Thank you for a full spectrum peak at available safeties in the upcoming draft.
Unfortunately, it looks like options are very limited at best for this glaring position of need.
We better have good corners, LB's and pass rush if the back end is going to hold up in 2023.
Do your best Gutey, you're our only chance with jbarry still at the helm!
GPG!

I already said this under a different article, but I wonder how much it would cost the Packers to sign former Seahawk safety Ryan Neal. Seems like he played way better than the Seahawks gave him credit for, but maybe there's something going on with him that I don't know. Hawks let him go for nothing, and never really tried to keep him even though he had been a restricted FA.

Robinson isn't a bad prospect at all. He's a little short, but incredibly versatile and has a feisty and physical style that the Packers could really use in the defensive backfield.

Howden, while bigger and also experienced, is only projected to be a sixth or seventh round pick, so the Packers will need to dip into the talent pool with at least one much earlier pick.

Sometimes you have to balance college production against future Pros against RAS. I think Gute doesn't waste the visits as much as TT did.

For depth. Ryan Neal from the Seahawks $2mil and some tacos?

Well the good news is that the guys that Green Bay would be interested in will be available in the 3rd round or later. If we trade back in the 1st round like we should to get our TE while picking up extra picks, we should fall right into that sweet spot the safeties will all be in. Jordan Battle is most draft gurus and my top choice for safety that fits what Green Bay needs. He has played against the best competition, the SEC. But Antonio Johnson or J L Skinner would work too. All could start.

Ronnie Hickman-Ohio State is a good one. Late picks Daniel Scott-Cal and Kaevon Meriweather-Iowa is a good one. A developmental possible position changer could be CB Mekhi Garner-LSU is 6'2 215 lbs. and 4.55. Sounds like a Safety.

Or the Jets young safety Ashtyn Davis could be asked for in the trade. He has played a lot for them and is cheap.

I am biased because I am a Hawkeye, but I would pick Kaevon Meriweather-Iowa over Robinson. 8.37 RAS and 6'0 @ 210 lbs. Really good ball skills and fundamentals like all Iowa D-backs. Could be has in 6 or 7th round.

RAS scores are for underwear warriors. Just give me a football play. Someone who has an intensity when he plays, but still plays under control. Someone who can analyze a play in an instant, and react, getting to the ball at the same time as the competition, and disrupt the play. A guy who has a hard nose and a mean attitude. A guy who plays faster on the field than he does when running in a straight line, or jumping from a standing position. I want a sure tackler who can stop a ball carrier cold in his tracks. Give me a football player.

The Packers Beat Writer for the Athletic said it best today "Green Bay’s top two safeties are Darnell Savage Jr. and Rudy Ford with Adrian Amos still an unrestricted free agent. Opposing offenses will salivate seeing those two lined up on the back end". Our GM has brought in some outstanding defensive players via free agency (Campbell-Douglass-Nixon-Reed) but giving Savage the 5th year option early last year was a huge mistake and it appears they have to live with it one more year because he has virtually no trade value with the guaranteed contract. Hopefully there is a sleeper in the draft and/or Douglass is moved to safety and they take advantage of his ability to play the ball.

They'll find their safety.
I Just hope they don't take him in rd. 1
Robinson would be a great choice!
I'd also consider DJ Turner at FS safety.
Elite speed, smart and can solo tackle.

Believe strongly that the team cannot afford to over reach at any position including safety to try plugging a hole. Smart drafting for the long-term is what the team needs. If the talent does not match the need then draft the BPA, or trade back to where talent meets draft choice.

With that being said, on defense I am taking DL & Edge long before Safety. Stop the run & put pressure on the QB ranks first and foremost to me.

Clarity on this would be helpful for me!

Maybe I have just missed it, but here is a question I just don't feel has been adequately addressed.

Aaron Rodgers went on McAfee and said he 'wants to play for the Jet's!'

Right now in the potential trade of AR there are only the Jet's who are supposedly involved, which is impacting his potential trade value. Is this because Aaron Rodgers is unwilling to consider another team, or is it because there are just no other suitors for Aaron Rodgers? My assumption it is because AR is saying he will play for the Jet's.

Is there anything in his contract that gives him control over where he will play, or is it simply fear that if he isn't traded to the team he wants to play that he might retire? Clarification on this would be great!

