Building the group of defensive players who cover the opposing team's receivers is a top concern for the Green Bay Packers as free agency approaches, particularly after the addition of new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
Hafley’s style relies on strong performance in pass coverage from the defensive players who cover the opposing team's receivers. However, as the new league year approaches on March 13, both of the Packers’ starting safeties from the 2023 season are set to become unrestricted free agents.
Before the market opens, Pro Football Focus names Washington Commanders safety Kamren Curl as the best match for the Packers, in a signing that would be reminiscent of Green Bay’s long-standing free agency approach.
“The Packers need to take action at safety,” Brad Spielberger points out. “And here we like the idea of them acquiring a player who is good at everything but perhaps not outstanding in any one specific thing. Sound familiar? There are similarities to the Adrian Amos signing by Green Bay in free agency a few years ago, a move that turned out quite well.”
If the Packers can duplicate the success, with Curl, that the team saw upon Amos’ arrival, it would be a significant step towards developing a defense capable of being a suitable complement to up-and-coming quarterback Jordan Love and the offense.
How Kamren Curl Fits the Packers
Even if the Packers end up giving priority to selecting a safety in the early rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, Curl could be the experienced player who leads the position group.
Kurl, 24, probably has his best football ahead of him but would arrive in Green Bay after a standout 2023 season that saw him record 115 total tackles with one sack, five breakups, and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Moreover, because it is uncertain how often Hafley will have the defensive players who cover the opposing team's receivers blitz in his first season as the Packers’ defensive coordinator, Kurl is entirely capable of holding his own even if the front seven doesn’t send extra pressure.
Pro Football Focus notes that Curl achieved an exceptional 80.6 coverage grade on plays where Washington didn’t send extra pressure, and his 8 percent forced incompletion rate was among the highest in the NFL.
Since being selected by Washington in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Curl has exceeded expectations from his draft position. In his first 60 career games, Curl has recorded 385 total tackles with five sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and three interceptions with one returned for a touchdown.
Can the Packers Afford to Sign Curl?
Thankfully for general manager Brian Gutekunst and the Packers, a player like Curl is not expected to cost a lot of money.
With free agency rapidly approaching, the Packers currently are projected to have approximately $13.68 million in cap space, to reinforce a young and exciting roster that exceeded expectations by making the playoffs and defeating the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional round.
While Curl is likely not at the same level as top safeties such as recently released veterans Justin Simmons and Jordan Poyer, he still has a lot of potential.
Spotrac estimates that Curl could secure a four-year contract worth $57.7 million, which averages out to $14.4 million, annually. That deal would make Curl the fifth-highest-paid strong safety in the NFL.
Due to the Packers' requirement for a safety and the team's financial flexibility, Curl is someone to keep an eye on in the next few weeks.
