3 Best Packers Under 25
By Jerry Trotta
The Green Bay Packers' unexpected selection of Utah State quarterback Jordan Love with the No. 26 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft signaled to the rest of the league that they are embracing a youth movement. In theory, preparing for the future makes sense when you consider that the 36-year-old Aaron Rodgers doesn't have many prime years remaining.
That got us wondering how talented the Packers' current core of youngsters really is. To narrow down the demographic, let's highlight the team's best players under 25 years old.
3. S Darnell Savage
It's not often that rookie safeties make a seamless transition to the NFL, but Darnell Savage, who was drafted No. 21 overall in 2019, did just that last season. The 22-year-old DB started 14 games for Green Bay, across which he compiled 55 tackles, two interceptions, five pass deflections and two forced fumbles. Those are solid numbers for a rookie and Savage rightfully received a respectable 68.0 seasonal grade from Pro Football Focus. The Maryland product has a lofty ceiling, and Packers fans can expect him to make Pro Bowl level strides in Year 2 and beyond.
2. DL Kenny Clark
It's wild to think that Kenny Clark is just 24 years old despite being drafted in 2016. Since being made Green Bay's full-time starter at defensive tackle three seasons ago, the former No. 27 overall pick has been outstandingly productive. During that span, Clark has posted 172 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 22 quarterback hits and four forced fumbles. The UCLA product is deserving of a wealthy contract extension, and the Packers should look to clear the necessary cap space to make that happen. Clark's future as a star is undeniable. Some would say he's already reached that mark.
1. CB Jaire Alexander
Jaire Alexander, 23, gets the No. 1 nod over Savage and Clark for obvious reasons. The first is the fact that he's one of the NFL's best players under 25, and that's not at all an exaggeration. The 2018 first-round pick is one of the most aggressive cornerbacks in the league, and while that gets him into trouble sometimes, it mostly works to his advantage. According to PFF, Alexander's 20 forced incompletions from 2019 ranked second among all CBs. On top of that, his contested-target percentage and forced incompletion rate both rank in the top 10 at the position across the last two seasons. We could go on, but our point has been made. How the Louisville product hasn't been named to a Pro Bowl is criminal.