Green Bay Packers post-draft position review: Safety

One of the Green Bay Packers’ top needs back in January, let’s take a closer look at the safety position following free agency and the draft.

GM Brian Gutekunst wasn’t going to go into the new season without making big changes at safety. From letting Morgan Burnett walk last offseason to trading away Ha Ha Clinton-Dix then spending big money in free agency and using a first-round pick at the position, Gutekunst has made some big moves at the position.

With the additions of Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage Jr., is safety now a strength for the Green Bay Packers?

Let’s look at the players currently under contract.

Adrian Amos

Any time you can take a key player from a division rival, it’s a win. Adrian Amos played an important role in the Chicago Bears’ No. 1-ranked scoring defense last season, but he’ll now play two games a year against the Bears.

His work in Chicago led to Green Bay giving him a four-year deal worth $36 million, which was well deserved.

Amos might not get as many interceptions as Clinton-Dix, but what the Packers are getting is a reliable safety who won’t miss many tackles and will continue to make important plays that won’t always show up on the stat sheet. But if we’re talking about stats, Amos did put up a career-best nine pass defenses in 2018, three times more than Clinton-Dix last year.

This could be a home-run signing by the Packers and one of the best in free agency by any team this offseason.

Darnell Savage Jr.

Gutekunst recognized that even after signing Amos, the Packers needed another safety who could start right away. Enter Darnell Savage, who Gutekunst traded up in the first round to get. Whereas Amos might not get many interceptions, Savage absolutely can. Over the past two seasons, Savage has seven interceptions and 10 passes defended.

Savage helps add speed to Mike Pettine’s defense — he ran an impressive 4.36-second 40-yard dash. There’s no reason why Savage can’t start Week 1 at Chicago.

Josh Jones

Providing competition for Savage will be third-year safety Josh Jones, drafted in the second round two years ago. Jones still has the potential to become a very good player in the NFL, but so far things haven’t worked out as the Packers had hoped. With the additions made at safety, it’ll be interesting where Pettine uses Jones the most — will he spend more time at linebacker?

An excellent athlete who adds speed to the defense (4.41 second 40-yard dash), Jones can still find an important role on defense moving forward. This is a big season for the second-round pick.

Raven Greene

Raven Greene only played eight games in 2018 due to injury, but he impressed in his limited opportunities after being signed as an undrafted free agent last spring. Greene spent most of his time on special teams (28.45 percent of the Packers’ special teams snaps in 2018, according to Pro Football Reference). Entering his second season, Greene will be a player to watch at training camp.

Tray Matthews

Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vikings last offseason before eventually being added to the Packers’ practice squad, Tray Matthews will compete for a spot on the 53-man roster this summer.

Overall confidence

The Green Bay Packers have taken a huge step forward at safety this offseason. They’ll be hoping Amos and Savage can make an immediate impact as starters, and if so, the Packers will be much stronger at safety. With two starters in Amos and Savage, and solid depth with Jones and Greene, the Packers look to be well set at the position ahead of the 2019 season.