2020 Pro Football Draft Guide from CheeseheadTV by Cheesehead TV

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Table of contents

Meet The Draft Guide Team............................................4 Letter From The Editor.....................................................5

features: For Packers Receivers, Trust Leads To Success..........6 Thompson vs. Gutekunst.................................................9 How NFL Prospects Prepare For The Draft.................14 Small School Hidden Gems.............................................17 CHTV Interview With Raven Greene............................24 He Reminds Me Of.............................................................26 Pigskin Paul's Top 100 Prospects...................................30 2020 NFL Mock Draft........................................................31 NFC North Team Needs....................................................40 Packers Positional Analysis.............................................46

Prospect Analysis:

Thaddeus Moss and Justin Jefferson

Editor-In-Chief: "Jersey Al" Bracco Copy Editors: Michelle Bruton, Matt Hendershot Creative Director: James Zachman

All stats are from 2019 unless indicated otherwise. All player measurements are from the NFL Combine unless the player did not participate, then they were taken from his University’s web site. All highlight videos courtesy of YouTube.com. Player photos courtesy of USA Today and the communications

Quarterback........................................................................54 Running Back......................................................................64 Fullback/H-Back.................................................................74 Wide Receiver.....................................................................81 Tight End..............................................................................91 Offensive Tackle.................................................................101 Interior Offensive Line.....................................................111 Defensive Line....................................................................121 Edge Defender....................................................................131 Inside Linebacker..............................................................141 Cornerback..........................................................................151 Safety.....................................................................................161 Kicker....................................................................................171 Punter....................................................................................178 Returner...............................................................................185

departments at Clemson, LSU, Oklahoma, Houston and Baylor.

2020 Packers Mock Draft.................................................192

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> MEET THE DRAFT GUIDE TEAM

"Jersey Al" Bracco OT, Packers Mock, Managing Editor: Founder of PackersTalk.com and ALLGBP.com, in 2015 Al and his merry band of Packers writers merged with CheeseheadTV, where he is now a part owner and Editor-In-Chief. A NJ native his entire life, Jersey Al became a Packers fan after watching the first Super Bowl as a child and then a Draftnik in the 70s when the only hope for those awful Packers teams was finding new players. Tim Backes Team Needs: Tim Backes is a lifelong Packer fan and has been writing for Cheesehead TV since January 2018. When not consumed by all things Packers, he spends his time working in web marketing and copywriting, and exploring local craft breweries. Brandon Carwile K, P, KR: Brandon is a lifelong Packers fan thanks to his dad. Brandon’s dad has been to Lambeau Field many times, but Brandon is still waiting to set foot on those hallowed grounds. Brandon began covering the team in 2015 and hopes to do so for as long as possible. He loves to scout players and break down film to accompany his writing. Dan Dahlke RB, ILB: Dan Dahlke currently covers the Packers and NFL Draft at the FanSided blog LombardiAve.com. He also contributes draft content to CheeseheadTV.com and DraftBreakdown. com, as well as work as a video editor for the draft site. In addition to writing and creating video cut-ups for prospects, Dan is a weekly analyst on the Packers Tundra Talk podcast. Erik Fretland CB, S: Erik Fretland has contributed to CHTV since 2017 and was a Player Participation Analyst for PFF from 2015-2017. His brief stint as a fan of the AAF San Antonio Commanders, and the AAF’s subsequent collapse, reminded him that the Packers are the only football team he’ll ever need. Erik is a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma and currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tyler Grzegorek DL: After graduating from Arizona State University Tyler landed a job in Ticket Operations for the Arizona Diamondbacks and currently resides in Phoenix, AZ. Tyler is a host on the Packaday Podcast and a writer for the fantasy football site Dynasty Nerds, but has written for numerous outlets covering the NFL, the Indianapolis Colts and the Green Bay Packers. He can be found on Twitter at Tyler_grez. Paul Guillemette Top 100, He reminds me of. "PIGSKIN PAUL" Guillemette has been a Draftnik for 50 years, to use a round number. He has been a football writer, website owner, podcast participant, on-air radio personality for the last 15 years. Paul is currently Associate Editor and Chief Scout for The GBNReport.com. Maggie Loney Position Analysis: Maggie writes for Cheesehead TV and podcasts for Pack's What She Said & Pack-A-Day Podcast. You can follow her work on Twitter @MaggieJLoney. Kennedy Paynter NFL Mock: Kennedy is a draft analyst for Drafttek.com and a writer for HogsHaven.com. He is a middle school teacher that coaches high school lacrosse. He is currently ranked 9th nationally for his Mock Draft accuracy over the past five years according to The Huddle Report. He appears on numerous ESPN Radio shows and can be found on Twitter @Kennedy_Paynter

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Owen Riese FB, IOL: Owen currently is a "Graduate Assistant Offensive Line" at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He is a Carroll University Alum and contributor for SB Nation’s Bucky’s 5th Quarter. Ross Uglem Edge, WR: Ross Uglem is the Publisher of Packer Report, host of the Packer Report Podcast with Gilbert Brown and a proud CheeseheadTV alum. Uglem also covers North Dakota State football and men's basketball for CBS Interactive and 247 Sports. Jacob Westendorf TE, Jacob holds a journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He is a former intern at Scout.com's Packer Report where he covered the 2013 NFL Draft including working on the NFL Scouting Combine research series. Jacob has also been involved with Packers Talk since 2012 and worked on separate projects and podcasts. He is currently the co-host of Pulse of the Pack. CD Angeli Feature: CD Angeli is a lifelong Packer fan, shareholder, and a feature writer for the past 15 years at TundraVision.com, CheeseheadTV.com, and PackersTalk.com. He founded and cohosts Cheesehead Radio, entering its tenth season as a weekly Packers podcast, and is the co-owner and Good Cop at PackersTalk. com. You can follow his musings on Twitter at @TundraVision. Michelle Bruton Feature: Michelle is a book editor at sports book publisher Triumph Books and is a sports features writer. She's an alumna of Cheesehead TV and her work has also appeared on Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated, Forbes and more. You can follow her on Twitter @MichelleBruton. Bill Huber Feature: Bill Huber has covered the Packers since 2008. He has written for Sports Illustrated’s Packers site since August of 2019. Rob Reger QB, Feature: Rob has been the official NFL Draft Analyst for The Drew Olson show on the Big 920 for the last 2 years and will transition as the Draft analyst for the Drew and KB show on 97.3 The Game. Rob has also added his insights for 96.9 The Game in Orlando and was a member of the live draftcast for CheeseheadTV. He has been publishing his own personal Mock Drafts and Sleeper/ bust list for 25+ years independently as well. Aaron Nagler Interview, Packer Transplants: Aaron is a Co-Founder of Cheesehead TV. Corey Behnke Publisher, Packer Transplants: Corey is a Co-Founder of Cheesehead TV. James Zachman Creative Director: This is James' 5th year working with the CHTV team on the Draft Guide. You can view his work and reach him for freelance design services at ZachmanDesign.com. Draft research team: Andrew Czech Josh McPeak Brad Schafer Jordan Wolf Mick Stephenson

Welcome, everyone, to the TENTH edition of the CheeseheadTV Pro Football Draft Guide! In the history of the league, there has never been an NFL draft season like the one currently underway, and, if we are all very lucky, there never will be again. The world finds itself in the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic, with many more important issues to worry about than who some NFL team will draft in April. The draft itself (still on schedule as of the date of this publication) will have none of the fanfare of previous years. There will be no spectators, no draft parties, and how it will actually be conducted, with some form of remote communications, is still a question mark. The NFL feels the show must go on, and with the future of so many young athletes hanging in the balance, go on it will, even if postponed to a later date. And that, folks, is why our work has soldiered on and you are reading this publication right now. The world of sports has always been a form of escape from more serious issues and worries—never has it been more needed than right now. With all other sports seasons in limbo, the NFL, with its season not starting until the fall, remains the best hope for a return to our sports escapism as regularly scheduled. If the NFL season were to go off as planned it would mean we’ve beaten down the virus threat to at least a manageable level, and we would all be thankful for some level of return to normalcy. With everything that has been going on, our dedication to this Draft Guide project remained steadfast. The term “labor of love” might be a bit overused, but there’s just no better way to describe why we do this. It certainly isn’t for fame and fortune.

The feature articles in this year’s guide will look at the muchmaligned “trust issue” between Aaron Rodgers and his receivers, a comparison of Brian Gutekunst’s GM philosophies versus those of his mentor and a players-side view of the draft preparation process. As always, we study and rank over 200 draft prospects, look at the Packers roster by position group, examine their primary draft needs and even spend a little time on the Packers’ NFC North rivals. Our excellent designer, James Zachman, returns and, as he always seems to do, has outdone himself with this year’s design. The copy editors on this project are Michelle Bruton and Matt Hendershott, without whom this project could not have been completed on time. Most of our analysts return this year with a sprinkling of new faces bringing some added “juice” to the guide. Of course, none of this would be possible without two close friends who decided to create a Packers blog over a decade ago, Corey Behnke and Aaron Nagler. As Editor-In-Chief of this amazing endeavor, I just want to express my thanks to you, the reader, for supporting all involved by purchasing this guide and frequenting CheeseheadTV.com. Without you, CheeseheadTV would not exist and be thriving. Our annual draft guide is one of the few things we require you to pay for and, frankly, our only financial goal is to be able to pay the people who put in the hours of hard work. So if you’re here reading this, our staff thanks you. If you like the guide, please tell your friends about it. Our tenth edition is the best CHTV Draft Guide yet and I’m proud to present it to the greatest fan base in the NFL. Enjoy it and Go Pack Go!

“Jersey Al” Bracco Editor-In-Chief

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FOR PACKERS RECEIVERS, TRUST LEADS TO SUCCESS Bill Huber

For Aaron Rodgers and his receivers, it’s always been about trust. “Like we’ve always said with young receivers, you’ve got to put yourself in position to get reps with me, and you do that by being very sound on your assignment and making some plays,” Rodgers said during training camp in 2018. “That’s how you get a chance to get out there and make some plays [with me].” Some guys have that trust. Through years of on-the-field reps and a close off-the-field bond, Jordy Nelson had it. Eventually, Davante Adams earned that trust in succeeding Nelson as the team’s No. 1 receiver. That trust showed up in a 2017 victory at Dallas. After just missing Adams in the waning moments of the game, Rodgers went right back to him for the winning touchdown.

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“Anytime you can gain the trust of somebody of that stature and what he’s done in this league, for him to speak of me like that, it just shows that my attention to detail, my want to just to get better every day, it’s paying off,” Adams said. “It’s just really gratifying when you put so much effort into something, and a guy like Aaron sees it and takes note of it—and not just takes note of it and tells you, ‘Hey, I’m proud of you for doing that,’ but he actually will throw you a ball in a situation like that. Because that’s when the trust shows.” Allen Lazard gained that trust in training camp last summer. While he didn’t make the opening roster, he went from the practice squad to the team’s second-best receiver in short order.

> CHTV FEATURE: RODGERS & WR TRUST

“It starts with his habits. I mean, he has really good habits,” Rodgers said. “I talk about it in the offseason a lot: The way that you approach your job is very important to your opportunities. I think it’s a direct correlation between your preparation and the opportunities you get, because if you know what you’re doing, you’re already ahead of the game. If you can go out and gain confidence executing that responsibility, you get the trust of the coaching staff and myself, and you find the ball coming your way a little bit more often.” J’Mon Moore, a fourth-round pick in 2018, never had that trust and failed to make the roster last year. “If you’re going out there having small errors left and right, you lose trust. That’s what it was for me,” Moore said at the end of his rookie season. “Ability is there...but A-Rod might audible something, might switch something up, and if I’m still thinking about what I’m doing at the line when he hikes the ball, I can't be out there. They aren’t going to let you be out there.” Trust is a necessity. That’s not simply knowing the X’s and O’s that are drawn up on the iPad. When a quarterback and receiver aren’t on the same page, and they’re not seeing the play unfold the same way in real-time, disaster can strike. On the other hand, when a quarterback and receiver are on the same page, they can hook up for winning plays by playing outside the playbook. That’s what happened in the divisional playoffs against Seattle. With the game potentially on the line on a key thirdand-8, Adams badly beat cornerback Ugo Amadi for a gain of 32 to help send the Packers to the NFC Championship Game. “Just one of those special nights,” Rodgers said afterward. “He made a number of very heady plays. That was one of them because that wasn’t exactly the check we were looking for. It was better. It was better than the check. Tonight reminds me

of the connection that Jordy and I had for so many years where there were some unspoken things that we could do without even communicating anything about it, and Davante made three or four plays like that tonight.”

“

...you get the trust of the coaching staff and myself, and you find the ball coming your way a little bit more often.

”

That Rodgers-receiver trust figures to be a central theme of the offseason practices, training camp and beyond. General manager Brian Gutekunst is expected to make a significant investment in the receiver corps in the draft. The Packers haven’t used a pick in the first three rounds on a receiver since Adams in 2014 (excluding wide receiver to running back convert Ty Montgomery). That almost certainly will change given the offense’s struggles in 2019. Nelson and Randall Cobb are gone, and the Packers haven’t gotten close to replacing them. Gutekunst might have gone 0-for-3 on his three-receiver parlay of Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown in 2018. Geronimo Allison, a former undrafted free agent who had shown up in flashes in 2016 through 2018, had a miserable 2019. Other than Adams and Lazard, there isn’t a receiver who was on the 2019 roster that is a lock to make it in 2020. Drafting a receiver—especially in a loaded receiver class that one scout called the best in his 15-plus years on the job—will be the easy part for Gutekunst. Finding one or two who can get on the same page as Rodgers quickly and contribute immediately will be the bigger challenge. That means intelligence will be a key part of the evaluation along with height, speed and hands. “It is a big deal,” Gutekunst said of intelligence at receiver. “I think that’s part of this process of the (Scouting) Combine. You only have so many opportunities to sit down with these guys and, certainly, there’s really what we call a football intelligence part of it, too. A lot of that is experience, where they come from and where their knowledge base is, and there’s obviously the capacity of how much can they really learn. So, yeah, we spend a lot of time on that. It’s important. At the same time, with

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> CHTV FEATURE: RODGERS & WR TRUST

young players, third- and fourth-year guys are going to be more experienced and more on top of it than first- and secondyear players in general. It’s no different than freshmen coming into college.” The numbers back up Gutekunst’s beliefs. Over the previous 10 drafts, 313 receivers were selected. Over that span, only eight rookie receivers posted a 1,000-yard season. For comparison, 233 running backs were drafted over the last decade; 13 recorded a 1,000-yard season. That’s 2.56 percent of the receivers compared to 5.58 percent of the rookie running backs. That’s a sizable difference that speaks to the inherent challenges of transitioning to the NFL. For scouts, the detective work is determining which receivers can make that transition—quickly. The Wonderlic intelligence test is one way to measure a player’s aptitude. At the Scouting Combine, teams will have a prospect watch plays and have him break down what he sees and why he ran the route the way he did. Scouts also talk to the prospects’ collegiate position coaches to find out if a player is coachable and how quickly he picked up on the finer points of his offensive system. To that end, the COVID-19 pandemic will be a bit of a setback for teams, since teams can’t bring in prospects for visits or meet them on campus for additional interview time. That means it will be up to interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine and AllStar games, video calls and those NFL scout-college coach conversations to determine a player’s football intelligence.

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Still, it’s the most inexact of sciences. Last year, seven drafted receivers had at least 600 receiving yards. It was only three in 2018, two in 2017, and four in 2016 and 2015. “This stuff takes time, and it takes time to learn it and then to apply it and to apply it at a high level,” Gutekunst said. “The NFL’s not very kind with the patience part of it, but that is part of what we’re trying to do here is develop these guys, because it doesn’t happen overnight for most.” The Packers don’t have time to wait. For a team that finished one win from the Super Bowl but was overmatched by the 49ers’ powerful defense in both games, Green Bay will need an instant impact to take the next step. On one hand, today’s draft prospects are better prepared than the receivers of yesteryear. There are seven-on-seven passing camps in high school and wide-open passing attacks in college. On the other hand, many college receivers play in simplistic schemes, run limited route trees and haven’t seen press coverage. “There’s a lot of learning that takes place,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “The way the college game has gone, it depends on what systems they’ve been in. There’s certain guys here that have maybe only lined up on one side of the field. Maybe they only lined up on the left side. Certainly, at our level, we’re going to move guys around and try to create matchups or whatever it may be. There’s a learning curve. And then to get on the same page as a guy like Aaron, who might just look at you and want you to run a certain route, that takes time to do.”

Thompson vs. Gutekunst Will A Completely New Approach Bring Different Results? CD Angeli

On January 8, 2018, the Green Bay Packers brought aboard Brian Gutekunst, putting a fresh new face in the general manager’s chair for the first time since 2005. Ted Thompson’s once-lauded approach to building a team had suffered a frustrating fall from grace, and Packers fans, many of whom never completely warmed to Thompson’s conservative style, salivated at the thought of finally becoming players in free agency. Fans didn’t have to wait long for some movement on the onceglacial free agency front, as Gutekunst made an immediate splash in 2018, signing, among others, tight end Jimmy Graham. The following offseason, in 2019, Gutekunst went one step further, signing pass rushers Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith

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to lucrative deals, along with offensive lineman Billy Turner and safety Adrian Amos. Gutekunst spent more on these four free agents than Thompson had spent on free agents in 13 seasons combined. This is entirely new territory for a generation of Packers fans who’ve never known the risks involved in free agency. The moves were big and transformative, and while Packers fans cheered the risk-taking they had wanted for so long, the huge chunks of salary cap space now reserved for these players who had yet to play a down for the team gave some of the old Ted Thompson believers pause.

> CHTV FEATURE: Thompson vs. Gutekunst

So, let’s take a deep dive into both approaches, and see what is in store for the Packers of 2020 and beyond.

The Ted Thompson Approach:

eight productive seasons. Later in May, Thompson snagged Charles Woodson on a seven-year, $52 million contract that produced All-Pro seasons and the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2009.

Endless Jenga Ted Thompson’s approach to building a team was on immediate display in his first season in 2005. Despite fans’ clamoring for Thompson to immediately dip into free agency to upgrade the many holes left on the team by Sherman, Thompson only signed five free agents that first year, and none made it to 2006. “Tightwad Ted” was one of many names aimed at Thompson during this chaotic time, but the makings of his approach to building a team was going to become more evident as the seasons went on. Thompson’s approach was like Jenga: a slow, methodical, strategic game that challenges you to slowly build a tower by pulling a few pieces from the bottom and stacking them on top. 1. Build almost exclusively through the draft Thompson’s approach was simple: he analyzed the roster for not only what he needed right away, but what he could see coming up a season or two later. In 2006, Favre began openly petitioning for Thompson to sign erstwhile wide receiver Randy Moss as another weapon, an idea that gained some traction among the fanbase (not unlike the clamor today to add a superstar wide receiver to upgrade the corps). But Favre was spurned as Thompson stuck to his guns. Instead, he drafted Greg Jennings in the second round in 2006, James Jones in the third round in 2007 and Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley in the second and third rounds, respectively, in 2008. While Favre wasn’t around any longer to see this entire group come to fruition, Aaron Rodgers benefited from this group maturing in time for the 2010 Super Bowl season and beyond. 2. Free Agency is just to (very occasionally) fill out the roster Every March, Packers fans would salivate over the list of available unrestricted free agents, and every year, they were disappointed. By the start of training camp, the Packers’ free agent list could be divided into three categories: third-tier, undrafted and street. For the most part, none of Thompson’s free agent signings lasted more than a season. There were, of course, some rare exceptions that worked out very well for Thompson and the Packers. In 2006, Ryan Pickett was signed to a four-year, $14 million contract that turned into

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Those two players were really the only impact free agents for Thompson until 2014, when he signed Julius Peppers to a threeyear, $25 million contract that, in retrospect, was a bargain given many thought Peppers was past his prime at 32. Instead, he started 43 out of a possible 48 starts and piled up 29 sacks. But when it comes to high-impact, first-tier free agents under Thompson, that’s it. 3. When the system is working, you develop from within and stay ahead Thompson’s goal was to develop talent from the draft and keep costs manageable. He had a percentage of the players working under their rookie contracts, so it was important to hit on guys who could contribute in a year or two. You could see that over the years with players like Tramon Williams, an undrafted free agent in 2007. Working for negligible cap hit through 2009, Thompson used that 2010 season to evaluate Williams’ future in Green Bay, and in November of that year, renegotiated a four-year deal for $41 million. He had proven his worth, and Thompson pulled that rookie contract from the bottom of the Jenga pile and put it on the top, building the tower from within. Contrast that with the career of Eddie Lacy, drafted in the second round in the 2013 draft. Playing under a four-year deal of a rookie contract, Lacy’s cap hits were $616,000, $771,000, $925,000 and $1,079,000. After rushing for more than 1,000 yards in his first two seasons, he tailed off, starting only eight games in that time. In 2017, at the end of his rookie deal, he was not extended and left the team via free agency. Thompson, evaluating the likelihood of extending Lacy or not, had already built in his insurance plan, drafting two backs the previous offseason named Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams. Not only was Lacy expendable, there were two players now working under their rookie contacts to replace him. This continued balance of selectively knowing which players to extend from their rookie deals and which ones to let walk and replace, maintained the cap moving forward year to year to year. It’s easy to see, when you look at it through this lens, why Thompson was so cautious of free agency: his cap was always appropriately distributed for the players he had drafted and/or developed. A free agent with a monsterous deal could be a wrecking ball in his carefully balanced tower.

> CHTV FEATURE: Thompson vs. Gutekunst

4. Constant evaluation and drafting for the future Thompson’s strategy relied heavily on his scouts and coaching staff to be very successful in their roles.

When you build your team almost exclusively through the draft, you can’t keep missing on your draft picks. Whether this fell on Thompson directly or his scouts, every miss in the draft has to be compensated for elsewhere.

First, his scouts needed to provide excellent recommendations of players they felt fit the mold of the team and could develop over the course of their rookie deal. Once the holes were mostly filled on the team, this created a natural and seamless replacement system that kept the team well under the cap.

Leading up to the Super Bowl win in 2010 and the 15–1 season in 2011, it was pretty clear that the scouting department had given the team enough home runs through the draft that the need for free agents had been limited to Woodson and Pickett. But starting in 2011, the misses with their top picks began to pile up.

An excellent example of this is wide receiver Donald Driver. In 2010, Driver’s numbers began to decline. Seeing that on the horizon, Thompson used a second-round draft pick on Randall Cobb. The Packers fan base wondered, Why would we draft another receiver? The depth chart was already quality four-deep.

Derek Sherrod. Nick Perry. Datone Jones. Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix. Damarious Randall. Kenny Clark. When six seasons of firstround picks add up to one Pro Bowl appearance, it doesn’t bode well for your general manager or your scouting staff. Furthermore, every time Thompson missed on a defensive secondary player, he used another high draft pick to remedy it...and continued to miss. Between 2014 and 2017, Thompson used five first- or second-round picks on defensive backs, successively trying to make up for the mistakes of the previous attempt.

But, all was revealed: Driver was regulated to backup and inactive duty by 2012 and retired. Jennings’ contract was allowed to expire in 2012, as well. Suddenly, Cobb was no longer a luxury but a starter in his third season. Thompson had the foresight to see Driver’s decline, and the cost-analysis of Jennings did not fit his plans after his contract expired. Those two players who were a combined cap hit of $9 million in 2011 were replaced by Cobb’s rookie deal hit of $730,000 in 2012.

Each miss stole another player in the cycle for another positional need. Had the Packers passed on Damarious Randall in 2015, perhaps they could have angled to take an inside linebacker like Eric Kendricks or Benardrick McKinney. Or, perhaps we could have had wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in 2017 instead of Josh Jones?

The coaching staff, then, has an equally critical role to play in this process, as they develop the talent the general manager has given them. Most coaching staffs in the NFL can usually rely on the occasional free agent to come in and give the team a veteran jumpstart, but under Thompson, this rarely happened. The position coaches were constantly working to develop young guys into contributors. In the front nine of Thompson’s career, this worked to near-perfection.

Thompson took the axe for the failure of those draft picks to develop. In the end, his draft/develop/decide strategy is as much a winning strategy as any. It just left little room for errors, and when the errors mounted, that was the end of Thompson and 13 seasons of well-controlled cap space.

Where it all went wrong

The Brian Gutekunst Approach: Strategic Monopoly

In the mid-2010s, the Jenga tower began to wobble and, finally, fell down.

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Brian Gutekust is playing a different game than Thompson. For many fans, it might be a case of, Well, you wanted it, now

> CHTV FEATURE: Thompson vs. Gutekunst

you’ve got it. Gutekunst didn’t waste any time in working to unload players he felt were overpaid or contributed to the negative atmosphere on the team. One of the first moves he made was cutting beloved wideout Jordy Nelson, erasing $11.5 million off the cap. He then traded quarterback Brett Hundley for a sixth-round draft pick, Clinton-Dix for a fourth-round pick, Ty Montgomery for a seventh-round pick and Randall for DeShone Kizer. He followed that up in 2019 by allowing Clay Matthews and Cobb (who combined for $24 million against the cap in 2018) to leave via free agency and cut linebacker Nick Perry, who would have counted $14.7 million against the 2019 cap). Message sent: if you’re not playing up to your big contract or a locker room issue, you’re gone. If you’re here, you are part of the machine and you need to contribute. But now, let’s play Gutekunst Monopoly: 1. Big contracts are replaced with other big contracts Like Thompson, Gutekunst has inherited a Hall of Fame quarterback whom the fanbase would like to see win another ring before his window closes. Unlike Thompson, Gutekunst has had no problems bringing in high-priced free agents to fill the holes left behind by the players he released. In his first season, Gutekunst added to the cap by signing a few short term deals, among them Jimmy Graham at $30 million over three seasons. But, more importantly, Gutekunst extended Aaron Rodgers to a four-year, $134 million contract, at the time the richest contract in NFL history. In 2019, with the departure of Matthews, Cobb and Perry, Gutekunst made his biggest splash: Za’Darius Smith (4 years, $66 million), Preston Smith (4 years, $52 million), Adran Amos (4 years, $36 million) and Billy Turner (4 years, $28 million). Combine that with Aaron Rodgers’ renegotiated contract for 2020 and beyond, and these five players presently make up over a third of the Packers’ salary cap this upcoming season. This process has continued this offseason, with departures of free agents Blake Martinez and Bryan Bulaga and the release of Graham. Gutekunst has already signed linebacker Christian Kirksey (2 year, $13 million) and tackle Ricky Wagner (2 years, $11 million). However, the spending splurge of 2019 has already limited what the Packers have offered their UFAs relative to the past two offseasons. 2. The draft is looking more and more like the roster filler Whereas Thompson used the draft as the building blocks for the future (with the occasional free agent thrown in to help),

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there are going to be many holes left on this team that the draft will be looked to for immediate help. We saw Gutekunst immediately address the needs on the team in his first draft. With holes at cornerback, he drafted two with his first two picks, with both Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson asked to be starting-caliber sooner than later. Seeing the continued conundrum without having a quality inside linebacker playing next to Martinez, he drafted Oren Burks in the third round. With Jordy Nelson already gone and Cobb on the way out, he drafted three wide receivers in the middle rounds to try and find a replacement to line up alongside Davante Adams. All were given every opportunity to start immediately. In the 2019 draft, with the departure of Clinton-Dix and Kentrell Brice, Gutekunst selected Darnell Savage at safety with his later first round pick. He then took Elgton Jenkins in the third round, as guard was a position of need based on a rotating door of mediocre players in 2018. Both players were starting by September. Knowing that Graham would clearly not be the player they thought he was, the Packers spent a third-rounder on Jace Sternberger. As it stands, it appears he is going to be counted on to fill Graham’s shoes in 2020. The problem with reversing Thompson’s approach and using the draft to fill the holes that free agency does not is that, on average, only about a third of your draft picks actually live up to their draft status. In fact, while it can be easily said that Alexander, Savage and Jenkins have been able to contribute right away, Jackson, Burks, Sternberger and the wide receivers still have much to prove, if not having already busted. 3. For Gutekunst, size matters When Gutekunst sees a positional weakness, he targets it fairly aggressively. Clearly the edge rusher position was addressed not only with two high-priced free agents in 2019 but a first round pick as well. But consider the size of those three players: Za’Darius Smith (6’4”, 272 pounds), Preston Smith (6’5”, 265 pounds) and Rashan Gary (6’5”, 277 pounds). This was more than bringing in new, young pass rushers; it was sending a message that players like 6’3”, 255-pound Clay Matthews were no longer the template for Green Bay. The tight ends Gutekunst has brought in would all have Paul Coffman craning his neck looking up at them: Jimmy Graham at 6’7”, Marcedes Lewis at 6’6” and Jace Sternberger at 6’4”. For that matter, our new wide receivers are also quite tall: draft picks J’Mon Moore (6’3”), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (6’4”) and Equanimeous St. Brown (6’5”) are all taller than the average wideout, and you can add to that free agents Geronimo Allison (6’3”), Allen Lazard (6’5”) and Jake Kumerow (6’4”).

> CHTV FEATURE: Thompson vs. Gutekunst

It makes you wonder if part of the reason Randall Cobb was allowed to walk in free agency was his 5’10” height not fitting into Gutekunst’s model. In the end, while it's clear that size matters to Gutekunst, the jury is still out on its impact. No matter how tall the receivers are, Davante Adams (6’1”) is still clearly heads-and-shoulders above them, at least figuratively. 4. Russ Ball is working a different magic Russ Ball, Executive Vice President/Director of Football Operations, does his job very well: managing the contracts and salary cap for the Green Bay Packers. Ball had worked with Thompson since joining the team in 2008 and made his vision of draft-and-develop work. The Packers almost always had some salary cap room once the season started, which Ball always used to extend the players who were determined to be valuable enough to earn the big paycheck before they ever hit free agency. As a result, Ball worked with very straightforward veteran contracts, with the only guaranteed money generally coming in the form of signing bonuses. This has kept the Packers flush every year, because players generally agreed to terms to stay with the team, making those contracts much easier on the team in the long term. Roster bonuses have always been a contract tool that Ball has used to control costs. Working with Gutekunst, Ball now has to manage a different frontier. Other teams in the market for a player have been more willing to take riskier contract structures. Those big salaries with signing bonuses and guaranteed money spread out over the life of the contract can throttle a team’s cap down the line. These larger contracts that can choke your salary cap space, so rare under Thompson, are already impacting the Packers. In December, Rodgers took $14.26 million of the roster bonuses

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in the big contract he had signed and turned it into guaranteed money, payable immediately. Instead of using the remaining 2019 cap space to extend a free agent like Kenny Clark, the money was used to clear space for the 2020 cap. Looking at the contracts for Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith, you wonder if that might become a more common occurrence as the Packers continue to be aggressive in free agency then find themselves against the cap in subsequent years. You get the feeling that Russ Ball had a pretty routine job working under the conservative and predictable approach of Ted Thompson. With Gutekunst’s aggressive approach to free agency, Ball is going to have to work a different magic. The challenge is either using up cap space previously used to extend player contracts before they hit free agency, or as in the case of Jimmy Graham, keeping a player on the roster for an extra season to avoid the $7.3 million hit of dead cap money had they released him after the 2018 season.

Game Over? So in the end, is there truly a massive difference between the style of Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst? While it may appear so to fans, Andrew Brandt, former Vice President of the Packers, says no. “Brian is the same way [as Thompson], developing the roster primarily through the draft in terms of infrastructure and pipeline, but selectively adding FAs when the opportunity arises at a position of need,” says Brandt. “ The differences between him and previous regimes have always, in my mind, been overstated.” Time will tell if Brandt is correct, and the games they play are simply different tools for the same strategy. But, they certainly feel like two different games now. And if Gutekunst’s investments in free agency pay off with a Super Bowl win, Thompson’s game will seem a distant memory.

> CHTV FEATURE: Thompson vs. Gutekunst

HERE GOES NOTHING HOW NFL PROSPECTS PREPARE FOR THE DRAFT Michelle Bruton

In a normal year, preparing for the NFL draft is an exciting, exhausting, life-changing process for NFL prospects. But this year will go down as one of the strangest sports years on the books, especially for the 500-odd players participating in April’s draft. While the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic caused major sports leagues like the NBA and NHL to suspend their seasons indefinitely and necessitated cancelations of major events ranging from the NCAA Tournament to the Masters, the impact on the NFL has been more subtle. As of publication, the NFL draft is set to continue as scheduled, but all corresponding public events for what was on pace to be the most highly attended draft event of all time are canceled.

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More crucially to teams, the events leading up to the draft on April 23-25 have changed dramatically. The league has instructed teams to suspend pre-draft travel and all in-person pre-draft visits involving draft-eligible players. While NFL teams may conduct phone or video interviews with prospects until April 22, they can have no more than three such interviews with one player per week, and the calls can be no longer than an hour. It’s all a lot to process for the hundreds of players who envisioned their spring being filled with workouts, visits and pro days. As soon as the college football regular season ended, these players turned their full attention to the pre-draft process, a gauntlet that can quickly become all-consuming.

> CHTV FEATURE: PREPARING FOR THE DRAFT

Here’s the way it works for most players who declare for the draft: in the summer, agents begin reaching out, hoping to lock in their client lists ahead of the following year’s draft. Some players entertain these calls right away, keeping their program’s Compliance Office abreast of conversations and developments. Other players choose to focus on their season and put any looming decisions about representation on hold.

Players can train for the combine at their university, or they can elect, through their agents, to train at an outside facility. A popular facility is EXOS in Pensacola, Florida, where nearly half of the first-round draft picks in 2019 trained, including five of the top 10. Most of the training costs will be covered by the agent; some may fall on the player. Some facilities can charge up to $25,000 per player in preparation fees, according to the NFLPA.

“I started looking into representation in mid-October,” says Joe Reed, wide receiver and special teams prospect out of Virginia who is on the Packers’ radar. “In the summer and early fall, I was just focused on being the best player I could be senior year, putting up numbers before I got to that point.”

The six-to-eight week combine preparation process is immersive. Prospects’ workouts, diet and sleep routines are completely overhauled to optimize their performance in Indianapolis. In terms of workouts, training for the combine is often different than players’ college regimens.

Reed’s former teammate Juan Thornhill, now a safety for the Kansas City Chiefs, is represented by Jon Perzley of SportStars. So when Perzley reached out to Reed, he asked Thornhill for some guidance and ultimately decided to go with the SportStars agent.

“It was more short-burst sprints, five or six seconds; in college we’d run 100-yard sprints,” says Reed, who prepared for the draft at XPE in Ft. Lauderdale. “Getting ready for the vert and the broad and the 40, we did a lot of lower weight reps; not nearly as heavy as I did in college.”

“Throughout the season agents kind of hit you up,” says Javon Leake, a running back out of Maryland whom the Packers may consider on Day 3. “Right after the last game is when agents really come at you, especially if you're a junior or a senior. It was kind of like recruiting again,” he recalls.

“

...those workouts don’t exist, those visits don’t exist, that hype from the pro day doesn’t exist.

”

If a player thinks he’s ready to declare for the draft, and he’s the requisite three years removed from high school, he can apply for an evaluation through the College Advisory Committee, through which professional and team scouts can give him an accurate idea of where (or if) he is likely to be drafted. If players declare, and if they are invited, they can then participate in college All-Star games to show off their talent to scouts. But it’s the next step in the process that looms large over everything top athletes in the pipeline do: preparing for the NFL combine.

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“They did change up the workouts probably two weeks out from the combine,” says Leake, who trained at EXOS. “A lot more stretching, stuff like that.” As for the meal plan, while no one is excited to overhaul their diet to eat grilled fish and green beans every day, players can’t argue with the results. Reed gained four pounds and lost body fat, feeling stronger overall. A sample day on the plan might look like this: for breakfast, two eggs and gluten-free pancakes; for lunch, a turkey burger on wheat and sweet potato fries; and for dinner, grilled chicken, rice and broccoli. The combine preparation program also includes media and interview training. While many college players have media experience, the stakes get a lot higher starting at the combine and moving forward. Scouts and executives confirm that players rise and fall on teams’ draft boards based on their combine interviews alone. “I would have FaceTime interviews with people who would help me out a lot, give me some tips, give me sample questions,” says Reed. “Throughout my training, I was able to pick up on things to do and not to do, and that helped me a whole lot as well during the combine. I thought the interviews went really well. I wrote down everything that they told me, and when I have interviews in the future I can just go over my notes.” Leake also credits his mom for the ways she has helped prepare him for the off-field elements of the NFL draft process. “In high school, my mother got me started on being professional when you talk to people, good eye contact in interviews,” he says. “Just doing that with my mom really helped me throughout

> CHTV FEATURE: PREPARING FOR THE DRAFT

college. At the combine you have to talk to a lot of people. I was prepared for it.” While both Reed and Leake were generally happy with their combine performances, they both stress the importance of pro days, the next step in the process, in sealing the deal with team scouts. Pro days also allow coaches to get a more in-depth sense for how players take coaching, follow instruction and respond to feedback.

“I got back from Florida, and I’m working in Maryland with a trainer to stay in shape leading up to my pro day and fix a couple things that I need to fix from the combine,” says Leake. Specifically, he’d like to run a faster 40 time than the 4.65 seconds he clocked in Indianapolis. But this part of the process is a major question mark in 2020. UVA, Maryland and a host of other programs across the country canceled in-person classes, and pro days are mired in uncertainty. Some programs canceled theirs; others postponed. These hamstrung pro days hardly affect this year’s crop of top prospects, but the loss of opportunity could prove disastrous for bubble players trying to prove they’re worth a draft selection. “Normally, there’s about 35 to 40 guys who don’t attend the combine and do get drafted. They kill it at their pro day and teams are like, ‘Goodness gracious,’” says NFL agent Evan Brennan of United Athlete Sports Agency.

K'Von Wallace runs the 40

In a normal draft year, players return to school to finish out classes (or continue training on their own, if they’ve already completed their course of study) ahead of their pro day. “Now I’m doing my own thing. Naturally it’s not as intense, and so far I’m doing a really good job of keeping up what I started,” Reed says. “My lifts are a little different because I’m not jumping or running the 40. My diet is essentially the same, and when I shop I buy what I was eating in January and February.”

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“I represent a lot of those kinds of guys,” Brennan continued. “Do those guys get drafted this year, or does that number drop and these guys get signed as undrafted free agents? Typically a lot of those guys get drafted because there’s visibility at those workouts and visits. That leverage is disappearing; those workouts don’t exist, those visits don’t exist, that hype from the pro day doesn’t exist.”

getting creative. Brennan’s agency tapped partner facilities to set up height and weight measurements, position work, all the drills and have them filmed to send to scouts. To make sure everything’s legitimate, they have former NFL scouts like Brad Forsyth and Blake Beddingfield doing the timing. “Then teams are more inclined to believe it and put a lot of credence behind it,” Brennan says. “That’s one thing that we’ve been able to be proactive on.” Preparing for the NFL draft, perhaps the single most important time in a college football player’s career, is stressful in a normal year, and has proven downright fraught in 2020. It’s no wonder. According to the NFLPA, only 1.6 percent of college players will ever play a down in the NFL. Of the players who declare early for the draft, nearly 30 percent go undrafted. Even when dreams come true and players get that coveted call, their career longevity, on average, is only 3.5 years. And yet every year, more than 500 athletes still sign up for all of this and gamely jump through every hoop, forever in pursuit of the opportunity to don the Green and Gold or one of 31 other coveted uniforms.

