What to Know: Packers add to safety depth signing Jonathan Owens
By Paul Bretl
Following rookie minicamp last weekend, the Green Bay Packers had one roster spot remaining on their 90-man. They have now signed former Houston Texans safety Jonathan Owens.
At 5’11” – 210 pounds, Owens went undrafted in 2018 out of D-II Missouri Western State, posting an elite Relative Athletic Score of 9.52 at that time. He’s been on the field for 1,148 career defensive snaps, all of which came with the Texans and over the last three seasons. This past year, however, he took on a starting role, playing 970 snaps at safety.
In 2022, Owens was all over the field making tackles and very reliable in doing so. He made 117 out of his 128 attempts and had the 15th-best tackling grade out of all safeties from PFF. Owens also logged two quarterback pressures, 14 stops – or plays that constitute a “loss” for the offense – and, in coverage, allowed 23 completions on 36 attempts with three pass breakups.
Owens fits what the Packers need at the safety position. Although he’s played from the slot and lined up in the box, he’s spent most of his career as a free safety. Also, as evidenced above by his numbers, he’s been a very capable tackler and willing run defender–again, two areas where Green Bay can improve on the back end. He also brings special teams experience as well.
There is a lot of uncertainty at the safety position for Green Bay this season after a season where there were too many coverage breakdowns and missed tackles–not to mention that it doesn’t look like Adrian Amos will return. However, what you can’t say is that the Packers don’t, at the very least, have options. Based on Matt LaFleur’s comments earlier in the offseason, Darnell Savage will be one of the starting safeties, but who is lined up next to him will most likely be determined over the summer.
Also at the safety position is Rudy Ford, a core special teams player who was a reliable defender when given the opportunity. There is seventh-round pick Anthony Johnson, along with Tarvarius Moore as another player with some defensive experience but has mostly been a special teams player. Dallin Leavitt, a special teamer, Innis Gaines, who saw a little slot experience in 2022, James Wiggins, and UDFA Benny Sapp round out the position group.
For what it’s worth, typically, the Packers have rostered either four or five safeties on the 53-man, depending on how things shake out at other positions. Savage, Johnson, and probably Ford are locks for 2023. Perhaps Leavitt with his locker room presence and special teams abilities put him in the likely category but this is a position where a lot is to be determined. In addition to how each player performs defensively, special teams contributions will likely be a determining factor in deciding roster spots as well.
The contract details for Owens have not yet been released. The Packers did enter Friday with $16.84 million in cap space available, according to Over the Cap, with still several members of their 2023 draft class unsigned.