5 veteran safeties the Packers can target in free agency

Safety is undoubtedly one of the Packers’ biggest needs this offseason, but after sub-optimal testing from a significant proportion of the prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine this past week, Green Bay may have to find help in free agency.   

The combine isn’t the end all be all. Plenty of prospects didn’t test well but went on to have great careers.  

However, Packers general manger Brian Gutekunst has a type he looks for when selecting players. Going off Kent Lee Platte’s Relative Athletic Scores, 30 of Gutekunst’s 42 draft picks have scored at least an 8.0.  

For reference, a RAS score ranging from 1-10 is given to a player using their height, weight and athletic measurements taken from their combine and pro days. The higher the score, the better.   

Unfortunately, only eight safeties that participated in Indianapolis received a RAS of at least 8.0.   

While Gutekunst could stray from his self-imposed thresholds if he really likes a player, it is now even more likely that the team will prioritize finding a safety in free agency.   

“Our secondary is a little bit unsettled. We have a couple of safeties that are moving on that were here last year,” Gutekuunst said at the combine.  

Of course, Gutekunst is likely referring to Adrian Amos, Rudy Ford and Dallin Leavitt, who will become unrestricted free agents on March 15. Hopefully, Keisean Nixon will be back, even if it’s just for his return ability, and Ford could return to be a solid depth piece.   

Right now, Darnell Savage is the only safety on the roster with significant playing time. In an ideal scenario, the Packers will sign a safety who can start right away and find one in the draft with the goal of him developing into a starter down the road.   

Thankfully, the first part may not be too difficult. This year’s group of free-agent safeties has plenty of experience and includes some options that may not be overly expensive. While it would be great if Green Bay could land someone like Jessie Bates III, I have a hard time believing they will use their limited cap space in a bidding war for one of the top players on the market.   

Instead, here are five free-agent safeties I believe are realistic targets the Packers could go after.