Former Green Bay Packers first-round pick, Darnell Savage Jr., finds himself entering the free agency market after a rollercoaster five-year tenure in Wisconsin.
Originally chosen out of the University of Maryland, Savage’s professional journey has been marked by injury setbacks and moments of inconsistent performance. While he initially began his NFL career as a starter, 2022 saw him relegated to the bench, and in 2023, injuries limited his participation to just 10 games.
However, there is a silver lining, as Savage bounced back in the final year of his rookie contract, showing promise.
Despite the Packers’ defense not being the standout feature of the team, Darnell Savage enters free agency coming off what can be argued as one of his best seasons. When he was on the field, the former first-round selection demonstrated his abilities with 51 tackles, one tackle-for-loss, and an impressive 75.5 PFF grade.
This performance ranked him 16th among 95 eligible players in the league. All of these accomplishments were achieved within the confines of Joe Barry’s somewhat outdated defensive scheme.
With his rookie contract now expired, Savage recently shared his thoughts on his time in Green Bay during an interview and also touched on his upcoming free agency process.
“I’m not nervous [about free agency]. It’s been a great time. I love this place, love Green Bay, love all my teammates in here. It’s a great place. The ‘G’ stands for ‘greatness.”
Based on his comments, it seems that Darnell Savage is open to the possibility of returning to the Packers in free agency. However, as is often the case with free agents, the lure of the highest bidder is a powerful one.
It’s worth noting that Savage’s performance may not warrant a franchise or transition tag, so Green Bay’s best chance of retaining him would be to secure a long-term contract as free agency begins. Nevertheless, it appears likely that Savage will explore other opportunities, especially with the departure of Joe Barry and uncertainty surrounding his fit with the new defensive coordinator.
In the end, the destination of Darnell Savage in free agency remains uncertain, and only time will tell where he will ultimately land.
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