In 2019, the Green Bay Packers traded two fourth-round picks to move up in the draft and select safety Darnell Savage. Two years ago, the team exercised the fifth-year option to keep the defender around longer. This time around, though, general manager Brian Gutekunst hasn't been so active to keep the defensive back.

Savage's contract voided last week, leaving behind $5.456 million in dead money. If the Packers were motivated to keep him, it would make sense to find a deal before the void date for cap reasons.

Now, Savage is slated to hit free agency in March, and the Packers haven't made an offer to re-sign him.

"Darnell loved his time in Green Bay, and we remain optimistic that a deal can get done before the league year," Savage's agent Seth Katz told ESPN's reporter Rob Demovsky. "But realistically, the window for free agent communication is around the corner, and there will be significant interest in Darnell."

Right now, the Packers are the only team that can make contact with Savage. The new league year begins on March 13, but other franchises are allowed to negotiate with pending free agents two days earlier.

Free agent projection

Josh Queipo and Kyle Dediminicantanio made a list of the top 105 free agents and their respective contract projections. Darnell Savage is expected to get a two-year, $9 million contract — $4.5 million yearly average. That's less than the $7.9 million Savage earned on his fifth-year option in 2023, but probably more than the Packers are willing to pay.

Performance

Darnell Savage was the highest-graded (75.5) safety on the Packers roster last season according to PFF, ahead of Rudy Ford (69.9), Jonathan Owens (59.6), and Anthony Johnson Jr. (47.9).

Savage had his best two seasons under Mike Pettine in his first two seasons in the NFL. The defensive coordinator change in 2021 was terrible for him, as he was not a good fit for Joe Barry's two-high scheme.

Darnell Savage PFF grades year by year

Under Mike Pettine

• 2019: 67.1
• 2020: 75.3

Under Joe Barry

• 2021: 58.5
• 2022: 47.5
• 2023: 66.3

The best argument for the Packers to keep Savage is that he could get back on track with coordinator Jeff Hafley, who likes to play single-high coverage — theoretically, Savage would be able to play closer to the line of scrimmage.

The Packers will need to add safeties to the roster in a way or another. Right now, there are only four under contract for 2024: last year's seventh-round pick Anthony Johnson Jr., special teamer Zayne Anderson, and Benny Sapp III, who was promoted from the practice squad late in the season. The fourth one is Tyler Coyle, who signed to the practice squad in January and got a futures deal after the season was over.

Safety position is a huge question mark for the Packers in 2024

Three players at the position are slated to hit the market