Is this a situation the Packers need to push the envelope and open the trade possibilities calling Rodgers bluff for playing only for the Jet's?

Thanks!

duplicate due to slow internet

3 teams list Safety as a NEED.
NO, GB, and you might be interested in
this one. Yes- The NY Jets need a SAFETY.
Guess who gets to pick in front of the packers?

I don't know. There was something wrong with the defense last year. Was it poor play or some consternation created by the coaches. Everything was rosy during camp and preseason. Then the season started and things fell apart. And during the 5 game losing streak it appeared the players gave up. They recouped during the winning streak and again laid an egg during the Detroit game. There were stretches where they couldn't get off the field. And if I see another third and three with the DBs playing off ten yards I'll gag.

Defense is so much more a team thing where the defense is effective when everyone does their job. And it doesn't take three years for a coordinator to have a defense playing well.

We know the offense will struggle some. But does anyone know how the defense will perform? One can't predict when the players and coaches aren't aligned.

I'm 100% in on :
S JL Skinner - Boise St. R2-3
6-3 209 4.55 78” wingspan

Elite 37.8 QB rating when targeted as a Senior. Enforcer. Absolute hammer in run support w burst. Quicks rather than fast, but has speed to cover a lot of ground quickly. Solid both zone & man. Ball skills to create TOs.

Rare physical gifts.
__

S Ronnie Hickman - Ohio St. R4
6-0 209 4.45

Can play multiple roles. Very physical player. QB rating when targeted 34.4. Fluid center fielder who flys. Ball skills. + blitzer & run D. Ideal blitzer. Can run deep. Instincts to anticipate plays at yd. marker & red zone.

__

S Quindell Johnson R5-6
6-0 200 4.49

Volume production Safety who can cover and run D. Ranger who covers a lot of ground. Pop as tackler. Speed as single high or field-safety with man & zone experience. Memphis career: 226 Solo Tackles, 94 Assists, 320 Total Tackles, 15.5 TFL, 1 Sack, 10 INT, 24 PD, 3 FR, 4 FF.

*****
I'm a huge Tarvarius Moore fan. Never played his natural position S with SF - they tried converting him to CB immediately post draft as a rookie. Moore will be 2 years removed from successful Achilles surgery. I think there's a good chance he'll surprise.

Here's the story on the safety position. We play two, sometimes three, and dress out 4, carry 5 on the 53.

Right now, those 5 would be Savage, Ford, Ford, Gaines, Moore.

Amos has not yet signed with anybody, and he's counting $8 million against us. IMO, the simplest solution is to extend him and convert the pro-rated signing bonus to salary. I do not know how much his value is, but Spotrac calculates it at about $20 million for 3 years, meaning for another $12 million over three years we could keep this guy who isn't 30 yet.

Branch is the best of the bunch, the only legit first round safety in this draft. We'd probably have to take him with our first pick. There are several safeties that could be had on Day 2 and I'd be in favor of taking one.

The Raiders were the only other reported team interested in Rodgers, so the Jets are probably THE suitor for the Diva. I hope the trade gets done before the draft so we have the extra picks and because it just feels like the longer it takes the better chance it blows up.

The only real alternative option for the Jets would be Lamar since that debacle is also still going. I can see the Ravens caving for an offer from the Jets of Wilson and their 2024 1st with some extra players when there are no more options for either team. It would be a catastrophe if our trade didn't happen. More so for Green Bay because we would get nothing in return when we could have had such a haul last year.

No need to draft a safety in 1st or 2nd rounds. The need is there but the value isn't. There should be extra picks from the Jets if the trade happens, but either way we should trade back from #15 for extra picks that would be right where the Safeties will come off the board. The Broncos were also in need of Safety, According to Draftek, but they have very few picks. Green Bay should offer Savage for Broncos TE Albert Okwuegbunam or send them a 7th rounder for him. If they take Savage we save $$ and if they take the pick thats cheap for a starting TE that we need badly.

Okwuegbunam or Ruckert, we need a cheap experienced TE.

Troy Polamalu just happens to be featured on NFL Films right now. That dude may have had the best instincts of any safety ever. I know there have been some great ones. (Ed Reed comes to mind, but Polamalu was otherworldly, IMO.)

If only Gutey could find one with those instincts, we'd be good for a while anyway.

