Jerron

McMillian

GM Ted Thompson has gone defense with each of his first five picks. An all-conference selection each of the past two years, McMillian ran a 4.56 forty and had the third best vertical leap (36") of any strong safety at the Combine. McMillian is an explosive “box” safety who plays the run well and can also patrol centerfield. With improvement in fundamentals, McMillian could end up as the starter in Green Bay.

Known for a willingness to throw his body around at Maine, McMillian recorded 88 tackles, including 10.5 for a loss as a senior. He gained pre-draft attention with an eye-opening 4.35 forty at his pro day in addition to a three-cone time of 6.69 at the Combine, best among strong safeties. The Packers hope he can eventually step into the void left by Nick Collins’ release.

Charlie Peprah is penciled in as the starter opposite FS Morgan Burnett and M.D. Jennings has “turned heads” in his pursuit of the No. 3 safety job. An athletic, “box” safety, McMillian still has plenty of learning to do and figures to work in a reserve role as a rookie.

McMillian replaced M.D. Jennings as the nickel safety after the season opener. His 6.69 -second three-cone agility run was tops among safeties at the NFL Combine, and the coaches love his short-area quickness as well as his football IQ. According to Pro Football Focus, McMillian has been an asset in both run defense and coverage.

One of the three will likely be the starter next to Morgan Burnett in 2013. After Charles Woodson was injured last season, Jennings stepped into the lineup and started ten games, racking up 52 tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception. Richardson spent much of the year on injured reserve with a neck injury, and McMillian was the No. 3 safety for most of the season.

Green Bay released Charles Woodson, and has since added nobody to the group. The Packers passed on Matt Elam and Johnathan Cyprien to take DE Datone Jones at No. 26 in the draft. Jennings started ten games last season, recording 52 tackles and an interception. He looks like the favorite.

Jennings and Jerron McMillian were competing for the job all summer and preseason long. Jennings started three of the four preseason games, while McMillian started once. Jennings was always considered the slight favorite after starting ten games last season. He’s replacing Charles Woodson.

A 2012 fourth-round pick, McMillian was active for all 12 games this season, but had played just eight snaps on defense over his past seven games after playing 184 in his first five. McMillian’s draft pedigree could earn him a look on waivers, but getting cut from the Packers’ struggling defense at this stage of the season is not a good sign.

“I don’t think either one of those guys separated themselves in terms of being ‘that guy’ at the end of the last season,” Perry said during OTAs. “They both made strides. ... But in terms of who distinguishes themselves as ‘the guy,’ we’re just going to have to wait and see and enjoy the competition.” Both players played roughly 600 snaps last season, and graded out nearly equal in Pro Football Focus’ ratings. We’d consider Jennings the slight favorite.