SEALING THE DEAL: Packers have finalized a contract extension worth $70 million over five years with a promising young player…..

The Green Bay Packers will likely aim to overhaul the secondary this offseason, and at least one analyst believes general manager Brian Gutekunst should shop at the top of the free agent market to do so.

After allowing Darnell Savage‘s contract to void, the veteran safety in all likelihood will be elsewhere in 2024. However, ESPN’s Aaron Schatz suggests the Packers should sign Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ All-Pro Antoine Winfield Jr. as a top replacement, and upgrade at the position.

“The Packers’ top three safeties from last season are all free agents: Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford, and Jonathan Owens,” Schatz points out. “That leaves just rookie seventh-round pick Anthony Johnson and a couple of stragglers who rarely played. This presents the perfect opportunity for the Packers to refresh the position with young free agents who can hold down things on defense for the next few years.

“The best addition would be 26-year-old Antoine Winfield Jr. if Tampa Bay somehow lets him leave.”

Schatz also lists ascending star Xavier McKinney of the New York Giants, New England Patriots veteran Kyle Dugger, and New York Jets standout Jordan Whitehead as potential targets for the Packers.

Winfield Jr. is a top candidate for the Buccaneers to use the franchise tag, in order to keep the former second-round pick in Tampa, especially with reports the team has begun talks with quarterback Baker Mayfield on a long-term contract extension.

 

     “Antoine is the best player on that entire team,” an NFC Defensive Coach told Heavy, on the condition of anonymity to speak freely about another team. “Simply put, he checks every single box.”