Pitt QB Tom Savage Reportedly Makes Pre-Draft Visit to Green Bay
The Pittsburgh product represents one of the Packers' 30 official pre-draft visits.
The Green Bay Packers hosted Pittsburgh quarterback on an official pre-draft visit, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
"According to an NFL source, the Packers were one of the many teams that Savage has visited in the past couple of weeks," writes Silverstein. "He has reportedly shot up draft boards as teams start to find out more and more about him."
Savage's agent has acknowledged that his client was invited to the NFL Draft, which likely lends credence to his rising draft stock, even though Savage eventually turned down the invitation.
Despite the signing of Matt Flynn as a free agent, the Packers would still appear to be in the market for a quarterback to develop. Mike McCarthy said at the NFL Combine he'd like to carry a fourth quarterback into training camp.
Flynn was signed to just a one-year contract leaving his long-term status in Green Bay in doubt.
The jury is also still out on Scott Tolzien, who proved to possess impressive raw physical traits in limited playing time last season but still has to put together the entire package.
After beginning his college career at Rutgers, Savage transferred twice, eventually finishing his senior season at Pittsburgh, where McCarthy grew up and was an assitant coach with the Panthers early in his coaching days.
In 2013, Savage completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 2.958 yards with 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
NFL teams are allotted 30 official pre-draft visits in which they can interview a player and have them take a physical examination but not put them through an on-site workout.
Savage the 11th player reported to have a pre-draft visit with the Packers and the fourth quarterback. Others include:
- Quarterback David Fales, San Jose State
- Quarterback Keith Wenning, Ball State
- Quarterback Brock Jensen, North Dakota State
- Wide receiver Jeremy Butler, Tennessee-Martin
- Center Luke Bowanko, Virginia
- Offensive lineman John Fullington, Washington State
- Offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, McGill
- Cornerback Brandon Dixon, Northwest Missouri State
- Cornerback Walt Aikens, Liberty
- Linebacker Prince Shembo, Notre Dame
Photo: Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage by Brian Carriveau.
Comments (10)
RCPackerFan
April 29, 2014 at 06:33 am
That's interesting. Savage has been moving up the boards recently. I have seen 2nd - 4th rounds for him.
Would the Packers take him in the 4th if he was available?
Bringing in 4 quarter backs really shows that they are looking to find one to develop.
Evan
April 29, 2014 at 09:21 am
4th is way too early to take a QB, in my opinion.
There are just too many other areas that need attention.
RCPackerFan
April 29, 2014 at 10:45 am
Yeah, I completely agree... I'm not saying they will, I am just wondering if they will.
I have seen Tom Savage being projected in the 2nd - 4th round area, that's why I'm wondering if they would take him in the 4th round.
If he were to slid to the 5th I think they probably would take him then.
DrealynWilliams
April 29, 2014 at 02:44 pm
I don't think that's too early - especially if the QB selected already has talent. I'm tired of "developmental QB's". I'm not suggesting going to get a highly sought after QB,but let's stop leaning on MMs QB Camp. If we're fine with Flynn as a career backup then none of this matters.
What "many other areas" do we need to address? This team is already talented. It just needs talent/depth in a few positions and to stay healthy. Talent: Safety and ILB. Depth: WR,OL and DL. Five positions with 9 picks. The talent can be addressed within rounds 1-3 and the depth can be addressed in the remaining rounds.
Evan
April 29, 2014 at 02:59 pm
I'd also add:
Talent: TE
Depth: CB, OLB
So, 8 position groups (basically everything other than RB, K and P). I just think adding talent and/or depth to those 8 groups is far more important than drafting a backup QB.
And, fyi, any QB taken in this draft after the first 3 or 4 will be a "developmental QB" (and even that might be a stretch).
Personally, I'm more than fine with Flynn and Tolzien battling it out. I don't know if any 4th round QB will be better than those two (especially in 2014).
I agree this team is talented (so mistake me for Cow), but I think it could use a major infusion of talent and depth.
DrealynWilliams
April 29, 2014 at 06:02 pm
I'm not ranking getting a QB nowhere near the need for any weak position on this team. I'm just stating that this team doesn't need many positions addressed during the draft so taking a fly on a QB earlier than the 5th wouldn't hurt.
AJ McCarron,Aaron Murray,Zach Mettenberger are ranked from mid 3rd to the 4th-5th. Connor is 6th-7th due to lack of size. All winners. SEC QBs. I wouldn't label them developmental QBs. Zach and Aaron are ranked low because of their injuries. Connor is ranked low due to his lack of size. AJ is ranked in the 4th.
I wouldn't add a receiving TE because we dominated the #1 defense in the SB without Finely. I'm ok with Quarless and Bostik and a hell of a running game now. If we go TE I hope it's Niklas or the guy from Iowa.
You wouldn't take any of those QBs over Tolzien? I would. And the only thing Flynn has over those QBs are the knowledge of GB's offense.
As far as depth at CB: I kind of agree. But then there's the side of me that remembers when Davon House was kickin' ass during camp and was considered the best CB on the roster. Then he went on the get injured on punt coverage duty and he hasn't been the same since. Give him time like we gave Tramon time. This is his "prove it" year.
YGB69
April 29, 2014 at 01:26 pm
Tom Savage will go a lot higher than GB needs to go for a QB. We need to keep looking at Brock Jensen or David Fales ... in the 6-7 rounds.
4thand1
April 29, 2014 at 06:00 pm
Reaching for a QB is bad. Coleman wasn't even drafted so no big loss. He had a big arm, but obviously a big arm doesn't cut it in the NFL. Picking in the 6th or later wouldn't be reaching, hell Flynn was a 7th rounder, great value there. Looks like it could be Shazier at 21.
DrealynWilliams
April 29, 2014 at 06:11 pm
What's reaching? With Aaron Rodgers as your QB - First 3 rounds? I agree.
But we (fans) aren't even high on Flynn. Let's be honest. He just so happens to be our best option. We're lucky he was even available when things went bad last season. We played Wallace,Tolzien AND THEEEEEN Flynn.
Please,don't mistake this for hate towards Flynn.
4thand1
April 29, 2014 at 07:29 pm
No DW, I just wouldn't want them to draft a QB with all the needs they have. I wouldn't mind a QB in the 6th or 7th.