Green Bay Packers rookie safety Darnell Savage already has a big-time fan inside the walls of Lambeau Field.
According to Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com, two-time Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams has been highly impressed with the Packers’ first-round pick during the offseason workout program.
“He’s going to be that guy – I can tell,” Adams said of Savage, the 21st overall pick. “We definitely got a steal.”
Savage impressed coaches during rookie minicamp and immediately took over as a starter next to Adrian Amos to begin OTAs. He’s been running with the first-team defense throughout the offseason workout program and looks like a good bet to be the starter come Sept. 5 in Chicago.
“He’s a smart guy. We’re really excited about him,” coach Matt LaFleur said in May. “It’s still early, but he showed some good stuff in the rookie minicamp and yesterday he showed some good stuff. We’ll take it day by day and see where it ends up, but we’re really excited about him.”
The Packers moved up nine spots in the first round to make Savage the first defensive back taken in the 2019 draft. His combination of speed, versatility and playmaking ability could provide Mike Pettine’s defense with a game-changing player at an important position, especially if he gets comfortable in the scheme and playing next to Amos, a veteran newcomer.
Savage’s next step will be continuing to make waves when the pads come on at training camp.
Every spring, young players impress in helmets and shorts and then disappear later in the summer. The Packers will hope Savage keeps catching the eye of the offense’s best players when the team reconvenes in late July.
