convicting “Must Keep” Playoff Hero Packers Unrestricted Agent
As free agency draws near, the Green Bay Packers are expected to be over the salary cap; nonetheless, general manager Brian Gutekunst ought to give top priority to re-signing at least one star from the 2023 postseason run.
In addition to recording eight total stops in Green Bay’s two playoff games, safety Darnell Savage of the Packers caught a pass from Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and returned it for a touchdown in the team’s lopsided NFC Wild Card win.
Savage is the only free agent that the Packers need to resign this offseason, according to The 33rd Team.
Marcus Mosher writes, “Darnell Savage has certainly had an up-and-down career for the Green Bay Packers.” “But his play rose during the playoffs. He was all over the field and produced an amazing pick-six against Dak Prescott in the opening round of the playoffs.
“It makes sense for the Packers to keep Savage around for another year or so because they don’t have many unrestricted free agents to worry about.”
In ten games with the Packers in 2023, Savage, then 26 years old, recorded 51 total tackles and one pass breakup. Savage has an overall rating of 75.5 from Pro Football Focus, which ranks him as the No. 15 safety in the whole league.
It may come down to Gutekunst and the Packers deciding whether to draft a safety high in the 2024 NFL Draft, which would be a more cap-friendly choice with long-term possibilities, or to bring Savage back via free agency.
Estimating the Market Value of Darnell Savage
For five years, Savage has been a dependable, if patchy, member of the Packers’ secondary.
Savage was selected by the Packers with the No. 21 overall choice in the 2019 NFL Draft. In his first five seasons of play, he has totaled 302 tackles, one sack, nine interceptions, one of which has been recovered for a touchdown.
