Brian Gutekunst and the front office of the Green Bay Packers did a wonderful job of assuring that the core of the defense from 2021 will be back in 2022. Yes, Za’Darius Smith is gone and will be sorely missed, but the Packers got a glimpse into life without Z after he played in just two games a year ago.
Now it’s time to look ahead a little bit further. Drafting Verone McKinley III out of Oregon would be a huge step in the right direction for the Packers because the safety position could end up needing bodies.
De’Vondre Campbell just agreed to a lucrative deal to remain in Green Bay this offseason. Rasul Douglas will also be back, forming an incredible trio at cornerback with Douglas, Jaire Alexander, and Eric Stokes.
Up front, Preston Smith earned a big payday and Rashan Gary won’t be going anywhere. Kenny Clark will continue to hold down the fort in the middle of the defensive line. That leaves the safety spot, and there are major questions past the 2022 season.
Adrian Amos is set to hit free agency after the 2022 campaign. Following an up-and-down 2021 season, Darnell Savage‘s future is still foggy after this upcoming year. Green Bay could need major help at safety.
Enter McKinley.
As far as ball skills go, McKinley is among the best in this draft class at the safety position. He makes quarterbacks pay for throws that are off the mark and that was on full display during his collegiate career at Oregon.
McKinley had 11 interceptions in his three years with the Ducks and six alone in 2021. He’s a ballhawk, and his instinctual play is really sound. McKinley would be a welcome presence to a Packers defense that is led by opportunistic coordinator Joe Barry.
Drafting McKinley would be far different than what Green Bay could do early on if and when they draft a wide receiver. If they take a wideout early, the player they select will be expected to produce immediately given the lack of depth and options at wide receiver.
On the other hand, the safety spot looks fine now, but things could get edgy after the 2022 season. Taking McKinley would give him his rookie campaign to be used in certain packages. However, he wouldn’t feel overwhelmed with needing to take on a bigger role than necessary. Green Bay knows Amos and Savage are locked in for 2022. It’s after that where McKinley could really shine in a starring role.
McKinley’s instincts and his knack for always being around the ball make him an extremely intriguing prospect. Per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, there truly are two sides of the coin with McKinley’s projections at the next level.
Productive safety who will create a classic matchup pitting the traits versus the tape. In one corner we have an undersized, short-armed safety with average speed. In the other corner we have game tape highlighting McKinley’s instincts, short-area quickness, aggressive demeanor, and nose for making plays on the football. He’s going to give way to some of the bigger bodies he’ll encounter in the NFL, but he’s a natural football player with an above-average feel for timing and angles. The traits could impact his draft slotting, but McKinley has the talent to make plays as a nickel safety.
It’s his ability to always be around the ball and make the right play that could turn out to be a perfect fit for him in Green Bay.
The Packers had 18 interceptions on defense last year, which was tied for sixth in the NFL. Douglas had two interceptions that he took back to the house. They had a defense that missed superstar Jaire Alexander for most of the year and still put up some crooked numbers. Eric Stokes came into his own as a rookie and is a star in the making. Getting more playmakers on this defense will give Barry all the tools he needs, and McKinley more than fits the bill on defense and in other areas.
The Packers were abysmal on special teams last year, and they fired special teams coordinator Maurice Drayton after just one season. While most teams would prefer to not use a lot of starters on special teams, Green Bay slowly plugged in more as the season went along last year. The results were still bad.
At least from the get-go, McKinley could have a huge impact on the special teams for the Packers. His versatility could suit him well on the coverage teams and it’s one way Green Bay would be able to find him snaps in his rookie season.
Green Bay looks fine at safety for the 2022 season but what lies ahead after that could get messy. Addressing it now by using a day two pick on Verone McKinley III could put to rest many future questions that could pop up.
