The Green Bay Packers have made major improvements at the safety position in 2024. A year ago, safety was one of the biggest weaknesses on the team. But the team completely revamped both the players on the roster and the defensive system over the offseason. Through the first two games, the safety position has gone from a weakness to a strength. Here is a look at how the Packers have turned around the safety position so far in 2024.

The Packers Have Turned Around the Safety Position in 2024: Last Season

The Packers struggled at safety in 2023. The team had three players who took the vast majority of snaps at the position. They included former first round pick Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, and Rudy Ford. Between them, they had just two interceptions during the regular season with Ford getting both of them.

In coverage, the trio was average at best. Owens was the best at playing the run but was far from elite even in that category. None of the three made many splash plays.

Rookie Anthony Johnson, Jr. also got into many games due to injuries. Savage and Ford both missed time after being hurt. The 2023 seventh-round pick started four games last season and added one interception. Johnson showed some potential but also made rookie mistakes.

Over the offseason, the Packers did not re-sign Ford, Savage, or Owens. Johnson ended up being a surprise cut after this year’s training camp.

The Changes Made During the Offseason

The team decided to part ways with defensive coordinator Joe Barry after the 2023 season ended. The team found his defensive system too passive. They also felt Barry was not maximizing the available talent on the roster.

The team then hired former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley to take over as DC. Hafley installed a four-man front and a more aggressive style of defense. He was also seeking safeties who could be versatile and thereby keep quarterbacks and offensive coaches guessing.

GM Brian Gutekunst decided to completely revamp the safety position. When free agency started, the Packers signed former New York Giants player, Xavier McKinney to a four-year, $67 million contract. McKinney was the highest-rated safety available in free agency. The Packers liked his ability to play in coverage and occasionally in the box. He was also just 25 when they signed him.

Then, at the draft, the Packers added three more potential safeties. On day two, the Pack added Javon Bullard. Then on the third day of the draft, Gutekunst selected Evan Williams and Kitan Oladapo. All three draftees made the team. In training camp, Bullard and Williams both played so well that the coaching staff had to find a place for them in the lineup.

The Packers Have Turned Around the Safety Position in 2024: The Early Impact

The Packers new safeties have fit in well. McKinney has played at a very high level. He’s been on the field for every one of team’s defensive snaps in the first two games of the season. The former has made eight tackles including one tackle for loss. He intercepted two passes and broke up two more. According to pro-football-reference.com, opposing quarterbacks have completed just one pass in the first two games when throwing to receivers covered by McKinney for eight yards. That means McKinney has caught more passes so far this season than the receivers he’s trying to cover.

Both Bullard and Williams have seen playing time in the first two games of the season. Bullard has been in on 16 total tackles and has one pass broken up. Williams has only played 20 snaps on defense thus far but already made his first career interception when he picked off Anthony Richardson to clinch the Packers win over the Colts at Lambeau Field last Sunday.

While the Packers secondary is still a work in progress, the position has gone from one of very average talent and production to a unit with more potential in Evans and Bullard and a proven quality starter in McKinney. In just two games, the current trio has already matched the number of interceptions the top four players at the position had in 17 games a year ago.

There is still work to be done, but the Packers safety group has gone from a major question mark to a unit that is making plays and giving the team a chance to win football games.

 

 

 

Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers

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