GREEN BAY Miles Boykin Jersey , Wis. (AP) —additions on defense during free agency gave him more flexibility with his draft picks, but it didn’t necessarily mean he would shy away from a defensive player in the first round if someone he liked was there.In the end, he liked two.Despite having hired an offensive-oriented head coach in Matt LaFleur and knowing two-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers is nearing the end of his illustrious career, the Packers opted instead to bolster its already-reinforced defense by picking rush specialist Rashan Gary from Michigan and speedy safety Darnell Savage from Maryland.The Packers chose Gary with the 12th overall pick Thursday night and traded up nine spots to take Savage at No. 21.Since Rodgers become quarterback, the Packers have now spent their first picks on defense in eight straight drafts.“I do have an offensive head coach sitting to my left the entire day in the room,” Gutekunst said. “(LaFleur) was great, really supportive. (He) understood exactly what we were doing. “Football is the ultimate team game, and we’ve got to build this roster to be as strong as we can at every area. We’re going to try to take the best players available that we can (going forward). If there’s more defensive players that fall our way, we certainly have room for them.”Savage could fill a keen need at safety. He ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine and had been moving up draft boards since. He had seven interceptions over the last two years for the Terrapins. Last season, he was a second-team All-Big Ten pick after picking off four passes, breaking up two more and finishing with 52 tackles.“We thought he was an absolute difference-maker,” Gutekunst said. “We didn’t think he’d be there at 30.”The 6-foot-5, 281-pound Gary was a second-team preseason All-American, but a shoulder injury limited him to nine games as a junior and he finished with 44 tackles — including seven for losses — and 3½ sacks last season. He was an All-Big Ten player as a sophomore when he had 66 tackles, including 12 for losses and six sacks.He began focusing on his future after his injury-stunted season ended with a loss to Ohio State. He declared for the draft, skipping the Wolverines‘ bowl game and his senior season.Gary took the unusual move of forming his own sports agency while still with the Wolverines, proudly serving as founder and CEO. He explained in January that it fulfilled a vision he had as a high school star. Gary http://www.packerscheapshoponline.com/cheap-authentic-darnell-savage-jr.-jersey , who is from Plainfield, New Jersey, signed with Michigan as the top-rated high school player in the country.He wept with joy at a bowling alley in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as he and those at his draft party learned he was headed to Green Bay. He is expected start out at outside linebacker in Green Bay and move around in defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s scheme.“My shoulder is 110 percent,” Gary said. “I can’t wait to strap on the pads and get ready.”The 12th overall pick was the Packers’ highest in 10 years since they made defensive tackle B.J. Raji the ninth selection. Green Bay had the 30th overall pick, too, but dealt it to Seattle to move up to get Savage and also sent the Seahawks a pair of fourth-round picks (Nos. 114 and 118)Speaking at the combine in February, Savage was asked if there were any NFL players he patterned his game after. His response? Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson, Amos’ running-mate last season in Chicago.“I kind of feel like he does a lot and I do a lot,” Savage said of Jackson. “We both bring speed, aggressiveness, instincts, make plays on the ball. I really enjoy watching him. I really study his game.”During free agency, Gutekunst signed four potential starters in outside linebackers Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith, safety Adrian Amos and offensive lineman Billy Turner. The defense began to show some promise last season under new coordinator Mike Pettine but still ranked 22nd in points and 18th in yards allowed.Gary and Savage should help a team that also watched longtime rush specialist Clay Matthews leave in free agency.The Packers may shift their attention to offense for the final two days of the draft.Rodgers is 35 entering his 15th season and the Packers have missed the playoffs two straight years, putting more pressure on the star QB and LaFleur to deliver. During last year’s forgettable 6-9-1 season http://www.ravensauthorizedshops.com/authentic-justice-hill-jersey , Green Bay was 15th in the league in points, 12th in yards and a woeful 23rd in third-down conversions. Rodgers was banged-up all year, finishing with 25 touchdown passes, a career low for a season in which he played at least 15 games.The Packers also lost experienced