How will the Jaguars utilize former Packers DB Darnell Savage? Pederson breaks it down

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson is bullish on the team's latest addition in free agency.

On Monday at the NFL's Annual Meetings in Orlando, Pederson offered a breakdown of a few of the team's free agents and how they may impact the team.

Forging a winning culture: Pederson hopes leadership overhaul will help young Jaguars thrive

A day after NFL free agency officially began, we got the opportunity to talk with safety Darnell Savage and how he feels he fits in with Jacksonville's defense. At the time, Savage was largely vague and broad, but Pederson offered a bit more perspective on how the versatile safety from Green Bay will be used in Jacksonville.

Savage signed with the Jaguars minutes into free agency to a three-year deal worth $21.75 million with $12.5 million gully guaranteed.

“His nickel coverage ability inside, his ability to blitz, he’s a good tackler, he’s a willing tackler, he’s a pretty cover guy, all things that we were looking for at that position. He’s got the versatility to play multiple spots on defense," Pederson said of Savage. "He does give you that safety flex if you want to do it, he can play that nickel spot if you want to move him in there."

In five years with the Packers, Savage played roughly 23% of his defensive snaps in the slot as a nickel corner. In Jacksonville, that volume and percentage will rise with Pederson confirming that Savage is slated to go into the offseason program as the team's starting nickel.

He played the majority of his snaps as a deep safety, split in former Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry's defense. But in 2021, Savage allowed the third-lowest passer rating (58.0) in slot coverage, according to PFF.

With that in mind, Savage's role within Jacksonville's defense becomes clearer.

“He will compete at that spot. Right now, as the one right there," said Pederson.

Coming out of college, Savage was viewed as a versatile piece in the secondary, someone who could play up or down within a secondary at safety or nickel due to his athleticism and natural talents.

Savage's future usage is a direct result of Ryan Nielsen's hiring as the team's defensive coordinator. In his defense, Pederson said, versatility reigns supreme.

"Ryan’s scheme is a little more four-down, and look, you’re playing 75-plus percent away of nickel defense. You’re always going to be in four-down fronts and you’re always going to play with a nickel whether it’s a normal nickel or a big nickel as a third safety as teams want to call it sometimes," Pederson explained.

"But it’s all a part of what Ryan wants to do and what he wants to get accomplished.”

After the Jaguars moved on from safety Rayshawn Jenkins earlier this offseason, many speculated that Savage would take his spot moving forward. That role might be reserved for another young player, however.

Last year, the Jaguars drafted safety Antonio Johnson out of Texas A&M. During his rookie season, Johsnon was used as a versatile piece in the Jaguars' defense, playing primarily in the slot. With Savage in, Johnson appears to have a foot in the door as the next safety to start opposite Andre Cisco moving forward, however.

When asked about Johnson replacing Jenkins, Pederson said "I think so moving forward," noting that Johnson can also play inside at nickel.

Jacksonville's secondary will continue to unfold over the coming weeks and months during the NFL Draft and beyond. So far, the team has replaced three starters and there's plenty of room for more additions.

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Darnell Savage will add versatile piece to Jaguars secondary, in slot