If you’re going to be a high-ticket safety in today’s NFL, you have two realistic choices: You can either cover the deep third at an Ed Reed or Earl Thomas level, or you’d better be able to play multiple positions to an exceedingly high standard.
The 2023 Green Bay Packers had neither of those types of players in their defense, which is why they were as aggressive as any team at redefining their safety group this offseason. First, they gave former New York Giants star Xavier McKinney a four-year, $67 million contract with $23 million guaranteed. Then, they selected three more safeties in the draft — Georgia’s Javon Bullard with the 58th overall pick in the second round, Oregon’s Evan Williams with the 111th overall pick in the fourth round, and Oregon State’s Kitan Oladapo with the 169th overall pick in the fifth round.
All of those safeties are capable of playing multiple positions, which makes them valuable additions for new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. But when it comes to effective season-to-season plug-and-play deployment, it’s tough to beat what Bullard was able to do in Kirby Smart’s defenses in 2022 and 2023.
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In 2022, Bullard was primarily a slot defender — he lined up there on 510 of his snaps, with 64 snaps in the box, 20 in the slot, and just 12 at free safety.
In 2023, Bullard’s profile flipped completely. That’s when he played 362 snaps in the deep third, 144 in the slot, 80 in the box, and just three on the line. Smart needed Bullard to dominate at a key position he’d rarely played before, and that’s exactly when Bullard did. Last season, he allowed 14 catches on 26 targets for 119 yards, 68 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, two interceptions, five pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 34.0. Among FBS safeties playing at least 50% of their defenses’ snaps, that ranked sixth-lowest.
On both single-high and two-deep reps, Bullard immediately displayed many of the traits you want in that type of player — from the understanding of route concepts, to the range to work from the middle of the field to the boundary.
Javon Bullard barely ever played deep-third safety until Kirby Smart needed him to in 2023. Bullard responded by becoming one of the best deep cover men in the FBS. Good get for the @packers… pic.twitter.com/WM3WqV9l91
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 8, 2024
Bullard wasn’t just great deep; he was also just fine in the slot to safety…
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