Packers could still look to upgrade secondary in NFL draft even after adding Xavier McKinney
The Green Bay Packers made a big investment in their secondary by signing safety Xavier McKinney from the New York Giants.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Packers address that area again early in the draft.
Safety was one of Green Bay’s biggest weaknesses last season, and the Packers haven’t kept any of the three guys who earned the most playing time at that position for them a year ago. Jonathan Owens joined the Chicago Bears, Darnell Savage signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Rudy Ford remains a free agent.
The only safety remaining on Green Bay’s roster who played at least four defensive snaps for the Packers last season is 2023 seventh-round pick Anthony Johnson Jr.
The Packers must restock the position even after signing the 24-year-old McKinney to a four-year, $68 million contract.
“I think it’s a pretty good safety class this year,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said at the NFL owners’ meetings. “The draft’s unpredictable. It’s how those things fall, and whether that comes to you. But it’s a pretty good safety class. But I don’t think going into the draft it’s anything you can ever count on, just because you never know how it’s going to fall.”