Green Bay Packers’ General Manager Brian Gutekunst is giving Mike Pettine yet another weapon to work with on the defense after a draft night trade with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Packers moved up to the 21st pick  and selected Maryland safety Darnell Savage Jr in exchange for the 30th pick and a pair of fourth round picks (114 and 118 overall).

This may have been a bit early to take Savage for some, but the Packers must’ve known that one of the teams in front of them was willing to take him and pulled the trigger on the trade. This is the third straight year that the Packers have used at least one of their first two picks on the secondary position, and Savage was the first safety taken on Thursday.

Savage is slightly undersized at 5’11”, 198, but makes up for it with 4.36 speed. According to NFL scouts, he has “above-average coverage IQ” and is “always looking for work, and motor won’t allow him to coast,” per ESPN’s broadcast.

Just like that, Green Bay has addressed two of its biggest concerns heading into draft weekend. In a matter of months, this defense has completely transformed, especially in the secondary. If healthy, Kevin King, Jaire Alexander, Adrian Amos, and Darnell Savage Jr. have the potential to be a very formidable back end to a rising Packers defense, that has already added to its pass rush in the offseason.

 

Stats courtesy of NFL Network

Picture courtesy of footballoutsiders.com

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