5. Darnell Savage Jr. will lead the NFC North in interceptions
Darnell Savage Jr. has already received high praise from his teammates.
#Packers WR Davante Adams had big praise for first-round rookie safety Darnell Savage Jr.: "He’s going to be that guy – I can tell. We definitely got a steal. I know we got him early, but I still think that he could have gone even earlier just based on what he’s doing out there."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) June 12, 2019
And it comes as no surprise. Savage is likely to start right away with Adrian Amos at safety, and he will have a big impact in his rookie season. A ballhawk in college, Savage can be the key piece the Green Bay Packers defense has been missing, a player who can change a game with a takeaway at an important moment.
So here’s my bold prediction: Savage will lead the NFC North in interceptions in 2019. That won’t be easy up against the Bears’ trio of Kyle Fuller (seven interceptions in 2018), Eddie Jackson (six) and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (three).
But Savage had seven picks of his own in his final two years at college, and he now joins a defense that should create plenty of opportunities. With a dominant defensive line and a strong pass rush, there will be chances for takeaways. And Savage is the perfect player to line up at safety and find the football.
The first-round pick is a great addition to Mike Pettine’s defense, and if he does lead the division in interceptions, it could also lead to the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.