Packers GM Brian Gutekunst made it clear following the draft: Had he stayed put at 30th overall in the first round last Thursday night, he would have lost the opportunity to draft Maryland safety Darnell Savage, who ended up in Green Bay after Gutekunst traded up nine spots to get him.
“I know for a fact we wouldn’t have gotten him by staying at 30,” Gutekunst said.
So the Packers traded both of their fourth-round picks to move up to No. 21 and get their man.
Albert Breer of MMQB added a little extra context to the situation. He believes Savage was “more highly thought of in league circles than most thought,” adding weight behind Gutekunst’s comment. And he thinks the Packers’ need to get a certain type of player for Mike Pettine’s defense helped fuel the move, given how well Savage – who has 4.3 speed and can play multiple positions, including slot cornerback – fit into the scheme as a safety, a need position.
Add it all up – the Packers’ evaluation of the talent (he was the top safety on their board), the worry about another team taking him before 30 and the need for a safety exactly like him – and spending two fourth-round picks became an easy decision.
It’s also interesting that the Ravens traded down after the Packers took Savage at No. 21. And there’s no guarantee that a team like the Raiders, Colts, Chargers or even Seahawks wouldn’t have taken Savage before 30. All four teams ended up drafting safeties in the first four rounds.
Although the Packers have found really good players in the fourth round in year’s past, and not having a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft made for a long wait between picks on Day 3, the sacrifice of the trade up will be well worth it if Savage becomes a Pro Bowl-type player for Pettine at safety.
