Green Bay, Wisconsin – Safety is clearly the most important roster position to fix this offseason. Some may argue that safety has been a liability in every season for years, but who can meet this pressing need for an upgrade?
Several defensive backs who were expected to be available on the open market were assigned franchise tags just before free agency began. Tampa Bay All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., Chicago second-team All-Pro cornerback Jaylon Johnson, and Kansas City cornerback L’Jarius Sneed were franchise tagged, while New England safety Kyle Dugger received a transition tag.
Surprisingly, the New York Giants chose not to tag 2020 second-round selection and three-year starting safety Xavier McKinney, allowing him to test free agency. McKinney naturally becomes a top target for clubs looking to make an immediate impact at safety. Despite struggling with injuries in 2023, McKinney had 116 tackles, three interceptions, 11 defended passes, two fumble recoveries, and a half sack in nine games.
McKinney’s contract is likely to pay roughly $12 million, placing him in the top ten at his position. The Packers have cap space to work with, especially if they trade All-Pro offensive lineman David Bakhtiari, as expected. In addition to McKinney, other free agents include Jordan Whitehead of the New York Jets, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson of the Detroit Lions, Geno Stone of Baltimore, Karmen Curl of Washington, Julian Blackmon of Indianapolis, Jordan Fuller of the Los Angeles Rams, and Darnell Savage of the Packers.
This year’s deep safety market may allow the Packers to double dip in the free agent market. The Packers can clear up to $60 million in cap space through restructured deals and trades, so they have the resources to make a significant addition. That might imply adding not just one significant addition, but possibly two at the safety position.
“I think it just depends on the player,” Gutekunst said. “It depends on who that is and how he will affect our football team. If we need to push things forward, I don’t think we’ll be afraid to bring in impact players. We’d rather not do it, but this is about winning and attempting to win a championship, so if it makes sense, we’ll do it.
-Packers General Manager Bryan Gutekunst
Safety Prospects for the NFL Draft
This year’s 2024 NFL Draft features a relatively mediocre safety class, but one of the strongest cornerback groups in recent memory. Several talents who played cornerback in college might also play safety at the next level. Cooper DeJean, an Iowa native, is one of these players.
Cooper DeJean does not struggle with athleticism. He is the classic hybrid defensive back who would excel under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s 4-3 scheme. Cornerback is one of the strongest positions in the next draft class, although safety is extremely weak. DeJean possesses incredible field vision and natural ball abilities, which scream future Packer. DeJean has played both cornerback positions at Iowa, but he’s expected to be a hybrid DB in the NFL.
Jaden Hicks, a Washington State safety, is another player the Packers are interested in. Hicks is a powerful run defender who enjoys brutally rushing downhill to meet ball carriers. He has extremely disciplined eyes, which allow him to play the ball and disrupt catches. It makes no difference whether you line him up in the box, the slot, or deep; Hicks’ physicality is exactly what Green Bay’s defense needs. Hicks and DeJean, who can patrol centerfield while Hicks plays downhill, would be an excellent safety combo.
The Packers have numerous choices for addressing their biggest need, but I believe the ideal way is to maximize quality at the position through both free agency and the NFL draft. Regardless, it’ll be interesting to see how innovative Gutekunst becomes.
