brian Gutekunst traded up for, Darnell Savage came to the Green Bay Packers with much different expectations. He was the starter at safety next to Adrian Amos from the day he walked in the door after the Packers’ safety play the prior season was some of the worst in the league.

Like Gary, he had plenty of athletic talent with a blazing 4.36 40-time and Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 8.35 out of 10. In his rookie year, we saw huge flashes of his potential along with some frustrating rookie mishaps, but he had a solid rookie campaign. Early in his second year, he was showing no signs of growth, as were expected, but signs of regression. Just over halfway through the season, his grade probably would have been a C. However, he’s turned it around lately, starting week 10 with Jacksonville when he had two passes defended. In the following four games, he’s started to make some big plays, three interceptions and sack, and a fumble recovery.

He’s playing his best football down the stretch, and that’s what really counts in sports. As they say, it’s not how you start; it’s how you finish. Savage has come on strong and will be a vital piece of this defense if they plan on going deep into the playoffs.

Overall Grade: B