Nobody has spent less since 2020 with external free agents than the Green Bay Packers, but the team might be more willing to add pieces this time around. The free agency negotiation period starts on Monday, and the Packers are expected to be big players in the safety market, according to ESPN’s reporter Jeremy Fowler.
“Green Bay is considered a threat in the safety market. It wouldn’t be a shock if the Packers comb the Xavier McKinney and Kamren Curl markets, depending on the price point. Recently released safety Quandre Diggs could also be an option.”
That’s an intriguing report because it indicates the Packers might try to sign not only one, but two safeties in free agency. And that makes sense, because right now the safety depth is bad. Even general manager Brian Gutekunst has said that the team will need to do something, considering both free agency and the draft.
“Initially, pretty solid at safety, as far as the draft class goes and then the free-agency class as well,” said Gutekunst in early February. “We’re going to have to add numbers there, for sure.”
According to Fowler, the Packers are expected to explore two different tiers of free agent safeties. On A to Z Sports’ top 105 free agent list, Xavier McKinney, from the New York Giants, is the 30th best player, projected to sign a 3-year, $34.95 million contract ($11.65 million average per season). Kamren Curl, from the Washington Commanders, is not even on the list, which means he will be a much more affordable option.
Quandre Diggs is particularly interesting because he was released by the Seattle Seahawks, and therefore wouldn’t count against the Packers in the compensatory pick formula — and this is something the Packers do care about.
Depth
The Packers are extremely thin at safety, because Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford, and Jonathan Owens are all slated to hit the market. The only safeties under contract in Green Bay are last year’s seventh-rounder Anthony Johnson Jr., former undrafted Benny Sapp III, and special teamer Zayne Anderson. The team also signed a futures deal with Tyler Coyle.