Then there are the top-tier players who have medical concerns. Top 30 visits, combine medical re-checks and pro days could have provided clarity on those players teams feel they need to pull the trigger on draft day, and all are now left up in the air. “Maryland canceled classes, but that would be crazy to cancel the pro day,” Leake says. To try to mitigate the consequences of their clients’ canceled pro day, agents are

> CHTV FEATURE: Thompson vs. Gutekunst

SMALL SCHOOL HIDDEN GEMS 2020 DRAFT SLEEPERS Rob Reger

In today’s NFL, it is important for teams to utilize many different avenues to achieve ultimate success. Long gone are the days when a franchise can simply rely on top draft choices or overspend for free agents. All the successful franchises look to Rounds 3 through 7 of the draft and take a shot on smaller school players to help fill in the gaps. You need to look no further than the Super Bowl MVP two years ago, Julian Edelman, for validation. Edelman played quarterback for Kent St. and was drafted in the seventh round of the draft. Now, he is one of the top receivers in the league and a Super Bowl MVP.

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We’ll break down several potential targets for the Packers at positions of need. The focus will be on non-Power 5 Conferences with players expected to be available in Rounds 3 through 7. Last year's profiles featured strong first year NFL contributors: Tytus Howard, Nate Davis, Jahlani Tavai, Oshane Ximines and Corey Ballentine. Also included is each player’s fit within Matt LaFleur’s or Mike Pettine’s scheme on offense or defense.

> CHTV FEATURE: SMALL SCHOOL HIDDEN GEMS

Offense QUARTERBACK

> James Morgan

Florida International | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 229 lbs.

James Morgan seems to be tailor-made for an understudy role of sorts with the Packers. After all, he grew up in Green Bay and went to Ashwaubenon High School. Morgan is blessed with a strong arm and has a big, athletic build. He started his career at Bowling Green but really flourished after he transferred to FIU, where he won the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year award in 2018 and led his team to an upset of Miami in 2019. Morgan tries to emulate his idol, Brett Favre, when he plays. That gunslinger mentality leads to big plays but can also get him in trouble. Although Morgan’s accuracy is above average, he does tend to stare down receivers and force some throws. He also struggles with his touch on short throws. Overall, if the Packers decide to start grooming Aaron Rodgers’ replacement, Morgan, with all of his physical gifts, would be a great choice.

> Mason Fine

North Texas | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 190 lbs.

Mason Fine has been one of the more entertaining players to watch during his illustrious career at North Texas, where he ended up with 12,505 yards passing and an incredible 93 touchdown passes in his three-and-a-half years as a starter. Fine is one of the more instinctive players in the draft and thrives in an improvisational setting. Mason Fine, 2018 New Mexico Bowl

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The knock on Fine is his physical stature and lack of play against top flight competition in college. Scouts have doubts about whether he can withstand the beating that quarterbacks take in the NFL. However, if anyone can, it would be Fine. Fine has a compact, quick, accurate delivery and throws well on the run. He also keeps his eyes downfield and frequently finds receivers there after the play starts to break down. On the Packers, Fine would be a departure from the status quo but could thrive in Matt LaFleur’s offense.

> CHTV FEATURE: SMALL SCHOOL HIDDEN GEMS

Offense WIDE RECEIVER

> Gabriel Davis

UCF | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 216 lbs.

Gabe Davis is a player who has always excelled, regardless of the situation or size of the stage. Davis was a first-team all-state selection in high school out of Sanford, FL, and chose to stay close to home to play for the Knights. Davis has a big body at 6’2” and 216 pounds and knows how to use it to his advantage by shielding off defenders and creating space for himself. In his career at UCF, Davis showed steady improvement year over year and became a master at using the sideline to his advantage, showing strong hands while effectively high pointing the ball. Davis started all 13 games his Freshman year at UCF, helping the Knights to an undefeated season. He really broke out during his sophomore year, with 815 yards receiving, before beating that total in 2019 with 1241 yards and 12 touchdowns. This improvement is the result of his relentless work ethic, often continuing to work long after practice had ended. As far as a fit for the Packers, Davis could provide a solid option opposite of Davante Adams and provide Aaron Rodgers with a big, reliable target both in the field of play and the end zone. Davis has the talent to make a big splash if the Packers are willing to give him an opportunity.

> Isaiah Coulter

Rhode Island | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 198 lbs.

Gabriel Davis celebrates after TD catch

Isaiah Coulter is one of the smoother athletes in a loaded receiver draft class. He shows ideal size and speed for the NFL and has a quick burst off of the ball. Coulter came on strong during his junior year at Rhode Island with over 1,000 yards receiving and eight touchdowns, including nine catches for 152 yards versus a ranked Virginia Tech team. He shows the ability to make tough catches look easy and is a natural pass catcher. Although Coulter has high end talent, he will be somewhat of a project at the next level. At RI, Coulter was not asked to develop a varied route tree. A lot of times, due to his perceived better talent versus his competition, Coulter did not run precise routes and failed to completely separate from inferior defenders. As far as a fit for the Packers, Coulter could be a solid slot receiver in Matt LaFleur’s offense. His quick feet and release off the line could allow him to get open over the middle on crosses and become a lethal hot read for Rodgers.

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> CHTV FEATURE: SMALL SCHOOL HIDDEN GEMS

Offense RUNNING BACK

> Antonio Gibson

Memphis | Height: 6’0” | Weight: 228 lbs.

Explosive is the best way to describe Antonio Gibson. Blessed with 4.39 speed, Gibson was a threat to score nearly every time he touched the ball at Memphis. Gibson was used primarily either at slot receiver or running back in his one season of production at Memphis after spending time in the JuCo ranks. Gibson averaged 19.3 yards per catch last year for the Tigers and 11.2 yards per carry out of the backfield with 12 touchdowns. He also excelled as a kick returner, averaging 28 yards per return with one touchdown. Gibson is the type of gadget player that the Packers were missing last year. Although he is built like a running back, Gibson thrives when he has the ball out in space. He has elite lateral quickness and seems to find an extra gear once he gets out in the open. Gibson could be a dangerous weapon on jet sweeps and stretch plays as well as bubble screens and screens out of the backfield. Although Gibson was a one-year wonder at the FBS level, he showed enough talent to potentially make a big difference on the Packers and provide the explosive plays that were sometimes lacking last year.

> Darrynton Evans

Appalachian St. | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 203 lbs.

Darrynton Evans at the Combine

Darrynton Evans profiles as a one-cut runner who would thrive in a zone blocking scheme as a change-of-pace back. Evans has elite speed, clocking in at 4.41 at the combine, along with a 37 inch vertical jump. At Appalachian St., Evans thrived as their featured back for two seasons but really exploded as a junior with almost 1,500 yards on the ground and 18 touchdowns. Although not asked to make many receiving plays out of the backfield, Evans also showed natural, soft hands leading to five receiving touchdowns as well in 2019. A bit undersized to be a feature back in the NFL at 203 pounds, Evans could be an effective change of pace or third down back in the NFL. He showed explosiveness and impressive change of direction as a runner. Matt LaFleur has said on numerous occasions that he is looking for a third running back in the draft this year, and Evans might be the perfect fit to spell Aaron Jones for 10-15 snaps per game and bring a new element to the team’s running game, both as a runner and as a receiver. Evans also has excellent ball security as evidenced by the fact that he had zero fumbles in almost 500 career touches in college.

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> CHTV FEATURE: SMALL SCHOOL HIDDEN GEMS

DEFENSE LINEBACKER

> David Woodward Utah St. | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 230 lbs.

If there is one area of the Packers defense that needs the most attention, it is the inside linebacker position. Blake Martinez decided to sign with the Giants, and Oren Burks was not dependable. David Woodward could potential be a steal in the middle rounds for the Packers and an early contributor. However, his selection would be a departure from Brian Gutekunst’ M.O. since he took over as GM, opting for high-end athletes. Woodward was a tackling machine for Utah St. and has elite instincts and play recognition ability. On tape, he always seems to be around the ball. Much of his success came from skills that can’t be taught. Athletically and size-wise, however, Woodward is the polar opposite of Oren Burks. He is small for his position and did not test as even an above-average athlete. Quite simply, Woodward is a playmaker as evidenced by his six forced fumbles in the last two years. He also has elite play processing ability, allowing him to compensate for his lack of athleticism. The Packers could use a player of his ability as part of their base 3-4 defense and on running downs. One potential negative, however, could be his durability. Woodward has had two concussions and has had some back issues. However, if he manages to stay healthy, he could develop into an above-average starter and contributor in the NFL.

> Akeem Davis-Gaither Appalachian St. | Height: 6’1” | Weight: 224 lbs.

David Woodward, 2017 Arizona Bowl

Heading into free agency, one of the most popular rumors around the Packers was their interest in Rams linebacker Cory Littleton, mostly because of his ability to play sideline to sideline and his covering ability. Now that Littleton has decided to play for the Raiders, the Packers may opt for a younger version of Littleton in the form of Akeem Davis-Gaither. DavisGaither was all over the place for Appalachian St. over the last three years. He is a playmaker and has a nose for the ball. He is also adept at covering backs or tight ends on passes. Davis-Gaither contributed over 200 tackles including 24.5 tackles for loss over his last two years. He also recorded eight pass breakups and an interception in 2019. His ability to play fast while under control is impressive. His timing on blitzes and explosiveness is evident as well. The only real knock on him is whether he has the size and strength to take on big running backs. He might have to put on some weight in the NFL in order to take on NFL caliber blockers and backs. With the Packers, his skills would translate perfectly when Mike Pettine opts for his 4-1-6 alignment in passing downs, with Davis-Gaither being the 1. His versatility and speed would be a welcomed addition to the team.

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> CHTV FEATURE: SMALL SCHOOL HIDDEN GEMS

DEFENSE SAFETY

> Kyle Dugger

Lenoir-Rhyne | Height: 6’1” | Weight 217 lbs.

As a Division II player, Dugger was a man among boys at Lenoir-Rhyne, filling up stat sheets every year. It almost got to the point where it seemed like he was too good and appeared bored sometimes. That likely won’t be the case in the NFL. However, with his impressive size and speed abilities, with the right coaching, Dugger could become a star in the NFL. He has scouts drooling over the chance to mold him due to his extremely rare athleticism and explosion. To illustrate, at the NFL combine, Dugger ran a 4.49 40-yard dash and had a 42 inch vertical jump and a 134 in broad jump. All three of those are elite numbers, and his overall athletic testing score (RAS) came in at 9.56 out of a maximum of 10. Mike Pettine loves to deploy six defensive backs on the field for the Packers. This often includes three safeties, so, although Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage form a solid starting duo, there is always room for a player of Dugger’s ability. Watching him play, it is hard not to envision him as the type of player the team thought Josh Jones would be when they drafted him. The only knock on him is his level of competition, but he put a lot of those doubts to bed with an impressive Senior Bowl week against top receivers.

> Jeremy Chinn

Southern Illinois | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 221 lbs.

Jeremy Chinn at the Senior Bowl

Jeremy Chinn has very impressive measurables for a safety. However, what was really impressive on tape was his cover ability. A team drafting Chinn would be wise to match him up on either the tight end or big-bodied receivers. His athletic ability is also off the charts. His combine numbers include a 4.45 40-yard dash and a 41 inch vertical jump. These traits were evident on film as well, as Chinn dominated almost from the time he entered SIU. As a four-year starter, Chinn had at least three interceptions each of his four years in college and at least 51 tackles each year as well. As mentioned earlier, Mike Pettine has an affinity for playing the dime defense. Chinn would excel as a cover safety with the ability to support the run, as well. The Packers struggled with that last year, as well as covering tight ends. Chinn could simply play man to man defense and lock down the other team’s tight end. With his height, Chinn also could be effective at the goal line, as many teams like to run fades to the corner. In time, Chinn could also easily develop into a full time starter. Players with his athletic ability and size are hard to find.

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> CHTV FEATURE: SMALL SCHOOL HIDDEN GEMS

DEFENSE

EDGE / CORNERBACK

> Alex Highsmith (EDGE) EDGE | Charlotte | Height: 6’ 3” | Weight: 248 lbs.

Now that Kyler Fackrell has moved on, the Packers will be looking to fill his role in Mike Pettine’s defense. One possibility is Highsmith from Charlotte. Highsmith seemingly came out of nowhere to become a dominant force in Conference USA over the last two years after starting his career as a walkon and redshirting. Highsmith has really refined his game by using a variety of rush moves and combining those with a quick first step off the ball. It’s obvious to see that his best football is ahead of him. Highsmith ended his senior season in the top five in both tackles for loss and sacks with 21.5 and 14, respectively. His jumps in both stats from one season to the next were staggering. When watching film from his junior season and comparing it to his senior season, he hardly looks like the same player. The area he will need to work on at the next level is holding his ground at the point of attack and defending a specific gap against the run. Many times at Charlotte, he would just charge into the backfield and attempt to locate the ball. In the NFL, that will be easy to exploit. However, as he develops, there definitely could be a role for him as a situational pass rusher with the Packers, especially if either of the Smith’s move inside on certain downs.

> Amik Robertson (CB) Louisiana Tech | Height: 5’8” | Weight: 187 lbs.

Alex Highsmith at the Combine

Others to look out for: > Antonio > Ezra

Gandy-Golden (WR)

Cleveland (OT)

> Samouri > James

Toure (WR)

Robinson (RB)

> Jonah

Williams (DE)

> Luther

Kirk (S)

> Chris

Amik Robertson ended his stellar college career with an incredible 14 interceptions and 34 pass breakups. These stats alone warrant a close look at his talents, but there is so much more to like about his game. Although he is undersized, Robertson plays very scrappy and does not back down. He projects as a solid slot cornerback in the NFL, which has become a vital position. The Packers could use a player of Robertson’s skill set. Tramon Williams, if he comes back, is clearly nearing the end and Josh Jackson has been a disappointment. Robertson could easily learn for a year and then flourish. Many teams have deployed smaller, quicker receivers from the slot position and Robertson has the quick twitch ability to match up with those players man to man. His change of direction skills are excellent as well. If Robertson was 6’1” or 6’2” he would be looked at as a first-round pick rather than a third or fourth rounder. The Packers would be wise to restock the cornerback position with a player of Robertson’s ability.

Rowland (WR)

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RAVEN GREENE HIS journey to the NFL and the draft process Aaron Nagler

Packers safety Raven Greene has come a long way and overcome some serious odds to be a valued contributor in Mike Pettine's defense. Undrafted out of James Madison, Greene joined the Packers as a free agent in May 2018. He saw action in both the first two games of the 2019 season, contributing on defense and special teams and making his first career start in Week 1. Greene played well in the opener against the Bears, with seven tackles and a pass deflection in 55 defensive snaps. But an ankle injury the following week against Minnesota put him on injured reserve. While the team brought him back off IR prior to the NFC Championship Game, he did not suit up. We asked Raven about his journey to the NFL and going through the draft process. You can read his comments below. 1. How did you go about choosing your agent when you were coming out of school? How much research did you do? If I’m honest I didn’t really have many options. I had one of my teammates connect me with his agent and I signed from there.

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> CHTV EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: RAVEN GREENE

2. How much prep did you do for the interviews with teams? What kinds of things did you get asked?

5. Where did you spend the draft? Who were you with?

I received a few calls, but it was on a more routine check-in kind of basis rather than genuine interest.

I was in Hampton Virginia with some family and close friends on day 3, so they were all around when I got the call. Looking at them, saying “I’m a Packer,” is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

3. What was your pro day like? What do you remember about it? The scouts had my speed as my biggest question mark, so I remember putting a lot of time in during training working on flexibility/twitch out of the start. It was a pretty cold day, ended up running well and was fluid throughout the drills. I knew that I had helped myself but was unsure how much exactly. It was a great feeling to be out on the turf in Bridgeforth one last time with some of the guys from my graduating class. A special group of guys that did a lot of great things for the school and the program as a whole. 4. How much did you pay attention to draft media during the lead up to the draft? Were you looking at mock drafts, etc?

6. How many teams called offering you a contract as an undrafted free agent and what made you choose the Packers? I had a list of the places that I wanted to go and Green Bay was No. 1, and it just so happened that they were the first to call and offer a contract, so it was a no-brainer. 7. Who was on the phone for Green Bay and what was the conversation like? I talked to a few different people but I was so relieved to be getting an opportunity and overcome with emotion that I don’t really remember who I talked to!

I didn’t really read that much into things, didn’t feel like I would go high enough to care.

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HE REMINDS ME OF: NFL PROSPECTS AND THEIR PRO COMPARISIONS "Pigskin Paul" Guillemette Jonathan Taylor

There seems to be a pretty wide debate this year about who the best running back in the 2020 prospect class is. But exiting the combine, the Wisconsin Badgers’ Jonathan Taylor might have the strongest overall resume when you pair his three-year stats at UW with the numbers put up at the combine, where he participated in all measurable activities. Taylor checked in at 5’10¼”, weighing a solid 226 pounds. When field drills began, he burned a 4.39 40 time, the only running back to go below the magic 4.40 benchmark. Taylor is a smooth runner, with just as much speed in pads as he shows as a sprinter on the track team. He shows the usual patience all Badgers running backs are taught to run with: waiting for his offensive linemen to create holes for him to burst through, which makes sense with the quality of Badgers linemen through recent decades.

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Once past the line of scrimmage, he accelerates quickly and shows very good field vision to elude approaching defenders. He has good power on contact and augments that attribute with excellent balance to maintain his feet. Some would criticize his relatively small receiving numbers, but head coach Paul Chryst has shouldered the blame for that, saying he never really got around to getting Taylor the ball as a receiver. He did record a career-high 26 catches in 2019, including five trips to the end zone. Just to refresh your memory, he rushed for 2,003 yards last season, including 21 rushing touchdowns. If we really want to find a flaw in Taylor’s game it would be his lack of pass protection skills, which he also was seldom asked to perform. Of course, some scouts express concern about a lack of tread possibly left on Taylor’s tires, having recorded 926 carries in his three-year college career. In all likelihood, Taylor is a reasonable facsimile to Le’Veon Bell after losing his baby fat coming out of Michigan State.

> HE REMINDS ME OF

Laviska Shenault One of the more intriguing wide receiver prospects this year is Laviska Shenault of Colorado. Unfortunately for him, he was bothered much of the 2019 season with upper body injuries, though he actually only missed two games. His numbers fell off to 56 catches and only four touchdowns as he struggled with discomfort from a core muscle injury much of the season, if not in actual pain most weeks. Shenault is a fascinating weapon to contemplate because of his running back build, at 6’⅝”, and 227 pounds. He only managed a 4.58 40 at the combine but was clearly not totally healthy. He was scheduled to have surgery after the combine. His route running skill is deficient at this time, but once he makes the catch and gets rolling he is tough to get on the ground or out of bounds. He is a very productive player running sweeps and reverses as well. Once Shenault lulls a defense to sleep with “dump” throws, which he turns into first downs, the defender is often set up for a fake with Shenault eating upfield for bigger gains. He can set wide, in the slot or even in the backfield for the snap of the ball. Scouts will tell you that he has reliable hands and flourishes catching in traffic. If he can polish up some of his weak areas of the game, he has WR1 potential. Packers fans, dredge up your memories of the Holmgren Era back in the 1990s for this player comp. There was a wideout who helped Don Majkowski and Brett Favre almost perfect that little dump throw to the wideout that Holmgren characterized as a “long hand-off” more than a true pass. A star receiver caught an awful lot of those throws and turned them into big gains with his after the catch ability. His name was Sterling Sharpe. Laviska can be that kind of player as a pro.

Isaiah Simmons It was another stellar year for Clemson fans, if just one game short of overall perfection. Much of the credit was heaped upon the deserving shoulder of quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the offense. But truth be told, the Tigers' defense was just as impactful, especially early in the season. And the leader of that D was clearly Isaiah Simmons, an athletic freak who served roles as a safety, linebacker and edge rusher over the course of the season. When Simmons declared for the 2020 draft he immediately provided the draft class with a top-10 talent. And he did not fail to cause a stir with his athleticism at the combine. At a strapping 6’4” and 238 lbs. Simmons posted jaw-dropping numbers in every workout category, but his biggest attention-getter was a 4.39 40 time. He seems destined to be a versatile, dominant defensive force seemingly cut from the same mold as Derwin James, the 2018 Defensive Rookie of the Year. James is primarily a safety who dabbles as a linebacker when the Chargers' defensive scheme calls for his talents there. There is little doubt Simmons will provide that quality and versatility in reverse as called upon to do so as a pro.

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> HE REMINDS ME OF

Chase Young Anybody who follows the NFL Draft knows that the other dominant defender from this year’s class of prospects is Chase Young, defensive end out of Ohio State. Despite missing two games last season because of NCAA intervention in a personal matter, Young led FBS football with 16.5 sacks. It is astounding that he is the third consecutive elite edge rusher from the Buckeyes, following in the footprints of Joey and Nick Bosa. Whether Young plays as a defensive end or as an outside linebacker is inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. The fact is he is an elite edge player who is likely to step right into the pro game and be an immediate impact player. His closing speed and 80”-plus wingspan allow him to engulf opposing quarterbacks. And, like the Bosa Boys, he has a nonstop engine in pursuit.

Derrick Brown The monster of the defensive linemen class in 2020 is Auburn’s Derrick Brown, who anchors the defensive interior with his 6’5”, 326-pound frame. He is amazingly athletic and agile for his wide body frame, chasing and making tackles all over the field of play. Most scouts were very surprised when he chose not to enter the 2019 draft and instead returned to school for another season.

It would be too easy to compare him to his fellow former Buckeyes, so instead the comp here is Khalil Mack, currently with the Bears. Young’s trajectory to NFL stardom should be immediate. The speed, hand use and energy level for both players is exemplary. If not for the super season from LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, Young may have been the first player selected in the upcoming draft.

Brown posted his best overall stat sheet during the 2019 season on the plains. He recorded 55 tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, and forced two fumbles, while also dropping into shallow coverage and blocking four passes with his long arms and gigantic paws. He is not only ready for the NFL but ready to dominate from the get-go. His effort and hustle are astounding given his talent. He literally controls the action from his defensive tackle spot. He is reminiscent of another big body currently playing in Chicago named Akiem Hicks. Hicks was not as pro-ready coming into the NFL, but after a couple of learning years he has been a dominant player who controls the line of scrimmage most game days. Brown and Hicks, with their uncommon combination of sheer strength and athleticism, make defensive coordinators drool.

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> HE REMINDS ME OF

Jake Fromm Enough of all this defensive player talk; let’s get back to some offensive considerations. Having avoided any quarterback comps thus far seems almost blasphemous in this day and age of the pass-happy NFL. It is more true than ever that if you don’t have a good, if not great, quarterback, winning a Super Bowl seems to be nigh impossible. One of the intriguing second (or even third-tier) prospects for this coming draft is Jake Fromm of the Georgia Bulldogs. Fromm took the quarterback job away from Jacob Eason in 2016, yet Eason is ahead of Fromm on the 2020 prospect list by most folks. Strange as that may seem, it’s not hard to explain. Eason has a big arm (oozing potential), while Fromm is a game manager who is likely to be limited as a pro when it comes to throwing downfield. His play in a basically pro-style offense in Athens will work to his advantage early on in the NFL. He is also athletic enough with his legs to move within, or roll, the pocket to extend plays. Some personnel people express concern that his 2019 stats were a drop-off statistically compared to his first two seasons at the helm. But in reality, the cupboard was pretty bare in the receiving room last season. Fromm was throwing to a lot of talented but raw young guys who were learning how to be big-time college receivers as they went along. Fromm is just plain good at a lot of things and shows solid leadership ability. So where does that leave us in projecting his NFL future? Take a look at the overall playing style and career of a guy named Andy Dalton. Dalton may be moving on from the Bengals this offseason after a solid, but not spectacular career in Cincinnati. With enough talent around him and smart coaching. you can win with Andy Dalton. The same will be true of Jake Fromm as a pro.

TEE HIGGINS Given the excitement in the scouting community about the quality and depth of the 2020 class of receivers, let’s take a look at one of the probable first rounders from that position group: Tee Higgins of Clemson. Higgins falls into the group of wideouts who are long (over 6’0”) and have enough speed to stretch the field. His leaping ability makes him a tough cover on jump balls and sideline throws when battling against 6’0” or smaller defenders. His ability to get open deep is based on “build-up” speed that many quality long-legged athletes exhibit. Higgins is a dependable receiver with 9⅞” hands at the end of 34⅛” arms. His size and jumping ability make him a desirable compliment for a team that already has a speedster on one side and quick guy in the slot. Based on his size and that style of play, he compares quite favorably to NFL vet Alshon Jeffery. He’s a late first round talent who can likely contribute quite early to a team with a veteran QB who is looking for another big red zone weapon.

Other QUICK COMPS to consider:

A.J. Epenesa Iowa | DE = Leonard Williams Giants

Cole Kmet Notre Dame | TE = Tyler Higbee Rams Henry Ruggs Alabama | WR = Ted Ginn Saints

Denzel Mims Baylor | WR = Courtland Sutton Broncos

Mekhi Becton Louisville | OT = Trent Brown Raiders

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PIGSKIN PAUL'S

TOP 100 PROSPECTS “Pigskin Paul" Guillemette

1. Chase Young, DE, Ohio St 2. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU 3. Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson 4. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn 5. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama 6. Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio St 7. Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina 8. Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville 9. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa 10. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

41. Tyler Biadasz, OC, Wisconsin 42. Russ Blacklock, DT, Baylor 43. Khalil Davis, DT, Nebraska 44. Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma 45. Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame 46. Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn St 47. A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson 48. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU 49. Alex Highsmith, OB/ER, Charlotte 50. Michael Pittman, WR, Southern Cal

81. Collin Johnson, WR, Texas 82. Jordan Elliott, DT, Missouri 83. Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Miss 84. Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri 85. Robert Hunt, OT, LA/Lafayette 86. Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia 87. Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU 88. Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU 89. Shane Lemeaux, OG, Oregon 90. Javaris Davis, CB, Auburn

11. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma 12. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama 13. Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama 14. Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama 15. Jordan Love, QB, Utah St 16. C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida 17. Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia 18. Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama 19. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU 20. Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado

51. Raekwon Davis, DL, Alabama 52. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU 53. Josh Jones, OT, Houston 54. DaVon Hamilton, DT, Ohio St 55. Jacob Eason, QB, Washington 56. Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton 57. Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn 58. Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio St 59. Lloyd Cushenberry, OC, LSU 60. Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise St

91. Netane Muti, OG, Fresno St 92. Kamel Martin, LB, Minnesota 93. Matt Peart, OT, UConn 94. Shaun Bradley, LB, Temple 95. Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming 96. Matt Hennessy, OC, Temple 97. Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian St 98. Kevin Dotson, OG, LA/Lafayette 99. Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina 100. Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah

21. K’Lavon Chaisson, ER, LSU 22. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson 23. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin 24. D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia 25. Grant Delpit, S, LSU 26. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio St 27. Patrick Queen, LB, LSU 28. Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma 29. Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M 30. Marlon Davidson, DE, Auburn

61. Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois 62. K.J. Hamler, WR/RS, Penn St 63. Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan 64. James Lynch, DL, Baylor 65. Terrell Lewis, LB, Alabama 66. Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia 67. Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas 68. Jason Strowbridge, DE, UNC 69. Harrison Bryant, TE, Florida Atlantic 70. James Proche, WR, SMU

31. Austin Jackson, OT, Southern Cal 32. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona St 33. Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame 34. Cesar Ruiz, OC, Michigan 35. A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa 36. Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor 37. Cam Akers, RB, Florida St 38. Zach Baun, LB, Wisconsin 39. Trevon Diggs, DB, Alabama 40. Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir Rhyne

71. Bradlee Anae, DE, Utah 72. Davion Taylor, LB, Colorado 73. Curtis Weaver, ER, Boise St 74. Troy Dye, LB, Oregon 75. Leki Fotu, DT, Utah 76. Lucas Niang, OT, TCU 77. Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech 78. Darnay Holmes, CB, UCLA 79. Zack Moss, RB, Utah 80. John Hightower, WR, Boise St

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2020 NFL MOCK DRAFT Kennedy Paynter

DRAFT ORDER 1. Cincinnati Bengals

9. Jacksonville Jaguars

17. Dallas Cowboys

25. Minnesota Vikings

2. Washington Redskins

10. Cleveland Browns

18. Miami Dolphins

26. Miami Dolphins

3. Detroit Lions

11. New York Jets

19. Las Vegas Raiders

27. Seattle Seahawks

4. New York Giants

12. Las Vegas Raiders

20. Jacksonville Jaguars

28. Baltimore Ravens

5. Miami Dolphins

13. San Francisco 49ers

21. Philadelphia Eagles

29. Tennessee Titans

6. LA Chargers

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

22. Minnesota Vikings

30. Green Bay Packers

7. Carolina Panthers

15. Denver Broncos

23. New England Patriots

31. San Francisco 49ers

8. Arizona Cardinals

16. Atlanta Falcons

24. New Orleans Saints

32. Kansas City Chiefs

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> 2020 NFL MOCK DRAFT

1. Cincinnati Bengals: QB Joe Burrow Joe Burrow has been linked to the Bengals since mid-November, as the Bengals were tanking and the Tigers were on their way to a perfect season behind their (nearly) perfect quarterback. After the former Ohio State transfer completed his historic second season at LSU, he has remained coy about whether or not he will play for the Bengals. In response, the Bengals have had their most active free agency period in almost two decades,

signing multiple starters on both offense and defense, in addition to retaining star receiver AJ Green—possibly trying to show the eventual top-overall pick that the franchise is willing to do whatever it takes to win. Burrow would be a perfect fit in the Shanahan offense (sorry, Zac Taylor), as he is deadly accurate, understands timing and moves plenty well enough to be an elite play-action passer. Welcome to Cincy, Mr. Bureaux!

2. Washington Redskins: DE Chase Young The Chase for, well, Chase came down to the wire, but the Redskins’ blowout loss in Week 17 against the Cowboys granted them the right to select The Predator with the second overall pick. Now, an EDGE player might not be a significant need for a team that ranked eighth overall in quarterback pressures, right? Well, I’ll give you the two reasons why the team won’t pass on Young; first off, while the team ranked eighth in

pressures, it ranked just 18th in sack percentage, demonstrating the lack of efficiency in actually getting home. Secondly, and most importantly, no team is good enough to pass up elite, possibly generational talent at one of the top three most important positions in football. Unless Miami offers all three of their first round picks in a trade, the Redskins will be racing to the podium.

3. Detroit Lions: CB Jeff Okudah The Lions have had a rough offseason. Most interestingly, they made their best defensive player, cornerback Darius Slay, available in a trade, signed a lesser cornerback in Marcus Trufant for $10.5 million, and then traded Slay for just third- and fifthround picks. The worst part? Slay signed for just over $12 million per season. It’s clear that the chasm between head coach Matt Patricia and Slay was just too great of an impasse, but this certainly isn’t an upgrade for a unit that was already a massive

need area for the team. Enter Jeff Okudah, the best corner in the 2020 draft. Okudah has smooth feet that you don’t often see coming out of even the best college programs. While I would watch out for the Chargers trying to trade up to picks three or four to snag quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, I think Okudah is the clear next-best player on the board and just happens to be at a position of need for the Lions.

4. New York Giants: OT Tristan Wirfs Giants fans, don your earmuffs for a second: Dave Gettleman is a bad general manager. He consistently makes head-scratching moves—see devaluing of nose tackle Snacks Harrison to then spend the incredibly valuable 17th-overall pick on the same position AND trade a third round pick for another plus give that player the franchise tag. He alienates players consistently, and he makes his plans far too public in a league that relies on subtlety and nuance, especially when it comes to the NFL Draft. However, all of Gettleman’s sins will be washed clean if Daniel

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Jones becomes the franchise quarterback the franchise drafted him to be. How does a GM make sure that quarterback has the best chance to succeed? First thing: protect him. Gettleman has, again, allowed the other league executives and media members alike to read the man like a book; he covets offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs. While the Giants are in prime position to trade out of this pick, garner more assets and still take a top two or three tackle, if the team sticks-and-picks, the former Haweye will be the fourth-overall selection.

> 2020 NFL MOCK DRAFT

5. Miami Dolphins: QB Tua Tagovailoa “Tank for Tua” ended up being more like “Trust for Tua” as new head coach Brian Flores took one of the worst rosters in NFL history to a respectable 5–11 record in a season the team was expected to win less than three games by most betting outlets. Many Dolphins fans cringed each time the team won, knowing that their end-of-the-season prize was slowly slipping from their grasp, but as the season wore on, something shifted in that very

same fan base; they trusted their coach, and the players did, too! Now, sitting at the fifth pick overall, the Dolphins might be able to keep all three of their first round picks and still land quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and another two elite prospects who can further build the teams’ already impressive culture on Don Shula Drive. Look out, Buffalo Bills—the Dolphins might be headed for an impressive turnaround in the AFC East.

6. LA Chargers: QB Justin Herbert First of all, let’s all thank Phillip Rivers for his 16 years since being traded on Draft Day from the Giants to San Diego for disgruntled (and ever-so pouty) Eli Manning. It’s certainly time for this franchise to move on, but man. He was fun to watch and led some electric offenses, really great teams overall, in his decade-and-a-half with the Bolts. While the Chargers have publicly stated that the franchise plans on riding into 2020 with journeyman quarterback Tyrod Taylor, drafting a rookie quarterback HAS to be priority No. 1. I have heard from multiple sources the Chargers would love to trade up with the Lions or

Giants and snag Tua Tagovailoa, who would both be a massive fan attraction and possibly the most gifted QB in this draft. I think the team would be happy with Justin Herbert. Herbert is the prototypical quarterback prospect. With elite size, arm strength and plus athleticism, consistency is really the only area that is a question mark for the former Oregon Duck. He has demonstrated that he can be deadly accurate when his mechanics are sound, but what about some of those head-scratching decisions? Worst case, at least Charger fans are already acclimated to a quarterback that has a penchant for turning the ball over!

7. Carolina Panthers: LB Isaiah Simmons Ron Rivera fired. Luke Keuchly retired. Cam Newton’s days in Carolina are numbered. The Panthers as we have known them for almost a decade are no more. In a miraculous turn of events, though, the franchise landed both organization-resurrector Matt Rhule and the hottest OC in all of football, LSU’s Joe Brady. While a quarterback might be the selection here, and Utah State’s Jordan Love has all the tools to be an elite player at the position in today’s NFL, I think Rhule wants to build the team

the way that made the franchise successful in the first place: on defense. Inarguably the most versatile player in the entire draft, and the player who some argue is the best in the draft period, has fallen into their laps at the seventh-overall pick. While the selection would seem like a no-brainer, this is a prime trade-down spot for Carolina. With three of the four top offensive tackle prospects and all four top receivers on the board, I expect movement at this selection come Draft Day.

8. Arizona Cardinals: OT Mekhi Becton The Cardinals are going to select a receiver. The team has to surround Kyler Murray with as much talent as it possibly can, and this team simply does not have a scary player at the receiver position. So, I expect the Cardinals to select the top receiver in the draft, CeeDee L—wait, the Texans actually traded receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals for…a broken running back and a second round pick!? Bill O’Brien and Dave Gettleman must hang out. Well then, on to the next need: protecting Kyler. While the team re-signed

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offensive tackle DJ Humphries to a massive contract, I think bookending the slight signal-caller would be the best move for this franchise. Mehki Becton moves like a man much smaller than he actually is, and I believe he has the highest upside of any tackle in this draft. If the Cardinals don’t trade for Trent Williams they will just draft his (younger, bigger) clone out of Louisville. Quite an offseason so far for Arizona. I bet not even Kliff Kingsbury believes the…Cards…he’s holding. See what I did there?

> 2020 NFL MOCK DRAFT

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: DT Derrick Brown With all of the team’s losses on the defensive side of the ball, the Jaguars should consider themselves lucky the best interior defensive lineman in this class, and possibly since Ndamukong Suh, falls in their collective laps all the way down at No. 9. Yes, Derrick Brown’s performance at the NFL Combine was historically bad, but that doesn’t change the fact that, on tape,

Brown is an elite run defender who is also disruptive in the passing game. Losing Calais Campbell was tough, but it was the right time to deal the aging star as this organization rebuilds. Franchised defensive end Yannick Ngokoue will pair with Brown to help reinvent the defense that had Jacksonville a breath away from the Super Bowl just two seasons ago.

10. Cleveland Browns: OT Jedrick Wills Jr Wow…what a difference a year makes, right? The Cleveland Browns went from a downtrodden franchise to the hottest team in football just one year ago. And now, one year later, the Browns are, well, a downtrodden franchise again. Baker Mayfield took a significant step back, making his plethora of TV commercials quite uncomfortable as the season wore on, and hot, new head coach Freddie Kitchens was cast off as abruptly as he was hired. While many want to blame Kitchens for Mayfield’s lack of

success in 2019, I believe that his poor performance falls on the shoulders of himself and his offensive lineman. While Nick Chubb starred out of the backfield, blocking in the pass-game was lacking, to say the very least. Many believe Cleveland would target Trent Williams this offseason, but instead the team paid both right tackle Jack Conklin and tight end Austin Hooper to help protect their franchise quarterback. Here, the team adds the final piece to that puzzle in left tackle Jedrick Wills, Jr.

11. New York Jets: CB CJ Henderson The New York Jets are a tough team to figure out. First off, firstyear GM Joe Douglas doesn’t have much of a track record when it comes to drafting, so one has to wonder what positions he will value. Secondly, this roster is chock-full of holes. Douglas did a good job solidifying an offensive line that allowed 52 sacks (fourth-worst in the league), aggressively signing right tackle George Fant and center Connor McGovern early in free agency. As of yet, the team has not, however, addressed two positions of need: receiver and cornerback. I am going to assume that

Robby Anderson, who hasn’t garnered as much attention as he had hoped on the market, returns to Gang Green. I am also going to assume that Douglas’ 15 seasons as a scout for the Baltimore Ravens and four seasons as Director of Player Personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles has taught him to value the trenches and the secondary over all other positions. Here, the player with the best value at any of those spots? Florida cornerback CJ Henderson.

12. Las Vegas Raiders: WR CeeDee Lamb The Oakland Los Angeles Las Vegas Raiders continue to evolve under Coach/GM/Owner(?) Jon Gruden. As the team moves to Las Vegas, Gruden would love to get his offense rolling the way he has always envisioned. While I believe Gruden when he says Carr is his guy, I also believe that Jon Gruden might be the least patient head coach in the history of the NFL when it comes to quarterbacks. Make no mistake, the addition of Marcus Mariota is more than just a threat to Carr’s job, as Gruden has always been smitten with the idea of a smart, mobile quarterback. In

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any event, while the team has effectively built an impressive roster of young players on both sides of the ball, the Raiders are in need of playmakers on offense after the Antonio Brown mess last summer. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is just that. While route-running isn’t his forte, he is a terrifying receiver after the catch and can be used in shallow-crossers and sweeps as well. A prototypical receiver in today’s NFL, Lamb could become the face of the newest franchise in Vegas.

> 2020 NFL MOCK DRAFT

13. San Francisco 49ers: WR Jerry Jeudy The moment the San Francisco 49ers dealt defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Colts for the No. 13 overall pick, I knew two things; first, Emmanuel Sanders would not return and second, the 13th pick would be used on a receiver. In the West Coast, play-action, timing-based passing game Kyle Shanahan employs (thanks, Dad!), a receiver who can get open quickly underneath is paramount. What makes the Shanahan offense so deadly, though, is the addition of deep-shots off play-action.

