Top 25 NFL free agents for 2018

19. Morgan Burnett, SS, Green Bay Packers

The four games Burnett missed this season were a bit of a mixed bag for the Packers’ defense, against good and bad offenses. Six takeaways in those four contests is not too bad, but they allowed 351 (Vikings-Week 6), 485 (Saints-Week 7), 323 (Bears-Week 10) and 219 (Ravens-Week 11) total yards in those games. In a secondary that was injury thinned practically all season, Burnett dealt with hamstring and calf issues of his own.

Burnett’s prowess as a run defender eventually shifted him into a safety/linebacker hybrid role in now-fired defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ scheme over the last couple years. Though he has missed games in each of the last five seasons, and he will be entering his age-29 season, re-signing Burnett and making him a versatile building block of new coordinator Mike Pettine’s defense has to be firmly on the radar of new Green Bay General manager Brian Gutekunst.

A growing history of leg injuries is a concern as Burnett gets set to hit the open market at a relatively advanced age. But he’s no worse than the second-best safety available at this point, pending any veterans that are cut by their team (Earl Thomas?) with all-level of the defense versatility that will make him an appealing option for teams with a need there.