![]() If the Packers are looking for experience at safety, then Robinson is their guy. Here’s one of his six interceptions from the past two seasons. Safety Christopher Smith has plenty of range to roam the backend with just a great overall feel and the production to show for it. Overall, Smith would be a great day-two target for Green Bay.Ĭould the #Packers go back to the Georgia well in this year’s draft? Thankfully, he is at least willing but needs to become more consistent. However, tackling is an area that needs improvement after Smith missed 14.9% of his tackle attempts during his career, per PFF. He is also an aggressive tackler who is not afraid to come downhill and make a big hit. For the Packers, Smith would be great to have roaming the backend, where he could put his speed and football IQ to good use. ![]() While he was recruited as a corner, Smith lined up at free safety, in the box and in the slot at Georgia. His fluid movements and ability to react to routes helped him haul in three interceptions each of the last two seasons. Watching the tape, it’s easy to see why he was one of the top high school corners in the nation. At 5-11, 195 pounds, Smith doesn’t have ideal size, but his instincts and playmaking more than makeup for it. This guy covered a ton of ground over the past two seasons, starting in 24 games for the Bulldogs. If there is one word to describe Smith, it’s rangy. wXi39CbzNPĬould Green Bay select a Georgia player for the third year in a row? Right now, Smith appears to be one of the best fits for what the Packers want from their safeties. 15 and figure the rest out later.Īlabama’s Brian Branch crashes down from the slot and gets off the block of a pulling offensive guard to make a stop in the run game.įun, physical player. If he is still available, take him at no. His versatility and prowess to always be around the football will be coveted by a lot of teams, and hopefully, the Packers will be one of them. In coverage, Branch has solid play recognition and ball skills, as evidenced by his 23 pass defenses over three seasons.ĭeciding where to use Branch’s unique skill set will be the biggest challenge, but it shouldn’t matter when you are getting one of the most talented defensive players in the draft. At Alabama, he aligned deep and in the box so they could employ his physical demeanor near the line scrimmage to set the edge and be an effective blitzer. While Branch excelled in the slot, he is capable of playing more than one position. According to Pro Football Focus, he missed only four tackles in 173 career attempts and led all safeties with a 90.7 run-defense grade in 2022. In fact, you could argue that Branch was the best run defending safety in the country. In college, Branch mostly played in the slot, where he showed an impressive ability to match up with guys man to man and fill in as a run defender. Here are three top prospects that I think are the best fits to solve Green Bay’s safety woes:Īs the best safety prospect in the draft, it really doesn’t matter what defense he is in because Branch is going to make plays regardless. Still, using a premium draft pick on a safety is highly recommended, and luckily, this year’s draft will provide plenty of options. But if Savage is going to play the nickel – like he did after his benching – then the team may want to resign Rudy Ford and bring in another veteran to sure up the backend. “I’m hopeful as we go into next season that we’re going to see his best,” said Gutekunst.Įven if Savage is back next season, the Packers will need someone to pair opposite him. And judging by Brian Gutekunst’s comments after the season, it doesn’t sound like Savage is going to be traded, either. Last offseason, the team picked up his fifth-year option, which includes a guaranteed salary of $7.9 million. ![]() Savage, on the other hand, isn’t going anywhere. Last season was arguably his worst as a Packer, and it’s possible he may have played his last snap wearing the green and gold as he heads to free agency. With the NFL Scouting Combine starting in a week, now seems like a good time to look at safety prospects the Packers could take in the upcoming draft.Īfter three years of being one of the most reliable players on defense, age may have caught up to Amos. Unfortunately, that was put to rest when Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage had regressive years. The Green Bay Packers entered the 2022 season thinking they had one of the best safety tandems in the NFL. ![]()
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