It’s rare to find a receiver, however, who can both run excellent routes and scare defenses over the top, and it’s even more rare for a player of that caliber to be available in the middle of Round 1. Niners fans, please say hello to Jerry Jeudy. In this offense, Jeudy would likely eclipse 1,000 yards with ease and would be the most successful of any rookie pass-catcher. An addition that would not only pair well with Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, but may put this offense over the top.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DT Javon Kinlaw Well, hello, Tom Brady! The best quarterback in the history of the NFL actually left his home in New England. Why? My guess is that he actually wanted to have fun playing football instead of remaining in the Belichickian dictatorship that is the Patriots. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m sure Brady had fun while the team was on its run of dominance, but I think Brady sensed the end of that run, and I think he jumped ship at an appropriate time. Now that he has landed in Tampa Bay, what should the

Bucs’ strategy be? I would bet that the team elects to build up the defense and let Tom run the offense that was already top five in points scored in 2019. Javon Kinlaw is a rising prospect who possesses freaky athleticism for a man his size, even if his tape is a bit inconsistent. I wouldn’t be surprised if Suh returned on a short-term deal to pair with Kinlaw, as Suh’s best chance at a ring might be right back in Tampa once again.

15. Denver Broncos: WR Henry Ruggs Drew Lock, my second-favorite quarterback in last year’s draft, put on a show late in 2019. Did the G.O.A.T., John Elway, finally find his guy to quarterback his Broncos long-term? I certainly think so. The addition of Melvin Gordon’s thunder to Phillip Lindsay’s lightning will be a fun unit to watch, but the team still lacks playmakers on the outside. Tight end Noah Fant came on late in the season and wideout Courtland Sutton looks like a

stud, but neither of them are ‘scary’ players who warrant being game-planned against. Henry Ruggs III is. Ruggs III ran a 4.27 at the NFL Combine and was disappointed. I get it. I would be too if I was that slow, bro! Ruggs is a threat to score whenever he touches the ball and has demonstrated remarkable durability for a player his size. Adding the Tyreek Hill-like threat to this offense could make Drew Lock a star.

16. Atlanta Falcons: DE K’Lavon Chaisson As soon as head coach Dan Quinn was all but fired at 1–7, he un-fired himself with an impressive finish to the year, as his Falcons finished 6–2 in the back half of the season. While this roster isn’t overflowing with talent, I believe that there is enough, especially offensively, to be in the divisional hunt. No, I don’t count Todd Gurley as an addition, as he is a clearly a broken player who was cut out of desperation by a team that needs a workhorse back in LA. Any team, however, that has both Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones on the outside with a former league MVP

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quarterback throwing them the ball has a chance to be special. I actually believe the loss of tight end Austin Hooper will be nearly mitigated with the addition of Hayden Hurst, who has a remarkably similar skill set if healthy. While Atlanta added Dante Fowler to the mix on the EDGE, I think this team’s priority should be in making sure they find a pass-rusher that can compliment Takk McKinley long-term. K’Lavon Chaisson would do just that, as he might have been the best defensive player on the best team in the country last year.

> 2020 NFL MOCK DRAFT

17. Dallas Cowboys: S Xavier McKinney The Cowboys have become arguably the most predictable franchise in the league when it comes to drafting in the first round. Why? Well, the team almost always drafts for need over value. Don’t believe me? Well, if you look at the past decade, every single year the Cowboys selected (often reaching for) a player who was at the team’s most glaring position of need. Of course, finding Dak Prescott in the fourth round erases a lot of the problems this type of drafting represents, but don’t be fooled; the list of players the Cowboys might draft at pick 17 is not a

long one. I expect the team to target a defensive back or EDGE player here. The best value, in my book, is in versatile safety Xavier McKinney out of Alabama. The team has long needed a roaming safety who can create turnovers off of the pressure the team aptly creates up front but has ignored that need for years on end. After trying to fill that void with mid-to-late-round picks for the past handful of seasons, the Cowboys learn their lesson and change their ways, finally adding the stud safety they have needed on the back end.

18. Miami Dolphins: OT Andrew Thomas The Dolphins have really already won the draft, as they hung tight at pick No. 5 and got their guy in quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. What the team does with its other two first-round picks is truly just icing on the cake. If I’m Brian Flores, I make sure I grab high-character, low-risk high-value players with those two picks. These targets might not be players with the highest upside, but they will be solid starters for a long time for this rebuilding franchise. Here, offensive tackle Andrew Thomas represents just that type of player. I am not, in fact, as

high on Thomas as many were entering this season, but I also think that he will be an adequate starter in the league at one of the tackle spots, both of which are still known needs for the franchise. If Thomas fails on the left side and has to slide to the right, the team could easily target a left tackle next season. In any case, the additions of guard Erek Flowers, center Ted Karras and tackle Andrew Thomas will give the Dolphins three legitimate NFL starters on a line that might not have had even one of those a season ago.

19. Las Vegas Raiders: CB Jaylon Johnson The Raiders have spent two full off-seasons under Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock’s leadership. Those two men have focused on building the team the right way, with high-character, highfloor players on both sides of the ball. I would challenge anyone to find a ‘high-risk’ signing or draft pick over that span (they had no way of knowing Antonio Brown was crazy), and I applaud them for building this way. Now, however, is when the team needs to start taking some risks. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson

isn’t found in many first-round mocks, but he is just the type of high-upside player Gruden and Mayock might fall in love with. Johnson is physical, fearless and is a player Lance Zierlein has aptly called a “boundary bully.” The Raiders want to build their defense with fast, physical players, as demonstrated by their linebacker signings early in free agency. The addition of a player of Johnson's caliber would follow in line with that thinking nearly perfectly.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars: LB Patrick Queen If the Jaguars are to return to the AFC championship game that they clearly thought was the first of many in 2018, they are going to have to focus on what made them a great team in the first place: a fast, physical defense. With the addition of defensive tackle Derrick Brown to the middle of the defense to replace Calais Campbell and the free agency signings of cornerback Darqueze Dennard and linebacker Joe Schobert to replace AJ Bouye and Paul Pozluszny, respectively, it’s now time to make

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up for the speed lost at linebacker with the loss of Telvin Smith. Enter Patrick Queen, the most underrated player on LSU’s defense late in the season. A player that was under-utilized until mid-December, Queen came on like gangbusters as an energetic, productive player for the Tigers. It’s possible that with these four additions that the Jaguar defense returns to form more quickly than anyone had imagined. Now, just to figure out the other side of the ball…

> 2020 NFL MOCK DRAFT

21. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Justin Jefferson The Eagles have added some impactful pieces to their already talent-rich roster in defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and cornerback Darius Slay. The defense should be significantly better in 2020 by simply having one corner who can play at an acceptable level, especially with Hargrave disrupting the pocket alongside Fletcher Cox. While the back-end might still be a risky proposition after losing safety Malcolm Jenkins, the team believes that a safety rotation of Rodney McLeod, Jalen Mills and Will Parks will get the job done. Offensively, the team simply

needs more weapons. A quick Google search of “Alshon Jeffery” gives you the following question as a first-result: “What happened to Alshon Jeffery?” Yeah, he isn’t getting it done on the outside, and by the time you're reading this, he might not even be employed by the Philadelphia Eagles anymore. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson is a route technician whose only question coming into the NFL Draft was his speed. Well, his 4.44 40-yard dash crushed those concerns and made the sure-handed wideout a first-round lock. He will be dangerous in green and white.

22. Minnesota Vikings: WR Brandon Aiyuk The cap-strapped Vikings dealt their top receiver, Stefon Diggs, to the Buffalo Bills in the heat of free agency. While the trade frees up some much-needed cap space, and unloads an obviously disgruntled player, there is a gaping hole opposite Adam Thielen on this offense. With the depth of this year’s wide receiver class, I would expect the Vikings to add two by the end of Day 2 of the draft, and I expect them to take a top-flight wideout in the first

round. Here, the team grabs Brandon Aiyuk, the Arizona State receiver that was eighth in the country in YAC in 2019. Aiyuk averaged a whopping 10.9 yards after the catch while also returning punts for an average of 11.7 yards per. Aiyuk also has enough deep speed (4.50 in the 40-yard dash) to challenge over the top, and will be a welcome addition for recentlyextended Kirk Cousins.

23. New England Patriots: QB Jordan Love What will Bill do? The simmering debate between Belichick and Brady regarding which of the two had a bigger impact on the franchise’s two-decade run of dominance is now about to become a full-on boil that Tom has left town. Belichick swears he’s just fine riding with quarterback Jared Stitham in 2020, but is that just a ruse? I think so. I sense that Belichick would love to draft a player with Jordan Love’s skill set. Love not only possesses the type of back-yard ability that has made Patrick

Mahomes an MVP, but he has all of the ability to be a dual-threat quarterback in a league that is heading in that direction quickly. Bill is smart enough to know that if he wants to keep his team afloat for the final stand of his career, without the quarterback that helped make him famous, he will need to succeed in developing another one in New England. While a trade-up might be required to land Love, I would put my money on the former Utah State signal-caller playing in Foxborough.

24. New Orleans Saints: WR Laviska Shenault Drew Brees is returning for at least one more year, and New Orleans can probably sense its Super Bowl window is closing. Sure, some crazies think quarterback Taysom Hill could take the team to the promised land in the future, but let’s be real: if the Saints really believed that, ol’ Drew would be retired right now. If the Saints are going to be successful in their final push of the Brees era, they’re going to have to compete with an offense in Tampa Bay that includes two Pro Bowl wide receivers and a dangerous, young tight end. While the Saints still employ receiver

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Michael Thomas, running back Alvin Kamara, tight end Jared Cook and the newly added Emmanuel Sanders, this team needs a versatile weapon on offense, similar to what wide receiver Deebo Samuel added to the 49ers offense last season. Laviska Shenault is exactly that type of player. A receiver who plays with his hair on fire, Shenault is the most effective fly-sweep player in this class and is incredibly physical, gaining YAC on drags and crossers. Sean Payton and Drew Brees will love the former Colorado State star in Who Dat Nation.

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25. Minnesota Vikings: OT Austin Jackson Possibly the most amazing thing about Kirk Cousins’ career is the miraculous amount of money he has earned. Kirk has gone from a fourth-round pick, backing up then Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III, to a franchise tag with the Redskins that led to not one, but two huge contracts with the Vikings for a total career earning of over $100 million thus far and $96 million more coming over the next three years. Whew! One thing the self-admitted “process-oriented” quarterback desperately needs in order to

function is protection, and the Vikings simply haven’t been consistent in providing him with an adequate amount of time to throw the ball. Austin Jackson is a high-upside player who could start at left tackle on day one. While there might be some growing pains with the former USC standout, he should develop quickly into an above-average starter on Kirk’s blindside. With the amount of cap space Cousins is eating up, he couldn’t ask for more than new, cheap starters at both receiver and tackle on day one.

26. Miami Dolphins: LB Kenneth Murray The Dolphins have already added their face of the franchise in Tua as well as a low-risk player to add to the team’s porous offensive line. What’s next? Well, two weeks ago, I had the team taking a secondary player with this pick, but the addition of corner Byron Jones to Xavien Howard lessens that need. Though the team added versatile linebacker Kyle Van Noy in free agency, I believe that a faster, more athletic linebacker is sorely needed on this defense. Oklahoma’s stud linebacker Kenneth Murray

would be a fantastic addition to this young defense, as his sideline-to-sideline ability is exactly what teams are looking for in today’s NFL. The ease in his movements at 6’2”, 242 pounds is extraordinary and will be just impossible for defensive-minded head coach Brian Flores to pass up. Murray’s addition, along with the additions of Van Noy, linebacker Vince Biegel and EDGE players Shaq Lawson and Emmanuel Ogbah could lead to a much stronger defensive unit in 2020.

27. Seattle Seahawks: DE Yetur Gross-Matos The Seattle Seahawks are always looking for two things in the draft: tough, versatile defensive lineman and long, physical players on the back end. For a defense that has faced a tremendous amount of turnover the past few seasons, reloading both on the line and in the secondary remains a priority. While cornerback might be an option here, EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos fits exactly what the Seahawks look for and is a player whom I have often compared to former Seahawk star Michael Bennett.

Gross-Matos isn’t overly fast, and he doesn’t possess the type of bend many defensive coordinators covet in an edge player. However, he is heavy-handed, can play inside and out and does possess plus athleticism, barely scratching the surface of his potential. Landing with a defensive genius like HC Pete Carroll would unlock that immense potential. If EDGE Jadeveon Clowney returns to this defense as well, that Seahawks defensive line will be truly scary once again.

28. Baltimore Ravens: C/G Cesar Ruiz The Baltimore Ravens believe in building in the trenches first and foremost. We’ve seen exactly that on the defensive side of the ball with the addition of defensive tackle Michael Brockers, the tagging of EDGE Matthew Judon and the trade for defensive lineman Calais Campbell, but what about the offense? With the retirement of guard Marshal Yanda and the overall importance of the interior offensive line in a run-based offense, I would expect GM Eric DeCosta to draft an interior lineman early in the 2020 draft. In this mock, the underrated interior lineman

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Cesar Ruiz is available, and, though he may be a bit of a reach here, he is exactly the type of low-risk player the Ravens love to target at the end of the first round. Ruiz offers a strong, consistent base and would be a stalwart on the inside for years to come. If I were a betting man, I would actually wager that this pick will be made near the top of the second round, as I believe the Ravens will be looking to trade out of the first round in order to add more draft picks.

> 2020 NFL MOCK DRAFT

29. Tennessee Titans: DE AJ Epenesa The Tennessee Titans were the pleasant surprise of the 2019 NFL season, and head coach Mike Vrabel wants to make sure the Titans don’t surprise in the wrong direction moving forward. Vrabel has effectively built a defense much like the ones he played for in New England, based on versatile, physical players. While the defense has made incremental improvements over the first years of Vrabel’s tutelage, the team still needs more consistent play on the edge (And no, I don’t view newly-signed Vic Beasley as that “consistent” player). Iowa EDGE AJ Epenesa

is no burner (he ran an ugly 40 north of 5.0 at the NFL combine), but he is precisely the type of EDGE who has succeeded in this defensive system over the years, as he is a player that can succeed inside and out and is stout against the run. Epenesa is already technically sound coming into the league, and while he will probably never be a 12-to-15 sack player, he will consistently get 8 to 10 sacks per season and will set the edge effectively each and every game. A high-floor, low-risk pick for the second place-finishing team in the AFC.

30. Green Bay Packers: WR Tee Higgins Aaron Rodgers should sue the Packers organization for the lack of weapons at his disposal over the past few seasons. It has been such a shame to watch one of the greatest talents to ever play the position fall victim to a below-average offensive line and a dearth of playmakers on the outside. That stops here. Clemson receiver Tee Higgins is the type of receiver the Packers have sorely lacked over the past half-decade, one that can complement and take the pressure off of Pro Bowl wide receiver Devante

Adams. Higgins has the speed (4.43 40) to get deep and the size (6’4”) and body control to make circus catches downfield. Rodgers will once again have a player that he can truly “throw the ball up to” and have a real chance of a big play. An offensive tackle such as Josh Jones might have been looked at to replace right tackle Bryan Bulaga, but the addition of Rick Wagner mitigated that need for now. Look for this first round pick to be a new toy for Aaron Rodgers.

31. San Francisco 49ers: DT Ross Blacklock With a defensive line made up of entirely first-round picks, the 49ers knew they couldn’t pay them all. So, the trade of defensive tackle DeForest Buckner became inevitable. While the 49ers’ top priority was adding an offensive weapon with the 13th overall pick, replacing Buckner with another firstround pick on the defensive line is likely, especially if a top-20 talent like Ross Blacklock is still on the board. Blacklock offers the team something different than the combination of Buckner

and Arik Armstead, as Buckner is more of a gap-shooting, disruptive player than the other longer, big-bodied gap stabilizers. Don’t get me wrong, Buckner and Armstead are both menacing when it comes to rushing the passer, but they aren’t as quick-twitched and athletic as Blacklock. If the former TCU defensive tackle can hold up against the run and play disciplined within his gap, the 49ers pass rush could actually be even better in 2020 and beyond.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: CB AJ Terrell While adding a versatile offensive weapon like running back DeAndre Swift is super tempting here, I don’t think the Chiefs would be best suited by adding to their embarrassment of riches on the offensive side of the ball. If the Chiefs are going to remain a Super Bowl contender for years to come, the defense needs to be solidified. Starting corner Kendall Fuller has already signed elsewhere, and another starting cornerback in Bashaud Breeland

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is likely headed to another team as well. It just makes too much sense for the Chiefs to select a corner here, and in this situation, they have their pick of more than a few talented players at the position. While I am tempted to select Damon Arnette here, I have heard rumors about his attitude rubbing NFL teams the wrong way. In any event, AJ Terrell is the safer, more consistent player, and he should be a starter on the outside from day one.

NFC NORTH TEAM NEEDS Tim Backes

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1 2 3 4

GREEN BAY PACKERS RECORD: 13–3

Minnesota vikings RECORD: 10–6

Chicago Bears RECORD: 8–8

Detroit Lions RECORD: 3–12–1

> NFC NORTH TEAM NEEDS

NFC North Champions

GREEN BAY PACKERS 2019 Record: 13–3 2019 recap Oh, what a difference a year makes. In what was expected to be the first year of a two-year soft rebuild, the Packers made drastic improvements in almost every area and fought their way to a 13–3 record and first place in the NFC North after two years spent watching January football at home. While the new league year technically started in March, the big changes for the Packers started in January, beginning with the hiring of new head coach Matt LaFleur. LaFleur’s hiring had its detractors—he wasn’t a “flashy” hire, especially in comparison to other presumed contenders like New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. But he apparently did quite well in his interview, enamoring Packers president Mark Murphy and convincing him he was the right man for the job. After one year, the returns on LaFleur are most certainly positive, and credit has to be given to Murphy for following his gut on a hire that was absolutely imperative for the franchise to get correct. After Murphy had his moment, it was time for general manager Brian Gutekunst to make some waves in his second offseason in the position. And, just like in 2018, Gutekunst showed he was not afraid to make some bold moves. On the second day of free agency in 2019, Gutekunst went on a spending spree the likes of which the Packers have not seen in free agency in years. He brought in former Broncos offensive lineman Billy Turner on a four-year, $28 million contract to take over a right guard position that

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saw some absolutely abysmal play in 2018. He lured safety Adrian Amos away from a divisional rival in Chicago on a four-year deal worth $37 million. And then there were the potentially franchise-altering marquee signings of the “Smith Brothers,” Za’Darius and Preston Smith, to the tune of four years and $66 million and four years and $52 million, respectively. In the draft, Gutekunst decided to tripledip on the EDGE rusher position, bringing in Rashan Gary from Michigan, a rusher without a tremendous statistical pedigree but with a nearly limitless talent potential. Later in the first round, he grabbed safety Darnell Savage out of Maryland. The second day of the draft saw the addition of eventual starting left guard Elgton Jenkins and tight end prospect Jace Sternberger. Third-day picks included corner Ka’Dar Hollman, lineman Kingsley Keke, running back Dexter Williams and linebacker Ty Summers. The season started with cautious optimism. There was a sense the Packers could get back to the postseason if the LaFleur hire turned out to be the right one, if Aaron Rodgers could play a high level of football, if the investments in free agency and the draft (particularly on defense) paid off, if the defense took the next step in its second year under Mike Pettine. A lot of ifs, but there was some hope. You saw the rest. The 2019 Packers far exceeded expectations. Despite frustrating periods of offensive ineptitude and frequent feelings that Green Bay would be out of its league against top-level competition, the Packers just kept

winning, all the way up to conference championship weekend, when they were clearly outclassed by a superior opponent. On the positive side of the spectrum, Aaron Jones firmly established himself as a star player in the NFL and one of the league’s more talented backs. The Smith Brothers turned out to be game-changing additions, particularly Za’Darius, who played All Pro caliber football all season long and routinely showed up in big moments. Adrian Amos and Billy Turner both solidified positions that were among the weakest spots on the field the year prior. Kicker Mason Crosby had his best year as a pro and earned a contract extension. And despite an injury that sidelined him for a month, Davante Adams continued to play like one of the league’s finest receivers. But it wasn’t all roses. Aaron Rodgers, despite posting decent numbers, continued to play maddeningly inconsistent football, and the constant chicken/egg argument about quality of receivers versus quality of quarterback play was a yearlong debate. The offense was never quite able to get in a consistent rhythm week in and week out. The Packers’ defense was constantly vulnerable in the middle of the field and was once again exposed in a big way during the postseason. The team accomplished quite a bit in 2019 and now finds itself with fewer holes to fill than last year to get back to championship level. But the time is ticking on Aaron Rodgers’ championship window, and the sense of urgency has to have increased.

> NFC NORTH TEAM NEEDS

NFC North Champions

GREEN BAY PACKERS 2019 Record: 13–3 TEAM NEEDS WIDE RECEIVER:

The Packers decided to kick the can down the road on the wide receiver position last year, opting to address other positions first in the hopes their 2018 draft picks and young players would take the next step. But Equanimeous St. Brown sustained a seasonending injury in training camp, J’Mon Moore never figured it out and was a camp cut and Marquez Valdez-Scantling disappointed in a big way, never producing consistently despite showing occasional flashes. Geronimo Allison was routinely one of the most unreliable players on the field for the Packers in 2019 and will not be back. Davante Adams is an all-world player, but he can only do so much himself, especially when there’s nobody else to attract defensive attention. Jake Kumerow will at least be back for camp, but he’ll never be more than just a guy. The lone bright spot outside of Adams was Allen Lazard, who was called up from the practice squad and quickly earned Rodgers’ trust. Lazard will certainly be in the mix for the Packers in 2020, but in a best-case scenario he wouldn’t be anything more than a third or fourth option. Even after picking up experienced WR Devin Funchess in Free Agency, the Packers need to make the position a priority early in the draft if they’re going to have any hope of revitalizing their passing offense.

INTERIOR LINEBACKER:

Inside linebacker is a position the Packers just haven’t been able to get right for some years now, ever since the days of Desmond Bishop and A.J. Hawk. Blake Martinez was a sure tackler and a reliable on-field presence, but the Packers wisely decided they couldn’t pay him market price to continue watching him fail to get off blockers and get thoroughly exploited in coverage. He’s now a New York Giant. Meanwhile, 2018 draft pick Oren Burks is having a hard time getting on the field even when he’s healthy. Ty Summers, a late-round 2019 pick, showed some promise as a role player but should not be counted on as a starting caliber player. New arrival Christian Kirksey from the Browns figures to be a reliable presence, but the Packers desperately need to add some help to the position to avoid it being one of the weakest spots on the field yet again. If the team spends yet another year getting gashed up the middle of the field, I might just pull my hair out.

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DEFENSIVE LINE:

The Packers did a lot to improve their pass rush in 2020, but they’re still in need of some big hosses to hold up alongside the outstanding Kenny Clark up front. Dean Lowry got a contract extension midseason and is a good rotational player. Tyler Lancaster was routinely taken advantage of by opposing linemen, and Montravius Adams failed to live up to expectations in year three. Keke is still an unknown. The Packers have to get stronger up front to avoid putting an inordinate amount of the burden on their linebackers and safeties.

TIGHT END:

Like inside linebacker, this is a position it just feels like the Packers are never able to get right. The last few years have seen a revolving door of veteran players at the position, including Jared Cook, Martellus Bennett and, most recently, Jimmy Graham. Cook’s agent ruined any shot of him remaining a Packer, Bennett was an unmitigated disaster and Graham was a major bust and was released in March. Now, the Packers are left with 90-yearold blocking specialist Marcedes Lewis, internet folk hero Robert Tonyan and untested 2019 pick Sternberger. If the Packers don’t pick up a tight end in the draft or through free agency during the remainder of this offseason, they had better hope Sternberger turns out to be something special.

QUARTERBACK:

Last but not least, it’s time for the Packers to seriously address the quarterback position. There’s a nonzero chance that the Packers could take a quarterback early if the right player falls down the board, as happened with Rodgers in 2005. But the more realistic perspective is that the Packers absolutely cannot enter a second season in a row with Tim Boyle as the best option at backup. Whether it’s a draftee or signing one of numerous veteran free agents currently on the market, the Packers have to upgrade their insurance policy at quarterback so they’re not caught with their pants down yet again should Rodgers go down for any extended period of time.

> NFC NORTH TEAM NEEDS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS 2019 Record: 10–6, 2nd Place in NFCN

2019 RECAP The Vikings had an uneven start to the season, and the fanbase and team nearly turned on quarterback Kirk Cousins after an embarrassing offensive showing against the Packers in Week 2. But the team held it together, leaned on a finally healthy Dalvin Cook and earned a wild card spot in the playoffs, even managing to take down the heavily favored New Orleans Saints on the road in the first round before losing to eventual NFC Champion San Francisco on divisional playoff weekend. The Vikings rewarded Cousins with a contract extension in the offseason after he finally won a game that mattered, but the big question is going to be whether this incarnation of the Vikings under the taciturn coach Mike Zimmer has reached its ceiling or if there is still a possible window for success.

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TEAM NEEDS Cornerback:

The most obvious area of need for the Vikings this offseason is cornerback. Former All-Pro Xavier Rhodes really fell off a cliff in 2019 nearly out of nowhere. He was routinely taken advantage of in coverage and ended the year as one of the worstgraded players at the position. He was summarily released in March. Meanwhile, promising corner Trae Waynes went to Cincinnati in free agency, along with slot corner Mackensie Alexander. So what was already a middling pass defense in 2019, despite high-quality safety play, got pillaged this offseason, and now the Vikings are left to rebuild the position from the ground up.

Wide Receiver:

Wide receiver was already going to be at least a minor area of need heading into this offseason, but then the Vikings traded the malcontent Stefon Diggs to the Bills, and the need became much more pressing. Adam Thielen played hurt much of 2019, and it remains to be seen how effective he can be in Diggs’ absence. The team got some good production out of rookie Bisi Johnson in 2019, but beyond that, the team doesn’t have much to rely on. With Diggs’ exodus, the Vikings signed WR Tajae Sharpe, but will almost certainly look to address this position in a receiver-rich draft.

Safety:

The defensive backfield exodus this offseason also included versatile safety Andrew Sendejo and could potentially include a trade of franchise tagged safety Anthony Harris. That would leave the very talented Harrison Smith as really the only recognizable face in the Vikings secondary when the 2020 season starts. The Vikings will have to quickly rebuild this position if they really do decide to let Smith go in a trade, as has been rumored they’re willing to do.

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CHICAGO BEARS 2019 Record: 8–8, 3nd Place in NFCN

2019 RECAP So much for all the hype about Mitch Trubisky entering the season as an MVP candidate. [Insert now-infamous Michael David Smith tweet here.] While the Bears managed to scramble back to a .500 record after a tough start to the season, their regression to the mean was pretty obvious throughout the season. A big part of the problem was a combination of Trubisky’s poor play and reigning Coach of the Year Matt Nagy’s insistence on continuing to rest the game plan on his shoulders. Trubisky was incapable of powering the offense with his arm, yet Nagy would often have him throwing 40-plus times a game at the expense of using talented running backs David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen. Meanwhile, the Bears’ defense, while still a strong unit, was unable to reach its 2018 heights, and Khalil Mack was nowhere near as disruptive as he was his first year in Chicago. The Bears will enter 2020 hoping the acquisition of Nick Foles from Jacksonville shores up the quarterback position so they can work on patching holes elsewhere, especially because the team doesn’t have first, third or fourth round picks, placing them in a very difficult position in the draft. They also signed Jimmy Graham to address the hole at tight end caused by constant injuries to Trey Burton but…well, Packers fans know what to expect there.

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TEAM NEEDS Offensive Line:

When Kyle Long abruptly retired after the 2019 season, it opened up a big hole on the Bears’ offensive line that they’ve yet to address in the offseason. They’re going to need to find someone to slide into his old spot, because he had been a fixture on the Bears’ line.

Safety:

The Bears have one outstanding safety in Eddie Jackson, who received a massive contract extension in January. But after allowing Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to walk away, the Bears don’t have a ready-made starter opposite him. They have another former Packer in Kentrell Brice (again, Packers fans know what to expect there) and brought back depth player Deon Bush, but you can bet the Bears are going to want to find some additional help for this position in the draft.

Cornerback:

Veteran Prince Amukamara became a cap casualty for the Bears this offseason, and there isn’t anyone on the roster who can readily slide into his place. The team is banking on former CFL star Tre Roberson to make some big contributions. They signed free agent Artie Burns to a one year deal, but, realistically, the Bears need to add more help at this position to avoid it being a liability in 2020.

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DETROIT LIONS 2019 Record: 3–12–1, 4nd Place in NFCN

2019 RECAP The Lions’ season got off to a solid start but quickly tumbled out of control after a “controversial” loss to the Packers at Lambeau and an injury that knocked quarterback Matthew Stafford out for the rest of the season. Without Stafford, the Lions went winless and, at times, appeared to have given up. Meanwhile, head coach Matt Patricia continues to make news for all the wrong reasons, with his authoritarian style not making himself very popular among his players. Multiple players who have left Detroit have voiced their pleasure to be away from Patricia. This year, you have to figure Patricia’s job is on the line. The Lions fired Jim Caldwell despite three winning seasons in four years (almost unheard of in Detroit) because they felt he’d reached his ceiling. So far Patricia’s ceiling seems to be sub-.500 football and organizational discontent.

TEAM NEEDS Cornerback:

This was already a position of need for the Lions, and then they traded away former Pro Bowl corner Darius Slay. The Lions will rely on Amani Oruwariye to shoulder a bigger role after a decent rookie season, but they’re going to need some big-time help to avoid getting gashed through the air again like they did in 2019.

EDGE:

The Lions didn’t get a whole lot of production out of their pass rush in 2019, which put even more pressure on a weak secondary in the passing game. The Lions only had two players on the team surpass sacks, and they were 19th in total quarterback pressures in 2019. That’s just not going to be good enough for a team that has a secondary as poor as the Lions’ was this past year.

Interior Defensive Line:

Noticing a theme here? The Lions need defensive help badly, and interior defensive line is yet another position of need. The Lions already released Damon Harrison Sr. earlier this year. A’Shawn Robinson left in free agency and free agent (and former Packer) Mike Daniels is not expected back. That leaves a whole bunch of bodies on the Lions who are unproven. Da’Shawn Hand has earned some praise, but he’s also missed half the games in his first two seasons. The Lions have to get stouter up front to be able to slow down the competition.

While there are offensive positions that could use some assistance, expect the Lions to go heavy on defense.

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Green bay Packers POSITIONAL ANALYSIS Maggie Loney

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> Positional analysis

QUARTERBACK In Aaron Rodgers’ first season under new head coach Matt LaFleur, the 36-year-old quarterback put up 4,002 yards, 26 touchdowns and threw four interceptions. His 4,000-plus campaign was the eighth in his career, and this is only the third time in his career since becoming the starter in 2008 that he threw five or less picks in the regular season. Still, those 26 touchdowns are good for second-fewest in seasons Rodgers has started all 16 games for the Packers (behind only 2018, when he threw 25). While Rodgers took significantly fewer sacks this season (36 down from 49), he still has a tendency to hang on to the ball for too long. Both the head coach and starting quarterback emphasized a need to get play calls out faster in 2020 to avoid continuously taking the play clock down to the last few seconds. Of course, Aaron Rodgers is still one of the most talented passers in the NFL, and remember that Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan won NFL MVP during his second year working with then-quarterbacks coach LaFleur in Atlanta. Expect Rodgers to take a similar leap in year two in LaFleur’s offense.

Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay is expected to bring in a quarterback to compete with third-year pro Tim Boyle for the backup spot. The Packers also retained Manny Wilkins for the remainder of the season on the practice squad, so Green Bay will likely be entering training camp with four quarterbacks on the roster.

RUNNING BACK As expected, Aaron Jones enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2019, entering the conversation as one of the league’s best backs. He flourished in LaFleur’s scheme, playing a full season for the Packers and topping 1,000 yards rushing for the first time in his career. On the ground, Jones had 16 touchdowns and a 4.6 yard average per carry, but he wasn’t done there. He also added another 474 yards receiving and three additional touchdowns through the air. Jones also set a new franchise record for touchdowns in a single season with 23, breaking the 22-score mark set by Ahman Green in 2003. The complementary role in the backfield, the thunder to Jones’ lightning, was held by Jamaal Williams, also out of the 2017 draft class. Williams only had one rushing touchdown in 2019, but he shined as a weapon in the passing game, hauling in 39 receptions for 253 yards and five touchdowns. While Williams didn’t see nearly as many snaps as Jones, he did average 4.3 yards per carry rushing and a whopping 86.7 catch percentage receiving. While Jones and Williams will once again be the featured backs in 2020, the Packers did add a second Williams (Dexter) via the draft. Dexter was only active for four games and carried the football only five times for 11 yards.

Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones

Green Bay did like the look of return-man Tyler Ervin in the backfield and on special teams, as Ervin was able to utilize some of the jet sweeps that LaFleur likes to run effectively, but Ervin entered free agency and has not been re-signed by the Packers as of the time of this writing. Rounding out the running backs group is Damarea Crockett, a rookie out of Missouri. Expect the Packers to add competition at the running back position through the draft, as this will be a big year for the backfield with both Jones and Williams entering free agency in 2021.

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> Positional analysis

WIDE RECEIVER Davante Adams became the lone vet in the locker room after losing Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb in consecutive offseasons. Then before the season even began, Equanimeous St. Brown was added to season-ending injured reserve, leaving only Geronimo Allison, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jake Kumerow, and Allen Lazard in the wideouts room. Adams had another spectacular showing, coming only three yards shy of another 1,000-yard season despite missing four games with a lingering toe injury. He put up five touchdowns in the regular season before adding another two in the playoffs. His eight receptions for 160 yards in the Divisional Round against Seattle set a new franchise record. Lazard became a second bright spot in a receivers room lacking star power, making plays when called upon in Adams’ absence to end the season with 477 yards and three touchdowns. Lazard quickly became a favorite target of Rodgers’ and he came up clutch when necessary, catching 24 of his 35 receptions to move the chains.

Davante Adams

Behind Adams and Lazard, however, the rest of the receiving core mostly fizzled out. While the Packers did add free agent Devin Funchess in free agency, he’s kind of an unknown at this point after missing all but one game in the 2019 season with a collarbone injury. As a former second-round draft pick at only 26 years old, Funchess is an intriguing addition to the locker room, and the 6-4 receiver has a lot of upside. But the sample size remains small as to how Funchess will fit into Matt LaFleur’s offense with Rodgers under center. Valdes-Scantling started the year strong, breaking a 75-yard play against the Raiders, but it seemed like he was never fully able to get on the same page with Rodgers. While he did end the season with 452 yards, a pretty decent chunk of those yards came on one aforementioned play. Allison enters free agency this offseason and so far there’s been no indication the Packers intend to bring him back. After a promising 2018 got cut short due to injury, Allison was never able to get things going again in 2019 and he quickly slid down the depth chart. Kumerow (like Lazard) entered the offseason an exclusive rights free agent, and the Packers opted to bring both guys back for 2020. Kumerow had a modest 2019 season and will likely be battling for his roster spot come training camp. The Packers did sign a free agent receiver midway through the season in Ryan Grant, but he saw zero snaps on the active roster and became a free agent this offseason.

Allen Lazard

Green Bay will likely draft a receiver high in this year’s loaded class. In addition to the high draft pick, St. Brown will return to the team and compete for his spot along with Reggie Begelton from the CFL, Darrius Shepherd the explosive returner, and Malik Taylor, a rookie out of Ferris State. As this guide went to publication, news broke that the Packers had agreed to terms with Devin Funchess to add another wide receiver to the mix.

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> Positional analysis

TIGHT END Jimmy Graham was released from his three-year contract a year early after a 447-yard, three touchdown campaign, meaning rookie tight end Jace Sternberger is likely the team’s starting tight end going into the 2020 season. Sternberger had an injury-riddled start to his career and spent the beginning of the season on injured reserve before catching his first career touchdown in the NFC Championship Game against the 49ers. Sternberger has improved as a blocker and looks good in the H-back role of LaFleur’s offense, but without Graham as the top tight end in the room, Sternberger will have to make a significant jump in year two. The Packers did bring back free agent Marcedes Lewis on another one-year contract, so Big Dog is back in Green Bay. His presence in the locker room and on the field as a blocker will be welcomed back at 1265 Lombardi Ave. Lewis got to see the field a lot more under LaFleur. After playing only 18 percent of offensive snaps in 2018, his playing time jumped to 45 percent of offensive snaps in 2019.

Jace Sternberger

Finally, Robert Tonyan will round out the starting trio for the time being, with Evan Baylis returning once again from the practice squad and former defensive tackle James Looney switching positions to enter training camp.

Interior Offensive Line The interior of the offensive line got a needed boost in 2019 after the right guard position lacked consistency the previous season. The Packers added Billy Turner in free agency, and he played every snap (1,076) for Green Bay. At left guard, Lane Taylor injured his biceps early in the season and was replaced by rookie second-round draft pick Elgton Jenkins, who’s now the star of the position for years to come. Jenkins played almost 1,000 snaps for Green Bay and didn’t allow a single sack on Aaron Rodgers. Whether Taylor gets traded or remains with the team as a depth swing guard, he won’t be a starter for the Packers in 2020. Finally, Corey Linsley once again rounds out a talented interior O-line. The center unfortunately saw his iron man streak end as back spasms forced him to miss the remainder of the Cowboys game in Dallas, though he did start all 16 games for Green Bay.

Elgton Jenkins

Lucas Patrick stepped in to replace Linsley and filled in admirably. He’s proven to be a key depth piece for the Packers along the offensive line. In fact, the Packers like him so much they signed him to a contract extension good for two years and $3.6 million. Justin McCray was traded to the Browns for a conditional seventh round pick in this year’s draft, so the lone guard remaining is Cole Madison, who ended the season on injured reserve.

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> Positional analysis

Offensive Tackle It finally happened: the Packers said goodbye to nine-year pro right tackle Bryan Bulaga after perhaps his best season to date. After starting all 16 regular-season games for only the second time in his career, Bulaga’s high price tag in free agency forced him out of Green Bay’s price range and he became a Los Angeles Charger. David Bakhtiari remains the best in the league at the left tackle position, and he played every snap for the Packers in 2019. He was also selected second-team All Pro by the Associated Press for the third time in his career. Green Bay bolstered its tackle position by adding Jared Veldheer off waivers in late November, and it’s a good thing, too. Veldheer made one playoff start against Seattle in place of an ill Bulaga, and he looked good. In his lone start, Veldheer didn’t allow a single sack, hit or pressure. Veldheer entered free agency alongside Bulaga, which forced the Packers to get creative at the position.

David Bakhtiari

Enter Rick Wagner, most recently right tackle for the Detroit Lions. The Packers gave Wagner a modest two-year contract, indicating the team’s intentions to still draft a replacement right tackle high in the 2020 Draft. Wagner feels like a stop gap between Bulaga and the future at the position, but he’s still a solid player who’s spent the majority of his career at right tackle. Alex Light, Cody Conway, John Leglue and Yosh Nijman are the current tackles battling for a backup role on offense, with Light, Leglue, and Nijman all latching onto the 53-man roster at different points in 2019.

Defensive Line Kenny Clark continues to shine as the team’s standout lineman, earning his first Pro Bowl selection in 2019. He started every game for the Packers, tallying six sacks, one pass defensed, one forced fumble, 62 total tackles, nine tackles for a loss and seven quarterback hits in a dominant season, but it’s clear he’ll need some help going into 2020. The Packers said goodbye to Mike Daniels before the season began and extended Dean Lowry with a three-year contract during training camp. Behind Lowry and Clark, the coaching staff was high on third-year pro Montravius Adams, expecting him to make a leap that never transpired. While fifth-round draft pick Kingsley Keke is also projected to make an increased contribution in 2020, the Packers need more from their defensive line as a whole. Tyler Lancaster is a serviceable player as a rotational run-stuffer, but Green Bay needs another true nose tackle to eat up blocks and free Clark up from double teams.

