5 Packers players who don't deserve another season in 2024

4. Darnell Savage

Another position that has increased in importance under Jeff Hafley is safety. It is the Packers' number one offseason need, especially with three starters hitting free agency.

Even if we include those three, the Packers don't have a player on the roster perfectly suited to Hafley's post safety role. He made it clear what is required at the position.

"We've got to eliminate explosive plays when we play this defense," said Hafley. "If a run hits up the middle, this guy has got to come out of the middle of the field with his hair on fire and has got to be able to get a guy down."

Unfortunately, Savage hasn't been consistent enough in those areas to start in the Packers' new-look defense.

Tackling remains an issue for Savage—he had a missed-tackle percentage of 13.6 this season, per Pro Football Reference. That won't work in this scheme, as the Packers would give up too many big plays.

Savage had one of the performances of his career in the wild-card win over the Dallas Cowboys, but those moments have been few and far between. The former first-round pick has just six pass defenses and one interception in his past 26 regular-season games.

The Packers need to start over at safety and find the best fits for Hafley's system.