Kevin King, Jaire Alexander, Darnell Savage, and Adrian Amos will all return as starters in the Green Bay Packers’ secondary in 2020. Another defensive back will have the opportunity to become a mainstay for the backend of Mike Pettine’s defense. That player is Chandon Sullivan.
The 24-year-old cornerback out of Georiga State was able to dip his toes in the water in 2019. The former undrafted free agent played in all 16 regular-season games last season, but in 2020, he figures to be Green Bay’s top slot corner.
Defensive backs coach Jerry Gray, who is in his first season with the Packers, already likes what he has seen from Sullivan.
“When you look at Sully, I think that he is doing a tremendous job. He played a lot of different things when you watched him on film last year. I know in the run game, he was really physical. He looked like a safety playing nickel. A lot of people didn’t try to run his way because he really got up in there in the run game. And now, he is learning a lot about the passing game,” Gray said.
Sullivan’s teammates believe that he will be able to step up and help replace Tramon Williams in 2020.
“Chandon is definitely ready to come into that starting nickel role,” said cornerback Kevin King last Friday. “He had a great guy to look after last year with Tramon. Looking forward, we have a great secondary.
Jarie Alexander – Green Bay’s other starting corner – also has a lot of confidence in Sullivan’s abilities.
“Chandon has been a big help to our secondary,” Alexander said. “Chandon is a real good player. He is able to make plays on the ball and he just has good instincts.”
Safety Adrian Amos echoed a similar positive message about Sullivan.
“He is a great player, somebody who we trusted last year when he came in. He played all over the secondary. Coming in this year, it’s full confidence in him and his ability. I feel as though the sky is the limit for him,” Amos said.
Fully committing to Sullivan as a starter is a risk. Heading into 2020, he is the only question mark in the Green Bay secondary. If he plays well, then the 24-year-old could be a big part of the Packers’ defensive back group going forward. But if he struggles, maybe the Packers eventually give Williams a call.
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