Kenny Clark

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With Clark’s massive contract extension looming, the Packers don’t have a ton of money to spend on a free agent tackle, so it’s likely the team will turn to the draft to shore up one of the team’s weaker units in 2019. An improved run defense would go a long way in fixing the team’s defensive struggles from last season.

> Positional analysis

Outside Linebacker/EDGE This is truly where the defense shined in 2019. General Manager Brian Gutekunst hit his free agent signings out of the park, as both Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith had career years in Green Bay. Za’Darius Smith had 13.5 sacks during the regular season and a whopping 37 quarterback hits (tied for first in the NFL). Per NFL Next Gen Stats, Za’Darius also led the league in disruptions during the regular season with 84. Pro Football Focus gave Za’Darius a grade of 90.8 overall, which is an elite score and a dramatic 180 from the outside linebacker production in 2018. Za’Darius lined up all over for Mike Pettine, rushing from the edge, with his hand in the dirt or over center. Preston Smith also had double-digit sacks for the Packers, with 12, while adding one interception, four passes defensed, one forced fumble and 56 total tackles with 23 quarterback hits. The Super Smith Bros, as they’re lovingly referred to, added an additional two sacks apiece during the postseason, giving the duo a combined 29.5 sacks all told in 2019. Za'Darius Smith

Gutekunst wasn’t done there, however, and he spent his first pick in the first round (No. 12) on Rashan Gary out of Michigan. While he was fourth on the depth chart behind Kyler Fackrell, expect Gary to take a massive leap as the team’s third edge rusher with Fackrell departing for the New York Giants in free agency. Gary only played in 24 percent of the snaps for the defense, but in his limited reps he was impressive. He has the versatility like Za’Darius to line up anywhere along the defensive front to create disruptions. Pro Football Focus credits Gary with three sacks, nine hurries, three quarterback hits and 15 total pressures in 2019. Randy Ramsey and Greg Roberts are rookie roster holdovers that will compete in training camp along with third-year pro Tim Williams, a talented former Baltimore Raven that’s shown flashes and should be the current favorite for the fourth roster spot.

Rashan Gary

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> Positional analysis

INside Linebacker After three full seasons as Green Bay’s starting inside linebacker, the Packers said goodbye to Blake Martinez, who joined the Giants in free agency. Martinez played almost every snap for the Packers during his tenure with the team, meaning there’s a lot to replace at the middle linebacker position. Roster holdovers Oren Burks and Ty Summers have both looked promising during the preseason and in training camp, but Burks was overlooked for most of the 2019 season in favor of thumper B.J. Goodson (now gone to the Browns in free agency), and Summers played nothing but special teams snaps. Enter free agent signing Christian Kirksey, an intriguing inside linebacker who, when healthy, has to put together some pretty strong film. The key remains his long-term health. Kirksey has played just nine games in the last two seasons combined. During his 2016 and 2017 campaigns however, Kirksey put together six sacks, eight passes defensed and 286 total tackles. He also has a history playing for Mike Pettine, which likely contributed to his signing with Green Bay.

Christian Kirksey

Kirksey, like Rick Wagner, got a modest two-year contract that’s a low-risk, high reward deal. If Kirksey remains healthy, he could be a free agent steal. If he gets injured, though, the Packers don’t have a lot of depth in Burks and Summers. Curtis Bolton is another option currently on the roster who was making a strong bid for a roster spot before tearing his ACL and going on seasonending injured reserve.

CORNERBACK Jaire Alexander, Kevin King and Tramon Williams were the team’s starting corners in 2019, but with Tramon Williams a free agent this offseason, the Packers are going to need a young corner on the roster to step up. Alexander remains a talented, scrappy playmaker who broke up 17 passes last season but only managed two interceptions. He played almost every snap for the defense and can line up on the boundary or as a man-to-man nickel corner. King stayed relatively healthy in 2019 and led the Packers with five interceptions. King will be entering free agency next offseason, so the 2020 season is going to be a big prove-it year. This last season was a promising step for King in his role as a physical boundary corner. Josh Jackson’s draft pedigree should theoretically make him the likely replacement for Williams, but he’s never been able to live up to his draft stock. Jackson only played 10 percent of defensive snaps for Green Bay this past season while playing a whopping 52 percent on special teams. Chandon Sullivan

Chandon Sullivan was a pleasant surprise for the defense and looked good in the nickel role in certain subpackages. He actually overtook Jackson on the depth chart, playing 34 percent of snaps on defense and snagging one interception against Dallas. DaShaun Amos, Kabion Ento and sixth-round draft pick Ka’dar Hollman will have opportunities to compete as well during training camp.

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> Positional analysis

SAFETY Gutekunst attacked his safety deficiency the same way he attacked his edge rush problem in 2019. After moving on from Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Kentrell Brice, Gutekunst brought in reliable veteran Adrian Amos and paired him with the team’s second first-round pick, Darnell Savage out of Maryland. The tandem of Amos and Savage brought immediate dependability to a position that had struggled for years. Amos immediately endeared himself to Packers fans after snagging a game-sealing interception from Mitchell Trubisky in Week 1 against the Bears. He’d finish the season with two picks and eight passes defensed along with one sack. Savage lost two games mid-season to injury, but he bounced back and finished his rookie campaign with two interceptions of his own, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles. Behind Amos and Savage, Green Bay returns Raven Greene and Will Redmond. Both players looked solid in their limited snaps, and both give Pettine flexibility if he wants to play a safety in the box.

Adrian Amos

With only four safeties on the current roster and Ibraheim Campbell a free agent, expect the Packers to look for some additional camp competition.

KICKER/PUNTER/LONG SNAPPER Money Mason is back in Green Bay on a three-year contract worth $12.9 million. Crosby converted 91.7 percent of field goals in 2019, his best percentage in his 13-year career. He connected on 22 of 24 field goals and 40 of 41 extra point attempts which more than secured his new contract with the Packers. At 35 years old, Crosby remains the second-longest tenured Packers on the team’s roster behind only Aaron Rodgers. The punter and long snapper tandem of JK Scott and Hunter Bradley have had another season to develop chemistry with one another. Scott’s 2019 season was almost identical to that of 2018, with 77 punts for 3,386 yards and an average of 44 yards per punt with a long of 66. In 2018, Scott punted 71 times for 3,176 yards with an average of 44.7 yards and a long of 67. The leg talent is there for Scott, who pinned 33 punts inside the 20-yard line per PFF. Giving the trio a second year under special teams coach Shawn Mennenga and some improved talent on the unit should help Scott continue to develop.

JK Scott and Mason Crosby

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Position Analysis:

Rob Reger

1. Joe Burrow, LSU

2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama 3. Justin Herbert, Oregon 4. Jordan Love, Utah St 5. Jacob Eason, Washington 6. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma 7. Jake Fromm, Georgia 8. Anthony Gordon, Washington St 9. Nate Stanley, Iowa 10. Cole McDonald, Hawaii

JALE N HURTS SR OKLAHOMA

11. James Morgan, Florida Int 12. Tyler Huntley, Utah 13. Shea Patterson, Michigan 14. Brian Lewerke, Michigan St 15. Steven Montez, Colorado 16. Bryce Perkins, Virginia 17. Jake Luton, Oregon St 18. Kelly Bryant, Missouri 19. Kevin Davidson, Princeton 20. Mason Fine, North Texas

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> QUARTERBACK

Joe Burrow (rSR)

LSU

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 221 lbs. Hand Size: 9”

40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

2019 stats: 402 of 527 (76.3%) 5,671 yards 60 TDs 6 INT 115 carries 368 yards 5 TDs

In a Nut Shell:

It is very rare for a player to make the gigantic leap from middle-round prospect to potentially the first pick in the draft in one year, but Joe Burrow did just that. Burrow started his college career stuck first behind JT Barrett and then Dwayne Haskins at Ohio State. Rather than spend another season as a backup, Joe decided to transfer to LSU. During his first year at LSU, there were some good moments, but also many rocky ones. In 2019, however, everything clicked for Burrow and he not only led his team to a National Championship, but he won the Heisman Trophy. Burrow will not “wow” you with his arm strength, but he can make all the throws. What really separates him from the rest of the crowd is his accuracy and poise under pressure along with his elite decision making and ability to read and diagnose defensive coverages. It was very rare to see Burrow make the wrong read or not deliver the ball to the open receiver. He completed 76 percent of his passes for the season. He threw for 5671 yards and a record 60 touchdowns while throwing only six interceptions.

BEST GAME:

Two games really stood out that helped cement Joe’s legacy. The first one was at Alabama when both teams were undefeated. Joe was able to outduel Tua Tagovailoa by completing 79.5 percent of his passes and accounting for 457 yards of offense and three touchdowns in the LSU victory. The second game that stood out was the National Championship Game against Clemson. LSU fell behind Clemson 17–7 in the second quarter of that game before Burrow led LSU to a resounding 42–25 victory, capping off a remarkable year. In that game, Burrow passed for 463 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for 58 yards and a score.

Fit with the Packers:

In order to land Burrow, the Packers would probably have to trade their entire draft and then some to move up to the first pick. However, if somehow they were able to do it, Burrow would be an incredible fit and heir apparent to Aaron Rodgers. In fact, watching Burrow survey the field and buy himself time in the pocket is very reminiscent of the former Cal quarterback. Burrow would also be a perfect fit for Matt LaFleur’s offense.

Another strength of Burrow’s is his leadership ability. He is described as more of a lead by example leader, rather than the fiery, in your face type. He demonstrates a great work ethic and is considered somewhat of a “gym rat.” In fact, one of the more underrated parts of Joe’s game is his speed and strength. Many times, throughout the year, he scrambled for big third down conversions.

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> QUARTERBACK

Tua Tagovailoa (JR)

Alabama

Measurables: Height: 6’ 0” | Weight: 217 lbs. Hand Size: 10”

40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

2019 stats: 180 of 252 (71.4%) 2,840 yards 33 TDs 3 INT 23 carries 17 yards 2 TDs

In a Nut Shell:

Tagovailoa exploded on the scene as a true freshman in the National Championship Game versus Georgia. After playing sparingly throughout the season, coach Saban decided to replace his starter, Jalen Hurts, with Tagovailoa at halftime. The move paid huge dividends as Tagovailoa was able to lead Alabama on a furious comeback for a national championship. There have been few players in recent years with Tagovailoa’s pedigree. In his two years as a starter, Tagovailoa completed 70 percent of his passes and threw 76 touchdowns. This was despite battling ankle injuries and, in 2019, a fractured hip, which ended his season after nine games. Tagovailoa possesses elite accuracy and throws a great deep ball. He throws in rhythm, and his timing is fantastic. The only real question scouts have is his durability. With two ankle surgeries and a hip surgery in only two years as a starter, the question that teams are undoubtedly asking is whether these issues are flukes or a trend.

BEST GAME:

Tagovailoa’s best game of 2018 was undoubtedly the Iron Bowl versus Auburn. In that game, Tagovailoa completed 78 percent of his passes for 324 yards and five touchdowns and also ran for another score. In 2019, Tua showed off all of his dominant skills against Mississippi, where he threw for 418 yards and seven touchdowns (one rushing). However, picking just two of Tagovailoa’s games to showcase is very difficult, as he is so consistent from game to game.

Fit with the Packers:

Tagovailoa would be a perfect fit for Matt LaFleur’s offense and would be an ideal pick for the Packers if he were to suffer a setback in his recovery and drop to the 30th pick. The ability to essentially redshirt for a year or two and get fully recovered would be a bonus as well. The chances of that happening are very slim, however, as his talent really jumps off the screen.

Leadership is another area where Tagovailoa excels. Nick Saban has gushed about his work ethic and leadership at Alabama, even going so far as to call him one of his favorite players and such a positive influence on everyone around him. Tagovailoa has the talent and the intangibles to turn around a franchise if he is able to stay healthy.

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Justin Herbert (SR)

Oregon

Measurables: Height: 6’6” | Weight: 236 lbs. Hand Size: 10”

40 Time: 4.68

NFL COMBINE: 35.5” vertical 123” broad 4.46 sec. 20 yd 7.06 sec. 3-cone

2019 stats: 286 of 428 (66.8%) 3,471 yards 32 TDs 6 INT 58 carries | 50 yards 4 TDs

In a Nut Shell:

BEST GAME:

Herbert’s career as a Duck had its fair share of highlights, as he threw for 95 touchdowns and 10,541 yards. He also capped off his career with a Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin, where he was able to use his legs effectively, rushing for three touchdowns in the game.

Fit with the Packers:

As a starter for most of his four years at Oregon, Justin Herbert looks the part of an elite quarterback. At 6’6”, 236 lbs, Herbert has the size and bulk to look over defenses and take a hit. Herbert also possesses a rocket for an arm and can make every throw look easy.

However, Herbert’s game does not come without its faults. Throughout his career, he was plagued by inconsistency. Making the correct reads and delivering the ball on time has been an issue for Herbert. As talented as he is, these are the areas of his game that must improve if he is going to have a long, successful career in the NFL. There have also been concerns with his overall leadership ability. Another question that must be answered is whether he can command a huddle.

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Herbert outdueled fellow high draft pick prospect Jacob Eason at Washington. In that game, Herbert threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns in the Ducks’ victory. However, Herbert’s best game overall may have been his performance in the Rose Bowl versus Wisconsin’s top defense. Although his passing stats may not jump off the page, Herbert used his legs to score three touchdowns and lead the Ducks to a huge win over the Badgers.

Herbert has the strong arm necessary to play in the frozen tundra. His perceived lack of maturity and leadership ability could easily improve by playing a couple of years behind Aaron Rodgers. Big, strong, fast athletes of Herbert’s nature are not easy to find and, barring something extreme happening, Herbert will be long gone before the Packers pick at 30.

> QUARTERBACK

Jordan Love (JR)

Utah State

Jacob Eason (rJR)

Washington

Measurables: 6’4” | 224 lbs. | Hand Size: 10½” | 40 Time: 4.74

Measurables: 6’6” | 231 lbs. | Hand Size: 9½” | 40 Time: 4.89

NFL COMBINE: 35.5” vertical | 116” broad | 4.52 sec. 20 yd |

NFL COMBINE: 27.5” vertical | 109” broad | 4.75 sec. 20 yd |

7.21 sec. 3-cone

7.5 sec. 3-cone

2019 stats: 293 of 473 (61.9%) | 3,402 yards | 20 TDs | 17 INT |

2019 stats: 260 of 405 (64.2%) | 3,132 yards | 23 TDs | 8 INT |

81 carries | 175 yards | 0 TD

46 carries | -69 yards | 1 TD

In a nutshell:

Statistically, Love had a much better season in 2018 than he did in 2019, prompting some speculation as to whether he suffered a regression. In Love’s 2018 season, he passed for 3567 yards and 32 touchdowns with only six interceptions. In 2019, Love’s touchdown total dropped to 20 and his interception total grew to 17. One explanation for this statistical drop-off was the fact that Utah State had to replace eight starters on offense from the previous year. This was coupled with the fact that Love himself has said that there were times when he pressed and forced throws into coverage when guys weren’t open.

It is easy to identify Eason’s best trait—his arm strength. Eason slings the ball all over the field with ease and can really drive the ball into tight windows. It is also easy to identify Eason’s worst trait—pocket presence. Many times, Eason looked uncomfortable in the pocket, and he tends to make rash decisions with the ball. He also lacks the maneuverability and lateral quickness needed to avoid rushers in the NFL.

Tantalizing is the word used most to describe Jordan Love’s arm talent. Many scouts have compared it favorably to Patrick Mahomes coming out of Texas Tech. Love has the rare ability to throw on target from several different arm angles and can throw on the run and have the ball “jump” out of his hand. Blessed with ideal size and above-average athleticism, Love has the ideal characteristics for today’s NFL.

Overall, Love has many unique talents and traits. Although the turnovers are an issue and he needs to take better care of the ball at the next level, few players over the last several years possess his arm talent, and this should make him a first-round pick.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Love’s arm talent alone would make him a perfect fit for the Packers. Coming from a smaller school has allowed Love to play a lot, but he lacks some experience against top defenses. Playing behind Rodgers for a couple of years would be perfect as he continues to develop. More than likely, the Packers would have to trade up into the teens to have a chance at Love. However, he would be the perfect heir apparent to Rodgers.

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Jacob Eason was one of the top recruits in the country and chose Georgia. However, after a successful freshman season, he got hurt in the first game of his sophomore season.. His replacement, Jacob Fromm, played so well that even when Eason got healthy, he stayed on the bench. This prompted Eason to transfer to Washington, where, after sitting out a season, he thrived with over 3,100 yards passing and 23 touchdowns.

Overall, Eason’s big arm may convince a team to take a chance on him in the first round. His arm strength is truly elite, and he possesses above-average accuracy. The determining factor with him will be whether he can improve his footwork and stand strong in the pocket.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

An assumed goal here is to find a replacement for Aaron Rodgers. With many of the other top quarterbacks, it is easy to envision them doing that. With Eason, it is much harder to see him fitting in Matt LaFleur’s offense. He would require significant development to succeed in Green Bay. It could happen, but there are probably better options for the Packers to pursue. This is despite the fact that Eason’s highlight throws are as good as anyone else in this draft, and his arm strength is a huge plus.

> QUARTERBACK

Jalen Hurts (SR)

Oklahoma

Jake Fromm (JR)

Georgia

Measurables: 6’1” | 222 lbs. | Hand Size: 9¾” | 40 Time: 4.59

Measurables: 6’2” | 219 lbs. | Hand Size: 8⅞” | 40 Time: 5.01

NFL COMBINE: 35” vertical | 125” broad

NFL COMBINE: 30” vertical | 110” broad | 4.51 sec. 20 yd |

2019 stats: 237 of 340 (69.7%) | 3,851 yards| 32 TDs | 8 INT |

7.27 sec 3-cone

233 carries | 1,298 yards | 20 TDs

2019 stats: 234 of 385 (60.8%) | 2,860 yards | 24 TDs | 5 INT | 38 carries | -12 yards | 0 TD

In a nutshell:

Jalen Hurts finished his career with a 38–4 record as a starter between Alabama and Oklahoma. He started many big games, including winning two National Championships. During his senior season at Oklahoma, Hurts accounted for 52 touchdowns, throwing for 32 and running for another 20. For most players, stats and accomplishments like these would lead to them being the top pick in the draft. However, Hurts does have some question marks on his resume, which may lead to a drop to Day 2 of the draft. Hurts is a big, strong, athletic player. He maneuvers well in the pocket and has elite escapability. He also receives high grades for his work ethic and leadership. The question marks surrounding Hurts have always been his passing ability. He has been compared to Tim Tebow as a passer, which isn’t a compliment. Hurts struggles with quick-timing related passes. He often throws behind the receiver. He also struggles mechanically with a long arm path. In the NFL, quarterbacks need to have above-average accuracy, which Hurts appears to lack. Overall, Hurts is a winner and a great leader. He has the ability to develop and improve on some of the question marks in his game. He has proven to be resilient and comes through in the clutch more often than not.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Jalen Hurts would be an ideal player for the Packers. Obviously, he is not a finished product, but few quarterbacks are. Working with the Packers’ offensive coaching staff would allow Hurts the opportunity to improve on his faults, and he wouldn’t feel the pressure of being an instant starter. Green Bay would be wise to take a close look at Hurts if he falls to the end of the second round.

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In a nutshell:

Solid, stable, and consistent are the words used to describe Jake Fromm. If NFL owners were looking for a man to marry their daughters, Jake Fromm would be a great candidate. He is a great kid and a great leader. However, NFL owners are looking for somebody who could potentially lead their team to a Super Bowl. Very seldom do stable, average players do that. Fromm started out his career at Georgia backing up Jacob Eason. However, an injury to Eason opened up the door for Fromm, and he never looked back. Even with the addition of top recruit Justin Fields, Fromm maintained his grip on the starting job. Fromm is excellent at reading and deciphering a defensive game plan. He is excellent with play action and delivers a catchable ball on time. He also has excellent pocket awareness. All of Fromm’s deficiencies are of the physical variety. He has average height, average arm strength, average speed and average deep ball accuracy. However, it’s important to acknowledge that the two highest rated prospects in their draft classes tried and failed to unseat Fromm as the starter. He finished his college career with a 35–7 record and played in the National Championship Game as a freshman. He also threw for over 8,000 yards and 78 touchdowns.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

If the Packers are looking for a high-level backup quarterback in this draft, Jake Fromm is the perfect fit to step in and win games if Rodgers gets hurt. He would study and learn the playbook like the back of his hand and be able to provide a stable, steady hand. He may not be as effective as an heir apparent to Rodgers, as his upside appears limited.

> QUARTERBACK

Anthony Gordon (rSR)

Washington St

Nate Stanley (SR)

Iowa

Measurables: 6’2” | 205 lbs. | Hand Size: 9¾” | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: 6’4” | 235 lbs. | Hand Size: 10” | 40 Time: 4.81

NFL COMBINE: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 28.5” vertical | 9’ broad | 4.48 sec. 20 yd |

2019 stats: 493 of 687 (71.8%) | 5,579 yards | 48 TDs | 16 INT |

7.26 sec. 3-cone

51 carries | -20yards | 0 TD

2019 stats: 237 of 399 (59.4%) | 2,951 yards | 16 TDs | 7 INT | 76 carries | 7 yards | 1 TD

In a nutshell:

Gordon possesses elite touch, accuracy and anticipation on his passes. Coming from the same offense that produced Gardner Minshew the year before, Gordon actually had better stats than his predecessor. However, the biggest question mark with Gordon is his arm strength. Will he be able to throw into tight windows in the NFL? He also tends to throw a fluttering deep ball, although often his receivers bailed him out and made excellent catches. In the NFL, many of his throws would have been intercepted by an above-average free safety.

The biggest question with Stanley is why he didn’t have better stats at Iowa. 2018 was his best statistical year, but he had Noah Fant and TJ Hockenson to throw to. In 2019, his touchdowns fell from 26 to 16. Some of the reasons for these below-average numbers have to do with the conservative nature of Iowa’s offense, but not all. Stanley had a golden opportunity to excel in his senior year but failed to deliver.

Anthony Gordon put-up eye-popping numbers in Mike Leach’s air raid offense, setting several single season records for a quarterback. Gordon waited patiently as only a one-year starter at Washington State, but took full advantage of his opportunity with 48 touchdowns and over 5,500 yards passing.

Overall, the numbers look great, but Gordon’s upside is limited. If he lands on a team whose offense relies on short to intermediate passes, Gordon might be able to make an impact due to his accuracy and timing.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Gordon could be a mid-round target for the Packers if he drops. He would be able to back up Rodgers effectively, as long as Matt LaFleur doesn’t ask him to do too much. He is not mistakeprone and can be a steady, efficient backup quarterback but is probably not a long-term solution.

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Nate Stanley is a big, strong kid from Menomonie, Wisconsin, who was a three-year starter for the Hawkeyes with 68 touchdowns and over 8,200 yards passing. He has impressive arm strength and has the ability to drive the ball downfield in poor weather conditions.

Overall, there will be teams who covet Stanley and give him a chance. He stands strong in the pocket and has a rocket for an arm. A good quarterback coach could do wonders for his development. But he appears to be just a developmental project type of player.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

If the Packers are truly looking for a potential replacement for Aaron Rodgers in three years, Stanley might be a good selection. A native Wisconsinite, Stanley has the talent to grow into a starter role with the right coaching. He shows excellent arm strength and poise in the pocket, along with above-average accuracy. He could prove to be a perfect candidate to be slowly groomed to take over the reins when Rodgers retires.

> QUARTERBACK

Cole McDonald (rJR)

Hawaii

James Morgan (rSR)

Florida Int

Measurables: 6’3” | 215 lbs. | Hand Size: 9¾ ” | 40 Time: 4.58

Measurables: 6’4” | 229 lbs. | Hand Size: 9¾” | 40 Time: 4.89

NFL COMBINE: 36” vertical | 121’ broad | 4.52 sec. 20 yd |

NFL COMBINE: 29” vertical | 112” broad | 4.64 sec. 20 yd |

7.13 sec. 3-cone

7.51 sec. 3-cone

2019 stats: 326 of 511 (63.8%) | 4,135 yards | 33 TDs | 14 INT |

2019 stats: 207 of 357 (58%) | 2,714 yards | 14 TDs | 5 INT |

101 carries | 383 yards | 7 TDs

32 carries | -40 yards | 2 TDs

In a nutshell:

Cole McDonald is a very intriguing prospect. From a physical standpoint, he checks all the boxes. His height, weight and speed are all ideal for the position. He likes to throw in rhythm and has excellent accuracy on his short to intermediate throws. He was also ultra-productive in Hawaii’s pass-happy offense with 70 touchdown passes and over 8,000 career yards in only two years as a starter. The most impressive trait that McDonald displays on tape is his ability to get the ball out of his hands quickly and accurately. He does sport a quirky delivery, but seems to get away with it more often than not. McDonald also possesses excellent speed and running ability. He is not afraid to tuck the ball down and run or keep the ball on short yardage plays. However, there is a reason why McDonald is looked at as a Day 3 prospect. He lacks the downfield arm strength of many of the other quarterbacks. Often, the ball flutters or comes up short of the intended receiver. This issue showed up at the combine, and it appears he is also not accurate on deep passes; he seems to put all his effort into his deep throws, and they often miss the mark.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

If the Packers are looking for a change of pace player and don’t want to spend a high draft pick on Jalen Hurts, McDonald might be a great option in the middle to late rounds. However, it is doubtful that the Packers would be looking at him as an eventual replacement for Rodgers. McDonald is a fun player to watch and could come in and win some games if needed, but he doesn’t quite have the upside to become an elite player.

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James Morgan grew up in Green Bay and attended Ashwaubenon High School. As a child, he grew up idolizing Brett Favre and patterns his game after the gunslinger. In some ways his style is reminiscent of Favre, but he also has some noticeable shortcomings. Morgan started his career at Bowling Green, and after three somewhat uneventful seasons, decided to transfer to FIU in 2018. However, the game that really showed what he was made of was when he led his team to an upset victory over Miami. Morgan is blessed with an above-average arm and does like to show it off, sometimes to his own detriment, as he sometimes struggles with touch. His accuracy can also fall below-average compared to other signal callers. Another shortcoming is that he tends to stare down receivers prior to delivering his passes, allowing safeties to read his passes. Overall, however, Morgan has quite a few physical gifts which will allow him the opportunity at the next level.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

The fact that Morgan is from Green Bay makes him a popular choice by analysts to end up in the Green and Gold as Aaron Rodgers’ backup. He has the physical tools to be effective in that role and would be a great developmental quarterback with the right coaching.

> QUARTERBACK

Tyler Huntley (SR)

Utah

In a nutshell:

Tyler Huntley is an intriguing prospect heading into the draft. Huntley can definitely be summed up as a winner throughout his career at Utah, leading the team to unprecedented heights throughout his three years as a starter. Huntley seemed to make big plays whenever his team needed them. Huntley has some above-average traits outside of just being a winner. For one, he is excellent at navigating within the pocket and avoiding rushers. He also has a knack for delivering passes accurately on the run, after he escapes the pocket. Finally, Huntley is very adept at tucking the ball down and running when he sees an opening. As a senior, Huntley passed for over 3,000 yards and accounted for 24 touchdowns with only four interceptions while leading the Utes to an 11–3 season. However, there are several question marks surrounding his arm strength and accuracy at the next level. Huntley was also a notable snub at the combine, leading to more of a spotlight being shown on his deficiencies. Overall, Huntley seems to have all the intangibles needed to get a shot in the NFL.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Given the way Huntley maneuvers in the pocket, he would give the Packers a useful backup option in the late rounds. As a three-year starter at Utah, Huntley has a lot of experience and excels in close games. His skill set would be a nice addition to Matt LaFleur’s offense.

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13 Shea Patterson (SR)

Michigan

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 212 lbs. In a nutshell: Inconsistency has marred Patterson’s career from the beginning. Even under the tutelage of Jim Harbaugh, Patterson would mesmerize fans with a remarkable play and then follow it up with a completely bone-headed play. Patterson finished his career with 8,800 career yards and 68 touchdowns while splitting his career between Ole Miss and Michigan. Physically, he has all the tools that scouts are looking for. However, it was his failures in big games and head-scratching plays that will define his college career.

14 Brian Lewerke (rSR)

Michigan St

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 213 lbs. In a nutshell: After a promising 2017 season, in which he accounted for more than 2,300 yards and 25 touchdowns and had huge wins over Michigan and Penn St., Lewerke’s star was shining bright. In fact, in some circles, he was being touted as a potential Heisman hopeful heading into the 2018 season. However, Lewerke did not live up to his promise and seemed to regress over his last two seasons at Michigan St. Accuracy problems were the main culprit for this regression, as he was unable to hit 60 percent completions in any of his seasons. However, his arm strength is well above-average, and he has the size, speed and demeanor to be a positive surprise for whatever team takes a chance on him late in the draft.

15 Steven Montez (SR)

Colorado

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 231 lbs. In a nutshell: When evaluating quarterbacks, exhibiting a calm demeanor is not considered a positive trait. Unfortunately for Steven Montez, that is the best way to describe him. A three-year starter at Colorado, Montez had average stats and a below-average record despite having excellent size, speed and arm strength for the position. Due to his physical talent, some team will give Montez a shot, hoping to turn him around. There appears to be a disconnect between physical skills and performance. Montez also struggles with reading defenses and struggles with accuracy both in the pocket and on the move.

> QUARTERBACK

16 Bryce Perkins (rSR)

Virginia

17 Jake Luton (rSR)

Oregon St

Measurables: Height: 6'2" | Weight: 210 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6'6" | Weight: 224 lbs.

In a nutshell: A fiery competitor, Bryce Perkins accounted for 4,300 yards (769 rushing) and 33 touchdowns (11 rushing) as a senior at Virginia. Perkins has all of the intangibles that you want in a quarterback but has some serious limitations as a passer. His biggest flaws are his long, slow delivery of the ball and his deep ball accuracy. Many times the ball either was delivered late or was fluttering. In short and intermediate passes, Perkins was able to deliver the ball on time and accurately. He also showed great skill as a runner. With the emergence of the XFL, if Perkins does not make an NFL roster, with his skillset he is destined to be a star in the fledgling league.

In a nutshell: Luton started his career at FCS Idaho before transferring to Ventura Community College and then to Oregon St. He battled injuries in 2017 and 2018 and finally got a chance to show off his skills in 2019. He passed for over 2,700 yards and had an incredible 28-to-3 touchdown to interception ratio. Luton shows off his enormous build with above-average arm strength. His passes are tight, and his accuracy is a strength. The biggest question mark with him is his ability to stay healthy and take the pounding of an NFL quarterback. However, some team will take a chance on him as a developmental quarterback and he could enjoy a long career as a valuable backup quarterback.

18 Kelly Bryant (rSR)

Missouri

19 Kevin Davidson (SR)

Princeton

Measurables: Height: 6'3" | Weight: 229 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6'4" | Weight: 224 lbs.

In a nutshell: After sitting behind DeShaun Watson for his first two years, Kelly Bryant was thrust into the starting lineup for the defending National Champion Clemson Tigers in 2017. Unfortunately for him, Trevor Lawrence arrived at Clemson the next year, so Bryant decided to transfer to Missouri to finish off his career. At Missouri, Bryant showed flashes of running a high-octane offense but many times struggled with consistency. He ended the season with only 2,200 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has great size and speed for a quarterback and is known as a hard worker. His biggest knock is his long, slow arm delivery and accuracy.

In a nutshell: Kevin Davidson has the prerequisite size to play in the NFL. He also is from the Ivy League, so he has the smarts, as well. The issue with him is that his quarterback play doesn’t resemble that of an NFL quarterback. Davidson didn’t play very much during his first three years, but he had a respectable senior year. Although scouts do like his size, his mechanics are poor and he tends to hold the ball very low in his drop back, making it easy for defenders to knock away and hard for him to get the ball out fast. His biggest strength is his ability to read defenses and deliver the ball to the right place. Seldom is he confused by coverages or surprised by blitzes.

20 Mason Fine (SR)

North Texas Arizona Satate

Measurables: Height: 5'10" | Weight: 190 lbs. In a nutshell: As an undersized quarterback, Mason Fine is fun to watch with his live arm and improvisational skills. As a three-and-a-half-year starter at North Texas, Fine passed for an incredible 12,505 yards and 93 touchdowns in his career. Fine displays above-average accuracy and anticipation and has a quick, compact delivery. His shortcomings are strictly physical, although there are some question marks about his quality of competition. With shorter players like Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson making a huge impact, Fine has a chance to prove the doubters wrong and make an impact on an NFL roster, although the odds are stacked against him.

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21 Khalil Tate (SR) Arizona 22 Riley Neal (rSR) Vanderbilt 23 Nathan Rourke (SR) Ohio 24 Tommy Stevens (SR)

Mississippi St

25 Josh Love (SR)

San Jose St

Position Analysis:

Dan Dahlke

1. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

2. JK Dobbins, Ohio St 3. D’Andre Swift, Georgia 4. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU 5. Cam Akers, Florida St 6. Zack Moss, Utah 7. Eno Benjamin, Arizona St 8. Antonio Gibson, Memphis 9. Anthony McFarland, Maryland 10. Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt

D'A N D R E SW I F T JR GEORGIA

11. Darrynton Evans, Appalachian St 12. La’Mical Perine, Florida 13. AJ Dillon, Boston College 14. Javon Leake, Maryland 15. JaMycal Hasty, Baylor 16. Joshua Kelley, UCLA 17. Darius Anderson, TCU 18. Patrick Taylor Jr, Memphis 19. Raymond Calais, UL-LaFayette 20. James Robinson, Illinois St

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> Running back

Jonathan Taylor (JR)

Wisconsin

Measurables: Height: 5’10” Weight: 226 lbs.

40 Time: 4.39

NFL COMBINE: 36” vertical 123” broad 4.24 sec. 20 yd 7.01 sec. 3-cone 17 bench reps

2019 stats: 320 carries 2,003 yards (6.26 ypc) 21 TDs 26 receptions 252 yards | 5 TDs

In a Nut Shell:

BEST GAME:

Running Game: Taylor has a great blend of speed and power. He shows excellent vision and patience as a runner. He waits until he sees an opening in a defense and then quickly exposes it by exploding through the line and getting downhill. He does a great job squaring his shoulders and running behind his pads, which allows him to pack a punch when defenders try to meet him head-on. He also has the speed and quick burst to turn the corner and get separation in the open field, which leads to big plays on the field.

Fit with the Packers:

Taylor’s entire career at Wisconsin was nothing short of outstanding. The New Jersey native ran for a whopping 6,174 yards and 50 touchdowns, making him the first player in FBS history to eclipse the 6,000-yard mark in just three seasons. Combine the incredible production with rare football traits and impressive athletic testing and it is easy to see why Taylor is one of the best running back prospects to come out of college in the past decade.

Wisconsin entered its ninth game of the 2019 season in a close battle with Iowa for a spot in the Big Ten Championship. At the time, Wisconsin ranked 13th in the nation and Iowa 18th. In a tough, hard-fought 24–22 win over the Hawkeyes, Taylor ran for 250 yards on 31 carries. He averaged over eight yards per carry against a very stingy Iowa front seven, and many of his big runs came late in the fourth quarter when the Badgers were only up one score and trying to put the game away.

Taylor would fit any NFL offense or scheme. However, the Packers could pair his dynamic downhill running style with Aaron Jones’ ability to make plays out in space. Taylor could also easily develop into the future at the position for the Packers, especially if they were looking for a true feature back who can haul the rock for 20 carries a game.

Passing Game: Taylor has underrated hands for a tailback. While his rushing garners national attention, he can also be utilized as a threat in the passing game. This is a part of his game that really developed in his final year at Wisconsin. He caught 26 passes as a junior. He is effective in running routes out in the flat and then using his agility to make defenders miss. He can also use his speed to create a mismatch against linebackers across the middle of the field.

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> Running back

JK Dobbins (JR)

Ohio St

Measurables: Height: 5’9” Weight: 209 lbs.

40 Time: Did Not Participate

NFL COMBINE: 23 bench reps

2019 stats: 301 carries 2,003 yards (6.65 ypc) 21 TDs 23 receptions 247 yards 2 TDs

In a Nut Shell:

While Dobbins was highly productive in his first two years as the Buckeyes’ starting tailback, he definitely saved his best season for last. In 2019, Dobbins tied Taylor for third in the nation in rushing with 2,003 yards on the ground. His 21 rushing touchdowns were also tied for the third most in the country. Dobbins is equally proficient in the passing game as he is a dynamic runner. Running Game: Dobbins is a sudden one-cut runner who gets downhill in a hurry and has the top-end speed to breakaway from defenses and create big runs. He also keeps his legs moving through contact and maintains low pad level through the hole, making him a very difficult halfback to bring down upon first contact. When out in space, he demonstrates an ability to make defenders miss with an effective juke move, or he can square them up and use his strength to stiff arm them. Overall, his vision is perhaps his best attribute and will make him very effective at the next level regardless of which team selects him.

BEST GAME:

2019 Fiesta Bowl: Even though Ohio State lost to Clemson 23–29 in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl, Dobbins’ Herculean effort was noteworthy. With 24 touches in the game (18 carries and six receptions), Dobbins gained 221 yards from scrimmage against a very good Clemson defense. He not only almost singlehandedly kept the Buckeyes in the game, but his outstanding performance also capped an impressive four-game stretch where he rushed for over 150 yards against Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Clemson.

Fit with the Packers:

Dobbins is proficient in all three phases of the position. Whether it is running the ball, receiving out of the backfield or pass protecting, he does it well, and the Packers could really use a complete player like him on their roster. With Dobbins in the backfield, the Packers could experiment with Aaron Jones more in the slot or lined up out wide. Having both players on the field would give them a lot of options as far as alignment. It may open up more creativity in playcalling as well.

Passing Game: Dobbins has natural hands as a receiver and demonstrates excellent concentration to adjust to the ball in the air. He makes difficult catches and can run a variety of routes effectively. He is also a reliable pass blocker, making him a true three-down player in the NFL.

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> Running back

D’Andre Swift (JR)

Georgia

Measurables: Height: 5’8” Weight: 212 lbs.

40 Time: 4.48

NFL COMBINE: 35.5” vertical 121” broad

2019 stats: 196 carries 1,218 yards (6.21 ypc) 7 TDs 24 receptions 216 yards 1 TD

In a Nut Shell:

Swift earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2019 for his stellar 1,218 yard and seven touchdown rushing performance. The Pennsylvania native is a dynamic tailback with blazing speed and big-play ability. Running Game: Swift has quick acceleration to turn the corner and out leverage a defense. He can also use this quick burst to get himself out of tight spots and create something out of nothing. The former Georgia halfback has all the tools to make defenders miss in space; he has an effective spin move and the quick feet to juke or jumpcut, as well as the strength to stiff arm defenders on the perimeter. He is an explosive runner with great vision and a knack for making game-changing plays. Passing Game: While he showed good production as a receiver out of the backfield when given opportunities, Swift was not utilized fully in the passing game in Georgia’s offense. He was primarily used on swing routes or in the screen game. However, given his superb athleticism teams should look to find more creative ways to get him matched one-on-one against defenders out in space.

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BEST GAME:

In the middle of his sophomore season, Swift had a breakout performance against a tough Auburn defense. At the time, Swift was still playing behind starter Elijah Holyfield, but Swift had a big game the week before with 156 rushing yards against Kentucky. This led to more opportunities in Georgia’s 27–10 win over Auburn, where Swift carried the ball 17 times for 186 yards and a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 43 yards and averaged more than 10 yards from scrimmage every time he touched the ball.

