The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Green Bay Packers have cornerstone pieces in place on the defensive side of the ball. Kenny Clark, Jaire Alexander, and Rashan Gary are all 26 years old or younger.
With those three pillars in place, Brian Gutekunst needs to continue to add supplemental pieces around them.
Who will be the starting safeties for the Packers in 2023? Adrian Amos is set to be a free agent following the 2022 season. Is Darnell Savage Jr in Green Bay’s long-term plans after a disappointing 2021 season?
With those two players possibly on their way out in the near future, it’s a safe bet Gutekunst seeks to find a replacement for one or both of them in the upcoming draft.
A player that Gutekunst could target on day two of the upcoming draft is Kerby Joseph. The Illinois safety checks in at No. 53 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
Joseph was a three-star recruit that competed in track and played volleyball in high school. He played primarily on special teams prior to becoming a starter for Illinois this past season.
During his only year as a starter, Joseph recorded 57 tackles, one sack, and five interceptions. He was the only player in the country to record five interceptions and have three fumble recoveries. Joseph was PFF’s top-rated safety this past season.
From Anthony Treash of PFF:
Joseph was PFF’s highest-graded safety at the FBS level in 2021, as he was a high-level playmaker in coverage who accumulated five interceptions and four pass breakups while providing sound run defense and tackling. The Illinois safety has long limbs (33.25-inch arms) for his 6-foot, 200-pound frame. Between his length, ball skills and coverage skills, Joseph provided a lot to like entering the 2022 Senior Bowl, and he lived up to the hype with two interceptions and pass breakups during the one-on-ones and team drills at practice.
Joseph is a rangy, centerfield safety. He has outstanding play speed and covers a lot of ground with his quickness and hip fluidity. He’s a true field eraser. He has quick feet and takes good angles to make plays in coverage.
“I think we can talk about Kerby Joseph’s range as one of his best traits,” Ian Cummings, an NFL draft analyst for Pro Football Network, said. “As important as the safety position is nowadays, few have truly high-end range on the back end. I think Joseph can be one of the few. He’s an extremely impressive athlete with great explosiveness and closing speed in the open field. It helps that he generally positions himself well in zone coverage, but his explosiveness is what can make him an eraser clamping down on the sideline. It also helps that Joseph has arms over 33 inches long. He has a wide impact radius, and his explosive athleticism allows him to carry that all across the field.”
Joseph attacks the ball like a wide receiver. He tracks the ball well and didn’t have any “cheap” interceptions. Quarterbacks are taking a risk when they throw it into his zone. He has natural hands and does a good job of using his length to impact passing lanes.
“Predictably, Joseph’s ball skills are strong,” Cummings said. “At the root of it all, Joseph’s 33-inch arms enable him to disrupt passes that other defensive backs might not be able to reach. He has an extremely wide disruption window. On top of that, Joseph has great ball tracking ability and body control in the air, and he also has a good sense of timing. You won’t often find Joseph playing too tentative at the catch point. He relishes the chance to create turnovers, and he has the skill set to do it as well.”
Joseph is a reliable open-field tackler. He rarely gives up yards after the catch. However, he’s not a physical downfield striker (at least not consistently). He’s certainly willing, but he doesn’t have that “dog” mentality like other safeties in this class like Cincinnati’s Bryan Cook.
“Coverage is definitely the stronger part of Joseph’s game right now,” Cummings said. “The exciting part is, he’s shown flashes in run support. And being 6’1”, 200 pounds with 33-inch arms, he has the traits to be a capable player on early downs. But right now, he isn’t quite as consistent there. He has the wingspan to wrap up as a tackler, but he sometimes lets players slip away. He also hesitates at times when reading the play in close quarters, and he doesn’t always engage blocks with the necessary aggression. Joseph isn’t a liability here, of course. He can come downhill with a lot of heat, and he’s willing to make some big hits. He’s not afraid to be physical, but he may need a bit of a tune-up in run support against NFL competition.”
Joseph didn’t become a starter for Illinois until the 2021 season. He saw a lot of playing time early in his career on special teams and was a standout gunner for the Fighting Illini. It’s a role that could carry over for Joseph in the NFL.
“Joseph amassed a lot of special teams experience at Illinois, as he never became a full-time starter until his final season,” Cummings said. “He certainly has the traits to be good there. With his speed, he carries momentum downhill, and he can be a great gunner with his range, length, and willing physicality. If he doesn’t crack a starting lineup right away, that would be a good outlet to use his traits.”
Joseph is a single-high safety. With his range and ball skills, he can be a dynamic difference-maker in the backend at the next level.
Fit with the Packers
The Packers could stand to upgrade the depth at the safety position behind Amos and Savage. Joseph would provide quality depth and a player that could provide an immediate impact on special teams.
In the long-term Joseph could be a future starter with Amos and Savage possibly on their way out in Green Bay.
In the short term, his presence could allow the Packers to deploy Savage in the Star/nickel position for Joe Barry while playing Joseph at safety.
“With his athletic makeup, there isn’t much Joseph can’t do on the back end,” Cummings said. “He has the explosiveness and long-strider speed to cover large areas, and he’s also fluid and instinctive enough to maintain his positioning in zone. That fluidity can translate to man, and with his length and ball skills, he’s a playmaking threat wherever he lines up. He’ll be best as a two-high or single-high player early on, but the traits provide a lot of eventual upside beyond that.”