Reevaluating Packers Positions of Need After Early Free Agency
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers Position of Need: Safety
Adrian Amos is one of the more reliable safeties in football — extend him! — and Darnell Savage would take his lumps season, particularly in coverage. However, even with Savage’s ups and downs, we know that he will be lined up next to Amos this season.
But much like edge rusher, when we get past the first two players on the depth chart, we run into unknowns–perhaps even more so at safety. Henry Black, who was Green Bay’s primary third safety in 2021, was not brought back. The only other safeties on the roster are Shawn Davis, Vernon Scott, and Innis Gaines–this trio has only 90 career defensive snaps combined, all of which belong to Scott.
Although we certainly didn’t see as many dime looks under Joe Barry as we did Mike Pettine, the third safety was still a regular member of this Green Bay Packers defense, with Black seeing nearly 300 snaps last season, according to PFF ($$). So having a reliable option is an important box to check.
While there are certainly question marks around this group in 2022, the needs will become even bigger in 2023. Both Amos and Savage are in the final year of their contracts — although the Packers could still pick up Savage’s fifth-year option — which means Scott is the only safety under contract currently heading into next year.
I don’t see Green Bay spending on this position in free agency; however, using one of their five top-100 picks in the draft makes a lot of sense. A few names in the draft to keep your eyes on include Daxton Hill, Nick Cross, Jaquan Brisker, Jalen Pitre, and Lewis Cine, among others.