Fit with the Packers:

Swift would bring speed and dynamic playmaking ability to the Packers offense. He could be used creatively in two-back sets with Aaron Jones or line up wide as a versatile slot player. Swift’s ability to quickly take advantage of an opening in the defense would also fit very well with the Packers zone-blocking scheme.

> Running back

Clyde Edwards-Helaire

(JR)

LSU

Cam Akers (JR)

Florida St

Measurables: Height: 5’7” | Weight: 207 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.60

Measurables: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 217 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.47

NFL COMBINE: 39.5” vertical | 123” broad | 15 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: 35.5” vertical | 122” broad | 4.42 sec. 20 yd |

2019 stats: 215 carries | 1,414 yards (6.58 ypc) | 16 TDs |

20 bench reps

55 receptions | 453 yards | 1 TD

In a nutshell:

Running Game: Edwards-Helaire runs with a low center of gravity and can be physical between the tackles, but he also possesses the quick lateral movement and cutback ability to get out in space and make defenders miss. While he lacks true breakaway speed, Edwards-Helaire does not waste time getting downhill and is decisive when he sees an opening in a defense. He also runs with terrific balance and lower body strength, which allows him to run through contact and break tackles.

Running Game: Akers can break a game open with his ability to quickly turn the corner and get downfield on a big run. He also has the nimble feet and wiggle to make defenders miss out in space. He can be a real headache for opponents to bring down because his change of direction is so smooth and sudden. As an elusive tailback, Akers also shows good pad level and punch when he hits the hole and meets defenders on the second level. Going into the NFL, Akers could still improve his patience and vision as he picks his opportunities to attack the line of scrimmage.

As a junior, Edwards-Helaire led the SEC with 16 rushing touchdowns and finished second in the conference in rushing with 1,414 yards on the ground. The LSU product was utilized effectively in both the running and passing game, amassing 1,867 yards from scrimmage on 270 touches.

Passing Game: The junior tailback showed a lot of growth in the passing game in his final season at LSU. After playing a minimal role on third downs in 2018, Edwards-Helaire became a featured weapon in the Tigers’ passing game as a junior, finishing third on the team with 55 receptions. He showed proficiency lining up wide on the boundary, motioning to the slot or running out of the backfield on screens and swing routes.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Green Bay could certainly use a well-balanced three-down runner like Edwards-Helaire on their roster. He would provide immediate depth behind Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams, and he would give them a contingency plan at the position in case the Packers lose both Jones and Williams to free agency after the season. Edwards-Helaire’s experience as a returner and receiver out of the backfield would also help him find a role on the team in his first year.

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After a disappointing sophomore season, Akers bounced back and put together a 1,144 yard, 14 touchdown performance as a junior. Whether it is in the running or passing game, Akers uses his top-gear speed and explosive athleticism to create separation from the defense and make game-changing plays on the field.

Passing Game: Akers shows proficiency in a variety of routes as a halfback. He can be a mismatch for defenses running wheel routes down the sideline or swing out in the flat. He also can line up wide and motion on jet sweeps or run a quick hitch and get the ball on the perimeter. However, his pass protection really needs to improve. Too often, he whiffs on blitzing defenders, showing poor hat placement and pad level.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Akers’ game is very similar to Aaron Jones, and he could serve a very similar function in Green Bay’s offense. He can run the ball on jet sweep, line up in the slot as a receiver, excel in the screen game or run the ball out of pistol formations. The former FSU standout would give the Packers another dynamic athlete in the backfield, as well as a creative weapon for Coach LaFleur to experiment with in his offense.

> Running back

Zack Moss (SR)

Utah

Eno Benjamin (JR)

Arizona St

Measurables: Height: 5’9” | Weight: 223 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.65

Measurables: Height: 5’9’’ | Weight: 207 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.57

NFL COMBINE: 33” vertical | 4.37 sec. 20 yd | 19 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: 39” vertical | 122” broad | 4.25 sec. 20 yd | 6.97 sec.

2019 stats: 235 carries | 1,416 yards (6.03 ypc) | 15 TDs |

3-cone | 12 bench reps

28 receptions | 388 yards | 2 TDs

In a nutshell:

Running Game: Moss has excellent burst through the line, but he also possesses the fluid hips to quickly change direction and put a defense on its heels. He shows good patience, picking his moments to cutback against the flow or square his shoulders and turn upfield. He also does a nice job out in space setting up defenders with a juke or jumpcut. And, when all else fails, he can lower his shoulder and run through contact. He is a very good blend of burst, agility and power.

Running Game: Benjamin is quick to bounce runs when caught in a tight spot, which can be both the strength of his game and his Achilles heel. He needs to learn to trust his initial reads, because in the NFL he may not be able to rely solely on his elusiveness. Benjamin has big-play potential and can string together a series of impressive runs because he is so dynamic in space but also willing to be physical.

Moss’ draft stock may take a significant hit because of his injury history. Despite these durability concerns, Moss is still a big-play tailback who rushed for over 1,000 yards in three straight seasons, scored 38 rushing touchdowns and averaged over six yards per carry at Utah. He has the complete toolkit to be a very good NFL running back, but he needs to prove he can stay healthy.

Passing Game: Moss was very productive in the passing game in his final year at Utah. He caught 28 passes and averaged nearly 14 yards per reception. He can turn a simple checkdown pass or swing route into a big gain because of his ability to break tackles in the open field. He is also effective in the screen game and shows some ability as a slot player.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Moss would be a great fit in the Packers’ zone-blocking scheme. His ability to be patient behind the line of scrimmage and then make the right cut to expose a defense is precisely the type of runner the zone-blocking scheme was built around. Moss would also give the Packers another tailback who has great hands and can be utilized in the passing game. Moss is a nice blend between Aaorn Jones and Jamaal Williams’ playing styles.

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Starting all 25 games of his final two seasons at Arizona State, Benjamin led the Sun Devils in rushing with 2,725 yards and 26 touchdowns. He was also among the team leaders in receptions and quickly developed into a true three-down threat in the ASU offense. He’s a shifty runner who offers dual-threat playmaking ability.

Passing Game: Benjamin is a real weapon in the passing game. His shiftiness serves him well with the ball in his hands out in the open field. He can also run an array of routes and shows natural hands. His quick change of direction ability also enables him to gain separation from defenders. His ability to create mismatches in the passing game is one of his best attributes.

Fit with the Packers:

Benjamin would give the Packers a player to feature out in space. He would be an interesting offensive chess piece to utilize in various formations. He excels in spread formations and could give Green Bay a third-down back to use in their two-minute offense. He could also spell Aaron Jones in the backfield without the Packers having to change much on their callsheet. Benjamin is built in the Jones mold and could develop into a very similar type of player.

> Running back

Antonio Gibson (SR)

Memphis

Anthony McFarland (rSO)

Maryland

Measurables: Height: 6’0’’ | Weight: 228 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.39

Measurables: Height: 5’8” | Weight: 208 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.44

NFL COMBINE: 35” vertical | 118” broad | 16 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: 29.5” vertical | 116” broad

2019 stats: 33 carries | 369 yards (11.18 ypc) | 4 TDs | 38 receptions |

2019 stats: 114 carries | 614 yards (5.39 ypc) | 8 TDs | 17 receptions |

735 yards | 8 TDs

126 yards | 1 TD

In a nutshell:

A JUCO transferwho played a minor role in 2018, Gibson had a breakout year as a senior. Splitting time between wide receiver and tailback, Gibson gained 1,104 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns on only 71 touches. He also averaged 28.04 yards per kick return and earned the AAC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year. Despite his size, his game is built on speed and agility and is best making plays out in space. Running Game: Gibson will make the adjustment to running back in the NFL, and, while he got some opportunities in the backfield at Memphis, he still remains raw at the position. His vision and instincts still need to improve. However, he has all of the physical tools to be an excellent tailback at the next level. He has breakaway speed, a physical downhill running style and a very effective jumpcut and hopstep to make defenders miss in space. Passing Game: Gibson was used often at Memphis as a slot receiver. He is very effective on bubble screens and hitch routes. He is best with the ball in his hands out on the perimeter because he can make defenders miss and get downfield and turn on the burners. As a pure receiver, he does need to improve locating the ball in contested catch situations and cut back on body-catching.

Fit with the Packers:

Gibson is a versatile offensive weapon who can play fluidly between slot receiver and halfback. He is a legitimate threat on jet sweeps or quick routes. The Packers could use him in their offense like they did with Ty Montgomery a few seasons ago. However, Gibson is a much more explosive athlete than Montgomery and has a higher ceiling as a prospect.

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In his first year starting for the Terrapins after red-shirting with a broken leg, McFarland rushed for 1,034 yards and four touchdowns on only 131 carries in 2018. However, McFarland’s impact was minimized the following season because of a high ankle sprain he dealt with for most of the year. Durability is a major concern with McFarland’s game, which could cause him to drop on some draft boards. Running Game: McFarland has homerun big-play ability, but he does struggle to create opportunities for himself. He is dangerous out in space, but he needs a clear rushing lane to be effective. McFarland is a slippery runner and possesses top gear, but his lack of size and vision could limit his role in the running game. His best fit might be as a speedy change-of-pace back. Passing Game: McFarland has great natural hands as a tailback. He is very effective on swing routes in the flat or wheel routes down the sideline. He can also line up in the slot and run slants or crossing routes. However, despite the potential, McFarland was not always productive in the passing game. He also struggled in contested catch situations.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

McFarland would bring speed to the Packers offense. He is also versatile enough to play in the slot or find a role in his first year as a returner. The young tailback still has a ways to go to develop his game, but his speed and athleticism are valuable traits to work with as he grows behind Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams.

> Running back

Ke’Shawn Vaughn (rSR)

Vanderbilt

Darrynton Evans (rJR)

Appalachian State

Measurables: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 214 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.51

Measurables: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 203 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.41

NFL COMBINE: 32” vertical | 117” broad

NFL COMBINE: 37” vertical | 125” broad | 20 bench reps

2019 stats: 198 carries | 1,028 yards (5.19 ypc) | 9 TDs |

2019 stats: 255 carries | 1,484 yards (5.82 ypc) | 18 TDs |

28 receptions | 270 yards | 1 TD

21 receptions | 198 yards | 5 TDs

In a nutshell:

Vaughn is a tough one-cut runner coming off of two very productive seasons at Vanderbilt. Averaging 6.4 yards per carry, Vaughn rushed for 2,272 yards and 21 touchdowns as a twoyear starter for the Commodores. Before Vanderbilt, Vaughn played two seasons at Illinois before transferring to the SEC. He showed great production against some of the toughest defenses in the country. Running Game: Vaughn is a physical runner with very good vision. While he has average athleticism and change of direction ability, Vaughn wins with decisiveness and straight-line speed. Vaughn excels between the tackles and shows good lower body strength to run through contact. The former Vanderbilt standout gets the tough yards. He wastes little time hitting the hole and getting to the second level. He will lower his shoulder and challenge tacklers. Passing Game: Vaughn is solid as a checkdown receiver or player in the flat, but he was rarely featured in the passing game as a primary target. He played a more traditional halfback role on third downs, often staying in the pocket to help with pass protection. Overall, Vaughn is solid picking up blitzes and keeping the pocket clean.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Vaughn’s tough running on early downs would give the Packers another physical tailback to rotate in at the position. His reliable pass protection could also get him some looks in passing situations. However, he would not add any new dynamic to the offense.

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After redshirting in 2017 because of a knee injury, Evans started two seasons for the Mountaineers and finished 2019 averaging just under six yards per carry and among the nation’s leading scorers with 24 touchdowns. The junior tailback out of Appalachian State is a shifty runner who played in a speed option offense. He is also a prolific returner, recording three kick return touchdowns in his collegiate career. Running Game: Evans is a very elusive runner in space, but he is not overly physical. Lacking size and punch on contact, Evans wins with speed and quickness. He can turn the corner or burst through the hole and create big plays once he gets in the open field. However, Evans’ vision needs improvement, and he does not always show the ability to create yards on his own, which could minimize his impact at the next level. Passing Game: Evans is dynamic out in space, so teams are wise to use him as a receiver when they can. He can split out wide or line up in the slot. He makes plays in the screen game or can be an effective checkdown option for quarterbacks. However, Evans really needs to improve in pass protection before he sees the field on third downs

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Evans would give the Packers a player with dynamic speed and elusiveness. He could be utilized on jet sweeps or on wheel routes in the passing game, much in the fashion of how they used Tyler Ervin near the end of the season. Adding more athletes to their offense is never a bad idea. Evans could be a great find in the middle rounds.

> Running back

La’Mical Perine (SR)

Florida

In a nutshell:

In his four seasons at Florida, Perine found a way to contribute on offense each year, but he never fully developed into a true feature tailback. Despite starting all 13 games in 2019, he only rushed for 676 yards and averaged around 10 carries per game. Perine’s game lacks a true trump card. Running Game: Perine shows quick burst through the hole and decisiveness in his reads. He also runs with nimble feet, allowing him to cut and sharply change direction. His compact build also allows him to run with a low center of gravity and break through arm tackles. And, while he may lack top-end speed, he does change gears quickly, which allows him to separate from defenders out in space. Passing Game: Perine offers a lot of value as a third-down back. He can split out wide or be used effectively in the slot. He is excellent in the screen game and can be a real mismatch out in space against linebackers. Overall, he is a very clean route runner, who can be effective on swing, wheel or angle routes. Perine is also very solid in pass protection.

13 AJ Dillon (JR)

Boston College

Measurables: Height: 6’0’’ | Weight: 247 lbs. In a nutshell: Dillon was highly productive as a three-year starter at Boston College, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark three seasons in a row. Leading the ACC in rushing in 2019 with 1,685 yards on the ground, Dillon garnered national attention as one of the top tailbacks in the nation. The Connecticut native is a physical downhill runner who should be a great mid-round option for a team looking to find a reliable halfback in a powerrunning scheme.

14 Javon Leake (JR)

Maryland

Measurables: Height: 6’0’’ | Weight: 215 lbs. In a nutshell: Leake had a breakout junior season in 2019 where he led the Terrapins in rushing with 102 carries for 736 yards and eight touchdowns. He also averaged 7.22 yards per carry and recorded two kick return touchdowns. He is a decisive runner who can get downhill rapidly and he has the separation ability to create big plays on offense. Overall, Leake is a versatile offensive weapon who could be utilized in creative ways on the field.

15 JaMycal Hasty (rSR)

Baylor

Measurables: Height: 5’8’’ | Weight: 205 lbs. In a nutshell: A physical player both on the line of scrimmage and with the ball in his hands. Taumoepeau finishes his runs and blocks. He’s an average athlete with some skills that resemble that of an H-back at the next level. He does have the potential to be a core special teams player.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Perine could contribute immediately to Green Bay’s offense as a third-down back. He would also offer some insurance at the position if the Packers decide that Aaron Jones will be too expensive to re-sign after the 2020 season. Perine can do similar things on the field as Jones. He can win in space and be utilized creatively in the passing game.

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> Running back

16 Joshua Kelley (SR)

UCLA

17 Darius Anderson (SR)

TCU

Measurables: Height: 5’11’’ | Weight: 212 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 5’10’’ | Weight: 208 lbs.

In a nutshell: Coming off two productive seasons with the Bruins, Kelley is a reliable halfback with the speed and shiftiness to play the position well. As a two-year starter, the former JUCO transfer rushed for 2,293 yards and 24 touchdowns at UCLA, finishing among the leaders in the Pac-12. Kelley also has consistent hands as a receiver out of the backfield, and he should factor in immediately as a third-down back at the next level.

In a nutshell: Anderson is a tough downhill runner with some ability to make defenders miss out in space. He does an excellent job keeping his legs moving through contact, but he does lack the top gear to separate from defenders, limiting his big-play ability. On 151 carries, Anderson rushed for 823 yards and six touchdowns in his final season at TCU.

18 Patrick Taylor Jr (SR)

Memphis

19 Raymond Calais (SR)

UL-LaFayette

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 217 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 5’8” | Weight: 188 lbs.

In a nutshell: As a junior, Taylor split time in the backfield with Darrell Henderson, but he made the most of his opportunities, rushing for 1,122 yards and scoring 18 touchdowns. However, his outstanding 2018 season was followed by a senior year that was cut short by an ankle injury. Taylor has the potential to be a physical between-thetackles runner in the NFL who can also catch the ball out on the perimeter.

In a nutshell: Calais wins with speed and sudden change of direction ability on the field. And while he possesses top-gear speed (4.42) and elusiveness in space, his lack of size could really limit his role at the next level. Calais split carries as a senior and never emerged as the featured back in the Ragin’ Cajun offense. He also did not show production in the passing game, which is concerning because he may need to develop into a third-down back in the NFL.

20 James Robinson (SR)

IllinoisSatate St Arizona

Measurables: Height: 5’9’’ | Weight: 219 lbs. In a nutshell: Robinson is a squatty, hard-nosed runner with nimble feet. In 2019, he led the FCS in rushing with 364 carries for 1,917 yards and 18 touchdowns. While he lacks top-end speed, he does get by with short-area burst and quick change-of-direction ability. Robinson also demonstrates excellent vision, and he should develop into a decent pro with some time to adjust to speed of the NFL.

21 JJ Taylor (rJR) Arizona 22 DeeJay Dallas (rJR) Miami 23 Salvon Ahmed (rJR) Washington 24 LeVante Bellamy (rSR)

Western Michigan

25 Rico Dowdle (SR)

South Carolina

26 Benny LeMay (SR) Charlotte 27 Adrian Killins Jr (SR)

Central Florida

28 Tony James (SR)

Notre Dame

29 Brian Herrein (SR) Georgia 30 Scottie Phillips (SR)

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Ole Miss

Position Analysis:

Owen Riese

FB/HB

1. Nick Ralston, Louisiana

2. Mikey Daniel, Dakota St 3. Bry’Kiethon Mouton, Nicholls St 4. Sewo Olonilua, TCU 5. Korab Idrizi, Boston College 6. Richie Worship, Purdue 7. Dayton Furuta, Hawaii 8. James Johannesson, North Dakota 9. Connor Slomka, Army 10. Reggie Gilliam, Toledo

S ewo olonilua SR TCU

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> FULLBACK/H-BACK

Nick Ralston (rSR)

Louisiana

Measurables: Height: 6’1” Weight: 240 lbs.

40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: n/a

2019 STATS: 1 rush 1 yard 15 receptions 100 yards 4 TDs

In a Nut Shell:

College Career:

In the run game, Ralston shows the ruggedness and physicality to knock defenders over. He also possesses the athleticism to be a swipe player, running split zone and able to create lanes in that respect. He can also line up as a wing player.

Fit with the Packers:

Ralston is, in all of the best ways, the modern version of the fullback. He’s big and strong enough to be able to pancake and punish defenders. He’s also a capable receiver and will be a stalwart on all special teams. If you’re a team looking for a Kyle Juszczyk type, Ralston is your guy.

In the pass game, he’s never going to be a major threat, but he does enough to be exactly what you need him to be. He’s a flat option on play action and roll outs and shows dependable hands as a receiver. He also has running back experience, so he’s a threat to run someone over once he has the ball.

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Ralston started his career at Arizona State, where he proved to be a valuable lead blocker for the Sun Devils. An under-theradar graduate transfer fullback, Ralston made his mark at Louisiana, being the primary lead blocker for one of the best rushing attacks in the country.

If the Packers decide to move on from Dan Vitale, Ralston would be an ideal fit. Their play styles are very similar, as they’re both good fits in Matt LaFluer’s system: athletic receiving threats who double as battering rams in the run game. Ralston could earn a starting job if he’s brought in. Ralston could be the fullback in Green Bay for a decade, if he gets the chance.

> FULLBACK/H-BACK

Mikey Daniel (rSR)

South Dakota St

Measurables: Height: 6’0” Weight: 235 lbs.

40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: n/a

2019 STATS: 113 rushes 535 yards 7 TDs 3 receptions 14 yards

In a Nut Shell:

Daniel is a bruising running back who will be looking to make the transition from tailback in college to a fullback/H-Back role in the NFL. A three year starter at SDSU, Daniel compares to Lawrence Vickers, a former Colorado runner who was too slow to be a starter in the NFL and transitioned to fullback with the Cleveland Browns. He’ll need to work on other aspects of the position, but his ball-in-hand skills are some of the best in this class amongst this position. As a runner, Daniel is a big, tougher runner with a propensity to hurdle oncoming tacklers. He has shown good ball security throughout his career with the Jackrabbits and has shown the ability to catch the ball, despite not getting ample chances. He’ll be a complete project as a blocker, but if he can show the willingness to be physical and stick his face in the fan, he can develop into the type of player whose value with the ball in his hands will make up for his non-devastating blocking.

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College Career:

A walk on at South Dakota State, Daniel was a local Brookings native and made his mark. After working his way to a scholarship during his redshirt freshman season, Daniel became the primary ball carrier for the Jackrabbits, one of the perennial powerhouses in FCS that has the misfortune of being in the same conference as North Dakota State. Daniel was a bruising tailback for SDSU.

Fit with the Packers:

Daniel projects as someone the Packers could be potentially interested in if they believe his blocking is adequate or will continue to improve. Like any fullback, he’ll need to prove his worth on special teams and could be a practice squad candidate to continue to develop his blocking ability. Daniel is the type of prospect who’s worth taking a swing on because the upside is worthwhile, and he’s a high character kid who won’t make any waves in the locker room.

> FULLBACK/H-BACK

Bry’Kiethon Mouton (SR)

Nicholls St

Sewo Olonilua (SR)

TCU

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 250 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 232 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.66

NFL COMBINE: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 36” vertical | 10’3” broad | 4.28sec. 20 yd |

2019 stats: 5 receptions | 55 yards | 1 TD

25 bench reps

In a nutshell:

Mouton is a huge human being who transferred from LSU prior to the 2018 season before finishing his career at Nicholls State. Mouton is a devastating blocker, and that physicality will get him into the door for an NFL team. He’s more of a project as a ball carrier/receiver, with limited experience since high school. Mouton will be a special teams demon as well. As a blocker, Mouton can play both as a fullback as well as an in-line tight end. He may be used more as a wing or tight end type of role in the NFL, but Mouton is a strong, physical blocker who will force defenses to play the run more honestly when he’s lined up on that side. As a receiver, Mouton hasn’t been utilized often. This isn’t to say that he’s unable to be utilized in this role, but he simply doesn’t have a ton of production from his past to indicate it’s something he will be asked to do moving forward. College Career: Mouton was a three-star recruit coming out of high school and came to LSU with some fanfare and high expectations. Unfortunately, after three seasons in Baton Rouge with mixed results, he transferred to in-state Nicholls State, who has produced multiple NFL prospects over the past few seasons. Mouton was able to make the most of his final opportunity with the Colonels.

Fit with the Packers:

In a nutshell:

Olonilua is a big, strong, impressive looking athlete and was TCU’s primary rusher the past few seasons. Built like a bodybuilder, he’s more of a linear athlete who is faster than you expect a back who played at nearly 240 pounds to be. However, he can struggle with wiggle and lacks the lateral mobility to make him a true tailback at the next level. As a runner, he has nice build-up speed and can be tough to bring down for defensive backs due to his size. If moved to fullback, he could be a chore for perimeter defenders if he’s able to gain momentum, but he isn’t super dynamic when changing direction. Has shown the ability to be an outlet receiver but ran a limited route tree at TCU. Olonilua has little experience as a blocker; he will have to learn that part of the position as he goes.

Fit with the Packers:

While the Packers lack a true power back on the roster, their offense is a poor fit for Olonilua as a runner, so fullback would have to be an option for the TCU product. His lack of experience as a blocker could lend to him having a tenure on the practice squad for him to continue to learn the position and develop his skills as a blocker.

Due to Mouton’s lack of receiving production and athletic profile of a more stiff, rigid athlete and blocker, the Packers likely will be looking elsewhere at the fullback position. If they believe they can draw out his receiving ability, he could be a low risk choice. However, it’s more likely Green Bay will be looking for players with more history of production at the position.

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> FULLBACK/H-BACK

Korab Idrizi (SR)

Boston College

Richie Worship (rSR)

Purdue

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 238 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’0” | Weight: 250 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: n/a

2019 stats: 14 receptions | 164 yards | 4 TDs

2019 stats: 1 carry | 3 yards

In a nutshell:

As a blocker, he shows no hesitation in going to lead block on isolation plays, kickout out edge defenders on power or being a perimeter blocker out of the slot. He’s physical and shows a bit of a chippy side at times, which is something offensive coordinators love.

He ran for 253 yards and three touchdowns as a junior in 2017, averaging nearly five yards per carry. As a runner, he’s not the fastest, but he’s fast enough to be a threat to defenses. During his limited time, he showed solid ball security as well. Worship caught 10 passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns in 2017 as well, so the ability to catch the ball is there as well.

Idrizi is a tight end body type but played a variety of roles for Boston College. He lined up as a fullback, in-line tight end, wing and even out in the spot for the Eagles. While not used a ton in the passing game, he was able to snag four touchdown receptions and showed dependable hands when called upon in BC’s run-heavy offense.

Worship is a big tailback who got lost in the Purdue depth chart after missing 2018 with an injury, but in 2017, showed the ability to be a dependable tailback for the Boilermakers when needed. He ran with a physical style, but also with some finesse for a man near or at 250 pounds.

As a receiver, he’s a bit stiff but shows the ability to catch the ball when targeted. He didn’t have a ton of production, but Boston College’s offense isn’t known for its proficiency through the air.

As a blocker, he’d be a bit of a project. He hasn’t had substantial playing time in two years, and when he did receive time it wasn’t as a blocker, so that would have to be developed.

Fit with the Packers:

While Worship’s lack of production may scare some teams away, Green Bay has shown interest in players like Worship in the past (John Kuhn, Aaron Ripkowski): bigger runners in college who had shown the ability to carry the ball but wouldn’t be tailbacks at the next level. Worship projects to a fullback body type, and he has the history of ball-in-hand skills to have some potential at the next level. Ultimately, his effectiveness and willingness as a blocker could be the catalyst to his ability in the NFL.

Idrizi likely won’t be an ideal target for the Green and Gold, as he’s a bit of a tweener between tight end and fullback but doesn’t have the history of the ball in his hands often that someone like Dan Vitale had coming into the NFL. Idrizi would be a solid special teams player and could be someone the Packers could covet if they’re looking for a swing player who could potentially play both spots.

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Fit with the Packers:

> FULLBACK/H-BACK

Dayton Furuta (rSR)

Hawaii

James Johannesson (rSR)

North Dakota

Measurables: Height: 5’11” | Weight: 250 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 240 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: n/a

2019 stats: 13 carries | 67 yards | 1 TD | 6 receptions | 24 yards

2019 stats: 134 rushes | 530 yards | 7 TDs | 8 receptions | 76 yards

In a nutshell:

As a runner, Furuta is thickly built and runs low to the ground. He shows a surprising amount of wiggle for his size, and, while he lacks pure speed, is pretty fluid and smooth as a rusher. Furuta also showed the ability to catch dump offs and checkdowns but little outside of that.

As a runner, Johannesson is a physical and gritty runner who excels between the tackles. He shows solid vision and delivers the blows to defenders, rather than the other way around. He wasn’t used often in the pass game.

Furuta is built like a linebacker and runs like one, too. An oversized running back in an offense that was primarily a passing attack in Hawai’i, Furuta was the change-of-pace for the offense as a rusher, whose primary responsibility was pass protection when in the game. He suffered an ankle injury that required surgery early in the season but was able to return and play in multiple late season games.

As a blocker, Furuta was effective but not particularly outstanding. More of a shield blocker than a physical one, despite his size.

Fit with the Packers:

Furuta fits the type of build the Packers like in their fullbacks, and, given his experience as a ball carrier, he could be an intriguing option at fullback. He’s as raw as they come as a blocker, but he has the physical profile and size to do it. He’d likely be a candidate to sit on a practice squad and see if Green Bay’s coaches can further develop him.

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Nicknamed the “Fargo Freight Train,” Johannesson holds multiple high school records in the state of North Dakota and was recruited by many Division I programs as a linebacker before deciding on the University of Minnesota as a running back. He then transferred to UND for the final three seasons of his college career. He’s a punishing runner who projects to fullback at the next level due to his lack of speed.

As a blocker, Johannesson would be a work in progress. As the primary ball carrier for the Fighting Sioux over the past couple of seasons, he wasn’t asked to block often, though he has shown the physicality and willingness for contact to indicate it might not be out of reach.

Fit with the Packers:

Johannesson fits the mold of what Green Bay has shown to look for in the position in years past. With the ball in his hands, he’s a bowling ball that has shown the ability to make things happen. Though he hasn’t been used often as a receiver, his chances as a fullback would be limited, so that learning curve wouldn’t be huge. He shows the physicality as a runner to project that he’d be a willing blocker. He would also have to contribute on special teams.

> FULLBACK/H-BACK

Connor Slomka (SR)

Army

Reggie Gilliam (SR)

Measurables: Height: 5’11” | Weight: 235 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 255 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: n/a

2019 stats: 149 rushes | 658 yards | 8 TDs

2019 stats: 9 receptions | 52 yards

In a nutshell:

Slomka, a downback in Army’s triple option offensive attack, was one of the primary options for the Golden Knights as a senior. He’ll attempt to be the latest in a string of triple option runners to make the transition to fullback in the NFL. One of the positives of the position he played at West Point is that he got hit on every play, so physicality isn’t an issue. As a runner, he’s not overly creative but will get what’s blocked in front of him. Unfortunately, as a triple option downback, he has zero college receptions. This isn’t an indication that he can’t catch, as he simply was always the play-action back. However, that lack of experience creates an awfully large learning curve stepping up in competition. As a blocker, he did enough of it for Army by getting tackled and leading up into the hole; physicality will be no issue, simply a matter of gaining experience as a blocker.

Fit with the Packers:

With how Green Bay likes to use their fullbacks as weapons in the passing game, I can’t imagine they’ll be overly-anxious to target Slomka given his lack of experience and polish in the area. He does possess the body type they’ve looked for at the position, but Slomka won’t be highly sought after by the Green and Gold.

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Toledo

Gilliam is a big, thick lead blocker who was effective in his role for the Rockets, but he struggled to stay healthy, as he never played more than eight games in a season during his three in Toledo. As a ball carrier, he’s stiff and fairly linear but shows the ability to get north and south and pick up what he can when given opportunities. He’ll always be a blocker first but the ability to catch the ball has been exhibited. As a blocker, he’s more in his element, being physical and laying the wood on defenders. While limited athletically, he’s shown the ability to get the job done when called upon.

Fit with the Packers:

Gilliam likely won’t be high on the Packers’ list due to his limited athleticism and his inability to stay on the field. He has some of the skills they covet at the position with its importance within the offensive scheme, but the lack of upside will likely keep him off of Green Bay’s list at the end of the day.

Position Analysis:

Ross Uglem

1. CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma

2. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama 3. Henry Ruggs, Alabama 4. Laviska Shenault, Colorado 5. Justin Jefferson, LSU 6. Denzel Mims, Baylor 7. Tee Higgins, Clemson 8. Jalen Reagor, TCU 9. Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona St 10. KJ Hamler, Penn St 11. Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan 12. Michael Pittman, Jr, USC 13 Tyler Johnson, Minnesota 14. Devin Duvernay, Texas 15. Chase Claypool, Notre Dame 16. John Hightower, Boise St

B RA N DO N AI Y U K SR ARIZONA ST

17. Van Jefferson, Florida 18. Collin Johnson, Texas 19.. KJ Hill, Ohio St 20. Bryan Edwards, South Carolina

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> WIDE RECEIVER

CeeDee Lamb (JR)

Oklahoma

Measurables: Height: 6’2” Weight: 198 lbs.

40 Time: 4.50

NFL COMBINE: 34.5” vertical 124” broad 11 bench reps

2019 stats: 62 receptions 1,327 yards (21.4 ypr) 14 TDs

In a Nut Shell:

A true technician, Lamb is a better athlete than the smooth appearance of his tape would have you believe. Lamb wins at all three levels and is the top receiver in this class. He stepped out of the “shadow” of 2019 first-round pick Hollywoood Brown and didn’t miss a beat. Before the catch/catchpoint: Lamb is a fluid route runner. He has similarities to Amari Cooper at Alabama in that way. Lamb may not be the most sudden, violent player at the top of his route, but he still creates separation—a lot of it. His release package is a little unknown at this point and defenses did not come up to challenge Oklahoma’s receivers so he didn’t have to defeat much press man. His speed is adequate, but he’s not a true deep threat burner like a Julio Jones.

BEST GAME:

CeeDee absolutely lit the Red River Shootout on fire. He ate Texas alive in Oklahoma’s biggest rivalry game of the season, racking up 10 catches, 171 yards and three scores with a long of 51 yards. Lamb put his entire game on display, winning at all three levels and providing a masterpiece for film geeks to salivate over.

Fit with the Packers:

Lamb would check every box for the Packers and is the best receiver prospect in at least three classes. He has a chance to be a legitimate star, every bit as good as Davante Adams, meaning he can pull coverage away from Adams or dominate one-on-one matchups. Acquiring Lamb would certainly require a trade up, but Lamb is just that good.

After the catch/run blocking: Lamb runs angry. OU’s offense was designed to work the ball downfield, sure, but they often got the ball to their playmakers in space as well. He runs the ball like a back with excellent vision. Lamb has an unquestionably high-effort level blocking and actually shows the desire and ability to seal defenders, as opposed to just getting in the way or running them downfield out of the play.

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> WIDE RECEIVER

Jerry Jeudy (JR)

Alabama

Measurables: Height: 6’1” Weight: 193 lbs.

40 Time: 4.45

NFL COMBINE: 35” vertical 120” broad 4.53 20 yd

2019 stats: 77 receptions 1,163 yards (15.1 ypr) 10 TDs

In a Nut Shell:

Jeudy has been largely considered the top receiver in this class and for good reason. He’s been productive since the day he stepped onto the field at Alabama. Jeudy’s key weapon is his release, winning immediately at the line of scrimmage. Jeudy is another potential star. Before the catch/catchpoint: As mentioned, Jeudy wins immediately. Jeudy might get to “stacked” before any other receiver in this class. After that, his football IQ and ability as a route runner are off the charts. He consistently attacks defensive backs’ blind spots. Jeudy maybe isn’t as strong or as physical as you’d like him to be, though not due to lack of effort. He keeps his hands away from his body at the catch point. Jeudy is occasionally guilty of the concentration drop. He’s quicker than he is fast, but he’s mighty, mighty quick. After the catch/run blocking: Jeudy is not a tackle-breaker, but he is still an effective “Running after Catch” (RAC) guy. Jeudy is more elusive with the ball in his hand than someone who has the ability to run over you. He possesses tremendous vision and understanding of pursuit angles and how to defeat them. Jeudy is a willing blocker, but maybe not the world’s most effective. The effort level is certainly there.

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COMBINE:

Jeudy’s combine was seen as a bit of a disappointment to most. Because of how athletic and sudden he appears on film, Jeudy’s SPARQ percentile score of 21.8 and his Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 6.39 are not disqualifying by any means, but they do put some of his projection into question. Most of the truly elite players at the receiver position are top-end athletes. Can he still be a superstar as an average athlete?

Fit with the Packers:

Jeudy still has the potential to be a star, but his true value for Green Bay might just be his high floor. Jeudy’s going to walk into the league ready to play, which isn’t always the case for receivers. His route tree and footwork are already so advanced 1-9 and beyond that he should make an immediate impact, not unlike former ’Bama receiver Calvin Ridley and his 821yard, 10-touchdown rookie year. Like Ridley, Jeudy is ready and would start for Green Bay immediately and be their secondbest receiver.

> WIDE RECEIVER

Henry Ruggs (JR)

Alabama

Measurables: Height: 5’11” Weight: 1.88 lbs.

40 Time: 4.27

NFL COMBINE: 42” vertical 131” broad

(2018) stats: 40 receptions 746 yards 7 TDs

In a Nut Shell:

The fastest receiver from a track perspective to enter the draft since John Ross, Ruggs provides excitement every time he laces up his cleats. Ruggs’ game has more nuance and skill to it than most would anticipate. Can he fly by you? Of course. Does he win in other ways? Absolutely. Before the catch/catchpoint: Ruggs has an excellent release package for a guy who might not really need one. His shoulder dip and his hand usage are quite good. He’s so explosive that he eats up any cushion almost instantly. As one might imagine, as soon as Ruggs has a defender stacked, just play the fight song, or, in Green Bay, play some Todd Rungren. Ruggs not only has excellent hands, he has late hands, not cluing in the defensive back that the ball is coming. His catch radius is phenomenal for a 5’11” player due to his alien-level athleticism. Ruggs tracks the ball just fine but is not a high-point attacker, at least not yet.

COMBINE:

It was so odd to think a 4.27 40-yard dash was disappointing, but that was the vibe in Indianapolis. Every set of eyes was glued to that run, and there was nearly a mass exhale of sadness when he didn’t break John Ross’ record. Still, that run paired with his 42” vertical (and the legendary status of his college basketball highlights) accurately illustrate that Ruggs is a stone-cold freak of an athlete. He possesses extremely rare gifts.

Fit with the Packers:

Ruggs might actually be a better fit than Jeudy or Lamb just because of what he brings to the table. His deep speed and big play ability would be the perfect complement to Davante Adams. Ruggs could be worked into the existing offense, sure, but designed ways to get him the ball in the jet-action game and in the deep game would stress defenses in a major way. There might not be a player that makes more sense for Green Bay from a skill position standpoint in this draft than Henry Ruggs III.

After the catch/run blocking: Ruggs isn’t big enough to dominate in the run blocking game, but it’s certainly not due to a lack of aggression. He goes plenty hard. As far as RAC, his athleticism is basically all that is required. Ruggs is unlikely to ever run over an NFL defender, but his unique acceleration and top-end speed means that normal pursuit angles don’t apply. For a smaller player, Ruggs possesses excellent contact balance.

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> WIDE RECEIVER

Laviska Shenault (JR)

Colorado

Justin Jefferson (JR)

LSU

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 227 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.58

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 202 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.43

NFL COMBINE: 17 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: 37.5” vertical | 126” broad

(2018) stats: 56 receptions | 764 yards (13.64 ypr) | 4 TDs

2019 stats: 111 receptions | 1540 yards (13.87 ypr) | 18 TDs

In a nutshell:

Shenault is maybe the captain of the all-watch-his-2018 tape team. Shenault was banged up and a bit ineffective in 2019, but his true freshman tape from 2017 and 2018 show a game-breaking player. Before the catch/catchpoint: This is not a polished player up and down the route tree. His raw size and athleticism were almost always enough to “win” in the Pac-12. Shenault’s release package isn’t that diverse either, as Colorado played him in the slot plenty and the conference didn’t have a ton of great press man corners. Shenault is extremely thick and physical on his route. He never gets bullied. Athletic explosion defines his game. Shenault has big hands and plucks the ball out of the air but doesn’t seem to win a ton of jump balls. After the catch/run blocking: Shenault could be an absolute mauler in the run-blocking game but isn’t, not showing much interest in the task. When he does get the itch to really get after somebody, it’s impressive, but it doesn’t happen often enough. RAC is the defining skill set for Shenault. He led college football in missed tackles forced over the last two seasons with 46. His contact balance and overall thickness make him extremely difficult to bring down for defensive backs.

Fit with the Packers:

Again Shenault might be a better fit for the Packers than Jeudy or Lamb, who both seem to duplicate a lot of what Davante Adams does well. Imagine if the 49ers’ Deebo Samuel was three inches taller than he is. Shenault by himself would likely force more missed tackles his rookie year in the league than the Packers receivers did in all of 2019. LaFleur’s offense is more Shanahan than McVay, and Shenault would give LaFleur his Deebo.

