Savage, taken 21st overall by the Green Bay Packers in 2019, certainly has the resume to earn his new teammates’ trust. He’s started in 82 games since he was drafted and recorded 354 tackles. He’s recorded 39 pass breakups in that span with at least one interception every year since he joined the league. He’s spent the last two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, although a Week 2 release left him with several suitors interested in his services.
The Commanders ended up being his top choice, not just because they had the most obvious need at safety, but also because of all he had heard about the culture head coach Dan Quinn had established within the team.
“You got a lot of guys in here that love each other, that go hard for each other,” Savage said. “That’s what makes the team a team, just the love and the camaraderie playing for each other, playing for your coaches. There’s a lot of that going on in there. So, it’s fun to be a part of.”
When asked about whether he wants to play in the Commanders game against the Atlanta Falcons, Savage said “of course,” but it’s ultimately not his decision. First, he needs to learn more about defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.’s scheme. Fortunately for a veteran like Savage, there isn’t much of a learning curve.
“I’ve been in the league for a while, so I’ve been in quite a few systems,” Savage said. “This one has a lot of similarities to some of the stuff I’ve done before. That’s the biggest thing is just getting all the verbiage down and like I said, getting the guys that’s gonna be out there with me to trust me.”