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his guy would fall through the 20s." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesAcme Packing Company homepageHorizontal - WhiteAcme Packing Companya Green Bay Packers communityFollow Acme Packing Company online:Follow Acme Packing Company on TwitterFollow Acme Packing Company on FacebookFollow Acme Packing Company on InstagramLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchAcme Packing Company main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsPackersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections The APC PodcastPackers Film RoomFantasy Football Advice30 to draft safety Darnell SavageNew ,65commentsBrian Gutekunst wasn’t willing to take a chance on whether his guy would fall through the 20s.CDTDarnell Savage was not going to be available for the Green Bay Packers if they had stayed put at 30. That’s what general manager Brian Gutekunst and his personnel department believe, at least, and that is why they moved up nine picks in round one of the draft to select the Maryland safety with the 21st overall selection of the 2019 NFL Draft.Gutekunst pulled off a shrewd deal with Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider, a former coworker from their days working under Ted Thompson. Green Bay only had to give up their two fourth-round draft picks, numbers 114 and 118 overall, to go up from 30 to 21. Interestingly, that 118th pick came to Green Bay last fall in exchange for the team’s last first-round safety — Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.Speaking after the draft’s first round on Thursday night, Gutekunst explained why they made the move for Savage. “We thought he was an absolute difference maker,” Gutekunst said , adding later that he was one of the top targets on the team’s board after selecting Rashan Gary with the 12th pick. Meanwhile, he seemingly did not see many other players at safety that he liked: “we didn’t feel like it was a really deep group there,” he said, putting into focus just how strongly the team valued Savage. Considering that the Packers made Savage the first defensive back selected in the draft, it’s clear that he was safety number one on their board.As for the trade up, Gutekunst said it was necessary to get his man. “We didn’t think we could sit at 30 and have him fall to us,” he said. Evidently a number of teams in the 20s seemingly expressed interest in Savage, or at least convinced the Packers that they were considering taking him. Immediately after the Packers made the pick, the Baltimore Ravens traded out of pick number 22 , suggesting that they may have been interested in him. Additionally, the Indianapolis Colts traded back from 26, and they may have been another possible landing spot. The traits that made Savage such a highly-prized commodity in Green Bay are numerous. From his elite speed — “he’s able to close the gap from center field or the hash” — to his big-play and turnover ability — “he’s been an impact player at Maryland for a number of years” — the potential for this young man is bright.Just don’t rely on the mock drafts when considering whether the trade was necessary. The Green Bay Packers’ season will finally come to a close on Sunday, as they host the Detroit Lions to finish out an ugly 2018 campaign. Both teams entered this season with high hopes — the Packers with a new GM and a new defensive coordinator and the Lions with a new head coach. However, both teams have scuffled and struggled mightily this season, as they sit in the bottom two slots in the NFC North. The Packers have clinched third place in the division, as even with a Detroit win on Sunday the Lions will remain a half-game back of the Packers. That means that Green Bay will face the third-place teams in both the NFC South and NFC West next season, but both of those divisions still have their final standings in question.Detroit head coach Matt Patricia may be on the hot seat already, however , after just one season. The Lions’ defense has been less then stellar, though injuries have certainly taken a toll on it. Patricia’s recent tardiness also seems unbecoming of a head coach. So keep an eye on the Lions on Black Monday, particularly if they come out looking flat at Lambeau Field this weekend.Fans outside of Wisconsin and Michigan will be mostly out of luck finding the game on local TV this week; check the broadcast map below in our Game Primer to see if your area will get this game or if you’ll need to find it at a bar or on Sunday Ticket instead.WHO?Detroit Lions (5-10) vs. Green Bay Packers (6-8-1)WHERE?Lambeau FieldGreen Bay, WisconsinWHEN?Sunday, December 30th, 201812:00 Noon Central Time (1:00 PM Eastern)HOW?TV BroadcastPackers-Lions shown in yellow506sports.comUpdated Friday, 12/28 (Minnesota, parts of the Dakotas added)FOXLocal broadcastCommentators: Justin Kutcher, Robert Smith , Pat McAfeeRadio BroadcastPackers Radio NetworkWTMJ.com (not available on mobile)Sirius 135/99, XM 229/380ANYTHING ELSE?OddsPackers favored by 8 pointsOver/under total: 45.5All-time head-to-head recordReguar season: Packers lead 98-71-7Postseason: Packers lead 2-0Recent GamesWeek 5 2018: @Lions 31, Packers 23Week 17 2017: @Lions 35, Packers 11Week 9 2017: Lions 30, @Packers 17Current streakLions W3
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