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Jefferson was potentially the most productive and the most efficient wide receiver in college football last year. Jefferson caught 111 balls in the Joe Burrow–led Joe Brady offense. He also caugh 91 percent of his targets, which is absurd as it sounds. Jefferson played with 2021 NFL draft superstar Ja’Marr Chase and often ended up in the slot (where he ate people alive). Before the catch/catchpoint: Because of that slot usage, Jefferson has real questions to answer about his release package. He was often operating in space from the get-go. He does, though, possess the athletic testing numbers to indicate that he can thrive and survive on the outside. Jefferson is excellent on short and intermediate routes. Loves and is effective at running the slant. Jefferson catches absolutely everything. Burrow didn’t throw a lot of bad balls, but if he did, Jefferson snatched them out of the sky. After the catch/run blocking: Jefferson is a high-effort run blocker, but not a very good one. He’s not a thick athlete, and doesn’t have a great effect on defenders when engaging them. Jefferson breaks more tackles than a player his size should and has an excellent understanding of pursuit angles.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Jefferson in the slot with Adams outside and a legitimate threat at tight end would be a very different version of Green Bay’s passing offense than what we saw in 2019. Could he trade positions with Adams occasionally to take advantage of mismatches? Absolutely. Jefferson is a fine complement to Adams, especially with his 4.43 wheels.

> WIDE RECEIVER

Denzel Mims (SR)

Baylor

Tee Higgins (JR)

Clemson

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 207 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.38

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 216 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 38.5” vertical | 131” broad | 4.43 20 yd |

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

6.66 3-cone | 16 bench reps

2019 stats: 59 receptions | 1,167 yards (19.78 ypr) | 13 TDs

(2018) stats: 66 receptions | 1,020 yards (15.45 ypr) | 12 TDs

In a nutshell:

Mims is a late riser due to questions about Baylor’s offense and his phenomenal athletic testing. A long player and sideline savant, Mims was an extremely productive player for the Bears. He’s a potential starter on the outside for a good passing offense. Before the catch/catchpoint: He loves to run the “nine.” Mims is a downfield attacker with fluid vertical cuts, but he gets a little upright on horizontal cuts and doesn’t execute them as well. He’s a sideline technician that will remind Packers fans of Jordy Nelson. Mims spent plenty of time on the outside and is excellent at the line of scrimmage with his hands as it relates to his release. He has excellent hands when he’s concentrating. Will absolutely make the “wow” catch. Mims is a phenomenal leaper and has the best catch radius in the class. After the catch/run blocking: Mims is a tough run blocker, and a lot of that is based on high effort. He cares the same amount about each play whether the ball is headed his way or not, and it shows up in the run game. Not a mauler. Mims is an average RAC athlete, tough for small defensive backs to bring down but not a huge make-you-miss player. He does most of his damage on the actual reception, sideline or no sideline.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Mims would be the vertical threat opposite Davante Adams and allow Adams to work the slot when the Packers feel like the matchup inside is more advantageous. Mims’ catch radius would allow Rodgers to “throw it where they ain’t,” and his ability to work the sideline is a true third-down weapon. Mims is an excellent fit for what Green Bay needs at the position.

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In a nutshell:

Another big-bodied catch radius monster, Higgins is an outside threat that dominated the ACC with his running buddy, future No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence. An elite attacker of the football, Higgins is an ideal deep threat. Before the catch/catchpoint: Not a phenomenal route-runner, Higgins relies on his size and athletic gifts quite a bit. Higgins will not threaten on short or intermediate routes as often as he will deep. He will stack receivers on deep shots. Higgins has phenomenal hands and a catch radius to write home about. He has very few concentration drops and makes the wow catches. Higgins attacks the football constantly—the football belongs to him. Any football. After the catch/run blocking: Higgins isn’t much of a run blocker. Teams would be better off using him to run receivers off downfield due to his vertical threat. He’s not a great run after the catch player, either. This isn’t a huge deal because so many of his targets are already well past the first-down marker.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Higgins would be a good deal like Mims in Green Bay’s offense as a consistent presence at the “Z” while Davante Adams works the featured “X” spot and the slot. Early on, Higgins would be relegated to a vertical route tree, but as a complement to Adams he’s a great fit. Higgins is a low-ish-ceiling high-floor player that would help Green Bay right away. The ideal WR2.

> WIDE RECEIVER

Jalen Reagor (JR)

TCU

Brandon Aiyuk (SR)

Arizona St

Measurables: Height: 5’11” | Weight: 206 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.47

Measurables: Height: 6’0” | Weight: 205 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.50

NFL COMBINE: 42” vertical | 138” broad | 4.46 sec. 20 yd |

NFL COMBINE: 40” vertical | 128” broad | 11 bench reps

7.31 sec. 3-cone | 17 bench reps

2019 stats: 65 receptions | 1192 yards (18.34 ypr) | 8 TDs

(2018) stats: 43 receptions | 611 yards (14.21 ypr) | 5 TDs

In a nutshell:

There isn’t a receiver in this class who suffered from his offensive scheme and the putrid play of his quarterback(s) more than Reagor. His 3-cone time at the combine is also DK Metcalf-esque and makes absolutely zero sense as it relates to the rest of his athletic profile. Reagor is a potentially undervalued weapon at the next level with a better quarterback and a smarter offensive scheme. Before the catch/catchpoint: Reagor is a very strong route runner, despite being able to rely on his athleticism. His release package is advanced, not allowing defensive backs to get hands-on. His route-running is very concise and precise, creating sudden separation. Reagor possesses quickness on film that doesn’t match up with his poor 3-cone time. Reagor’s hands are average, no better, no worse. He does track the deep ball well. After the catch/run blocking: Reagor just doesn’t put a jolt into anyone when he tries to block them. He doesn’t appear disinterested, but he just doesn’t move folks. Reagor gets too cute in the open field and isn’t as good a RAC player as an athlete of his caliber should be (though he’s still very good). There are times when he needs to get north and south and quit dancing. Reagor’s a good screen and smoke player.

Fit with the Packers:

While Reagor’s size may lead folks to think he’s pigeonholed in the slot, his diverse release package and deep speed lead me to believe he’s more versatile than that. Reagor brings very different things to the Packers receiving corps than they have right now. Reagor is an excellent complement to Adams and whoever may come out of a Allen Lazard/Equanimeous St. Brown/Marquez Valdes-Scantling competition as well.

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In a nutshell:

A dynamic player with a high NFL ceiling, Aiyuk is a downfield demon who lit up the Pac-12. Aiyuk is an excellent RAC and downfield receiver who stresses coverage vertically. Aiyuk has “the juice.” He absolutely tore Oregon to shreds in a big-time upset for the Sun Devils. Before the catch/catchpoint: Aiyuk destroys “off” coverage with his explosiveness and long speed. He will have to work on getting off the line of scrimmage as concerns about his ability to defeat press man are certainly legitimate. Aiyuk is an excellent “snatcher” who doesn’t allow the football to get into his body. He does produce the occasional concentration drop and needs to be more physical, though the NFL’s rules should protect him some. After the catch/run blocking: Aiyuk is a better run blocker than you might think. His effort is good. Aiyuk is a phenomenal RAC player and is extremely fluid with the ball in his hands. He’s such an effective player with the ball in his hands the Sun Devils used him a bit in the return game. A very, very twitched up athlete.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Aiyuk is an excellent complement to everything Adams does well. Aiyuk is a downfield threat and a problem with the ball in his hands. He would bring a lot to Green Bay’s receivers room that they don’t already possess.

> WIDE RECEIVER

KJ Hamler (rSO)

Penn St

Donovan Peoples-Jones (JR)

Michigan

Measurables: Height: 5’9” | Weight: 178 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 212 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.48

NFL COMBINE: 15 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: 40” vertical | 139” broad

(2018) stats: 56 receptions | 904 yards (16.14 ypr) | 8 TDs

(2018) stats: 34 receptions | 438 yards (12.88 ypr) | 6 TDs

In a nutshell:

Hamler was a very popular name when NFL Combine invitees were asked for their least favorite receiver to cover. A human joystick, Hamler is very small but the type of gadget player the modern offense loves. Before the catch/catchpoint: Hamler is incredibly hard for defensive backs to stay “in phase” with. Hamler is extremely sudden in and out of his breaks. Obviously, off coverage against Hamler is a nightmare, but his size does cause him occasional issues with press. He does an excellent job of making his route stems look the same. Not a catch radius guy, which makes sense given his lack of length. His hands are adequate, but not bulletproof. He is physically unable on most occasions to fight through contact, but could draw more flags at the next level than he did in college. After the catch/run blocking: Hamler at his size is nothing more than a get-in-the-way blocker, but at the very least he gives it a good run. RAC is where Hamler makes his hay. He routinely leaves defenders grasping at air. Hamler is a very good quick game player. His short area quickness allows the potential for big plays, even on LOS catches. His electricity will embarrass safeties trying to play “big nickel” and stiff nickels.

Fit with the Packers:

He basically doesn’t. Brian Gutekunst mentioned at the combine that while Randall Cobb was a player that he considered to be “very good” during his time with Green Bay, Cobb didn’t quite meet the Packers’ height requirements. By official combine measurements, Cobb has no more than an inch-and-a-half on Hamler. It just doesn’t seem like KJ will be wearing Green and Gold.

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Jalen Reagor was a victim of bad quarterback play, but so was Donovan Peoples-Jones. Shea Patterson was mostly awful and it showed on DPJ’s tape. He’s an elite athlete as far as the numbers that were tested at the combine, and over and over again on tape Peoples-Jones created separation. DPJ profiles as an outside receiver or a “big slot” in the NFL. Before the catch/catchpoint: Peoples-Jones was mostly a “big slot” at Michigan, so his release package isn’t super clear on film. His route tree is diverse and effective, and he’s efficient with his feet. Peoples-Jones created consistent separation. Peoples-Jones occasionally lets the ball get too far into his frame, but does a decent enough job “plucking” it. He’s not a “twitched up” athlete, or at least doesn’t appear to be one on horizontal cuts. His ability to make contested catches is decidedly above average. After the catch/run blocking: Largely because of his size and what he was consistently asked to do on Michigan’s offense, Peoples-Jones is a very good and willing run blocker. He really understands how to affect the run game from the slot position. DPJ is more likely to run through an arm tackle than he is to make a defender miss.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Unless Peoples-Jones can win outside, he’s potentially redundant with EQ St. Brown. The Packers are all about competition, but there are certainly players in this draft that bring a skill set Green Bay might not already have on the roster.

> WIDE RECEIVER

Michael Pittman Jr (SR)

USC

(2018) stats: 101 receptions | 1,275 yards (12.62 ypr) | 11 TDs

In a nutshell:

Pittman Jr., as you may have figured, is an NFL legacy athlete, the son of the running back with the same name most wellknown for his time with the Arizona Cardinals. Pittman’s quite a bit longer than his father, if not quite as thick or muscled up. Pittman’s claim to fame is probably having the best/strongest hands in the draft. Before the catch/catchpoint: Pittman wasn’t asked to run a lot of different concepts, especially in Graham Harrell’s offense during his final season in Los Angeles, but he was effective at getting open. Pittman was very physical at the release point and an excellent hand-fighter. In fact, the physical nature with which he plays is the most obvious aspect of his game outside of his hands. MPJ has a tremendous catch radius with phenomenal body control, length and his great hands. After the catch/run blocking: He’s an absolute bully. Probably the class’ best run blocker and legitimately a mismatch for cornerbacks on the outside. He is very strong and it shows. Pittman, Jr. is doing most of his winning within the design of the play as he is not a major RAC threat. Pittman will break the occasional tackle but doesn’t make guys miss particularly often.

13 Tyler Johnson (SR)

Minnesota

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 206 lbs. In a nutshell: Johnson is a very interesting study. His tape is phenomenal, specifically against Auburn in his final collegiate game, but plenty of questions remain. His film doesn’t show a ton of deep speed, and questions about his athleticism weren’t answered in the pre-draft process, either. Johnson pulled out of the Shrine Bowl and then refused to do any athletic testing at the NFL Scouting Combine, though he did participate in positional drills.

14 Devin Duvernay (SR)

Texas

Measurables: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 200 lbs. In a nutshell: Duvernay is a high-floor prospect who might not have a tremendously high ceiling but is a plug-and-play slot. He was tremendously productive at Texas, catching 100plus balls in his final season in Austin. He’s a thick slot that most nickels struggled to take down and possesses excellent hands. Not the most technically sound route runner, Duvernay is likely a slot-only prospect.

15 Chase Claypool (SR)

Notre Dame

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 238 lbs. In a nutshell: A once-in-a-lifetime athlete, Claypool scored a perfect 10 out of 10 on Kent Lee Platte’s Relative Athletic Score (RAS). The question becomes where to play him. Claypool is a monster at 6’4” and nearly 240 pounds. Teams might be best suited to use Claypool as a giant slot a la Evan Engram, maybe making him a tight end. The production at Notre Dame didn’t match the athletic gifts, but maybe a good quarterback and a smart offensive coach can bridge that gap.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Pittman has the ability to play on the outside or inside as a big slot. His ceiling is probably as a good WR2, which is why he’s this far down the list, but because of his consistency and his hands he’s got a high floor. He’s a true plug-and-play candidate.

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> WIDE RECEIVER

16 John Hightower (SR)

Boise St

17 Van Jefferson (rSR)

Florida

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 189 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 200 lbs.

In a nutshell: Hightower is a deep threat, and a very good one. He’s not very developed on short or intermediate routes, but he’s a Robby Anderson-level bomber, running past defenders and tracking the ball in the air extremely well. He’s a thinly-framed player, and that, in addition to this deep receiver class will push him further down in the draft than his projected skil lset would normally indicate.

In a nutshell: Prospect after prospect at cornerback at the NFL Scouting Combine said that Jefferson was the toughest receiver they’d faced this season, yet here he sits in the 17th slot. It’s difficult to think of a more telling example of the depth of this receiver group. Jefferson is an unorthodox route runner, but an effective one. It often takes him too much time to get open with his complex footwork, but his hands are no joke. Jefferson is likely a possession receiver at the next level but potentially a very good one.

18 Collin Johnson (SR)

Texas

19 KJ Hill (rSR)

Ohio St

Measurables: Height: 6’6” | Weight: 222 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’0” | Weight: 196 lbs.

In a nutshell: Johnson is a very large and physical receiver who struggles to separate but wins a lot of jump balls based on raw size alone. Johnson is a better route runner than a player of his size would normally have to be, especially to beat Big 12 defensive backs. Johnson did not run in Indianapolis, which did nothing to alleviate concerns about his long speed. Johnson has a chance to be a box-out power forward style outside receiver with a little upside due to his educated feet.

In a nutshell: Hill’s draft stock did not have a positive experience in Indianapolis. Questions and concerns about his speed and athleticism, despite excellent tape, were exacerbated by a 4.60-second 40-yard dash and a less-than-impressive 32.5” vertical leap. Hill ended up with an 18.9 SPARQ percentile score, which is of course less than ideal. Hill is now likely a slot-only NFL prospect, but potentially a pretty good one.

20 Bryan Edwards (SR)

South Carolina Arizona Satate

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 212 lbs. In a nutshell: For a big guy, Edwards lacks the physicality you’d hope for. His production in a post-Deebo world in South Carolina is still impressive, though. Edwards is a matchup problem and a RAC monster. Edwards was a height-weightspeed prospect heading into the NFL Combine, and then he wasn’t able to work out. His release package and route running could use some work, but the thought is that the athletic tools are likely present.

21 Gabriel Davis (JR) UCF 22 Antonio Gandy-Golden (SR) Liberty 23 Lynn Bowden Jr (JR) Kentucky 24 Isaiah Hodgins (JR)

Oregon St

25 Quartney Davis (rJR)

Texas A&M

26 Quintez Cephus (JR) Wisconsin 27 Jauan Jennings (rSR) Tennessee 28 Kalija Lipscomb (SR) Vanderbilt 29 James Proche (rSR) SMU 30 Austin Mack (SR)

Ohio St

31 Juwan Johnson (rSR) Oregon 32 Binjimen Victor (SR)

Ohio St

33 Kendrick Rogers (rJR)

Texas A&M

34 Aaron Parker (SR)

Rhode Island

35 Aaron Fuller (SR) Washington

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Position Analysis:

Jacob Westendorf

1. Brycen Hopkins, Purdue

2. Cole Kmet, Notre Dame 3. Hunter Bryant, Washington 4. Adam Trautman, Dayton 5. Harrison Bryant, FAU 6. Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt 7. Thaddeus Moss, LSU 8. Colby Parkinson, Stanford 9. Devin Asiasi, UCLA 10. Stephen Sullivan, LSU 11. Josiah DeGuara, Cincinnati 12. Jacob Breeland, Oregon 13. CJ O’Grady, Arkansas 14. Mitchell Wilcox, South Florida 15. Charlie Taumoepeau, Portland St 16. Charlie Woerner, Georgia 17. Dom Anderson-Wood, Tennessee

thaddeus moss rJR LSU

18. Sean Mckeon, Michigan 19. Dalton Keene, Virginia Tech 20. Kyle Markway, South Carolina

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> TIGHT END

Brycen Hopkins (rSR)

Purdue

Measurables: Height: 6’4” Weight: 245 lbs.

40 Time: 4.66

NFL COMBINE: 33.5” vertical 116” broad 7.25 sec. 3-cone 4.28 sec. 20 yd 21 bench reps

2019 stats: 61 receptions 830 yards 13.6 ypr 7 TDs

In a Nut Shell:

Blocking: Hopkins is a player who lines up all over the formation. He’s stout enough as a blocker in the running game, but also capable of making plays down the seam as a move tight end. Hopkins shows off the ability to get his hands on opposing defenders and move them in the running game. He is not the most polished blocker yet, but he does look for work. You will not see him standing around on a running play. Receiving: He’s played on the line of scrimmage, in the slot and on the boundary. He’s at his best when playing from the slot, but is physical enough to beat man coverage around the field. He’s a dynamic player in the open field with ability to make plays after the catch. In essence, Hopkins is exactly what teams are looking for with the continued evolution of the tight end position.

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BEST GAME:

Hopkins’ best performance of the season came in Madison when the Boilermakers took on the Wisconsin Badgers. Hopkins was a one-man wrecking crew, finishing the day with eight catches, 127 yards and two touchdowns. It was a great showcase of Hopkins’ ability to be a big play threat down the field in addition to a red zone weapon. Hopkins’ first touchdown came on a play where he high-pointed the ball in the back of the end zone. It was an excellent display of concentration as two defenders barreled down on him. His second touchdown was off of a trick play. Hopkins sold the fake and found himself wide open down the field. He was able to fend off a would-be tackler to get the ball over the goal line.

Fit with the Packers:

Hopkins has the potential to be the matchup problem the team envisions Jace Sternberger to be. That hasn’t been a high priority in the past, but with Matt LaFleur the Packers use their tight ends much more than they did previously. Hopkins has the ability to block as an in-line player. He has the ability to be a big play threat down the field as well. Adding him to the Packers would give Aaron Rodgers another dangerous weapon he has not had since the days of Jermichael Finley running down the middle of the field.

> TIGHT END

Cole Kmet (JR)

Notre Dame

Measurables: Height: 6’6” Weight: 262 lbs.

40 Time: 4.7

NFL COMBINE: 37” vertical 123” broad 7.44 sec. 3-cone 4.41 sec. 20 yd

2019 stats: 43 receptions 515 yards 12.0 ypr 6 TDs

In a Nut Shell:

Blocking: Kmet plays really tall, a weakness that can allow him to lose leverage as a blocker in the running game. He does, however, have the potential, and there are times he looks like he plays to his size. It’s an intriguing possibility that could help him become one of the more complete tight ends from this class. Receiving: The first thing that sticks out about Kmet on tape is that he catches the ball with his hands. That sounds like something that should be a given for a pass catcher, but that’s not always the case. He’s a big-bodied player with above-average body control. That blesses him with a big catch radius, and he is able to hang onto the ball while taking a hit. He’s not afraid to go over the middle to make plays. Kmet struggles with making plays after the catch and rounds off a lot of his routes. That allows him to be covered more than he should be. He is a red zone weapon and has the ability to high point the ball inside the red zone.

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BEST GAME:

Kmet was one of the stars that shined the brightest during his final season at Notre Dame when the Fighting Irish took on the Georgia Bulldogs. The Bulldogs were flush with NFL talent, and Kmet may have been the best player on the field. He finished with nine catches for 108 yards and a touchdown. Most importantly, you can tell how a team feels about a player if it’s targeting him with the game on the line. Notre Dame didn’t win the game, but the Irish were looking Kmet’s way when they needed a big play late in the game.

Fit with the Packers:

Kmet would be a perfect complement to Jace Sternberger’s skill set. He would be the red zone weapon the Packers were hoping Jimmy Graham was when they signed him. He’s a big-bodied player who can be molded into the team’s tight end who plays along the line of scrimmage. Essentially, if the Packers cut Jimmy Graham and allow Marcedes Lewis to walk, Kmet has a skill set to replace both of them. The Packers have had a lot of turnover at the tight end position since 2014. Drafting someone like Kmet in the early rounds to pair with Sternberger should put an end to the game of musical chairs in the tight end room.

> TIGHT END

Hunter Bryant (JR)

Washington

Measurables: Height: 6’2” Weight: 248 lbs.

40 Time: 4.74

NFL COMBINE: 32.5” vertical 115” broad 7.08 sec. 3-cone 4.46 sec. 20 yd 23 bench reps

2019 stats: 52 receptions 825 yards 15.9 ypr 3 TDs

In a Nut Shell:

Blocking: Bryant is an undersized player, prompting some uncertainty as to whether he’ll be able to play tight end in the NFL. At this point in his career, he’s essentially a big receiver. He makes big plays down the field and struggles as a run blocker. There are also concerns about his physicality, as players do play through him on the edge. He would need to add some weight and strength to become a better blocker, but he is not unwilling in that department which gives him a chance to stick. Receiving: Bryant is a matchup problem who is used all over the formation. He even gives teams the potential for versatility as he lines up in an H-back role on occasion. He has strong hands and good body control to make catches. Bryant makes big plays down the seam and really stresses the middle of a defense.

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BEST GAME:

Bryant was one of the players who shined the brightest when the Huskies took on the Utah Utes. At the time, Utah was ranked ninth in the country. Bryant finished the day with six catches, 105 yards and two scores as the team nearly pulled off the upset. Bryant was used all over the formation that day in an attempt to create matchups for him. He caught passes from the slot. He lined up as a fullback. He even took a handoff on a jet sweep. If there ever was a game that let a player show off his versatility, that was the Utah game for Bryant.

Fit with the Packers:

If Bryant were added it would be as a move tight end to create matchups down the middle of the field. That would likely mean Jace Sternberger would assume the role as a “Y” tight end in Matt LaFleur’s offense. The Packers clearly liked Sternberger’s ability as a blocker in 2019. Sternberger’s college tape showed him as a willing player in that department, but was more than just someone that tried hard at the NFL level. They could add Bryant in the same mold that they did Sternberger and inject a speed that hasn’t been in the tight end room since Jermichael Finley before he hurt his knee.

> TIGHT END

Adam Trautman (rSR)

Dayton

Harrison Bryant (SR)

FAU

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 227 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.58

Measurables: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 240 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.73

NFL COMBINE: 34.5” vertical | 114” broad | 6.78 sec. 3-cone |

NFL COMBINE: 32.5” vertical | 110” broad | 7.41 sec. 3-cone |

4.27 sec. 20 yd | 18 bench reps

4.37 sec. 20 yd | 13 bench reps

2019 stats: 70 receptions | 916 yards | 13.1 ypr | 14 TDs

2019 stats: 65 receptions | 1,004 yards | 15.4 ypr | 7 TDs

In a nutshell:

Blocking: Trautman is not the strongest player; he will need to add functional strength. He does a good job of getting his hands on players, but can get beat once the initial punch is made. That can throw off some of the zone running plays. At this point, a stalemate is considered a win for him in the blocking game. It’s something that, if he improves, could make him a dangerous player. Receiving: Trautman’s size is one of the first things that stands out when you see him on tape. He’s a massive man in terms of both height and weight. That helps out his quarterback by giving him a big target to see both in the red zone and between the 20s. Trautman was one of the most gifted players on the field in any game he played, and he benefited from some physical mismatches. He’s a fast player who is able to make contested catches, but he does struggle at times after the catch.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Trautman would step in and likely need a redshirt year similar to the one Jace Sternberger just experienced. The jump in competition level and learning curve could be dramatic for him as a small school product. His offense at Dayton was not all that complicated, and he tended to throttle down on plays if his initial route did not get him open. His upside, however, is tremendous. Trautman and Sternberger could deliver a tandem that Packers fans have dreamed of having since the days of Mark Chumura and Keith Jackson. This pick would require patience, but could pay huge dividends down the road.

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Blocking: Bryant is not the strongest blocker, but most of his issues in the run game are technical. He plays too high at times. He ducks his head and can get caught lunging at his man. Those are faults that can throw off running plays, but the right coach can fix those technique issues and turn him into a multidimensional player. Receiving: Bryant is a playmaker at his position. He’s a very fluid athlete who works seamlessly in and out of his breaks on the field. He has formational versatility, in that he lines up both on the line and out wide. Bryant is capable of beating cornerbacks in man coverage and has the ability to remain strong through the point of the catch and take contact. He’s not a receiver who will be afraid to run routes over the middle.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Bryant would be a big play threat on an offense that hasn’t had one of those since the days of Jermichael Finley, unless you want to count Jared Cook’s half season. He wouldn’t offer much in the run game early but could be someone who adds another dimension to an offense searching for someone to stretch the seam. He would take some time to learn the ins and outs of the running game, but once he did he would be a high upside player. Bryant is another player LaFleur would have to use in a niche role early in his career but could grow into a more complete player throughout his rookie contract.

> TIGHT END

Jared Pinkney (rSR)

Vanderbilt

Thaddeus Moss (rJR)

LSU

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 254 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 250 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 23 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

2019 stats: 20 receptions | 233 yards | 11.7 ypr | 2 TDs

2019 stats: 47 receptions | 570 yards | 12.1 ypr | 4 TDs

In a nutshell:

Blocking: Pinkney has experience as a lead blocker, and could excel in an H-back type role. Not the strongest player at the point of attack, he often gets stood up and bench pressed by defensive linemen and linebackers at the second level. He does some things well out on the edge where receivers would typically make their blocks. His stalk blocking is good enough, and he will make up for the lack of ability at times with desire. Receiving: Pinkney’s positional versatility is a positive for him as he moves to the next level. He does a good job finding holes in the zone and presents his hands to the quarterback when he’s under duress. Pinkney is more of an old school tight end in that he does not create a lot of big plays on his own. He’ll be a nice possession receiver in the NFL, but he’s not someone who will create matchups on the exterior of the formation like teams tend to prefer. He likely could use an NFL offseason to help with his play strength as he’s too often thrown off by physical defenders.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

His initial fit could be in helping the Packers eliminate the fullback position once again. Pinkney played some H-back in college and has experience as a lead blocker for running backs. There is potential for a lot of versatility in the usage of tight ends if the Packers were to pair Pinkney with Sternberger. Pinkney would be a good complement, as his skill set fits that of a secondary tight end on a good roster. Depending how strongly the Packers feel about Sternberger, he could be competing for those reps immediately with the uncertainty surrounding Marcedes Lewis and Robert Tonyan.

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Blocking: Moss will be someone NFL fans will recognize immediately; he’s the son of Hall of Famer Randy Moss. He’s not just a former player’s kid, however. Moss is someone willing to do the dirty work. He’s a skilled run blocker who looks for work down the field. Moss shows the willingness to get nasty and put defenders on their backs. Receiving: Moss has good body control and catches everything near him. He is not the greatest athlete but will make up for that with refined skills and work ethic that will not be matched. Early in his career, he’ll be a smart player who can find the holes in the zone with the ability to make some plays that are schemed up for him.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Moss is another player who fits alongside Jace Sternberger perfectly. His blocking ability is something that will hit from his first day on the field. Once he’s more comfortable in the offense, he should be able to replace snaps that were given to Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis a season ago. He also would give the team another reliable pass catching option, which it is sorely in need of. He’ll have some work to do on creating plays after the catch, but once they’re in the red zone, he’s another weapon to add to a team that essentially relied on Aaron Jones and Davante Adams in that area.

> TIGHT END

Colby Parkinson (JR)

Stanford

Devin Asiasi (rJR)

UCLA

Measurables: Height: 6’7” | Weight: 252 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.77

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 257 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.73

NFL COMBINE: 32.5” vertical | 109” broad | 7.15 sec. 3-cone |

NFL COMBINE: 30.5” vertical | 115” broad | 16 bench reps

4.46 sec. 20 yd | 18 bench reps

2019 stats: 44 receptions | 641 yards | 14.6 ypr | 4 TDs

2019 stats: 48 receptions | 589 yards | 12.3 ypr | 1 TD

In a nutshell:

Blocking: A very tall player who plays more like a big receiver than he does a tight end, Parkinson offers little as a run blocker, and frankly does not make up for that with effort. Too often there are plays where he simply doesn’t touch anyone. When he does get his hands on someone, he goes through the motions before ultimately hoping to move on to the next play. He’ll need the right coach to get some desire out of him on run downs or to simply never use him in the run game. Receiving: That said, Parkinson does have some positive traits in the passing game. He is a matchup problem in the middle of the field and can attack all three levels of the defense. Parkinson has good control of his big frame and is capable of making catches when having to twist his body. He played mostly as a big slot receiver and rarely lined up on the boundary. When he did, he was not incredibly effective.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

This fit would be an interesting one just because of the type of player that Parkinson is. The Packers have moved on from Jimmy Graham, and some of the traits listed above are largely the strengths and flaws that Graham exhibited, even in his prime. The Packers are likely looking for more of a complete tight end, but if they wanted someone like Parkinson they’d better have a plan for him. He’d essentially fill into the big slot role that Geronimo Allison played last season.

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In a nutshell:

Blocking: Asiasi is not the strongest blocker but makes up for that with a willingness to mix it up against bigger defenders. He’ll need to work on play strength at the next level in addition to concentration when trying to make contested catches. Receiving: One of the more interesting prospects entering the draft, Asiasi originally began his career at Michigan before returning home to play for the Bruins. Asiasi is able to make good adjustments on the ball in the air. He gets up the seam quickly, is good at finding holes in the zone and has soft hands to bring the ball in. He had some issues with his weight fluctuating throughout his time at UCLA.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

This is one of the better fits in this draft class with Jace Sternberger, largely because he has similar versatility the Packers believe Sternberger has. Asiasi has the upside to become an above average blocker with soft hands in the passing game. He could be a bit of a safety blanket as Aaron Rodgers continues into the back nine of his career. He gives the Packers another weapon in the mold LaFleur has typically valued in his tight ends at previous stops. Asiasi will take some time, but he’s someone a team will be very happy with two years down the road.

> TIGHT END

Stephen Sullivan (SR)

LSU

Josiah DeGuara (rSR)

Cincinnati

Measurables: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 248 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.66

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 242 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.72

NFL COMBINE: 36.5” vertical | 123” broad | 7.51 sec. 3-cone |

NFL COMBINE: 35.5” vertical | 115” broad | 7.15 sec. 3-cone |

4.62 sec. 20 yd

4.35 sec. 20 yd | 25 bench reps

2019 stats: 12 receptions | 130 yards | 10.8 ypr | 0 TD

2019 stats: 39 receptions | 504 yards | 12.9 ypr | 7 TDs

In a nutshell:

Blocking: Sullivan has some work to do with his hands in the run game. He has a tendency to get too wide in his blocks, which can leave him open to holding penalties, but he does show the potential to improve in that area. His hands are strong and, while sloppy at times, they do allow him to control some players at the line of scrimmage. He occasionally gets too far out in front of himself and lunges at defenders, which can throw off his technique. Receiving: Sullivan kind of got lost in the shuffle at LSU because of his bigger named counterpart in Thaddeus Moss. Sullivan is a good player in his own right. He played primarily as a big slot, move tight end in LSU’s wide open offense. The coaching staff pointed him out as a high character guy, which would be a necessity in an offense so loaded that targets were few and far between.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

One of the steepest learning curves Sullivan would have in coming to the Packers is working in the scramble drill. There are times he does not work well back to the football, and with Aaron Rodgers, that is a necessity. Sullivan would likely fit in as a move tight end. He didn’t always play to his speed, but if that’s something he could harness he’d be a matchup problem for opposing offenses. He has the ability to move all over the formation, making for a versatile counterpart to Jace Sternberger. He’ll have a bit of a learning curve as a blocker, and he’ll need to add strength to the lower half of his frame.

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Blocking: DeGuara is a nasty player in the run game, with the ability to take defenders for a ride. He has vice grips for hands, and he finishes blocks with authority. He’s a heady player with the ability to find space in zone coverage. Receiving: When the ball is thrown toDeGuara, it’s going to be caught. He’s a reliable player in the passing game with potential to be a dangerous player in the run game, too. He struggles at this point of his career as a route runner, as there is too much wasted motion getting down the field. His long breaks can cause him to be covered on plays that he should not be.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

DeGuara will see some work as an H-back in the NFL. That’s something we’ve seen LaFleur use Sternberger as early in his career. DeGuara might be a better fit for a role like that because of his willingness and effectiveness as a run blocker. He’s someone who would essentially replicate what Marcedes Lewis gave them a season ago. DeGuara would be an immediate asset in the run game. He’s more likely to be a possession receiver as his career advances—anything else that you get in the passing game should be viewed as a bonus.

> TIGHT END

Jacob Breeland (rSR)

Oregon

2019 stats: 26 receptions | 405 yards | 15.6 ypr | 6 TDs

In a nutshell:

Blocking: Breeland’s ability as a blocker leaves a lot to be desired. His technique is a bit of a mess at this point in his career, as he struggles with wide hands outside of the frame of defenders. He can be stonewalled at the point of attack and often plays on the wrong side of the line of scrimmage Receiving: Breeland is a good route runner who creates space for himself with sudden movements and strong hands at the point of the catch. He attacks the football when it is in the air and has a mentality that he is going to be the only one who catches the ball. He’s athletic enough to make plays in the open field.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Breeland would fit in the offense as a move tight end but would be a bit of a project in terms of his blocking ability. He would likely be best suited to a redshirt season. In that time he would benefit from some of the same mentorship Jace Sternberger got from Marcedes Lewis. In the future, that would help make Breeland a player capable of being a team’s secondary tight end, which is essentially what the Packers would be looking for. Breeland’s upside is there, but it would require patience to see that come to fruition.

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13 C.J. O’Grady (rSR)

Arkansas

Measurables: Height: 6’4 | Weight: 256 lbs. In a nutshell: O’Grady is a good athlete in space. If he gets a free release he’s capable of making plays in the intermediate portions of the field. He’s good after the catch and willing to fight for extra yardage. There are some character concerns with O’Grady, as he left the team in November after a third suspension.

14 Mitchell Wilcox (rSR)

South Florida

Measurables: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 245 lbs. In a nutshell: Wilcox is an old-school blocking tight end who takes his assignments personally. He’s a nasty player along the line of scrimmage and finishes his blocks with authority. He lacks big-time athleticism to make plays and struggles locating the ball in the air. Wilcox will make for a nice role player at the next level.

15 Charlie Taumoepeau (SR)

Portland St

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 245 lbs. In a nutshell: A physical player both on the line of scrimmage and with the ball in his hands. Taumoepeau finishes his runs and blocks. He’s an average athlete with some skills that resemble that of an H-back at the next level. He does have the potential to be a core special teams player.

> TIGHT END

16 Charlie Woerner (SR)

Georgia

17 Dom Anderson-Wood (SR)

Tennessee

Measurables: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 245 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’5 | Weight: 245 lbs.

In a nutshell: Woerner is an assignment-sure player who has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. He’s good in run blocking and pass protection when left in. He’ll need to add some weight at the next level to help his blocking but is unlikely to make a big impact in the passing game as a receiver.

In a nutshell: Anderson-Wood is a scout’s dream from a measurables standpoint. He has prototypical size for a move tight end at the next level but has never been able to put all those things together on the field. His ball skills can be considered below average. His blocking technique could use some work. A definite project at the next level.

18 Sean McKeon (SR)

Michigan

19 Dalton Keene (JR)

Virginia Tech

Measurables: Height: 6’5 | Weight: 238 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’4 | Weight: 242 lbs.

In a nutshell: McKeon does a good job working to uncover in scramble situations. He was used as a lead blocker in the misdirection run game. He has good size and will high point the ball. He’ll need to add weight and strength to sustain his blocks at the next level.

In a nutshell: Keene lined up all over the formation for the Hokies. He possesses the positional versatility that NFL teams crave from their tight ends. He has a poor habit of ducking his head on some blocks but is solid overall in that department. Keene will catch the ball when it is thrown to him and uncovers well in space.

20 Kyle Markway (rSR)

South Carolina Arizona Satate

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 243 lbs. In a nutshell: A good player on special teams who has the mentality to succeed in that unit, Markway is always running hard and plays until the echo of the whistle. He’s a capable player once the ball is in his hands, but he needs some work on route running, and his blocking technique is inconsistent. Markway is a potential Day 3 pick with some upside as a core special teamer.

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21 Noah Togiai (rSR)

Oregon St

22 Joey Magnifico (SR) Memphis 23 Albert Okuwuegbunam (rJR) Missouri 24 Ahmad Wagner (SR) Kentucky 25 Nate Wieting (rSR) Iowa

100

Position Analysis:

"Jersey Al" Bracco

1. Jedrick Wills, Alabama

2. Mekhi Becton, Louisville 3. Tristan Wirfs, Iowa 4. Andrew Thomas, Georgia 5. Josh Jones, Houston 6. Lucas Niang, TCU 7. Austin Jackson, USC 8. Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn 9. Robert Hunt, Louisiana-Lafayette 10. Isaiah Wilson, Georgia 11. Ezra Cleveland, Boise St 12. Matt Peart, Connecticut 13. Ben Bartch, St. John’s (Minn.) 14. Alex Taylor, South Carolina St 15. Jack Driscoll, Georgia 16. Saahdiq Charles, LSU 17. Yasir Durant, Missouri 18. Colton McKivitz, West Virginia 19. Charlie Heck, North Carolina 20. Trey Adams, Washington

JOSH JONES rSR HOUSTON

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101

> OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Jedrick Wills (JR)

Alabama

Measurables: Height: 6’4” Weight: 312 lbs.

Arms: 34¼” Wingspan: 83½” 40 Time: 5.05 1.82 10-yd split

NFL COMBINE: 34.5” vertical 113” broad 4.84 sec. 20 yd

In a Nut Shell:

College Career:

Pass Pro: Wills displays an elite kick slide, with quick feet, enabling him to cut off edge rushers. Once in his pass set, he mirrors well with a wide base (sometimes too wide) and, with top-notch mobility attributes, easily adapts to any kind of pass rush move. Wills extends his arms to keep rushers from getting into his chest but could stand to throw a more jarring punch. He overreaches sometimes but manages to still keep a solid base and anchor.

Fit with the Packers:

A five-star and top-50 recruit from Lexington Kentucky, Wills spent the last two seasons protecting Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side at right tackle for the Crimson Tide.

Run Block: Wills is fast off the ball and does his best work in short yardage—straight ahead or down blocking is where he just overpowers opponents. Otherwise, when on the move, he doesn’t always lock on and maintain, letting defenders slip away after initial contact. Wills gets to the second level easily and aggressively but needs to improve his targeting.

