Packers: Darnell Savage, Elgton Jenkins named to PFWA All-Rookie Team

Congratulations to Darnell Savage and Elgton Jenkins.

The 2019 PFWA All-Rookie Team was announced on Tuesday, and the Green Bay Packers have two selections this season: safety Darnell Savage and left guard Elgton Jenkins.

Both players have made an immediate impact and have earned starting spots at their respective positions. Savage and Jenkins both showed Pro Bowl potential throughout their rookie seasons.

Last year, cornerback Jaire Alexander made the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

Safety was a major need for the Packers in the offseason, and they made the decision to trade up in the first round to select Savage.

Savage played in 14 games in the regular season and he showed off his ability to make game-changing plays on multiple occasions. He finished with two interceptions and two forced fumbles, while also having five pass defenses. The Packers have a strong safety duo for years to come with Savage and Adrian Amos, and they have excellent depth at the position with Raven Greene and Ibraheim Campbell.

Jenkins, a second-round pick in April, has perhaps been the biggest surprise for the Packers this season. As a Day 2 pick, they clearly had high hopes for his future but surely even GM Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur have to be surprised with just how quickly he has adjusted to the NFL.

According to Pro Football Focus, Jenkins didn’t allow a single sack on his 571 pass-blocking snaps in the regular season, which is simply phenomenal. Stats like this one show why Jenkins had a strong case to be a Pro Bowler or All-Pro this season.

Both Savage and Jenkins have helped the Packers improve at what were considered positions of need back in the offseason. They’ve both made fast starts to their careers in Green Bay and could become Pro Bowlers and All-Pros in the coming seasons.