It was an overlooked transaction on a quiet day in May during the offseason. Five days after being waived by the Philadelphia Eagles, former undrafted free agent Chandon Sullivan signed a one-year deal with the Green Bay Packers.
Teams make these kinds of additions all the time. Most of the time, the incoming players are nothing more than camp bodies, the longshots of the league with little chance of making the roster by the end of training camp.
Sullivan has made sure he wasn’t just another throwaway.
Not only did he make the team coming out of camp, but the second-year defensive back has enjoyed a breakout first season with Packers in 2019. The former Eagle has played 350 snaps on defense, operating in a variety of roles for defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, and he’s made the most out of every snap.
Consider these numbers, via Pro Football Reference: Sullivan has allowed 11 completions on 31 attempts into his coverage, good for a completion percentage of 35.5. He hasn’t given up a touchdown. He broke up six passes and intercepted Dak Prescott. And he’s allowed 3.9 yards per target and a passer rating of 34.3.
The sample size is small, but there’s no denying how effective Sullivan has been as a do-it-all defensive back for Pettine. Among 253 qualifying defensive players in the NFL this season, Sullivan ranks first in completion percentage allowed, first in yards per target allowed and first in passer rating allowed on throws into his coverage.
Sullivan has also missed only one tackle and been aggressive supporting against the run, giving Pettine even more options in how he wants to attack opposing offenses every week.
Among Packers defenders with at least 20 tackles, Sullivan ranks first in missed tackle percentage at 3.4.
He’ll go into Sunday’s playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks as the Packers’ No. 4 cornerback The Seahawks aren’t a receiver-heavy offense, which could limit Sullivan’s opportunities, but he could still find the field often on Sunday, especially if Pettine wants to use spies on mobile quarterback Russell Wilson.
With a strong end to the season, Sullivan could re-shape how the Packers view the offseason. He’s been successful in the slot, a position currently occupied by 36-year-old veteran Tramon Williams. While Williams has been fantastic playing the slot this season, Sullivan’s emergence could give Pettine and the Packers a perfect next man up if Williams isn’t back in 2020.
Sullivan’s rise has been nothing short of incredible. The Eagles, who spent the 2019 season desperate for cornerback help, released him without a second thought in May. GM Brian Gutekunst brought him to Green Bay without a certain future, but he kept plugging away, making himself indispensable. He made plays in camp. He created turnovers during the preseason. He won a roster spot, jumped Josh Jackson and Tony Brown on the depth chart and is now going into a playoff game with a legitimate role on a potential Super Bowl contender.