Green Bay Packers: Morgan Burnett reunion makes sense

Former Green Bay Packers safety Morgan Burnett has asked for his release from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers should pursue him if he’s released.

Let’s get straight to the point: In 2018, the Green Bay Packers‘ depth at safety was abysmal. Capped off by trading their best option in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to the Washington Redskins, the Packers have a lot of work to do in retooling the back-half of their secondary.

Morgan Burnett could be a prescription for the pain.

Burnett, who spent his first eight seasons in Green Bay, asked for his release from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. Just one week after turning 30 years old, it appears the veteran safety could be on his way out after just one season in Pittsburgh.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport cites Burnett’s reasoning for wanting to be released as being played out of position. Traditionally a strong safety, Burnett was played as a de facto linebacker in subpackages with the Steelers. He started two games and only played on 37 percent of the defensive snaps all season.

If the Steelers were to release Burnett this offseason, they’d eat a dead cap of $2.83 million on their 2019 salary cap. Based on that number, it’s not unlikely Pittsburgh decides to grant Burnett his wish. Assuming he is released, the Packers become immediate possible suitors.

Back when Dom Capers was the defensive coordinator for Green Bay, Burnett was played in a similar role as he was this past season in Pittsburgh. He’s big enough to roam around as an in-the-box safety to support in run defense, and fast enough to cover bigger tight ends.

But Mike Pettine is the defensive coordinator now. Things have changed around Green Bay. Most of the coaching staff has seen a complete makeover, the structure of the front office has been shaken up, and many of the defensive players that were with Green Bay during Burnett’s time with the team are now gone.

If Burnett were to return to the Packers, he’d likely be used much more to his strengths. We saw it this past season with Pettine’s defensive play calling; he loves to utilize players in roles that fit their skill-sets. This would be an excellent calling card.

For instance, there’s a reason Green Bay finished tied for eighth in sacks (44), while only 18 of those sacks came from their top four pass rushers (Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Kyler Fackrell, Reggie Gilbert). Fackrell alone accounted for 10.5 sacks. Most of the rest of the Packers’ sacks came from exotic blitzes from the secondary.

Perhaps the biggest factor in all of this is that when Burnett was with the Packers, he was unquestionably the leader of the defense. He even called the plays. With an average age of under 25 years old on defense, Burnett would step in and be a valuable veteran presence on a team lacking leadership.

A reunion with the Packers can’t, and won’t, happen unless the Steelers release Burnett. But let’s just assume they will. When it happens, general manager Brian Gutekunst should have Burnett on the phone and a plane ticket to Green Bay on hold.