Is Green Bay Packers rookie safety Darnell Savage the best draft pick from the NFL North in 2019?
Gennaro Filice of NFL.com (via 247Sports.com's Brian Jones) certainly thinks so. He described Savage as “the total package” in his report card of the Packers' 2019 draft class.
Full disclosure: Darnell Savage was my favorite player to study throughout this pre-draft process. Not favorite safety. Not favorite defender. Favorite player.
The insane closing speed, the dynamic ball-hawking, the way he tracks down ball carriers like a heat-seeking missile — I adore the total package.
I mean, the guy's name is Darnell Savage, for Christ's sake. So I was always going to wax poetic about him in this series, regardless of which team he landed on.
Moreover, Filice dubs Savage as the “perfect complement” to fifth-year safety Adrian Amos. The latter is at his best when he plays near the line of scrimmage. On the other hand, Savage makes quarterbacks pay for throwing in his direction.
While Filice considers Savage his favorite player, he gave the Packers an overall grade of B for their draft performance. Taking Michigan Wolverines defensive end Rashan Gary with the 12th overall pick didn't impress Filice much.
However, the selections of Savage, offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins, tight end Jace Sternberger, and defensive end Kingsley Keke improved Green Bay's overall draft grade.
Many Packers fans weren't pleased when general manager Brian Gutekunst and Co. drafted Darnell Savage. He wasn't one of those big-name rookies on the draft board.
If Filice's assessment turns out accurate, Savage will prove the naysayers wrong in the 2019 NFL season. He could be the ball hawk that will make an enormous difference on Green Bay's defense.