Packers 2023 UDFA Profile: Safety Benny Sapp

Next up in my review of the Green Bay Packers undrafted rookie signings is Northern Iowa Safety Benny Sapp.

In this series, I will be examining the positional outlook for each UDFA’s respective position group. Highlighting the stats you need to know from their college careers. I’ll also be taking a closer look at their measurements when applicable and then including a pre-draft scouting report for an additional perspective.

If you’ve missed any of the other articles in this series, you can find them below.

Brenton Cox

Current state of the safety room

On the roster: Rudy Ford, Innis Gaines, Anthony Johnson, Dallin Leavitt, Tarvarius Moore, Jonathan Owens, Benny Sapp, and Darnell Savage

Although the Green Bay Packers still have to figure out who will be starting next to Darnell Savage to begin the season, as you can see, this is actually quite a crowded safety room that GM Brian Gutekunst has put together this offseason.

Typically, the Packers have rostered either four or five safeties on the 53-man roster. Even if they choose to keep five, that means that, most likely, one of Owens, Moore, or Leavitt is not going to make the team. What this means for Benny Sapp, along with Innis Gaines, is that he will probably be competing for a spot on the practice squad. Whether it be in coverage, as a tackler and run defender, or on special teams, Sapp will have to stand out in at least one of those capacities.

Stats to know

Sapp began his career at Minnesota, where he played minimally during his first two seasons. He has since spent the last three years at UNI. Altogether, Sapp has totaled nearly 2,000 defensive snaps, most of which have come at free safety, which is where the Packers need the most help at the position, along with another 382 in the box and 349 from the slot.

Over the previous three seasons, where just about all of his playing time occurred, Sapp made 128 of his 148 tackle attempts, missing 13.5% of them. In coverage, he allowed a completion rate of 65% on 66 targets and 15.6 yards per catch. However, he was very good at making plays on the ball, coming away with nine interceptions and four pass breakups. For what it’s worth, by PFF’s grading system, he’s graded out as a solid all-around defender all three years against the run, the pass, and as a tackler.

Following Sapp’s 2022 season, he was named a third-team FCS All-American and a first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference member.

"“The reason why I feel like I should stick around is because of my work ethic and determination,” Sapp said via SI’s Bill Huber. “I’m going to come to work every day with my hair on fire and keep my head down and keep being humble and put my pride away if I don’t know something.“I’m all about football. I live, eat and sleep this. It’s all I do every day. When I’m not doing anything, I play ‘Madden.’ I try to learn defenses more and more every day. That’s why I feel like I should be able to stick around.”"

Measurements

5’11” | 200 | RAS: 4.40

Sapp is a bit undersized at the safety position, but he is strong, putting up 20 reps on the bench press. He ran a 4.62-second 40-yard dash and tested well in the vertical and broad jump assessments. For some context, the three safeties that Brian Gutekunst has drafted during his tenure have all scored 8.0 or higher on the Relative Athletic Scoring scale, but of course, at this stage of the draft process, just about all of the top athletes are going to have been drafted. As I mentioned in the Brenton Cox preview, with UDFAs, teams are looking for a trait or two, whether that be athletically or something they see on film, that could give that player a chance of sticking around. My guess is with Sapp, that quality was his well-rounded skill set that he brings to the position.

Pre-draft scouting report

"“Strengths: Nice-sized safety with an aggressive attitude. Plays heads-up football, quickly picks up coverage assignments, and tracks the pass in the air. Quick, keeps the action in front of him, and has a closing burst to the action. Works well with corners to bracket receivers out to the flanks. Fires up the field and gives effort defending the run.“Weaknesses: Does more hitting than wrap-up tackling. Lacks next-level speed and doesn’t come with much of an upside.“Overall: Sapp is a physical safety with next-level size who could make a roster if he plays well on special teams.” – Tony Pauline, Pro Football Network"