Packers should sign free agent safety Julian Love at all costs
The Green Bay Packers should do whatever it takes to sign free agent safety Julian Love this offseason. He can be the difference-maker they desperately need at safety.
Okay, so maybe I went a little too far, as Love isn’t a savior at the position. However, he is exactly what they need.
Adrian Amos is an unrestricted free agent this offseason and is coming off the worst season of his career. His PFF grade of 53.4 was the lowest of his career and ranked 81st among 88 qualified safeties. He looked two steps slower in 2022, and missed eight tackles, the second most since he signed as a Packer in 2019. He also struggled in coverage, allowing a completion on 75 percent of his targets, giving up six touchdowns, and only racking up one interception and two pass breakups (both lows throughout his time in Green Bay).
The Green Bay Packers’ front office should do whatever it takes to sign underrated free agent safety Julian Love this offseason.
Amos didn’t receive help from the other safety position either.
Savage is entering the final year of his deal, but Green Bay could look to trade him to free up the cap space. Somehow, he was even worse than Amos in 2022, earning himself a 47.5 PFF grade and ranking 87th among 88 qualified safeties. His play has been plummeting for three years now.
Enter Julian Love.
Love is PFF’s 62nd-ranked free agent and CBS Sports’ 81st. However, he is exactly what the doctor ordered in Green Bay.
For starters, he’s extremely versatile. He can line up all over the field and excel in his positioning. In 2022 alone, he played 52 snaps at outside linebacker, 296 snaps in the box, 170 snaps in the slot, 37 at outside cornerback, and 578 at free safety. That’s the definition of versatility.
He also plays on special teams, allowing Green Bay to get away from safeties who only play defense or special teams.
His 66.7 PFF grade would be a huge upgrade in Green Bay, ranking 43rd among the 88 qualified safeties. That’s not elite, but it’s better than what the Packers have.
His tackling allows him to play close to the line of scrimmage. He made 80 tackles on the season, ranking sixth among safeties, while only missing six. His coverage skills are his best attributes. He can stick with guys in the slots and make plays on the ball in the air.
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Love is a jackknife safety who can be moved all over the field, allowing Green Bay to slot in many different types of safeties next to him. He won’t be a Pro Bowl caliber player, but won’t be paid like one either. PFF projects him to earn a three-year deal worth under $8 million annually. Oh, and he will only turn 25 this offseason. He’s the perfect fit for the Packers.