An All-State selection from Kentucky, Wills considered staying in his home state before opting to take on a bigger challenge at Alabama. And a challenge it was. The top-50 national recruit could not break into the Crimson Tide’s starting lineup as a freshman, although he did see some playing time. Wills won the starting right tackle job as a sophomore and started 28 straight games over the next two seasons, allowing only one sack during that time. Wills has shown massive improvement in his two years as a starter and was named a second team AllAmerican in 2019.

Adding an offensive tackle of Wills’ caliber would be a dream come true for the Packers. With Bryan Bulaga leaving the Packers, Wills could step in as the new starter or, at worse, spend a year as a swing-tackle backup. Wills’ presence would relieve a lot of worries in Titletown, but alas, the Packers don’t possess the top-10 pick it would likely take for this to happen. Sitting at the 30th pick in the draft, they don’t even have the draft capital to trade up significantly.

While he doesn’t have the length of many of his peers, his NFLready skills put him at the top of this list.

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102

> OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Mekhi Becton (JR)

Louisville

Measurables: Height: 6’7” Weight: 364 lbs.

Arms: 35⅝” Wingspan: 83¼” 40 Time: 5.1 1.77 10-yd split

NFL COMBINE: 23 bench reps

In a Nut Shell:

It seems like in every draft season there is one incredibly large offensive tackle with astonishing athletic ability for a human that size. This year, it’s Mekhi Becton. Pass Pro: Becton has an invaluable physical characteristic that he uses well: a seven-foot wingspan. He uses those long arms to keep rushers from getting into his body, although hand placement and lack of forceful punch can be an issue at times. Becton shows nimble feet but needs to refine his slide technique. His length and good instincts for where his opponent is headed lets him stay in front of most pass rushers, whether facing outside speed or counter moves. His overall mobility and prowess at changing directions on the fly without looking like a lumbering big man is uncanny. Run Block: As you would expect, Becton can engulf opponents in power blocking assignments. He does not always lock on, though, often using his powerful arms to push-block opponents. What’s really eye-opening is how well he moves in executing zone blocks (especially outside zone), making him unusually scheme-versatile for such a big man. Cut blocks, however, are a noticeable weakness, as he misses his target way too much.

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College Career:

A two sport athlete (football and basketball) in high school, Becton helped lead his football team to two straight State Championships before choosing to play football at Louisville. Becton was an immediate starter as a freshman at right tackle. As a sophomore, Becton started at both tackle spots (mostly on the left) and sometimes swapped sides within drives under the prevailing game plans. Junior year brought a new coaching staff, and Becton was put at left tackle and left there. Not coincidentally, Becton thrived and earned first team All-ACC honors and took home the ACC Jacobs Trophy for being named the best blocker in the ACC.

Fit with the Packers:

Becton would be an unusual choice for the Packers, but not a bad one. Recent Green Bay general managers have not been known for bringing in overly large (heavier) tackle prospects, preferring more nimble players with arguably more ability to block on the move. But Becton has shown that he can be schemeversatile, assuming that maintaining a reasonable weight is not a problem going forward.

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> OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Tristan Wirfs (JR)

Iowa

Measurables: Height: 6’5” Weight: 320 lbs.

Arms: 34” Wingspan: 80¼” 40 Time: 4.85 1.70 10-yd split

NFL COMBINE: 36.5” vertical 121” broad 4.68 sec. 20 yd 7.65 sec. 3-cone 24 bench reps

In a Nut Shell:

Coming from the school of Kirk Ferentz, you can expect an offensive lineman to be technique-sound, a weight room warrior, possibly have a wrestling background and generally be proready. With Tristan Wirfs, you get it all. Pass Pro: Wirfs shows nimble feet but a short kick slide, so pass set angles need some work. Still, he maintains a wide base with very good pad level. Wirfs sets a solid anchor and delivers a strong punch with proficient hand usage/placement. He diagnoses stunts proficiently and shows high football IQ. A short, choppy kick-slide can sometimes cause issues trying to stay in front of outside speed and smaller, quick-twitch rushers that he can’t control with his hands. Run Block: His wrestling and powerlifting background shows in his blocking style, as he locks on and doesn’t let go. Wirfs is a monster in short yardage/goal line situations and is an effective downfield blocker. His elite burst off the snap is seen on tape and was on full display in the combine pulling drills and his 10 yd split time in the 40-yard dash.

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Combine:

Wirfs is this year’s winner of our coveted “Best in Shorts” Award. How a 320-pound offensive tackle was able to put up some of the numbers that Wirfs did is beyond explanation. It’s hard to decide what was more impressive: those numbers or the size of Wirfs’ thighs. He shows incredible power in those legs, which was on full display during the field drills. His get-off on the pulling drills left your mouth agape in wonder.

Fit with the Packers:

This would be an interesting choice if Wirfs were to fall to the Packers. While not having the overall length most teams prefer at offensive tackle, the Packers have never been too bothered by that. Wirfs could man the right tackle spot for the Packers and likely ascend to top 10-15 RT status in the league. His best move, however, could be a move to guard, where he could likely reach Pro Bowl or even All-Pro status.

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> OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Andrew Thomas (JR)

Georgia

Josh Jones (rSR)

Houston

Measurables: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 315 lbs. | Arms: 36⅛” |

Measurables: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 319 lbs. | Arms: 33⅞” |

Wingspan: 83½” | 40 Time: 5.22, 1.83 10-yd split

Wingspan: 79⅞” | 40 Time: 5.27 | 1.82 10-yd split

NFL COMBINE: 30.5” vertical | 109” broad | 4.66 sec. 20 yd |

NFL COMBINE: 28.5” vertical | 109” broad | 24 bench reps

7.58 sec. 3-cone | 21 bench reps

In a nutshell:

Yet another five-star, top-50 recruit, Thomas enters the 2020 draft as a three-year starter who has played both tackle spots for the Bulldogs. Pass Pro: Thomas displays the quick feet coaches covet but with a somewhat suspect kick slide. Despite that, he still manages to stay with speed rushers most of the time. Part of that is his excellent recovery and redirect ability. Thomas shows excellent placement and use of his hands, although the initial punch could be more forceful. He takes an aggressive early approach to pass blocking, perhaps because of that marginal kick slide. Thomas needs some technique work, but his future as a quality offensive tackle in the NFL is secure. Run Block: Thomas explodes off line and also pulls and gets out on screens very well. He excels at down blocking but core strength may be a limiting factor blocking interior defensive linemen straight up. Overall, he does an excellent job locking on, staying with his blocks and walling off defenders. Thomas’ game is fast and aggressive. He’s a high effort guy that plays to the whistle, always looking for someone else to block. Thomas gets to second level easily and mostly hits his targets.

Fit with the Packers:

With three years of playing offensive tackle from both sides in the SEC, Thomas is one of the more battle-tested offensive tackle prospects in this draft class. The fact he couldn’t break into the top-three here speaks to the strength at the top of this position group. His best traits are currently in the run game, which could help coach LaFleur’s goal to run the ball more. A quick passing game fits Thomas’s aggressive pass protection tendencies, so that could be an issue if Rodgers continues to resist getting the ball off quickly. Regardless, tthe Packers would be in fine shape with Thomas as their right tackle.

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In a nutshell:

A two-sport athlete in high school, Jones chose playing football for the Cougars, but the basketball skills are evident in his play. Pass Pro: Jones sets a balanced anchor and mirrors very well despite some unpolished footwork. He shows strong hands with good placement and punch, generally keeping rushers out of his body. He stays with speed rushers like he’s guarding them on a basketball court. Decision-making on stunts and blitzes is an area in need of improvement. Run Block: Jones moves fluidly and is adept at pulling, getting out on screens and getting to the second level. He’s just super comfortable playing in open space. He generally stays with blocks and is an effective down blocker. The small quantity of straight ahead blocking he shows on tape sees him get a bit too upright but with a strong leg drive and the ability to lock on to defenders. Jones is aggressive with some nasty and plays to the whistle. According to Pro Football Focus, his 54 percent win rate at the Senior Bowl in the one-on-ones was the highest of any tackle in attendance. He looks more athletic on film than his “just okay” combine numbers would indicate.

Fit with the Packers:

If the Packers are looking for a rising high-upside tackle that excels on the move and playing in open space, Jones is their man. He may not be ready to start in his first season—there are some technique and strength issues to tend to, and he may need time to adapt to a more traditional NFL system. Still, Jones has shown improvement every year since focusing on football, so you can likely expect that to continue.

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> OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Lucas Niang (SR)

TCU

Austin Jackson (JR)

USC

Measurables: Height: 6’6” | Weight: 315 lbs. | Arms: 34¼” |

Measurables: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 322 lbs. | Arms: 34⅛” |

Wingspan: 83⅛ ” | 40 Time: n/a

Wingspan: 82” | 40 Time: 5.07 | 1.73 10-yd split

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

NFL COMBINE: 31” vertical | 115” broad | 7.95 sec. 3-cone | 27 bench reps

In a nutshell:

Niang had surgery for a torn hip labrum halfway through last season and missed the combine, but medical reports there were all positive. Pass Pro: Niang uses physicality more than technique, which needs some work—especially footwork. The 83” wingspan helps him keep rushers out of his chest and stay with spin/ inside moves, but he needs to develop a stronger punch to better use those arms as a weapon. Niang maintains good pad level in his pass sets and mirrors well. He should be able to handle speed rushers comfortably with improved footwork. Niang accurately diagnoses stunts/blitzes and did not give up a sack in two and a half seasons at TCU. Run Block: Physical player that looks comfortable with varied blocking styles. Niang moves well down the line in zone blocking or pulling and shows good leg drive in man blocking. Gets to the second level easily and finds his targets.

Fit with the Packers:

Niang is one of the more well-rounded tackles in this draft class and that fits perfectly with Green Bay’s preferences for the position. Niang has an even blend of athleticism and power that would fit perfectly on the right side of the Packers’ line. He needs to improve on his footwork but is capable of starting at right tackle in year one and manning the position for years to come.

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In a nutshell:

The 20-yr old Jackson is the grandson of former USC and Packers guard Melvin Jackson, who was with the Packers from 1976 to 1980. Pass Pro: Jackson’s feet are plenty quick for a left tackle. However, he’s too upright in his pass sets and can get knocked off balance too easily. He has excellent length and tries to use it, but his hand placement is scattered. Jackson relies too much on hand fighting, and he’s just not good at it yet. When he does set a solid anchor, his lower body strength cancels out the hand/ arm issues. Jackson can be slow to diagnose and react to counters and stunts, giving up too many sacks in the process. Run Block: Jackson is most effective in down blocking and reach blocks where he just needs to wall off a defender. He’s not a people mover; he gets stood up, stacked and shed too often. He can get to the second level and mobility is a plus. However, he doesn’t show to be a play to the whistle type of guy. Jackson has the physical attributes that teams covet, but he’s young and still needs a lot of work for a likely first round pick. Besides technique improvements, Jackson also needs to add upper body strength. While his athleticism is top-notch, it doesn’t always show up on tape. The concern with Jackson is, how bad does he want it? His effort level on the field is not always stellar.

Fit with the Packers:

Agile and athletic, Jackson could be a worthwhile pick for the Packers as long as he wouldn’t be expected to be an immediate starter. Jackson donated bone marrow for his sister last summer, robbing him of valuable training time and functional strength for several months. With improved technique and added strength (and if he really wants it), he could aptly hold down the right tackle spot for Green Bay.

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> OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Prince Tega Wanogho (SR)

Auburn

Robert Hunt (rSR)

LA-Lafayette

Measurables: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 308 lbs. | Arms: 33½” |

Measurables: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 323 lbs. | Arms: 33½” |

Wingspan: 80¾” | 40 Time: n/a

Wingspan: 82” | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

In a nutshell:

It was a mere five years ago that Wanogho left Nigeria to play basketball at Edgewood Academy in Alabama. Everything changed after Edgewood’s football coach convinced him to try his hand at a different sport.

Hunt is a wide-body tackle with surprisingly better athleticism than some leaner tackles in this draft. Hunt was a four-year starter, spending his first two years as a guard and the final two as a right tackle.

Pass Pro: Wanogho meets rushers sooner rather than later and mirrors well. He has nimble quick feet, but they are not always coordinated (technique issue) so balance and anchoring can be a problem. His kick slide also needs work. Wanogho is a willing puncher but hand placement is too scattered. On tape, Wanogho is seen reaching too often which results in more balance issues. He’s a hard worker, and, if not engaged with a rusher, looks to help out a teammate.

Pass Pro: Hunt sets up quickly but needs to develop a real kick slide to get deeper in his pass sets and mirror better. He looks to initiate contact more than absorb it, which sometimes gets him leaning forward too much. Despite that, he is not easily knocked off balance and is not easy to push through when he sets his anchor.

Run Block: His get off can be sluggish. His pad level is generally too high and he lacks the leg strength to drive block. He wasn’t asked to block downfield very often, so inexperience there results in too many misses, but he does get to the second level well enough.

Run Block: Hunt is quick off the snap and moves fluidly to execute outside zone blocks, pull or get out on screens. He’s also an above average man blocker that looks to deliver a strong blow on contact. Hunt is especially effective at down blocks, often taking his man to the ground.

Wanogho is new not just to the sport of football, but also to the offensive tackle position after being recruited to Auburn as a defensive end. He has all the physical tools, but plenty of technique and strength work is needed.

Fit with the Packers:

Even though Wanogho is likely to be drafted on Day 2 of the draft, he’d surely be adding to offensive line coach Adam Stenovich’s workload. Wanogho’s deficiencies are all correctable, though, and if Stenovich can pull it off, the Packers can turn this diamond in the rough into a quality starter at one of the tackle spots.

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Fit with the Packers:

Being scheme and position versatile is a big feather in Hunt’s cap.WIth some improved footwork, Hunt would make a very capable replacement for Bryan Bulaga, with the potential to start as a rookie (ala David Bakhtiari). Failing that, a move to guard would be a comfortable one for Hunt. In all, Hunt fits the Packers offense under LaFleur quite well and would be a worthy “sleeper” pick for Green Bay if they don’t draft an offensive tackle in Round 1 or 2.

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> OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Isaiah Wilson (rSO)

Georgia

Ezra Cleveland (rJR)

Boise St

Measurables: Height: 6’6” | Weight: 350 lbs. | Arms: 35½” |

Measurables: Height: 6’6” | Weight: 311 lbs. | Arms: 33⅜” |

Wingspan: 84⅜” | 40 Time: 5.32 | 1.82 10-yd split

Wingspan: 80⅜” | 40 Time: 4.93 | 1.73 10-yd split

NFL COMBINE: 29” vertical | 110” broad | 5.07 sec. 20 yd |

NFL COMBINE: 30” vertical | 111” broad | 4.46 sec. 20 yd |

8.26 sec. 3-cone | 26 bench reps

7.26 sec. 3-cone | 30 bench reps

In a nutshell:

Pass Pro: Wilson is long and strong but not a great mover. He attacks in pass protection, likely to make up for average foot speed and unpolished technique. Wilson shows poor hand placement, often outside the shoulders, but he’s saved by his power in many cases. His slow change of direction and recovery ability translates to being most effective against power rushers where he can set his feet and anchor—he’ll win the power versus power battle. Speed rushers are a problem for him to stay in front of or handle inside/spin moves.

Pass Pro: Cleveland displays quick feet, but his narrow base can cause him to be easily knocked off balance. He shows good hand placement but is not able to maintain control with them. He often had tight end help on his side, so he lacks much experience with solo pass blocking out in space.

Eyebrows were raised when this Brooklyn-born offensive tackle declared for the draft after only two seasons at Georgia.

Run Block: Wilson is the mauler type. He’s best in short yardage, straight ahead blocking and shows powerful leg drive when he latches on. Downfield blocking is a weakness with too many whiffs; his lack of mobility allows defenders to easily avoid him. Wilson is a right tackle prospect that needs to go to school on offensive line skills/ techniques. He presently wins with strength, determination and his 84⅜” wingspan over athleticism and technique.

Fit with the Packers:

Wilson should prove to be a worthwhile Day 2 project for a team employing a man blocking scheme that doesn’t need a starting right tackle for a few years yet. None of that applies to the Packers situation, so the fit is just not a good one.

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Cleveland was an under-the-radar prospect until he burst onto the draft media spotlight with a sub-5 second 40-yard dash and the best 3-cone and 20-yard shuttle times among all offensive linemen at the combine.

Run Block: Cleveland was on the move a lot in the Broncos’ offense, which played to his strengths. He is quite adept at zone blocking but can get bullied and stood up in straight-up man blocking. He doesn’t seem to be able to latch on or stay with blocks, but he does try.

Fit with the Packers:

After his fine combine performance, Cleveland is getting a lot of attention from Packers fans. Well, this one is going to hurt, folks, so buckle up. On tape, Ezra Cleveland is somewhat reminiscent of none other than...Jason Spriggs. The Packers were enamored with Spriggs’ athleticism and may have overlooked some of the same weaknesses Cleveland exhibits. However, Cleveland shows more of a willingness to “get dirty” so perhaps he can overcome his shortcomings with hard work and have more success than Spriggs did.

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> OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Matt Peart (rSR)

Connecticut

NFL COMBINE: 30” vertical | 113” broad | 4.92 sec. 20 yd | 8.01 sec. 3-cone | 26 bench reps

In a nutshell:

The Jamaican-born Peart measured in with the second longest wingspan of all offensive linemen at the combine. Pass Pro: Peart has quick feet but is a bit slow to get deep in his pass sets. He picks up stunts and passes off rushers correctly. Despite his incredible length, Peart allows rushers into his body too frequently. He just doesn’t know how to use those weapons yet. Run Block: He’s quick off the snap and executes reach blocks easily. Peart is not a power blocker, but he does try to latch on. He plays to whistle, always looking for more work if not engaged. Peart is adept at blocking on the move. He moves fluidly in space, is comfortable pulling and easily gets out in front on screens.

Fit with the Packers:

Peart is an intriguing prospect that would need to live in the Packers’ weight room for at least a year before he could be trusted to be thrown in against NFL edge rushers. Despite that, Peart has the physical attributes worth developing at either tackle spot and is a better athlete on film than his combine 3-cone and 20 yd shuttle times would indicate.

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13 Ben Bartch (rSR)

St John's (Minn)

Measurables: Height: 6’6” | Weight: 309 lbs. In a nutshell: A converted tight end, Bartch has only two years experience playing tackle. His athletic profile is a good one, but he was getting by purely on that at a Div III school. Bartch has put on a lot of weight in only two years but needs to convert more to muscle and basically learn proper blocking and pass pro techniques. Despite his definite project status, Bartch appears to have the drive and desire to eventually reward the team that takes a chance on him. Much patience will be required, though.

14 Alex Taylor (rSR)

South Carolina St

Measurables: Height: 6’8” | Weight: 308 lbs. In a nutshell: As a basketball player from a football family, Taylor flip-flopped between the two sports in high school and college before deciding his pigskin future was more promising. After two years manning the right tackle spot for the Bulldogs, Taylor enters the draft as an intriguing prospect. His body type still reeks of hoopster: a lean 308 pounds with 36” arms and an 88” wingspan. However, a poor 25” vertical at the combine might help explain why basketball didn’t work out. Taylor has the quick feet and lateral movement skills you would expect, but is still learning the nuances of the position and how to play with proper technique and pad level. All-inall, an investment in Taylor could pay off nicely in a few years with proper development and coaching.

15 Jack Driscoll (rSR)

Georgia

Measurables: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 306 lbs. In a nutshell: A graduate transfer from UMASS, Driscoll started for two years at right tackle for Auburn. He plays with high intelligence and effort, which helps him overcome some physical limitations. Driscoll lacks strength to hold up to physical opponents and lateral movement skills to handle edge rushers. Driscoll would need to land with a zone blocking scheme team and live in the weight room to succeed at the NFL level.

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> OFFENSIVE TACKLE

16 Saahdiq Charles (JR)

LSU

17 Yasir Durant (SR)

Missouri

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 321 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’6” | Weight: 331 lbs.

In a nutshell: Charles lined up at left tackle against some of the best of the best in the SEC and held his own through athletic ability and battling. He will need more than that in the NFL. His feet and lateral movement are excellent, but there is no discipline in his technique. Perhaps one issue could be lack of reps, as he missed nine games the last two seasons; three due to injury, six for unspecified disciplinary reasons. Charles has the NFL-level tools to be successful if an offensive line coach can teach him how to play under control with proper technique.

In a nutshell: A left tackle mauler type? That’s basically what Durant was for the Tigers. His athletic ability is average at best, which was confirmed by the field drills at the Combine. On the positive side, he’s aggressive in pass pro and not easily moved once he anchors. Durant was originally a guard for the Tigers before moving to left tackle and starting there for two seasons. He could give right tackle a shot in the pros, but a move back to guard may be his best chance for success.

18 Colton McKivitz (rSR)

West Virginia

19 Charlie Heck (SR)

North Carolina

Measurables: Height: 6’6” | Weight: 306 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’8” | Weight: 311 lbs.

In a nutshell: A durable workhorse you can’t get off the field (close to 3500 snaps in four years), McKivitz is a grinder more than an athlete or technician. His pad level is poor; he gets too high almost immediately off the snap and has trouble maintaining leverage or anchoring. Despite his limitations, he successfully handled a move to left tackle as a senior. McKivitz has the nasty attitude offensive line coaches love, but he would need a year or two on a practice squad to determine if he can be “fixed.”

In a nutshell: As the son of Andy Heck (12-year NFL tackle and now Kansas City offensive line coach), one might expect Charlie to be higher on this list. Unfortunately, he plays with poor pad level and thus struggles maintaining leverage and balance. Physically, he has the requisite body type and moves well enough for the position, but he still needs to work on lowering his center of gravity and getting stronger.

20 Trey Adams (SR)

Washington Arizona Satate

Measurables: Height: 6’8” | Weight: 318lbs. In a nutshell: Adams showed a lot of promise as an up-andcoming college tackle a few years ago, but then the injuries came. After ACL and back surgeries, Adams is just not the same player. He doesn’t show the strength one would expect from a man his size and struggles keeping up with speed rushers. Teams will need to be convinced he is past the injuries and can regain his old form to take a flier on him.

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21 Hakeem Adeniji (SR) Kansas 22 Branden Bowen (rSR)

Ohio St

23 Scott Frantz (SR)

Kansas St

24 Drew Richmond (rSR) USC 25 Terence Steele (SR)

Texas Tech

110

Position Analysis:

Owen Riese

IOL

1. Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin

2. Lloyd Cushenberry III, LSU 3. Cesar Ruiz, Michigan 4. Ben Bredeson, Michigan 5. Damien Lewis, LSU 6. Jonah Jackson, Ohio St 7. Shane Lemieux, Oregon 8. John Simpson, Clemson 9. Logan Stenberg, Kentucky 10. Netane Muti, Fresno St 11. Matt Hennessy, Temple 12. Tyre Phillips, Mississippi St 13. Kevin Dotson, Louisiana-Lafayette 14. Calvin Throckmorton, Oregon 15. Soloman Kindley, Georgia 16. Michael Onwenu, Michigan 17. Jon Runyan Jr, Michigan 18. Keith Ismael, San Diego St 19. Nick Harris, Washington 20. Tremayne Anchrum, Clemson

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TYLER BIA DA SZ rJR WISCONSIN

111

> INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE

Tyler Biadasz (rJR)

Wisconsin

Measurables: Height: 6’4” Weight: 314 lbs.

Arm Length: 32¼” Hand Size: 10” 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

In a Nut Shell:

Biadasz has been the staple of consistency and excellence for a Wisconsin offensive line consistently considered amongst the best in the country. A three-year starter at center, Biadasz helped lead the way for back Jonathan Taylor to rush for over 6,000 yards in their three seasons starting together in Madison. After an excellent 2018 campaign, which led to some speculation Biadasz could enter the draft, he returned to Madison in 2019, where his performance was hampered at times due to nagging injuries. While some analysts have distanced themselves from their once strong feelings towards Biadasz, he’s still the best center in this draft class. Run Block: Biadasz is at his best in the run game. He’s an above average athlete for the position, and his mobility should allow him to thrive in a primarily zone blocking scheme. His ability to get to the edge on pulls and be able to change direction in the open field will give teams more flexibility in their run schemes. At the same time, his physicality at the point of attack on inside zone runs will wear on defensive lines throughout the game, and he should be a day one plug-and-play option at either center or guard.

BEST GAME:

Dinged up for a lot of Wisconsin’s top games in 2019, hosting Nebraska for a night game in 2018 was Biadasz’ most dominant performance in recent memory. Consistently beating up on NFL prospects Khalil and Carlos Davis, the Badgers imposed their will on the ground against the Cornhuskers all game, and Biadasz’s physicality took a toll on the Nebraska defensive line throughout the game. Whether on simple inside zone concepts or the Badgers’ more unique counter and pin and pull concepts, the Badgers dominated the line of scrimmage all night long, and it started with Biadasz at the pivot.

Fit with the Packers:

Depending on what the Packers decide to do with Corey Linsley, Biadasz could be a quick and easy replacement option for Green Bay. Center or guard shouldn’t be out of the question for Biadasz, just like Elgton Jenkins a season ago. The interior also still has some question marks given Bryan Bulaga leaving in free agency and the addition of Rick Wagner, but Biadasz would be a perfect fit in the Packers’ zone scheme, allowing his physicality and mobility to thrive. While Biadasz still has some development to do in pass protection, playing on the inside often gives him help, which will be beneficial.

Pass Pro: In pass protection, he still needs some refinement to his game, but there are no functional concerns with Biadasz in any particular type of pass pro scheme. At times he has the tendency to be a bit over aggressive, but with further NFL coaching, he could become a top player at the center position.

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> INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE

Lloyd Cushenberry III (rJR)

LSU

Measurables: Height: 6’3” Weight: 312 lbs.

Arm Length: 32” Hand Size: 10” 40 Time: 5.27

NFL COMBINE: 25 bench reps

In a Nut Shell:

ALL-STAR GAME:

Run Block: In the run game, Cushenberry III uses the same combination of strength and athleticism to be a problem for both first and second level defenders. He’s scheme diverse and should be a quick fix for any team looking to improve at center.

Fit with the Packers:

Cushenberry III had an excellent year in 2019, leading the offensive line of an offense that had a historically prolific season. A unit that, as a whole, was both nasty and proficient in pass protection, LSU was able to do some really unique and extreme things up front, in large part due to Cushenberry III’s prowess both in the pass and run game.

Pass Pro: LSU was largely a five receiver passing game, which means that they were in five-man pass protection a majority of the time. This puts a ton of stress on the offensive line, and you don’t do it unless you feel real strongly about the horses you’ve got up front. Cushenberry III’s flexibility and athleticism is apparent on film, and that, coupled with his physical strength, is a good combination in pass protection, where he’s able to handle nose tackles and quicker types on stunts.

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Cushenberry III was one of the few players who showed any ability to block South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw down in Mobile. Cushenberry III’s hip flexibility was impressive, as on one rep he slipped and was able to remain engaged and recover to finish the rep. Kinlaw was dominant down at the Senior Bowl, but Cushenberry III was one of the few who looked in the same ballpark as the future first rounder from South Carolina. Coupling a strong week of practice into the game itself, the LSU product certainly made himself some money at the premier all-star event.

Cushenberry III has an opportunity, depending on the future of Corey Linsley, to be an option for the Packers at center next season. The Packers haven’t traditionally shown the propensity to draft non-collegiate tackles highly, or at all, but it’s early in the Brian Gutekunst era in Green Bay, so it’s still to be seen if that trend will continue. Cushenberry III would be a good fit in the Packers’ offense, as his athleticism will allow him to fit right into the outside zone heavy approach Coach LaFluer likes to employ.

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> INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE

Cesar Ruiz (JR)

Michigan

Measurables: Height: 6’3” Weight: 307 lbs.

Arm Length: 33” Hand Size: 11” 40 Time: 5.08

NFL COMBINE: 33” vertical 113” broad 4.64 sec. 20 yd 7.91 sec. 3-cone 28 bench reps

In a Nut Shell:

Ruiz was the focal point of an offensive line that was littered with future NFL talent. A three-year starter for the Wolverines, he continued to develop and got better with each year, before becoming one of the premier centers in college football as a junior. Michigan’s offense allowed the talented junior to showcase his skills in multiple ways. Using both zone and gap schemes in their run game, Ruiz was able to use his movement skills on pulls, as well as his power at the first level on double teams. Run Block: While strong in the run game, Ruiz is more of a position blocker than a dominator but rarely fails to get his man where he wants. Ruiz had some great film as a puller, showing the vision to both get through traffic on the perimeter and find blitzers working back against the grain. Pass Pro: In pass protection, Michigan was largely a six-man protection team, so Ruiz wasn’t often asked to block defensive linemen one on one but was rock solid. He needs to work on staying on the same level as his guards in the slide, but that’s a fixable issue. Ruiz will be a sight for sore eyes for teams needing interior offensive line help.

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BEST GAME:

This past season, Michigan struggled mightily early against Penn State before roaring back and nearly beating the Nittany Lions. Ruiz had some of the most impressive blocks of his season in the game, including a block on a pull where he was able to wheel back and block a blitzing linebacker from tackling the running back on a touchdown run. Ruiz showed his peak performance when his team needed it the most, and, though they didn’t win the game, they’d have been in trouble without Ruiz leading the way.

Fit with the Packers:

Ruiz would be able to step in for the Packers and either commandeer a starting spot or compete for one early on the interior of their offensive line. Ruiz has the center/guard versatility that will make him a sought after prospect amongst teams looking for help at either spot. Only playing in college for three years, Ruiz’s best football is likely still in front of him. He would be an upgrade at right guard and, depending on the future of Corey Linsley, could be considered at center as well.

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> INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE

Ben Bredeson (SR)

Michigan

Damien Lewis (SR)

LSU

Measurables: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 315 lbs. | Arm Length: 31⅛” |

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 327 lbs. | Arm Length: 33” |

Hand Size: 10⅛” | 40 Time: n/a

Hand Size: 10¼” | 40 Time: 5.24

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

NFL COMBINE: 30” vertical | 108” broad | 27 bench reps

In a nutshell:

Run Block: He’s exceptionally physical, often finishing defenders away from the play. The epitome of playing “through the whistle,” he wears on defensive linemen throughout the game. He’s well schooled in multiple run game concepts, as Michigan ran the full gamut in the run game as a program during his tenure.

Run Block: In the run game, Lewis is a nasty dude. He’s physical and beats up on interior defensive linemen during double teams. Lewis is much more comfortable going forward rather than side-to-side, so a gap scheme could be a better suit for his skill set.

A Wisconsin native, Bredeson made himself at home on the Michigan offensive line, starting for three-plus seasons for the Wolverines, the majority of which at the left guard spot. A blue collar prospect, Bredeson won’t wow you with athleticism, but he simply gets people blocked.

Pass Pro: In pass protection, Bredeson is functionally solid and technically sound, as he doesn’t get beat often. He does a good job of using his hands in pass protection and is athletic enough to be able to handle quicker interior players.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

As we saw last year with Elgton Jenkins, the Packers will consider or draft interior players if they have a past playing tackle, which should be encouraging for Bredeson, who played some left tackle as a freshman at Michigan. Depending on the future of Corey Linsley, if the Packers decided to move Jenkins over to center, Bredeson could step in on day one and take over that position and could have it for the next 10 years. He’s athletic enough to excel in the Packers’ run scheme, while being solid enough in pass protection to not be a liability.

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Imagine a person being built like a lego block—that’s how Damien Lewis is constructed physically. A big, thick bully along the offensive line, he helped Lloyd Cushenberry III keep Joe Burrow upright and punished defensive linemen all year long. Lewis also had an excellent week down in Mobile at the Senior Bowl.

Pass Pro: In pass protection, Lewis showed the ability to handle power and bull rushes, while also showing the ability to handle some speed and twitch on the inside. He’ll never be mistaken for an elite athlete but has shown the functional ability to handle speed from interior rushers. Constantly looks for work when uncovered.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

As you’ve already read and will continue to read with interior linemen, the Packers generally don’t select those that haven’t played tackle in the past, which Lewis has not. While Lewis is one of the better interior offensive linemen in this draft class, he’s not as seemless of a fit in the Packers’ offensive scheme as others on this list. He should slide into a guard spot for a team with a heavier emphasis on gap scheme run concepts and take it over for the better part of a decade. However, that likely won’t be with the Packers.

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> INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE

Jonah Jackson (rSR)

Ohio St

Shane Lemieux (rSR)

Oregon

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 306 lbs. | Arm Length: 33½” |

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 310 lbs. | Arm Length: 32¼” |

Hand Size: 10½” | 40 Time: 5.23

Hand Size: 9½” | 40 Time: 5.11

NFL COMBINE: 26” vertical | 98” broad | 5.02 sec. 20 yd |

NFL COMBINE: 25.5” vertical | 107” broad | 4.90 sec. 20 yd |

7.83 sec. 3-cone | 28 bench reps

8.13 sec. 3-cone

In a nutshell:

Run Block: In the run game, Jackson is physical but not a dominator. Ohio State doesn’t have an overly complex run scheme, so they let their athletes go play fast, and Jackson was able to thrive in that environment.

Run Block: In the run game, he’s not a dominator, but is physical on double teams and shows a good ability to climb to the second level. Lemieux does a great job at tracking scraping linebackers and going to where they will be, not where they currently are, in order to give him the best angle possible.

Jackson, a graduate transfer from Rutgers, made himself at home with the Buckeyes, starting at left guard during his only season with the program. Jackson is built like a refrigerator and plays like it. He played well throughout the year and was particularly impressive at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, having one of the better performances at the event. He’s not going to wow you as an athlete, but Jackson functionally plays the position and plays it at a very high level.

Pass Pro: As a pass protector, Jackson is a technician, never setting any further than needed for the path of the rusher on that play. He’s able to mask his athletic deficiencies by playing smart in pass pro, and allowing himself to dirty-up the defender throughout the rep.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Jackson likely won’t hit a lot of the athletic thresholds the Packers seem to have along the offensive line, and he doesn’t have a history playing tackle. However, if they were to select him, he’d be a quality piece, whether used as a starter at either guard spot or used as an interior depth option with the ability to learn the center position. Jackson will make an NFL team happy for a nice, lengthy career with his prowess on the interior.

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Lemieux was arguably the best offensive lineman on the best offensive line in the country last season for the Ducks. As a fifth-year senior, he was able to help lead Oregon to a Rose Bowl birth by helping the Ducks run the football as well as protect heralded quarterback prospect Justin Herbert. Though he won’t wow you as an athlete, he’s a gamer and is able to climb to the second level and latch onto linebackers, opening up running lanes.

Pass Pro: In pass protection, Lemieux wasn’t asked to do a ton. Oregon’s pass protection schemes were fairly vanilla, and there were a lot of pocket-moving schemes and quick pass game, so he’ll be able to quickly adapt in that regard. He’ll continue to get reps at more conventional pass sets in the league.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

While Lemieux isn’t the type the Packers typically target (no tackle experience), Lemieux would be a nice fit in the Packers’ zone heavy stretch outside zone scheme. Oregon ran a ton of outside zone concepts, and Lemieux is better on the move than he is in a phonebooth. Lemieux could be some quality depth while also competing for a starting guard spot. He’s a smart and cerebral player, who gets the most out of his physical abilities. Those types tend to stick around the league a while.

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John Simpson (SR)

Clemson

Logan Stenberg (rSR)

Kentucky

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 321 lbs. | Arm Length: 34⅛” |

Measurables: Height: 6’6” | Weight: 317 lbs. | Arm Length: 32½” |

Hand Size: 11¼” | 40 Time: 5.24

Hand Size: 10¼” | 40 Time: 5.30

NFL COMBINE: 30” vertical | 107” broad | 4.87 sec. 20 yd |

NFL COMBINE: 26” vertical | 104” broad | 4.83 sec. 20 yd |

8.03 sec. 3-cone | 34 bench reps

8.00 sec. 3-cone

In a nutshell:

Simpson is what you think of when you picture an offensive guard back in the 1980s: big, strong and does his best work in confined spaces. The mammoth product from Clemson has a very niche role moving forward in his career, but he should thrive in that role. He’s a guard-only prospect who will fit right in with gap teams that want to run power and duo. Run block: In the run game, power is Simpson’s game. He’s a people mover who is better when moving forward than backward. Simpson’s a pure bully in the trenches and is able to generate vertical movement on defensive linemen. Day one in the NFL, he’ll be able to do this functionally. Pass Pro: In pass protection, once he latches onto you, the rep is over. However, when he has issues it’s due to leaning and his upper body getting ahead of his lower body. If he can get coached up on lot leaning during pass protection, he’ll be functional.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Even though he possesses the length and size to play offensive tackle, he’s a guard only due to his physical limitations with foot speed. He posted some nice explosion test scores at the combine, but his agility scores will likely take him off of the Packers’ board from an athletic standpoint. He’d be a guardonly player in the NFL, but the Packers have shown to value versatility, so he likely won’t be a target for the Green and Gold.

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Logan Stenberg is one of the most sure things in this draft class. What he does he does really well. He’s a people mover in the run game, and he plays with a giant chip on his shoulder, to a fault at times. While he’s a mauler, it carries over to the pass protection side, which can get him in trouble at times. A bit limited as an athlete, he gets the most out of his physical gifts but will struggle against elite athleticism at the next level. Run Block: In the run game, he’s a bully who is constantly finishing guys to and through the whistle and is able to get in defenders’ heads. He's more of a gap scheme guy, but when you’re as physical as Stenberg is, you can make due in any scheme. He played well as a senior in what was essentially a Single Wing offense, with Lynn Bowden Jr., a wide receiver, at quarterback. Pass Pro: As a pass protector, he depends on his physicality rather than his technique, which can get him in trouble. You’re not going to be able to bull rush him successfully, but any wiggle side to side can give him some issues.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Stenberg will have a couple of things working against him from a Packers’ standpoint. Athletically, he’s going to struggle to meet their thresholds. Like Simpson, Stenberg is a guard only, though a team might think they could get out of a game with him at tackle in an emergency. Stenberg, however, lacks the tackle experience to make him a target for the Packers traditionally. For Green Bay, he’d be a guard only who would struggle with the lateral nature of the offense. Stenberg is best suited for an offense that’s primarily rooted in a gap scheme, where his mauling mentality can be put to full use.

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> INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE

Netane Muti (rJR)

Fresno St

Matt Hennessy (rJR)

Temple

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 315 lbs. | Arm Length: 31¾” |

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 307 lbs. | Arm Length: 32¼” |

Hand Size: 10⅝” | 40 Time: n/a

Hand Size: 10” | 40 Time: 5.18

NFL COMBINE: 44 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: 30” vertical | 110” broad jump | 4.60 sec 20 yd | 7.45 sec. 3-cone

In a nutshell:

Muti is one of the most unique and curious cases in this entire class, regardless of position. When he’s been healthy, he’s played nearly dominant-level football. However, that hasn’t happened often. Two season ending injuries, an achilles injury in 2018 and a lis franc injury in 2019, land Muti where he is on this list, but don’t be surprised if he outperforms plenty ranked above him. Run Block: In the run game, Muti is an absolute stud who flashes Mike Iupati-like skills. He plays like a bully and is always looking for someone else to put in the ground. Pass Pro: As a pass blocker, he shows the ability to anchor and stop the bull rush, while also showing the movement skills to deal with speed. His technique has some work needed, but he blocks his assignment.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Muti would be a bit of an anomaly in the Packers’ offensive line room, as he’s definitely a gap scheme type rather than a zone or lateral type run blocker. He also has no athletic testing to go off of other than his bench, which was the highest total at the combine. With Green Bay’s stinginess on prospects due to athletic scores, it wouldn’t be a shock if they steer clear of him. Muti has the talent to succeed in any scheme, but a gap scheme would optimize his strengths.

