Safety Darnell Savage to leave Packers, sign free agent contract with Jaguars, report says

GREEN BAY − After five seasons, Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage has found a new NFL home.

The 2019 first-round draft pick is signing a three-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to NFL Network. The Packers had been in contact with Savage as free agency approached, but a source said they showed only tepid interest in re-signing him. The expectation was his market would be more robust than what they were willing to match.

Savage’s departure is the clearest indicator yet general manager Brian Gutekunst is intent to overhaul the weakest position on the Packers roster. The Packers are reportedly in pursuit of New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney, according to ESPN. They are also hosting Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins on a visit, a source told PackersNews.

The decision to restart the back end of their defense comes with the Packers needing to sign two starters, including the post safety that will be a staple in new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s system. Savage would not have fit the mold for that position, showing he’s better suited to play closer to the line of scrimmage. His best spot may be in the slot as a nickel corner, but the Packers never gave themselves a chance to significantly experiment with Savage playing his primary college position.

Since drafting Savage with the 21st overall pick in 2019, the Packers have drafted three safeties. Each was a seventh-round pick, usually reserved for special teamers. Savage became a mainstay at safety in their defense, even as his athleticism around the football and inconsistency tracking the deep ball indicated it was a misfit.

Injuries disrupted what might have been Savage’s best season in 2023. He assumed the leadership role on the back end after veteran Adrian Amos’ departure, but played only 12 games counting playoffs. His pick-6 of a Dak Prescott pass in Dallas gave the Packers a 27-0 lead before halftime in their NFC wild-card win against the Cowboys.

In five seasons, Savage had 12 interactions, 32 defended passes, 302 tackles and nine tackles for loss.