GREEN BAY, Wis. — When the Green Bay Packers report for training camp next month, the competition for starting jobs will be few but fierce.
Free agent signing Xavier McKinney is locked in at one spot, but the other starting safety spot is up for grabs.
Packers second round draft pick Javon Bullard said there are similarities between the defense he played at Georgia and the defense he’ll play in Green Bay under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
“Just that tenacity and the way that he utilizes everybody,” said Bullard. “Linebackers, DB’s, the way that it all corresponds together. There’s definitely some similarities, for sure.”
Bullard is one of three safeties the Packers drafted in April. Zayne Anderson had a strong minicamp and Anthony Johnson Jr. is in the mix as well.
“It’s a great group,” said Johnson. “It’s a lot of personalities in there. Even though, like, the majority of the group is new, we gel really, really good. I think we complement each other from a personality aspect really well. It’s going to be a fun group. You can already tell we’ve had a lot of fun, you know? X (Xavier) bringing in his veteran leadership, hats off to that. What he does and how he sets the tone. How he does it, he’s a vocal leader, and he leads by example. I think that’s just going to benefit all of us.”
However the competition ends up, the starting spot is coveted.
“I want to play,” said Bullard. “At the end of the day, I want to play. I’m a guy that’s going to work his tail off and, hopefully, glory to God, I get the opportunity to play. I’m going to make the most of it. I didn’t come here to sit down. I want to play. Wherever that is, whether it’s on defense, I could be on special teams. I just want to play ball."
“It’s an opportunity,” said Johnson. “I haven’t earned the right to be a starter yet, so I’m still kind of trying to earn that. We all are. It’s a competition and I love the way that Bull and Evan and all those other guys come in. We compete every day, so we’re only going to get better. I’m excited for where we go. It’s not going to be a one-man or two-man show. I think it’s going to be all hands on deck.”
With the departures of Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens and Rudy Ford, the safety position will be in the spotlight at Packers training camp.