Green Bay Packers Brian Gutekunst Comments on Safety Additions

One of the goals for Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst this offseason was to upgrade the team’s defensive backfield. Injuries hampered the cornerback position, but safety has been an issue for years. This offseason, they looked to rectify that.

The entire position has been overhauled in the offseason. In free agency, the Green Bay Packers made a huge splash by signing former New York Giants star Xavier McKinney. He will be the new leader for defensive coordinator Joe Hafley’s unit.

McKinney will be only 26 when the season begins, but he will be the elder statesman of this group. Joining him on the depth chart is 2023 seventh-round pick Anthony Johnson Jr. and three rookies from this year’s class.

In Round 2, the Packers selected Javon Bullard out of Georgia. In Round 4, Evan Williams out of Oregon was picked. His in-state rival, Kitan Oladapo out of Oregon State, was selected in the fifth round. Brian Gutekunst is very excited about what this group will bring to the team in 2024 and beyond.

“Those guys we added are versatile pieces,” Brian Gutekunst said. “We feel like Bullard can play nickel or safety. We feel like Williams has that flexibility, and Oladapo is probably more of a true safety, but he can play whatever you want to coin it, the big nickel/Will backer. So those guys are all movable pieces.”

This is a young, dynamic group that the Green Bay Packers have put together at safety. Versatility is a major part of their value, as all three, along with McKinney, can play different roles for this defense.

For years, safety was a major need in Green Bay. But now, after all of the additions that were made this offseason, it looks to be a strength. McKinney is locked in as an every-down player and leader of this unit, and we should see plenty of the rookie class during the 2024 season as well.