Young, game-changing talent is the lifeblood of any successful NFL franchise. Good teams find good players in the draft and development them into cornerstone players during their rookie contracts.
The Green Bay Packers have found at least two of those players.
Pro Football Focus recently identified the site’s “top 25 players under the age of 25,” and the Packers placed two players on the list.
Defensive lineman Kenny Clark ranked No. 11, while cornerback Jaire Alexander came in at No. 20.
Clark, a first-round pick in 2016, is now considered the NFL’s top pass-rushing nose tackle. Despite four years of experience, Clark still doesn’t turn 25 until October. He has made PFF’s list the last two years.
Alexander, Brian Gutekunst’s first draft pick in 2018, ranks high among NFL cornerbacks in contesting targets and forcing incompletions, two important stats tracked by PFF. Alexander turned 23 years old in February, meaning he could easily find himself on this same list next year.
Clark and Alexander give Mike Pettine’s defense a disruptive player to build around upfront and in the secondary. And both figure to remain in Green Bay long term. Clark is about to enter the final year of his rookie deal but is due for a massive payday, while Alexander is under contract for at least the next two years – and the Packers will almost certainly exercise his fifth-year option following the 2020 season.
Landing on PFF’s list is difficult, but one Packers player is a strong candidate to make it in 2021: safety Darnell Savage. Still only 22, Savage is a versatile defensive back with elite speed and playmaking ability. With a jump in performance and productivity in 2020, Savage could easily join the NFL’s best under 2025 by next offseason.
