The Packers completely overhauled their safety depth chart this offseason, parting ways with the three safeties that started the most games for them in 2023 – Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, and Rudy Ford – while giving Xavier McKinney the most lucrative contract of any safety on the free agent market (four years, $68MM). Green Bay also added Georgia product Javon Bullard in the second round of this year’s draft, and as Matt Schneidman of The Athletic writes, Bullard is in “pole position” to land a starting job alongside McKinney (subscription required).
This echoes a report from last month that suggested Bullard and fellow second-round rookie Edgerrin Cooper had performed well in spring practices and had put themselves firmly in the mix for first-team action. Cooper, the first middle linebacker taken in the 2023 draft, appears poised to start next to Quay Walker in the second level of the Packers’ defense.
The veteran safety market has started to move a bit in recent weeks, with the likes of John Johnson, Jamal Adams, and Eddie Jackson securing new deals. There are a number of notable names still available, Justin Simmons and Quandre Diggs among them (Ford also remains unsigned). It seems, however, that the Packers will evaluate their current crop of talent in training camp before making any outside additions.
Assuming no such additions are made, Bullard will have to fend off two other 2024 draftees: fourth-round choice Evan Williams and fifth-rounder Kitan Oladapo. Oladapo, who broke the big toe on his left foot at this year’s scouting combine, has been placed on the NFI list and has not taken part in any offseason workouts, so he will be starting from behind whenever he is medically cleared.
The team is also rostering Anthony Johnson Jr., a 2023 seventh-rounder. Johnson appeared in 12 games (four starts) in his rookie campaign, and he was on the field for over 300 defensive snaps. He did record an interception and three passes defensed, but he generally exhibited the growing pains expected of a Day 3 choice in his first NFL season, and Pro Football Focus considered him the fifth-worst safety in the league among 95 qualified players.
Bullard could also see action at nickel, thereby allowing DC Jeff Hafley the opportunity to mix and match his young crop of defensive backs. The group will be tasked with maintaining or improving upon the performance of their predecessors, as the Pack yielded the ninth-fewest passing yards per game in 2023.