slot receiver Randall Cobb and many believe the team needs a top tight end even though Jimmy Graham and Marcedes Lewis are back. ATLANTA (AP) — If Case Keenum is still the leader in Washington’s quarterback competition, rookie Dwayne Haskins at least gave coach Jay Gruden more to think about.Haskins led Washington to three second-half scoring drives, including two set up by Atlanta’s lost fumbles while attempting to field punts, and the Redskins took a 19-7 preseason win over the Falcons on Thursday night.Keenum played the first half and lost a fumble, which helped the Falcons lead 7-6 at halftime.Article continues below ...Haskins, the first-round draft pick from Ohio State, completed 7 of 13 passes for 74 yards in the second half.“I’m excited to see Dwayne make some throws from the pocket,” Gruden said. “I like some things Case did. Obviously the turnover was disturbing. But other than that I think he moved the ball pretty well and did some good things. They both have done some good things this preseason.”Colt McCoy, Washington’s third contestant in the quarterback competition, is still recovering from a broken right leg suffered in 2018.Keenum, Denver’s starter in 2018 after spending most of 2017 starting at Minnesota, said he’s not anxious to have a starter named for the regular season.“I don’t necessarily need to be told, I guess you could say,” Keenum said. “I’m fine with however things go. I went pretty much the entire season with the Vikings not being told I was going to start until Wednesday of that week’s practice and we won 13 games that year Ben Powers Jersey , so that worked out all right.”Keenum completed 9 of 14 passes for 101 yards but his lost fumble when he was sacked by Deadrin Senat set up a second-quarter touchdown for Atlanta. Takk McKinley recovered the fumble and ran 17 yards to the Washington 33. Ito Smith’s 5-yard touchdown run gave the Falcons a 7-3 lead.Atlanta’s Matt Ryan played the full first half in his most extended playing time of the preseason and completed 9 of 14 pass for 74 yards. He was perfect in the first quarter, when he completed each of his eight passes for 60 yards.Veteran backup Matt Schaub was held out as Danny Etling became the latest third-string quarterback to play in the preseason. Matt Simms was held out with an undisclosed injury. Simms was signed after Kurt Benkert was lost with a toe injury.The Falcons signed Etling last week after he was released by New England. Etling’s lack of familiarity with the Falcons playbook showed as he struggled to move the offense in the second half and was dropped by two sacks .Specials teams mistakes helped drop Atlanta to 0-4 in the preseason. Rookies Marcus Green and Olamide Zaccheaus lost fumbles inside the Atlanta 20 when trying to field punts in the third quarter. Each turnover set up short Redskins scoring drives led by Haskins.Green’s lost fumble, recovered by Washington’s Troy Apke, set up Samaje Perine’s 3-yard scoring run for a 13-7 lead.Zaccheaus couldn’t catch Tress Way’s next punt, and the recovery by Robert Davis set up Dustin Hopkins‘ 23-yard field goal. Hopkins also made field goals from 48, 29 and 40 yards.Running back Kenjon Barner, who may be Atlanta’s primary return specialist, did not play because of an undisclosed injury. “Barner is the one that will lead the way,” coach Dan Quinn said when asked about his plan to address the situation.INJURY REPORTRedskins: TE Jordan Reed left the game in the second half with a possible concussion. TE Matt Flanagan (hand) was listed as questionable in the fourth quarter. … CB Fabian Moreau (ankle) and LB Shaun Dion Hamilton (chest) did not play.Falcons: TE Jaeden Graham (knee) was declared out in the second quarter. CB Taveze Calhoun was helped off the field and then carted to the locker room in the fourth quarter with a possible concussion. DT Justin Zimmer (foot), FB Ricky Ortiz (ankle) and DT Ra’Shede Hageman (neck) were listed as questionable.GUICE RUNS STRONGWashington running back Derrius Guice ran for 44 yards in his first game since a knee injury in the 2018 preseason ended his rookie season.“He made a 5-yard run a 9-yard run and so on,” Keenum said. “He made some really good cuts in a lot of traffic.”PRESEASON DROUGHTThe Falcons suffered their 12th straight preseason loss. They last won on Sept. 1, 2016, against Jacksonville.JUST FOR KICKSAtlanta’s Giorgio Tavecchio, who missed two 42-yard field goal attempts in last week’s 22-10 loss to the New York Jets, was wide left on a 39-yarder in the first quarter. The Falcons may be forced to look for help at the position. “Like everything we are going to evaluate that spot,” Quinn said.NEXT UPRedskins: Washington will return home to play Baltimore in its final preseason game next Thursday night.Falcons: Atlanta will conclude its five-game preseason schedule when it visits Jacksonville next Thursday night.