M
Mark Eckel
Guest
By BOB McGINN
This is one in a series examining the Green Bay Packers’ unrestricted free agents. They can begin signing with other teams on Wednesday, March 14, at 3 p.m. They can formally negotiate with other teams for 48 hours before that.
MORGAN BURNETT
Position: Safety.
Age: 29.
Last contract: Four-year, $24.75 million extension ($8.25M guaranteed). Signed on July 15, 2013.
Games/Starts (including playoffs): 113/113.
2017 playing time: 729 snaps on defense (69%); 24 snaps on special teams (5.7%).
Career statistics: 787 tackles (14 for loss), 76 missed tackles, 11 interceptions, eight forced fumbles, nine recovered fumbles, 77 passes defensed, 36 ½ plays allowed of 20 yards or more, 21 TD passes allowed.
Yearly grades: D-plus in 2010, C in 2011, B-minus in 2012, D-plus in 2013, B in 2014, B in 2015, B in 2016, B-minus in 2017.
2017 analysis: Veteran approaching ninth season seeking a rare third contract from the Packers. Hamstring and groin injuries cost him four full games and portions of two others. Injuries have increasingly cropped up in the last few years. Runs the show from the back end. Understated leader. Unselfish, team player. Demonstrated tremendous versatility in 2017, easily playing more snaps as a nickel back in the slot and as a full-fledged inside linebacker than he did as a strong safety. Shouldn’t be able to hold up covering down but he did. Declining athlete has distinct problems in space. Better against tight ends than wide receivers. Lacks ideal range as an over-the-top safety but maximizes the range he has left. Probably not as physical in the box as he once was but more than willing to stick his nose in there. Missed just three tackles, a career low and representative of vast improvement from 2013 (17 misses) and 2014 (14). Had worst season as a blitzer with just one pressure every 16.7 blitzes.
NFC scout: “I think they’re going to have to keep him because if they don’t then they’re really going to struggle in the secondary. And, he is a good player. He has (been injured), but their whole secondary has had quite a few injuries … He’s good physically, I don’t think he’s (great). He has a very good understanding of what’s going on. He doesn’t make a lot of plays but he’s solid. A lot of times with a safety that’s all you need. Their corners haven’t played very well so it puts more pressure on the safeties … The top safeties are at about $10 (million per year). He’s probably about the $6 (million) level if he’s healthy, which I think he is.”
NFC scout: “If somebody just wants a veteran presence. I wouldn’t think it (his next contract) would be high. He has made a heck of a career.”
AFC scout: “He’s still got something left. I like Burnett. They won’t re-sign him but I think they should.”
NFC scout: “Good player. Just limited. Line of scrimmage player. Can’t play in space. Little bit like (Kam) Chancellor. I’d keep him. He can play a lot of positions.”
The bottom line: One of the top three or four safeties in the market. If the Packers don’t make a legitimate attempt to re-sign him, and it’s likely they won’t, look for him to sign with another team in the first three days for about the number that Dallas safety Barry Church, also 29, received a year ago from Jacksonville (four years, $26 million, $12M guaranteed).
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This is one in a series examining the Green Bay Packers’ unrestricted free agents. They can begin signing with other teams on Wednesday, March 14, at 3 p.m. They can formally negotiate with other teams for 48 hours before that.
MORGAN BURNETT
Position: Safety.
Age: 29.
Last contract: Four-year, $24.75 million extension ($8.25M guaranteed). Signed on July 15, 2013.
Games/Starts (including playoffs): 113/113.
2017 playing time: 729 snaps on defense (69%); 24 snaps on special teams (5.7%).
Career statistics: 787 tackles (14 for loss), 76 missed tackles, 11 interceptions, eight forced fumbles, nine recovered fumbles, 77 passes defensed, 36 ½ plays allowed of 20 yards or more, 21 TD passes allowed.
Yearly grades: D-plus in 2010, C in 2011, B-minus in 2012, D-plus in 2013, B in 2014, B in 2015, B in 2016, B-minus in 2017.
2017 analysis: Veteran approaching ninth season seeking a rare third contract from the Packers. Hamstring and groin injuries cost him four full games and portions of two others. Injuries have increasingly cropped up in the last few years. Runs the show from the back end. Understated leader. Unselfish, team player. Demonstrated tremendous versatility in 2017, easily playing more snaps as a nickel back in the slot and as a full-fledged inside linebacker than he did as a strong safety. Shouldn’t be able to hold up covering down but he did. Declining athlete has distinct problems in space. Better against tight ends than wide receivers. Lacks ideal range as an over-the-top safety but maximizes the range he has left. Probably not as physical in the box as he once was but more than willing to stick his nose in there. Missed just three tackles, a career low and representative of vast improvement from 2013 (17 misses) and 2014 (14). Had worst season as a blitzer with just one pressure every 16.7 blitzes.
NFC scout: “I think they’re going to have to keep him because if they don’t then they’re really going to struggle in the secondary. And, he is a good player. He has (been injured), but their whole secondary has had quite a few injuries … He’s good physically, I don’t think he’s (great). He has a very good understanding of what’s going on. He doesn’t make a lot of plays but he’s solid. A lot of times with a safety that’s all you need. Their corners haven’t played very well so it puts more pressure on the safeties … The top safeties are at about $10 (million per year). He’s probably about the $6 (million) level if he’s healthy, which I think he is.”
NFC scout: “If somebody just wants a veteran presence. I wouldn’t think it (his next contract) would be high. He has made a heck of a career.”
AFC scout: “He’s still got something left. I like Burnett. They won’t re-sign him but I think they should.”
NFC scout: “Good player. Just limited. Line of scrimmage player. Can’t play in space. Little bit like (Kam) Chancellor. I’d keep him. He can play a lot of positions.”
The bottom line: One of the top three or four safeties in the market. If the Packers don’t make a legitimate attempt to re-sign him, and it’s likely they won’t, look for him to sign with another team in the first three days for about the number that Dallas safety Barry Church, also 29, received a year ago from Jacksonville (four years, $26 million, $12M guaranteed).
The post Packers free agency: Morgan Burnett appeared first on Bob McGinn Football.
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