Packers 2022 draft preview: Safety a sneaky need for Green Bay

We all know about the Green Bay Packers‘ need for a wide receiver and the importance of adding depth at edge rusher.

But a position not to be overlooked is safety.

It might come as a surprise if the Packers use a first-round pick on a safety, but it really shouldn’t.

Free agency recap

There have been no notable moves at safety in free agency, although Henry Black remains a free agent.

The Packers did restructure Adrian Amos’ contract to help them get under the salary cap.

One decision that awaits is whether the team picks up Darnell Savage’s fifth-year option. If they don’t, he will become a free agent in 2023.

Need in the draft?

Yes. For a couple of reasons.

The first is the glaring need at the third safety position. Henry Black remains unsigned, and the Packers should be looking for an upgrade here regardless.

Also, starters Amos and Savage are entering contract years. The Packers don’t want to lose one, or both, next offseason and be starting over at safety. It would make sense to draft a player this year who can take over a starting job in 2023 if necessary.

Draft outlook

It’s one of the Packers’ biggest needs that not enough people are talking about.

Green Bay’s depth at safety is nonexistent. Should Amos or Savage miss any time, the team doesn’t have many options currently.

For that reason, it shouldn’t be surprising if the Packers use one of their first-round picks on a player like Michigan’s Dax Hill or Georgia’s Lewis Cine. Maybe on Day 2 they would consider a safety like Baylor’s Jalen Pitre, who can also play at slot cornerback.

The Packers could address this position in free agency rather than the draft. Four-time All-Pro Tyrann Mathieu is still available. But can the Packers afford to pay him what he wants?

Green Bay needs to get some safety help in the draft. Adding a player with the versatility to play across the secondary, including slot corner, would be ideal. That’s why Hill could be worth a first-round pick. He can be a starter from Day 1 and could line up at multiple positions in the secondary.

Along with wide receiver and edge rusher, safety should be a top priority in the draft.