5'11? Your water boy is 5'11 not your safety going up against 6'3 receivers all over your division. We've tried this before 8t don't work. I still say Stokes sucks at corner, he should be moved to safety, has the size and speed to handle it. He could be very good at this. Gives his pea brain more time to process the play. he is too slow mentally in the corner.

I know he is not the ultimate answer, but what is Vernon Scott’s current status?

Sort of frightening this season as we glance around at some positions and see we arent thin, but anorexic. The cupboard is bare at safety and tight end, and not much better at wide receiver and quarterback-not a slap at love, but we need a backup I dont remember a season in recent history with this many positions needing bodies GO PACK GO

The league has evolved to the point where WRs are running much faster than ever before. It is folly to put people in the defensive secondary who can not run under a 4.5 forty. This years crop of safeties was a major disappointment (particularly at the combine). Contrary to that, the DL/edge and CB positions are loaded. There are two ways to improve the pass defense 1) improve the players in the secondary or 2) improve the pass rush. The logical choice this year would be to address the pass rush with linemen who can not only rush the passer but stop the run as well. That is why we need to go DL/Edge with our first round pick. The Aaron Donald clone Calijah Kancey is my favorite choice if there at #15. I saw one mock mock draft that had him going to Detroit after the Packers pick....ouch!

The ultimate answer takes some digging to sort out. I’m more in alignment with stockholder in - where - the Safety chips fall: R2-R4.

Play along with me here: After considering GB options in a scenario the Packers gets 13, 42, 43, pop two of the most dynamic TEs straight off the board, in Kincaid & Washington, 13 & 15...

The value for Safety is R3.

WR is the sexy pick that doubles as a punch in the face to AR, in R1, but, is it the smart play? No. That path’s odds point to bust land.

EDGE is one of the deepest positions in this draft, and that best value mark may be found in R2-4. The very top EDGE will be gone by 13.

The Packers want to positively affect their offense, and adding Kincaid and Washington up top fills not just one, but two needs, considering Washington is likely the best blocker in this draft, as effective as an OL. Kincaid is the best move TE, 100%. Adding both might be just what the doctor ordered.

I see pairs needed at TE, EDGE, S and to a lesser degree OL (probably ticks up if NYJ gets 2 or more of our OL in trade).

Both players are worthy of each slot R1, especially so going to the same team.

That would leave 4 Day 2 picks to add players like JL Skinner -and - Robinson, while also adding a CB like Turner, maybe an EDGE or OL, then infilling our remaining needs Day 3.

I like your logic there, stockholder. Credit where credit’s due.

Imagine a start like this, Day 1-2:

13 TE Dalton Kincaid
15 TE Darnell Washington
42 S JL Skinner
43 EDGE Isaiah Foskey
45 EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah
78 S DJ Turner

This start to our 2023 draft alone would help our O & D immensely. Savage gets moved out of the starter, or Turner simply get groomed to take over. All 3 Safeties on the field would often be a thing… and maybe 4 with Moore.

That would make for a very solid group at Safety, while significantly bolstering TE & pass rush.

Also, I doubt Gutekunst will be finished trading once this AR trade dust settles. He'll exhaust every avenue to improve the talent on this team. UDFA, Roster Cuts, Trade Deadline.

Green, do i understand it right that Moore actually played the Safety position in college that Green Bay needs? And San Fran wrongly decided he needed to be a CB instead? It seems in the pros especially, the position switch teams make is slower, bigger CB to Safety. As I understand he is pretty fast. Is he talented enough to be a starter @ Safety or just special teams contributor?

How do you rate Jordan Battle? He is not as fast as Brown but is bigger and has a pretty strong resume playing well in the best conference in college football. He seems like a better tackler as well.

Also do you know if the Rodgers trade were to be official after June 1st, when we could split the cap hit over 2 years, would it open substantial cap room to sign free agents?

Multiple reports tonite from different sources that San Francisco has been talking with Green Bay about trading for Rodgers if the Jets deal fall through. That is great news if true to get another "Bidder" into this trade. That could force the Jets to offer something worthwhile.

I don't know what kind of trade offer the 49ers could throw out. They have no 1st or 2nd in 2023. They have three 3rd rounders but they are at the end of the 3rd. They have no 4th rounders either, but they have three 5th rounders. Maybe they offer all three 3rds plus two 5ths this year and a 2024 1st rounder which would be late in 1st round. I'm not sure what players they have that could sweeteners.