Potentially tough decisions ahead at safety for Green Bay Packers
By Paul Bretl
The only thing we really knew about this Green Bay Packers safety group prior to training camp was that Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos are going to be the starters. After that, pretty much everything else is up for grabs.
We can’t even say with any certainty how many safeties the Packers are going to keep on the 53-man roster. During the 2019 and 2021 seasons under Matt LaFleur, Green Bay would roster four safeties. While in 2020, they kept five.
This means that either two or three spots are available, and based on what we’ve seen through the first week of training camp, there very well could be some difficult decisions made by the Green Bay Packers when it’s time to trim this roster to 53.
The recently signed Dallin Leavitt brings special teams experience with him, totaling 854 career snaps — all of which have come under Rich Bisaccia, by the way — along with leading Las Vegas in tackles last season. Leavitt is also the most experienced safety — not named Savage or Amos — defensively as well, with 376 snaps, including 255 a season ago, per PFF ($$).
Also, for what it’s worth, Leavitt’s contract comes with an $85,000 signing bonus and $150,000 in per-game bonuses, as Ken Ingalls would point out. So it’s not as if he’s here on strictly a minimum deal.
Other than the 198 special teams snaps Vernon Scott had in 2020, his playing time has been minimal. However, he has been on the roster the last two seasons–and there is something to be said for that.
Scott also came away with an interception during Monday’s practice off of Jordan Love, as he continues to build upon his performance from OTAs, where he also made a few splash plays.
Then there is Innis Gaines, who was one of the standouts last summer on special teams, which is where he continues to shine. Gaines has taken reps this summer both as the gunner and the jammer, impressing in both roles–although one area where he must improve on is his tackling, which did give him some issues last summer.
While each of the players mentioned could all provide the special teams unit with a boost, Shawn Davis appeared to be the front-runner for the third safety role coming out of OTAs and minicamp. The third safety may not have as large of a defensive role in 2021 with the addition of Quay Walker, but the Packers will still need someone other than Savage and Amos that they can lean on at times.
With Amos not present for portions of the voluntary practices, it was Davis who was lined up next to Savage with the starters. We’ve also seen Davis taking some snaps in training camp with the ones.
Earlier this offseason, safeties coach Ryan Downard would mention Davis specifically, saying that his explosiveness, athletic ability, and processing of what is taking place have all begun showing up on the field.
Lastly is rookie seventh-round pick Tariq Carpenter, who brings a rare combination of size and athleticism to the safety position. He is also someone who could become a core special teams player under Bisaccia, with over 400 career special teams snaps at Georgia Tech to go along with his stature.
Oftentimes these things have a way of sorting themselves out as the summer progresses. The pads will fully come on this week, and the preseason isn’t too far off.
Most likely, a player or two will separate themselves as things progress, but given the makeup of this safety room right now, it appears quite crowded from the outside looking in.