It is a very exciting time to be a Green Bay Packer fan. Aaron Rodgers should be back for at least the 2021 season. Contract talks with Davante Adams are back on, and Randall Cobb is rumored to be returning.The Packers offense for this upcoming season is back and fully loaded. Expect to see one of the leagues best offenses again this season. However, one group that could really surprise Packer fans is the secondary. The Packers have a secondary with the talent to be the X-factor of this defense and the entire team.
The secondary is loaded with young talent and might actually be the deepest group on the entire roster. Not to mention the strides they took last year underneath DB’s coach Jerry Gray. Coach Gray had them in the top 10 for both total defense and pass defense which was the first time since 2010.
Jaire Alexander
Starting with the leader and alpha dog of the secondary, Jaire Alexander. Jaire Alexander has been a superstar since the moment he stepped on the field for Green Bay. That swagger and unwavering confidence he has in himself and his abilities were on full display in the 2020-2021 season. Earning his first Pro Bowl selection along with Second-team All-Pro.
Alexander has been put on the map as one of the elite shutdown corners in the entire league. He has proven to not be afraid of the moment either, having some of his best games on national television. Not to mention his two interception performance against the Super Bowl Champions in the NFCCG. He will lead this young secondary and continue to lock down opposing number one receivers.
Adrian Amos
Adrian Amos is the rock of the secondary, that veteran presence, and IQ that every young group needs. He’s proving to be another great free agent signing for the Packers front office. Amos is one of those players where you know what you are getting night in and night out. A team first guy who won’t make mistakes. He will help lead some of these younger guys in the secondary. He also is very durable, having played and started in all 16 games for the last three years.
Darnell Savage
Darnell Savage is coming off of a fantastic sophomore season for the Packers. He has proven to be a natural ball hawking safety. He has a great understanding of the game and has blazing speed. We saw moments like this in his two interception performance against the Chicago Bears. Furthermore, Savage had one of the best plays of the season with that diving INT versus the Philadelphia Eagles.
Eric Stokes
Perhaps the most intriguing and most unknown one of the group is rookie cornerback from Georgia, Eric Stokes. A couple times this season, Packer fans showed frustration with the lack of a true number two corner opposite of Jaire. Clearly, the Packers front office agreed.
Stokes has a very good frame at 6’1 and showed off some impressive speed running a 4.25 40 yard dash at his pro day. The first reports from OTA’s and camp so far is that Stokes has looked impressive. Using this time to pick at Jaire’s brain to learn as much information as he can. It will be interesting if Stokes can prove to be a legit corner opposite of Jaire in year one. Nonetheless, there is certainly a lot to be excited about.
Kevin King
A name Packers fans have loved to blame in the past, Kevin King returns on a prove it type deal that is definitely team friendly. This should have Packer fans excited, simply for the depth he brings and the understanding of the scheme/game. We have seen flashes of King’s ability in the past, but injuries and inconsistent play has been the issue in his career. Under a new defensive coordinator and new role with the team, hopefully King can feel rejuvenated. King will bring some depth to this unit and be a physical corner against bigger receivers.
Chandon Sullivan
A name that might be forgotten in this mix is Chandon Sullivan. Sullivan has turned into a solid slot corner for Green Bay. He has quietly been putting together a solid role for himself within this defense. He has been a good player in the Packers secondary for the last few seasons.
Shemar Jean-Charles
A name to look out for this season is Shemar Jean-Charles. The Packers doubled down on CB in this year’s draft. With the 178th pick they took Shemar Jean-Charles from Appalachian State. Some label him as maybe the steal of the draft for the Packers. He has tremendous upside for a slot cornerback and will be a day-one special teams contributor. Jean-Charles could play a huge role in the Packers secondary this season.
Special team Contributors
You also can’t forget guys like Will Redmond, Vernon Scott, and Josh Jackson in the Packers secondary. These are guys who know the system that you can plug in and play, that will also contribute to special teams play. Whether or not the Packers will have a top offense remains to be seen. Nevertheless, the young secondary should have Packers fans excited.
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