78. Morgan Burnett, S, Packers

A full-time starter for the Packers since 2011, Burnett has become an unquestioned leader of that defense.
78. Morgan Burnett, S, Packers
78. Morgan Burnett, S, Packers /

The striking thing about Burnett is not how good he has been but rather how much better of an all-around player he has become of late. A full-time starter for the Packers since 2011, Burnett has become an unquestioned leader of that defense and, by increasing his presence against the pass, has stepped up as a top safety in the NFL. Green Bay no longer has to worry about him in coverage, and he’s far from a concern against the run: He registered 130 tackles over 15 games in ‘14 and another 68 across 11 games last year. Keeping him on the field for a full season should be a goal, as Burnett has not hit 16 games played since the ’13 campaign. He and Clinton-Dix have quietly grown into a standout safety duo.


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Chris Burke
CHRIS BURKE

Chris Burke covers the NFL for Sports Illustrated and is SI.com’s lead NFL draft expert. He joined SI in 2011 and lives in Ann Arbor, Mich.