HEADLINES

Javon Bullard

Packers’ Javon Bullard In “Pole Position” For Starting Safety Job

July 21st, 2024 at 9:35am CST by Rory Parks

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.

Packers Could Start Two Rookies On Defense

June 16th, 2024 at 6:34pm CST by Ely Allen

The Packers used their first-round pick this year on an offensive tackle, and Arizona’s Jordan Morgan is expected to earn a starting role at left tackle over the incumbent Rasheed Walker, but the team’s next two draft picks could be on their way to starting roles, as well, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.

Green Bay had two second-round picks in this year’s draft, and they used both of them on SEC defenders. At 45th overall, the Packers took Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, then 13 picks later, they took Georgia safety Javon Bullard at No. 58.

Cooper was the first player taken at his position in this year’s draft, aligning with most pre-draft rankings. Thanks to the unprecedented run of offensive players to open the event, Cooper ended up being the only linebacker taken in the first two rounds. Bullard was the second safety off the board, also following many pre-draft rankings.

Neither player was necessarily viewed as a surefire candidate to start as a rookie. Cooper has the quickness and explosiveness to run and cover, but his occasional lack of discipline had some thinking development was necessary before he could become a three-down linebacker. Bullard has the versatility to play all over the field with a skillset that could make him a perfect fit in a hybrid safety/nickel role, but his lack of ideal size and length was viewed as a potential limiter to his natural abilities and instincts at the next level.

In new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley‘s new scheme, though, both players reportedly showed flashes in organized team activities. The team has made it clear that it’s not declaring any starters quite yet, but Cooper has been the leading man in the middle of the team’s 4-3 look on defense between Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie as the Packers look to replace the departed De’Vondre Campbell.

The team is also looking to replace both starting safeties after the departures of Jonathan Owens and Darnell Savage. Free agent signing Xavier McKinney should fit into one of the two starting slots, but the second job appears to be up for competition. Bullard has a bit more of an uphill battle to win the job than Cooper does at linebacker, but through OTAs, he appears to be well in the mix.

The team isn’t afraid to start rookies either. Green Bay saw Carrington Valentine start 12 games at cornerback after being selected in the 7th round last year. If Cooper and Bullard continue to show positive signs of development throughout the summer, there’s a good chance the Packers could have at least three rookie starters to open the 2024 NFL season.

Packers Sign Second-Round S Javon Bullard

June 3rd, 2024 at 6:59pm CST by Ely Allen

The Packers continued to make progress on signing their rookie class today. They’ve now narrowed their list of unsigned draft picks to one after announcing that second-round safety Javon Bullard has inked his rookie deal.

Playing his high school football at Baldwin HS (GA), Bullard chose to stay relatively close to home for college, committing to Georgia about two hours up the road. As a three-star recruit, Bullard played more of a reserve/special teams role as a true freshman. As a sophomore, Bullard earned a starting spot on the Bulldogs defense before a DUI arrest would lead to a short suspension. He would return to help lead the team to its second consecutive national title, earning Defensive MVP honors in the 2022 season finale after recording two interceptions and a fumble recovery before exiting the game with injury.

While he didn’t improve his resume too much in his junior season, Bullard showed enough in his two years as a starter at Georgia to forego his senior year of eligibility and declare early for the 2024 NFL Draft. Ranking in the top five of most prospect lists, Bullard was the second safety off the board in the draft, following Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin, who was drafted by the Giants 11 picks earlier.

In Green Bay, the Packers will likely ask Bullard to start next to free agent addition Xavier McKinney as they attempt to fill the roles left vacant by the departures of both starters, Darnell Savage and Jonathan Owens, from last year. If either Bullard or McKinney don’t quite fit in a starting role, the Packers bolstered their depth at the position by drafting two other safeties in the fourth (Evan Williams) and fifth round (Kitan Oladapo).

With Bullard under contract, first-round offensive tackle Jordan Morgan out of Arizona remains the only remaining draft pick to sign. Here’s a look at the rest of the class: