5 players the Packers must part ways with in 2023

Darnell Savage

Why, oh why, did the Packers pick up Darnell Savage’s fifth-year option? It means he is under contract through the 2023 season and, worse yet, it’s fully guaranteed. But if Green Bay can find a trade partner in the offseason, it needs to do it.

Savage reached an All-Pro level of play in the second half of the 2020 season, but he has been nowhere near that since and has been the Packers’ worst player on defense throughout the season.

Tweets like this one are becoming a weekly occurrence.

Tackling is a major issue for Savage. The best example of this was his attempted “tackle” of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in Week 8. As Allen rushed for a first down, Savage completely missed Allen and instead jumped out of bounds.

Coverage was Savage’s strength early in his career, but he has struggled since.

According to Pro Football Reference, Savage allowed a passer rating of just 67.3 in his coverage two years ago. He ended that season with 12 pass defenses and four interceptions.

However, last season, Savage gave up a passer rating of 117.4. This year, it’s up to 121.4.

Unless Savage turns things around in the second half of the season, he can’t be a starting safety for the Packers in 2023.