Green Bay Packers: A Look at Christian Uphoff & What he Adds to Defense

Compared to most free-agent draft classes, this was a smaller one for the Green Bay Packers given the sheer number of players from last year’s team they brought back but also due to the uncertainty surrounding a number of this year’s prospects with less information than usual because of COVID-19 protocols. But highlighting that UDFA group could very well be safety Christian Uphoff from Illinois State.

Like several other positions on this team, the Green Bay Packers are set up well at safety, considering that they potentially have the best duo in the game with Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos. However, the third and fourth safety spots are up for grabs.

Competing for those spots will be Will Redmond, Vernon Scott, Henry Black, and Uphoff. In this new Joe Barry defense, the safety position will be expected to provide ample help in the run game with all of the light-boxes we expect Barry to deploy, and with Savage potentially seeing more snaps in the slot, Amos will need a running mate in that two-high look that Green Bay will now utilize.

Coming out of Illinois State, Uphoff has just one year of starting experience, which came in 2019—the Missouri Valley Conference canceled the 2020 season. But to Uphoff’s credit, it was an impressive year.

Over 15 games, he would log eight quarterback pressures and was a willing tackler, which is something that will benefit him greatly in Barry’s defense, which, as I mentioned above, requires the safeties to play a significant role in the run game.

In coverage, Uphoff was very good as well, allowing a completion percentage of 51 percent on 39 targets while coming away with two interceptions and eight pass breakups, according to PFF ($$). Sports Illustrated’s NFL Draft Bible called Uphoff an “ideal two high safety,” which again makes him a good fit for Barry’s defense.

Uphoff would go on to take 238 snaps in the box, 460 snaps as the free safety, and 234 in the slot—showing off his versatility.

On top of all of that, Uphoff’s overall grade from PFF in 2019 ranked 33rd out of 417 eligible safeties. While their grading system isn’t everything when a player is performing particularly well or poorly, PFF reflects that, and it helps illustrate just how good Uphoff was.

And although Uphoff didn’t play in 2020, he was invited to the Senior Bowl, where he was voted the top safety on the National team.

Size-wise, Uphoff has the length that NFL teams covet, measuring in at 6’2” at his Pro-Day and weighed in at 209. His overall RAS score was considered “good” at 6.25 out of 10, and he scored in that range on most of his tests, except for scoring poorly in the vertical jump and shuttle—although Uphoff chalks that up to a bad hamstring that is now 100 percent, as he told The Athletic.

In addition to his skill-set and overall fit that he brings to this defense, Uphoff has return experience as well—something that could create an additional path to the 53-man roster for him. In 18 career kick return attempts with the Red Birds, Uphoff averaged 26.1 yards with a long of 58.

Now for more on Uphoff and what he can bring to this Green Bay Packers team, here is what three draft analysts have to say about his game:

Tony Pauline – Pro Football Network

"“Positives: Nice-sized safety prospect with a large upside. Instinctive, quick to read and diagnose, and possesses a closing burst. Crashes upfield defending the run, stays with assignments, and works hard getting off blocks. Plays with good speed, moves well laterally, and possesses range. Fires to the action with a terrific closing burst and possesses solid ball skills.Negatives: Shows stiffness in his game. Must improve his tackling and become more secure at the point.Analysis: Uphoff was a consistent small-school safety who showed flashes of next-level ability during Senior Bowl practices. He possesses the size, speed, and ball skills to play at the next level. Uphoff is a potential late-round choice who could make a roster as a ninth defensive back.”"

Lance Zierlein – NFL.com

"“Versatile safety prospect with the size, play strength and coverage ability to be deployed in a variety of positions. He’s a plus athlete with above-average length and a playmaker’s mindset. He has the foot quickness and anticipation to handle man coverage and contest catches underneath or handle split safety duties, where his awareness and athleticism benefit him. Tape shows an instinctive player who can be a little inconsistent in responding to what he sees. He’s tough and physical enough to cover tight ends and play near the line of scrimmage in run support. His angles to the football and inconsistencies as an open-field tackler are a little concerning, but he should be an early backup with the upside to develop into a starter.”"

Pro Football Focus ($$)

"“If you’re an FCS safety, you just don’t get Senior Bowl invites by being a 4.7 guy with goodleadership skills. No, you get invited because you can move like the top-tier safeties in the NFL.Uphoff fits that bill at a sturdy 6-foot, 213 pounds. So much so that he was even Illinois State’s kick returner. The Redbirds had him doing just about everything on their defense, as well, and Uphoff handled it admirably. While he has some maddening tendencies on tape, Uphoff’s positives more than make up for it.”"