Packers By Position: Green Bay Will Try Upgrading Its Entire Secondary
During an injury-plagued season, Green Bay Packers CB Jaire Alexander (23) had just one interception. [+]By The Associated Press, 2023. RESERVE ALL RIGHTS.
This is the eighth installment of a nine-part series that looks at the offseason strategy, strengths, and weaknesses of the Green Bay Packers at every position. We examine the defensive backs today.
Below is a list of the other positional overviews.
AIMING RETURNED
All over, Green Bay’s defense was the epitome of mediocrity, which ultimately lost coordinator Joe Barry his position. The secondary, however, was the area that suffered more than the others.
ENDORSED
The throwing yards allowed per game (2068) was an impressive ninth place finish for the Packers. However, Green Bay’s seven interceptions tied the 2018 squad for the fewest in a season since at least 1940.
General manager Brian Gutekunst of Green Bay stated, “I think the back end is probably where we weren’t as consistent as we needed to be and I’d like that to be shored up.” “There will most likely be some moving parts there in the upcoming year.”
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The highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, Jaire Alexander, struggled both on and off the field throughout his six seasons. Due to back and shoulder issues, Alexander only participated in seven games and was incredibly erratic in those games. Alexander also received a one-game suspension for actions that were harmful to the club.
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After serving his suspension, Alexander did improve and recorded his season’s only interception in Green Bay’s playoff victory against Dallas.
Regarding Alexander’s suspension, Packers coach Matt LaFleur stated, “I think there is a lot of good that actually came out of that.” It was difficult. It was difficult for our team, for myself, and for him.However, I adore his response, and that’s life. You have two options: either dive right in or make an effort to improve yourself via learning and growth. And he has, in my opinion, adopted that strategy.
Green Bay’s 2021 first-round draft selection, Eric Stokes, has battled injuries throughout his star-crossed career. Due to foot and hamstring issues, Stokes only appeared in three games and spent the entirety of the season on the injured reserve list (hamstring).
Carrington Valentine, a rookie selected in the seventh round of the draft, proved passable after Stokes was sidelined, although he did allow receptions on 35 of the 61 passes he was targeted (57.3%).
Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, Rudy Ford, and Anthony Johnson made constituted a subpar safety group at best. Change is on the way as the Packers have already terminated the contracts of nickel corner Keisean Nixon and Savage.
STARTING UP AHEAD
This summer, many predicted that Alexander would be traded by Green Bay. That notion was quickly shelved by Gutekunst once the season concluded.
“No, no,” the general manager of Green Bay uttered.
Alexander, who agreed to a four-year contract worth $84 million in May 2022, needs to get back to the level of play that first made him a major player. Alexander hasn’t performed at his pre-contract level and has missed 22 games due to injuries over the last three seasons.
Stokes will have every chance to recover from two seasons marred by injuries thanks to the Packers.
“When he’s been healthy, I think Eric’s played a lot of really good football for us,” Gutekunst stated. “Despite all of his injuries, he has worked extremely hard.”
“Yes, when he’s out there, we’re a little bit different because of his ability to take speed away, but I think he’s got a good plan as we go forward this summer to try to get some of those things right.” “I know how frustrated he is because it’s so important to him.”Stokes will have every chance to recover from two seasons marred by injuries thanks to the Packers.
“When he’s been healthy, I think Eric’s played a lot of really good football for us,” Gutekunst stated. “Despite all of his injuries, he has worked extremely hard.”
“Yes, when he’s out there, we’re a little bit different because of his ability to take speed away, but I think he’s got a good plan as we go forward this summer to try to get some of those things right.” “I know how frustrated he is because it’s so important to him.”
It’s likely that Savage, a talented athlete who never lived up to his first-round hype, will find a big-money suitor on the free agent market, ending his five-year stay in Green Bay.
In 2023, Owens signed a $1.01 million, one-year contract. Throughout his six-year career, he has been the epitome of mediocrity, and the Packers are expected to attempt to upgrade at both safety spots.
Nixon and Ford are also free agents without limitations. Should neither player receive the compensation they are expecting in free agency, it wouldn’t be shocking to see them sign a team-friendly contract to return to Green Bay.
OFFSEASON GUIDELINES
In 2019, Gutekunst made significant changes to Green Bay’s safety group by selecting Savage with a first-round draft pick and signing veteran Adrian Amos in free agency. He might adopt a similar strategy in the off-season.
On March 13, the new league year gets underway, and Green Bay is probably going to add a seasoned safety. In the April draft, the Packers will also have 11 picks and will most likely choose one or two safetys.
Regarding his ideal post safety, new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley stated, “I want a guy who can erase things.” “This guy has to be able to get a guy down and come out of middle field with his hair on fire if a run hits up the middle. We have to eliminate explosive plays when we play this defense.” In addition, I want him to be a man that goes after the ball carrier and finishes the pile when he is tied up. I’m looking for a man who can steal the ball and move from sideline to sideline.
Also, Green Bay plans to attempt adding a couple of cornerbacks through the draft or free agency.