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In a nutshell:

Hennessy capitalized on an excellent Senior Bowl performance to catapult himself near the top of the center conversations. A tough kid who plays cerebrally in order to optimize his skill set, Hennessy will have himself a long career in the NFL, as either a center or as a guard in a zone scheme. Run Block: As a run blocker, Hennessy uses his movement ability to put himself in position to succeed. While Hennessy plays physically, he’s not a displacer of defensive linemen— rather, he shields the linemen away from the ball carrier. Pass Pro: As a pass blocker, Hennessy uses good leverage and uses his hands really well in order to stop power moves because they get started.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Hennessy is one of the more likely potential fits with the Packers despite his lack of experience as a tackle due to his athleticism. He posted impressive numbers at the combine in Indianapolis and, coupled that with an impressive Senior Bowl, Hennessy has done well for himself during this draft cycle. He’s a Packers type of offensive lineman, so despite not checking all of the boxes, it wouldn't be surprising if he ended up in Green Bay.

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Tyre Phillips (rSR)

Mississippi St

In a nutshell:

Phillips is a mammoth of a man who is all about brute force and moving people at the point of attack. He had a good week at the Senior Bowl and was the only offensive lineman down in Mobile who could match the strength of South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw, the best defensive player at the event.

13 Kevin Dotson (rSR)

UL-Lafayette

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 310 lbs. In a nutshell: Dotson was probably the most notable NFL Scouting Combine snub in this year’s class, as he and teammate Robert Hunt made up one of the most impressive duos in the country at Louisiana-Lafayette. Dotson’s game is all about nastiness and physicality, and in the NFL that will suit him well. The passing game can still be improved for Dotson, but he’s an NFL-level run blocker day one in an NFL camp.

14 Calvin Throckmorton (rSR)

Oregon

Measurables: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 317 lbs. In a nutshell: Due to his limited athleticism, Throckmorton is a former tackle that should see a move inside at the next level, which is fine for him; he started at nearly every position for the Ducks throughout his career. Though he tested fairly poorly, he doesn’t always reflect it in his play, and he should be a potential target for the Packers in the draft due to his tackle experience. He was an alternate at the Senior Bowl and practiced well on short notice. A technician, Throckmorton is going to be a tough guy to get rid of.

Run Block: In the run game, Phillips is a bulldozer who moves people off of their spot with strength and physicality. He’s devastating on the backside of double-team blocks and is better on the move than you’d expect from a man of his size. Pass Pro: In pass protection, power is the name of the game for Phillips. He’s average at best as an athlete, but his sheer size and strength works in his favor in pass protection. He’s got long arms to negate bull rushers and can keep rushers off balance with his length.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Phillips isn’t likely to generate much interest from a team like the Packers due to their athletic thresholds and his lack of experience playing tackle. Phillips might be able to, in a pinch, get you out of a game at tackle, but he’ll make his money as a gap scheme guard who punishes defenders all game long. Phillips will be a good player in the NFL for a long time, but under the Packers current coaching staff and front office regime, it likely won’t be in Green Bay.

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15 Soloman Kindley (rJR)

Georgia

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 337 lbs. In a nutshell: Kindley is a massive human being who was a part of an offensive line at Georgia with multiple top NFL targets, but he was a bit inconsistent from a performance standpoint. He’s got impressive power and the ability to dominate at times but needs to continue to improve his technique, as well as improve his overall performance. His baseline traits will keep teams interested, but he’s a bit of a boom-or-bust candidate.

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16 Michael Onwenu (SR)

Michigan

17 Jon Runyan Jr (rSR)

Michigan

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 344 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 306 lbs.

In a nutshell: Onwenu is the thickest prospect in this year’s draft class, regardless of position. A four-year starter along the offensive line for the Wolverines, Onwenu isn’t the dominator you’d assume from his build, but, conversely, he’s a much better athlete than would be expected. He’s going to be at his best as a plus-sized zone blocker who is adequately adept in the passing game.

In a nutshell: Jon Runyan Jr. plays the position exactly as you’d expect the son of Jon Runyan would. Runyan Jr. has the former college tackle experience the Packers value and is one of the more athletic offensive linemen in the class. He projects inside at the next level but could be a swing tackle for a team. His versatility and ability to play nearly every position on the offensive line will make him a valuable commodity.

18 Keith Ismael (rJR)

San Diego St

19 Nick Harris (SR)

Washington

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 309 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 302 lbs.

In a nutshell: Ismael was impressive down in Mobile, where the Senior Bowl competition wasn’t too much for the center. More of a finesse player, Ismael showed some impressive athleticism on the all-star circuit, which should interest teams that employ zone schemes. Sound in pass protection, Ismael is more of a positional blocker who shows the ability to break down and shield second level defenders from the ball carrier.

In a nutshell: Harris was a three-plus-year starter at Washington and earned quite a bit of acclaim heading into his senior season, but struggled mightily at the Senior Bowl in Mobile. Granted, he played the last day on a bum ankle, but Harris will need to prove to NFL teams that he can keep on good weight. Harris is a good athlete who should perform well in a zone based blocking scheme but will struggle mightily against big nose tackles who use power.

20 Tremayne Anchrum (SR)

Clemson Arizona Satate

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 314 lbs. In a nutshell: Anchrum started at right tackle for the defending national runners-up for two-plus years, but at 6’2” lacks the ideal body type of an NFL tackle. Anchrum is a fiesty blocker who is going to stick on the right team under an offensive line coach that is going to value his technical prowess. Solid as a pass blocker, his long arms will help him as an interior player with a smaller frame to start with.

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21 Daryl Williams (SR)

Mississippi St

22 Danny Pinter (rSR)

Ball St

23 Jake Hanson (SR) Oregon 24 Simon Stepaniak (rSR) Indiana 25 Cohl Cabral (SR)

Arizona St

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Position Analysis:

Tyler Grzegorek

J AV O N KI N L AW SR SOUTH CAROLINA

1. Derrick Brown, Auburn

2. Ross Blacklock, TCU 3. Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina 4. Raekwon Davis, Alabama 5. Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M 6. Rashard Lawrence, LSU 7. Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma 8. Leki Fotu, Utah 9. Marlon Davidson, Auburn 10. Larell Murchison, NC St 11. Davon Hamilton, Ohio St 12. Nick Coe, Auburn 13. McTelvin Agim, Arkansas 14. Raequan Williams, Michigan St 15. Jordan Elliott, Missouri 16. Garrett Marino, UAB 17. James Lynch, Baylor 18. Carlos Davis, Nebraska 19. Khalil Davis, Nebraska 20. Robert Landers, Ohio St

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> DEFENSIVE LINE

Derrick Brown (SR)

Auburn

Measurables: Height: 6’5” Weight: 326 lbs.

40 Time: 5.16

NFL COMBINE: 27” vertical 108” broad 4.79 sec 20 yd 8.22 sec. 3-cone 28 bench reps

2019 STATS: 54 tackles 11.5 TFL 4.0 sacks 4 PD 2 FF

In a Nut Shell:

Brown is the best defensive lineman in this class and should easily be a top-10 pick because of that. As a pass rusher, Brown is not necessarily the most dynamic player on the field. However, as a run defender, Brown wreaks havoc among opposing offensive lines. The senior defensive tackle excels at shooting gaps with quickness and good strength to disrupt running lanes. He is a gifted player, built with the length and body build sought out in today’s NFL. Brown can use that length, coupled with great strength for a college defensive lineman, to collapse the pocket from the interior as a pass rusher. While he still has some work to do technically in this area, Brown will provide an impactful snap every so often. The biggest negative to Brown’s game is his lack of change of direction ability. There are times when running backs seem to be able to simply run around him, but this is a minor flaw that shouldn’t hinder Brown’s path to NFL relevance.

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POOR COMBINE PERFORMANCE:

Brown’s poor combine performance definitely raised more questions than it answered. The only drill that it can be argued Brown “performed well” in would be the bench press. However, the lack of performance in the other drills does not match what he did on the field last season. It is possible that Brown came to the combine and was not ready to perform at a high level. There have been examples of players posting poor combine performances and going on to be successful. Brown should be in that consideration.

Fit with the Packers:

The former Auburn Tiger would be immediately impactful as a two-down specialist and will earn his pass rushing reps over time. With that being said, the Packers had a dire need for someone to stuff the run with Kenny Clark. It’s time to keep your fingers crossed that the bad combine does push Brown down the board and somehow into the Packers’ lap. Kenny Clark and Derrick Brown would be a ferocious duo of run stuffers. Brown can play as a nose tackle and slide all the way out to defensive end in a 3-4 or 4-3 alignment. If there’s one thing that Packers fans know about defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, it’s that he likes versatility. The addition of Brown to Pettine’s defensive front would surely be welcomed by Pettine and Packers fans alike.

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Ross Blacklock (rJR)

TCU

Measurables: Height: 6’3” Weight: 290 lbs.

40 Time: 4.90

NFL COMBINE: 29” vertical 107” broad 4.67 sec. 20 yd 7.77 sec. 3-cone

2019 STATS: 40 tackles 9.0 TFL 3.5 sacks

In a Nut Shell:

Between Blacklock and Brown, Blacklock is the far more exciting prospect. The Horned Frog displays flashes of elite quickness, and while his poor combine performance doesn’t indicate that, Blacklock plays like an elite athlete on the field. He’s also got the build that is being sought out in today’s NFL: long lanky arms, flexible hips and elite athleticism. For a man who weighs in at 329 pounds, Blacklock moves like he is only 270. He can hold up against and disrupt double teams to break up the running lanes. Blacklock does lack much of a pass rush plan, but he is focused on winning the battle presented in front of him. He also sports a nasty swim move that can be used to put pressure on the quarterback from the interior. There is the occasional mental lapse and a question of effort at times; both of which are pushing Blacklock down this draft board.

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Injury concerns and Combine Performance:

The junior did miss his entire sophomore season (2018) with a torn ACL. While it seems as though he has come back with a force, this is always something to note during the evaluation process. Blacklock also did not perform exceedingly well at the combine. That shouldn’t deter teams from taking a chance to develop a defensive lineman who should be truly impactful on all three downs early on in his career.

Fit with the Packers:

Blacklock’s fit with the Packers is like a glove. As mentioned above, the Packers have been looking for someone to couple with Kenny Clark and be a wrecking ball in the center of that Packers front. Blacklock could just be that. He can slide out to defensive end on early downs and rush from the interior on the later downs. The key here is isolating Clark in one-on-ones to maximize his effectiveness. That can’t be done until another truly talented player has entered into the fold. Blacklock could be that guy.

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> DEFENSIVE LINE

Javon Kinlaw (SR)

South Carolina

Measurables: Height: 6’5” Weight: 324 lbs.

40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

2019 STATS: 35 tackles 6.0 TFL 6.0 sacks 2 PD

In a Nut Shell:

Just to nip this in the bud immediately, Kinlaw’s biggest flaw is his lack of mental processing. There is quite a bit of work to be done here, however, he is able to make up for most of it by simply “winning” reps against offensive linemen. Kinlaw is a powerful, freaky specimen whose only athletic shortcoming is that he’s too tall. He can struggle to gain proper leverage at the point of attack due to his height, but that doesn’t stop him from noticeably being one of the best athletes on the field. Kinlaw is an effective gap-shooter who can be disruptive in both the run game and the passing game. He is simply a matchup nightmare in the making. The senior plays with heavy hands and can leave offensive linemen in the dust with his combination of speed and power.

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Draft Board Ascension:

Despite missing the combine due to recovering from a knee injury, Kinlaw has ascended up draft boards this draft season. With a great story to boot, it’s easy to see why. Kinlaw is a humble man who fuels his passion with the fact that he was homeless at the age of 11. Every single play and every game is personal to him. So, on top of being a tremendous athlete, Kinlaw is a tremendous person with a story that makes him easy to root for.

Fit with the Packers:

Kinlaw’s fit along the Green Bay front is an easy one to project: just get him on the field. Like Brown and Blacklock, Kinlaw can easily slide into whatever role he is asked of him. He could slide into nose tackle in a pinch, but he’d likely fit best and thrive in a role as an attacking 3-4 defensive end. The goal would be to create as many one-on-one matchups as you can along the defensive front, and with a guy like Kinlaw staring down the quarterback, it would be very hard to not get excited about that.

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> DEFENSIVE LINE

Raekwon Davis (SR)

Alabama

Justin Madubuike (rJR)

Texas A&M

Measurables: Height: 6’6” | Weight: 311 lbs. | 40 Time: 5.12

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 293 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.83

NFL COMBINE: 28” vertical | 111” broad | 4.86 sec. 20 yd |

NFL COMBINE: 7.37 sec. 3-cone | 31 bench reps

7.95 sec. 3-cone | 24 bench reps

2019 stats: 45 tackles | 11.5 TFL | 5.5 sacks | 1 INT | 2 PD | 1 FF

2019 stats: 47 tackles | 3.0 TFL | 0.5 sacks

In a nutshell:

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Davis has all the natural tools and puts them on display quite frequently. He uses his length and strength to easily set up and shed blockers at the point of attack. The Crimson Tide defensive lineman is a strong run defender who provides some solid juice as an interior pass rusher. Davis’ biggest issue is consistency. He will lose his leverage at times and thus will lose his plan, ultimately washing himself out of the play. But there were technical improvements from 2018 to 2019, and that’s always an intriguing factor. Given all of that, Davis was still impactful from snap to snap. He can collapse the pocket from the interior and then scrape down the line of scrimmage to stuff the run on the next. He will be immediately impactful from day one. Davis provides a good floor as an NFL prospect with an even higher ceiling.

Davis is the best fit in terms of value and player in the entire defensive line class. Most mocks currently have Davis being available at the back end of the first round and into the second. This is where his level of talent fits and he would slide right into the Packers defensive rotation alongside Kenny Clark. Davis can slide into the nose in an emergency and make a home at defensive end. It might take a little bit of time, but eventually he’d peel away the starting job from Dean Lowry. A defensive front of Smith-Clark-Davis-Smith is an enticing prospect to have.

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Madubuike is one of the more polarizing players in this defensive line class. He will have one flash play and then be non-existent the next. However, those flashes are very, very bright. Madubuike excels as a gap-shooting defensive lineman and finishes/closes on plays with a “violence” that you like to see. He’s a slow-burn pass rusher who won’t win too many bullrushes, but he will zoom by offensive linemen using his quickness on stunts. This is where he excels. Madubuike isn’t going to be the strongest defensive linemen prospect out there, but he might be the quickest, and he knows it. He uses his quickness and alters his speed effectively to hit gaps and ultimately disrupt the play. He’s got some work to do, but the tools are all there for Madubuike to be an impactful player at the NFL level.

Madubuike’s best fit with the Packers would be as a defensive end. It wouldn’t be crazy to ask him to slide inside on pass rushing downs either. Mike Pettine does love his stunts, and Madubuike would be a perfect fit for a lot of the things that Pettine likes to do. The biggest concern would be his fit as a run defender. Early on, Madubuike’s best fit would be as a rotational level early down defender who can provide some juice on pass rushing downs.

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> DEFENSIVE LINE

Rashard Lawrence (SR)

LSU

Neville Gallimore (rSR)

Oklahoma

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 308 lbs. | 40 Time: 5.07

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 304 lbs | 40 Time: 4.79

NFL COMBINE: 8.03 sec. 3-cone | 22 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: 5.01 sec. 20 yd | 7.97 sec. 3-cone | 23 bench reps

2019 stats: 28 tackles | 6.0 TFL | 2.5 sacks | 3 PD | 1 FF

2019 stats: 29 tackles | 6.5 TFL | 4.0 sacks | 1 PD | 2 FF

In a nutshell:

The first ability that pops off the tape for Lawrence is his first step. He’s got a tenacity and an edge to his play that coaches will love to have on their team. Finesse is not his claim to fame. Lawrence is a powerful human being, and his playstyle reflects that. He tries to win too often with his athleticism yet has shown that he can win hand fights. Lawrence is going to need to develop technically by adding a little finesse to his game to beat some of the upper-level offensive linemen in the NFL. It simply won’t be enough for him to overpower them. Being a high-motor player and playing with his eyes down, Lawrence can tend to find himself out of position at times. These are items that will need to be rectified should he want to find success at the next level.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Lawrence is at his best when he has the opportunity to take on offensive linemen one-on-one. Because of this, likely his best fit is in a 4-3 system that can maximize those types of opportunities. However, in a defensive system like the one Green Bay is building, he would have those opportunities as a 3-4 defensive end as well. Lawrence will thrive in a position where he doesn’t have to worry about horizontal responsibilities. The more that he can simply work forward the better.

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As is exemplified by the 4.79 40-yard dash time, Gallimore is likely the only defensive lineman in this class that can consistently chase opposing players to the sideline. Gallimore boasts supreme quickness for an interior defensive lineman, and it is arguably his best quality. He is a high energy player who will forget his technique at the point of attack. Also exemplified by his combine performance, Gallimore truly lacks the functional strength at this point that will be required of him at the NFL level. He will have to hit the weights a bit in order to not get eaten alive by NFL offensive linemen. However, Gallimore will find his way on the field due to his ability to effectively perform stunts and pressure the passer. To his credit, Gallimore is also one of the better tackling defensive linemen in the class. While there is yet work to be done, the tools are most definitely there.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Gallimore would not be strong enough to play nose tackle at the NFL level. In Green Bay, that is fine. Mike Pettine would find ways to get Gallimore freed to make plays on the quarterback even from the defensive end position in whatever alignment Pettine is throwing out that play. Pettine could create a weapon out of Gallimore, and the thought of Pettine throwing him into stunts with Clark is very enticing. However, the Packers need a true run defender, and, while Gallimore is not deficient in this area, he is more of a pass rusher at this point in his career.

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Leki Fotu (SR)

Utah

Marlon Davidson (SR)

Auburn

Measurables: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 330 lbs. | 40 Time: 5.15

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 303 lbs. | 40 Time: 5.04

NFL COMBINE: 21 bench reps

2019 stats: 25 tackles | 6.5 TFL | 0.5 sacks | 2 PD | 1 FF

2019 stats: 48 tackles | 12.5 TFL | 7.5 sacks | 1 PD | 2 FF

In a nutshell:

Looking for a good nose tackle? Fotu is your guy. Fotu consistently ate up double teams at Utah. The epitome of “will not be moved unless he wants to.” Fotu is a stout run defender who will occasionally collapse the pocket by forklifting offensive linemen into the quarterback’s lap. His ceiling as a pass rusher is rather limited, but he should find a long term role in the NFL as a quality run defender. Fotu doesn’t really exemplify the quickness to play many other locations along the defensive front other than nose tackle, and that’s why he gets pushed down the draft board a bit. It’s a classic case of being onedimensional but excelling at that one dimension. Fotu does suffer from a natural lack of length but makes up for it by being an immovable space eater.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

This will be an easy one. Fotu would be welcomed with open arms into Pettine’s defense. The addition of Fotu would give Clark some free reign in the middle of that defensive front to do what he pleases. This would also add another run stuffer into the middle of the defense. The primary conversation this off-season has been to revamp the inside linebacker position and, while rightfully so, the addition of a legitimate run-stuffing nose tackle like Fotu would be a big, big help towards that goal.

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Utilized as an EDGE player in a very talented Auburn defensive front, Davidson better projects as a down lineman in the NFL as opposed to an EDGE player. Typically, this would indicate a player that was better suited to play in a 4-3 system. This is not the case for Davidson. Davidson has the size, strength, and quickness to become an impactful three-down player at the NFL level. Davidson is an intriguing moldable ball of clay akin to Rashan Gary in last year’s class. One of his tougher obstacles to overcome is a better sense of field awareness. Often, Davidson is too focused on what is in front of him as opposed to what is going on with the play. Because of this, his defense of the run is currently questionable at best. As of right now, Davidson is a developmental player who will need to find creative ways to be productive at the NFL level.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Davidson’s immediate fit with the Packers would be in question, although Davidson would be a very similar player to that of Za’Darius Smith and Rashan Gary. Pettine has shown a penchant for those types of players, and it wouldn’t be surprising for Davidson to be on his radar as a depth pass rusher. In year one, that would be Davidson’s immediate role. In year two and beyond, the Packers would be hoping to develop him further into a hybrid 3-4 defensive end and EDGE pass rusher.

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> DEFENSIVE LINE

Larell Murchison (rSR)

NC State

Davon Hamilton (rSR)

Ohio St

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 297 lbs. | 40 Time: 5.05

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 320 lbs. | 40 Time: 5.14

NFL COMBINE: 29” vertical | 118” broad | 4.51 sec. 20 yd |

NFL COMBINE: 29.5” vertical | 102” broad | 7.72 sec. 3-cone |

7.89 sec. 3-cone | 29 bench reps

33 bench reps

2019 stats: 48 tackles | 12.0 TFL | 7.0 sacks | 2 PD

2019 stats: 28 tackles | 10.5 TFL | 6 sacks | 1 PD | 2 FF

In a nutshell:

Murchison tested better than a lot of the defensive linemen at the combine. His film matches his performance there. Murchison does a fine job of scraping down the line of scrimmage to make stops. Murchison’s current strength is as a run-stuffing defensive lineman who will offer minimal pressure in pass rush. His natural lack of length truly limits his abilities in this department. His deficiencies in technical abilities don’t do him any favors. However, he has a nice first step to catch offensive linemen off guard and penetrate gaps. On top of that, he attacks each encounter with a bout of power. His troubles lie in the counters. If his first move is stuffed, then he usually gets stymied. These are correctable issues, but in a class with a lot of talent at the position, it pushes him down draft boards.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Murchison is another defensive line prospect who can fill in at multiple positions along the front. He can play nose in a pinch and would be fine to line up at defensive end in the Packers’ default 3-4 system. Pettine would have the ability to move him and Clark around to further attempt at stopping the run. Similarly to adding a true nose tackle, this would help free up the linebackers behind Clark and his partner to make stops. Murchison shouldn’t come at such a high cost either as he’s slated to be a late-Day 2 or Day 3 pick.

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33 bench reps perfectly describes Hamilton’s style of play. Another true nose tackle type, Hamilton is a country-strong space eater who can anchor down against double teams and provide ample run support. Hamilton does a fine job of diagnosing blocking schemes quickly and getting himself into a position to succeed. He doesn’t offer much juice as a pass rusher and suffers from an overall lack of natural length. Hamilton’s change of direction ability is fairly non-existent. His block deconstruction can be lacking at times due to lack of length and technical deficiencies. But Hamilton understands his deficiencies and does a good job of playing to his strengths.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Like others listed above, Hamilton’s true value and best fit would be as a pure nose tackle. The Packers could certainly use the likes of someone like that and allow Kenny Clark to roam free. Hamilton wouldn’t possess the necessary quickness or lateral agility to slide out defensive end, but he can eat up double teams and occupy the middle of the line. There is a potential that he develops a pass rush arsenal but is currently lacking here. He is likely a specialist and rotational level player until he develops that part of his game.

128

> DEFENSIVE LINE

Nick Coe (rJR)

Auburn

In a nutshell:

Marlon Davidson, meet Nick Coe; Nick Coe, meet Marlon Davidson. Auburn certainly had a type at their EDGE position, and their defense was one of the best in the country for a reason. Coe’s learning curve in transitioning to a 3-4 defensive end will be a steep one, but he has flashed some really promising traits as a natural pass rusher. The name of the game is consistency. Coe flashes all of the necessary traits (length, extension, block deconstruction, leverage, strength, gap penetration) to successfully make the transition, but he will need to do so on a more consistent basis. If EDGE ends up being where Coe calls home in the NFL, he has the quickness to do so and is a strong tackler there as well. Either way, Coe’s ceiling is a situational pass rusher, which isn't a bad return for a guy likely to go on late Day 2 or early Day 3.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Coe would play a similar role to that of Rashan Gary and Za’Darius Smith should he don the Green and Gold in 2020. Coe has the athleticism to do so, and Pettine would relish in the opportunity to have another guy he can rotate in and move around the line of scrimmage. Early on, Coe’s likely role will be as a situational pass rusher. It would likely take him an NFL off-season to fully make the transition to putting his hand in the dirt consistently. Green Bay is looking for additional help behind their incumbent pass rushers, and Coe would fit right in.

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13 McTelvin Agim (SR)

Arkansas

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 309 lbs. In a nutshell: Agim is an interesting prospect who displays an exciting first step and a nice ability to play in pursuit. However, he loses far too often due to a lack of leverage. Agim is a recent convert from purely defensive end to playing defensive tackle along the Razorback defensive front. His strength is average at best. Given his acclimation to a new position, Agim has some really bright flashes that will make him worth grabbing in the middle rounds.

14 Raequan Williams (rSR)

Michigan St

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 308 lbs. In a nutshell: One of the strongest, if not the strongest, defensive linemen in the class. Williams boasts a nice first step that he can use to penetrate gaps with ease. He doesn’t offer much technically and tries to “out-athlete” his opponents. But, the flash of a powerful swim move and heavy hands are there. Double teams ate him up due to a lack of technique and length. In addition to this, Williams struggles to wrap ball carriers up. He looks to be a quality project player in the mid rounds.

15 Jordan Elliott (rJR)

Missouri

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 302 lbs. In a nutshell: Elliott attacks each snap with the fire that you like to see. He’s currently better as a run defender than he is as a pass rusher. He does harness a nice swim move that he likes to unleash at times but far too inconsistently. He’s likely a rotational level player at the NFL level.

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> DEFENSIVE LINE

16 Garrett Marino (SR)

UAB

17 James Lynch (JR)

Baylor

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 290 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 289 lbs.

In a nutshell: Marino’s size would indicate that he was best fit for a role as a 4-3 defensive end. However, Marino displays the strength and fire necessary to sift through the traffic when playing at a 3-4 defensive end location. His biggest knock is that he’ll be 26 years old at the time of the draft, but he provides a fire and intensity on every single snap that becomes infectious. His likely ceiling is a role player wherever he lands.

In a nutshell: Lynch was one of the most interesting evaluations of the 2020 defensive line class. Baylor played him strictly on the EDGE, but he would slide inside occasionally. He is a little bit of an in-betweener and will need to find a position to call home at the NFL level. For a man of his size, he moves vertically very quickly. Until he’s able to find a home, he’ll likely be a situational pass rusher.

18 Carlos Davis (rSR)

Nebraska

19 Khalil Davis (rSR)

Nebraska

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 313 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 308 lbs.

In a nutshell: The first of the Davis twins plays with a fire that will get him his “wins.” Both he and his brother tested out of the water at the combine and will look to improve technically at the NFL level to become an effective defensive line prospect. A natural lack of length proves to make block deconstruction difficult, but he plays with his eyes in the backfield and is able to set himself up for success a lot of the time.

In a nutshell: The second Davis brother shows some natural push in the interior but really is lacking horizontally. He played all along the Nebraska front, moving from defensive end to nose tackle on any given play. There was noticeable improvement from 2018 to 2019, but how much more growth can be had is the biggest question mark.

20 Robert Landers (SR)

Ohio Satate St Arizona

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 285 lbs. In a nutshell: One can see that Landers was coached well at Ohio State. He constantly plays with a good pad level, extension and overall leverage. He will hold his own against double teams but struggles to overall beat them. His hand use flashes violent and heavy. Overall though, a natural lack of length proves to be difficult to overcome. His likely role will be as an early down rotational body at the NFL level.

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21 Mike Panasiuk (SR)

Michigan St

22 Tyler Clark (SR) Georgia 23 Bravvion Roy (SR) Baylor 24 Benito Jones (SR)

Ole Miss

25 Ray Lima (rSR)

Iowa St

130

Position Analysis:

Ross Uglem

EDGE

1. Chase Young, Ohio St

2. K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU 3. AJ Epenesa, Iowa 4. Curtis Weaver, Boise St 5. Julian Okwara, Notre Dame 6. Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn St 7. Josh Uche, Michigan 8. Bradlee Anae, Utah 9. Darrell Taylor, Tennessee 10. Terrell Lewis, Alabama 11. Jonathan Greenard, Florida 12. Anfernee Jennings, Alabama 13. Derrek Tuszka, North Dakota St 14. Alex Highsmith, Charlotte 15. Kenny Willekes, Michigan St 16. Trevis Gipson, Tulsa 17. Trevon Hill, Miami 18. Khalid Kareem, Notre Dame

JULIAN O K WA R A SR NOTRE DAME

19. Jason Strowbridge, North Carolina 20. Jabari Zuniga, Miami

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131

> EDGE DEFENDER

Chase Young (JR)

Ohio St

Measurables: Height: 6’5” Weight: 264 lbs.

40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

2019 STATS: 16.5 sacks 46 tackles 6 FF 1 blocked kick 21 TFL

In a Nut Shell:

Best game:

Vs. the pass: His pass rush skill set is elite and diverse, though he isn’t the most bendy rusher of all time. Young prefers to use power and an extremely deep list of hand moves (dip/rip, cross/ chop, chop/swim, stab and more) than just to bend and flatten. His change of direction skills still appear to be elite, which can be seen when Young defends outside runs and the read-option.

Fit with the Packers:

To be blunt, the best prospect in this draft that isn’t a quarterback is Chase Young. Young is extremely powerful and physical and invariably ends up being the focal point of the opposing offense. Teams ran away from Young and slid protection to Young’s side. This, of course, didn’t stop the junior from being extremely productive in his final year at Ohio State, racking up 16-plus sacks.

Vs. the run: Young is an excellent run defender, mostly due to his tremendous strength. If one were looking for a weakness in Young’s game, it might be the fact that at 6’5”, he does tend to get a bit upright in the run game and not play with the pad level you’d like to see. Still, he’s not a pass rush specialist to the extent that you’d consider him any sort of a liability against the run.

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Young completely destroyed the Wisconsin Badgers in a 38–7 victory. Young registered six tackles, four sacks and forced two fumbles against what most consider a very talented Badgers offensive line. Wisconsin fared much better against Young in the Big Ten Championship game, but the regular season contest was a one-sided affair, and Young was the biggest reason. Young is a true field-tilter.

Young would be a bit of an odd fit from a schematic standpoint, unless the Packers wanted to move Rashan Gary to threetechnique (they should) and play more of a four-man front (40 front). Young doesn’t make a ton of sense for the Packers in that he doesn’t play a lot with his hands up in a two-point stance. Still, Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith are bigger 3-4 outside linebackers. If you can’t figure out a way to scheme in Chase Young, you probably need to find a different defensive coaching staff.

132

> EDGE DEFENDER

K’Lavon Chaisson (rSO)

LSU

Measurables: Height: 6’3” Weight: 254 lbs.

40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

2019 STATS: 6.5 sacks 60 tackles 2 PD 1 FF

In a Nut Shell:

Chaisson is quite obviously more of a projection than Young, but he is the kind of bendy pass rusher who works out in the league more often than not. He’s also extremely explosive, as his first step covers a ton of ground. A 2018 ACL tear makes Chaisson a bit of a lottery ticket, but his potential is nearly limitless. Vs. the pass: Chaisson could develop a few more moves in this regard. He makes Chase Young look like Picasso. His burst is so tremendous that the key to his success will be his ability to flatten to the quarterback and play half-a-man throughout the rush. There is quite a bit of room to grow with the hand-technique aspect of his rushes. Chaisson flashed an inside spin counter during the 2019 season. He possesses truly unbelievable body control and flexibility, contributing to his near limitless upside. Vs, the run: Oddly enough, this is where Chaisson is the best right now. For a player who profiles as an edge-carving bender, Chaisson’s gap discipline and anchor is impressive for a player most would consider an undersized EDGE piece. He adeptly maintains his balance while setting the edge.

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Playoff game:

In a game LSU just had to have, Chaisson was excellent against the high-flying Oklahoma Sooners, led by head coach Lincoln Riley and quarterback Jalen Hurts. Chaisson got to Hurts twice for sacks and finished the game with six total tackles against the Sooners’ spread attack. It was the kind of bright-lights performance you want to see from a first-round pick.

Fit with the Packers:

Chaisson is a phenomenal fit for Green Bay in that he’s not redundant with their other rushers. Preston Smith, Za’Darius Smith and Rashan Gary are really, really big EDGE players, specifically for a 3-4 defense. None of them possess elite speed or bend, which is something Chaisson has in spades. Chaisson would be the perfect change-up from the three rushers the Packers so heavily invested in during the 2019 offseason. Chaisson and Gary could form a second rush “team” in the same way that Shaq Barrett and Shane Ray backed up Demarcus Ware and Von Miller for the Super Bowl-era Broncos.

133

> EDGE DEFENDER

AJ Epenesa (SR)

Iowa

Measurables: Height: 6’5” Weight: 275 lbs.

40 Time: 5.04

NFL COMBINE: 117” broad 4.46 sec. 20 yd 7.34 sec. 3-cone 17 bench reps

2019 STATS: 11.5 sacks 49 tackles 14 TFL 4 FF

In a Nut Shell:

In a league of different pass-rushing tools, Epenesa is a hammer. He may be a one-trick pony, but the Iowa product possesses one hell of a trick. Epenesa doesn’t explode off the ball or bend the edge, but he’s as stout as it gets in this class. His initial punch might be the best in this class, and that includes the defensive tackles. In short, Epenesa is an ox. Vs. the pass: Epenesa’s hands are extremely heavy. His punch displaces most of the offensive tackles he faces. Neither his testing numbers nor his tape show a lot of agility or flexibility. He’s not going to dip his inside shoulder and flatten, but he might not ever have to. Epenesa is a straight-line puncher and works his counter rushes off of that power, featuring an inside rip and a chop/rip. He will not be able to rush as a stand-up outside linebacker in a 3-4. If a 3-4 team takes him, he’s going to rush from inside.

NFL Combine:

Epenesa did not shine in Indianapolis, at least not in the athletic testing. His long arms may contribute to his relatively low bench press number, but his 3-cone time and short shuttle time don’t have logical explanations other than that he’s just not a super twitched-up athlete. Fortunately for Epenesa, that’s not how he wins, and there’s plenty of film of him winning over and over again just by using his hands and his core strength.

Fit with the Packers:

Epenesa would fit with the Packers as a souped-up version of Dean Lowry, or as a 4-3 defensive end if the Packers ever do move to the “40” front. At 6’5”-plus with 34.5” arms, Epenesa has the length of a five-technique in a 3-4 defense and can work hands against guards and centers. Epenesa could also work the edge on early downs, especially on the tight end side of the formation. The Packers seem to prefer the stronger, less-bendy rushers. Epenesa certainly is that.

Vs. the run: An absolute warrior against the run, Epensa is strong. The line of scrimmage in the run game is usually where Epensa decides it is. He’s a strong tackler, but in space his lateral mobility is lacking. Espenesa out on the edge in space against a shiftier back could get a bit ugly. That said, he is an extremely strong player who consistently sets the edge and funnels ball carriers back into his defensive tackles and linebackers.

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134

> EDGE DEFENDER

Curtis Weaver (rJR)

Boise St

Julian Okwara (SR)

Notre Dame

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 265 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 252 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 32.5” vertical | 116” broad | 4.27 sec. 20 yd |

NFL COMBINE: 27 bench reps

7.00 sec. 3-cone

2019 stats: 19 tackles | 5 sacks | 7 TFL | 2 FF

2019 stats: 52 tackles | 13.5 sacks | 19.5 TFL | 1 Int

In a Nutshell:

Curtis Weaver is a very unique football player. An up-the-field penetrator who might remind Packers fans of Za’Darius Smith, Weaver does not burn and bend around the edge like you might expect a shorter pass rusher to do. He doesn’t really possess the Adonis body that many of the top pass rushers do, either. With that said, he’s thick, strong and productive. Vs. the pass: As mentioned before, Weaver is not a bendy pass rusher. Weaver possesses advanced hands. The initial pop often raises the pad level of the offensive lineman, which is when Weaver goes to work. His speciality is to chop and work half-man relationships while “getting small” (he already is kind of small). Weaver “weaves” in between guard and tackle and in between guard and center. His counter move-set if the initial rush fails is also phenomenal. Vs. the run: Weaver’s a smaller guy, so against bigger offensive tackles and tackle/tight end double teams it’s not always pretty. Weaver would much rather get upfield and penetrate/disrupt than hold a firm edge, a tactic that suits his athletic profile. Weaver could also get some burn against the run as an off-ball linebacker, and he was used in a two-point stance at Boise State quite a bit.

Fit with the Packers:

Weaver could fill a Clay Matthews/Za’Darius Smith blended role. Weaver would actually be an excellent backup for Smith. Mike Pettine could deploy him in a two-point stance all over the formation and hope for disruption and impact. Weaver also profiles as a useful special teamer.

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In a nutshell:

The Fighting Irish senior has an exciting athletic frame and movement skills, though it would have been helpful to see his testing numbers at Notre Dame’s now-canceled pro day. On film, Okwara displays the burst and bend that make him a safe pick as a productive pass rusher in the pro ranks. Vs. the pass: Okwara exhibits an excellent first step along with tremendous ball-get-off. Very rarely was he not first across the line of scrimmage. Okwara has the tools to be a true speed rusher. He wins with bend, dipping the inside shoulder and flattening to the quarterback. The rip/dip is Okwara’s go-to move, removing the hands and attacking half-a-man. His inside counter moves after failing to carve the edge could use some work. Vs. the run: This is not a player you’re going to want to ask to set the edge against a tight end or a left tackle. At 252 pounds, Okwara is what he is: a speed rusher. He has tremendous value as that, but expecting him to hold up on first down is a stretch. Okwara will be best utilized against the run getting upfield in a one-gap system, not holding his ground.

Fit with the Packers:

Okwara, like Chaisson, is an excellent fit with Green Bay because he provides something different. Green Bay doesn’t have the bursty, bendy edge player on its roster right now, and won’t have anything like that at all after letting Kyler Fackrell walk in free agency. The Smiths are great pressure players, as is Kenny Clark. Rashan Gary might be someday, but even he projects as a power rusher. Okwara would be an excellent tool to store in the toolbox if Green Bay comes up against an offensive tackle who struggles with raw speed.

135

> EDGE DEFENDER

Yetur Gross-Matos (JR)

Penn St

Josh Uche (rJR)

Michigan

Measurables: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 266 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 245 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 34” vertical | 120” broad | 20 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: 18 bench reps

2019 stats: 9.5 sacks | 40 tackles | 1 FR | 14.5 TFL

2019 stats: 8.5 sacks | 35 tackles | 2 FF | 2 PBU | 11.5 TFL

In a nutshell:

Gross-Matos is long. Better than 6’5” and with nearly 35” arms, Gross-Matos is very long-levered and uses that to his advantage consistently. A high-motor guy with Big Ten grit, Gross-Matos shows excellent upfield burst paired with adequate bend. He might not have a tremendous ceiling, but Gross-Matos profiles as a high-floor player who should be a usable pro immediately. Vs. the pass: He uses his length intelligently, as his first three rush steps cover a tremendous amount of ground. For a tall guy, YGM plays with pad level that would make former Packers coach Mike McCarthy proud. Flexibility and agility aren’t allworld on film, but they're good enough for a player as big and as long as he is. His hand-fighting skills are excellent, keeping offensive linemen from getting hands inside and on the chestplate. His counter-rush needs development. Vs. the run: YGM seems to occasionally “think” instead of react, and that brief delay shows up in both the pass and run game. In the run game, it can occasionally mean jumping out of position. Overall, though, he puts his wingspan to use both in refusing to be turned by offensive linemen and corralling ball carriers. Gross-Matos shows good lateral movement, neutralizing outside runs and generally makes heads-up, wrap-up tackles.

Fit with the Packers:

Gross-Matos is like a cross between Carlos Dunlap and current Packers EDGE Preston Smith. He’s unlikely to be the pure speed rusher the Packers are missing on the roster, but his flexibility and versatility fit with the mold they’ve shown they already like. “Bigger, stronger, faster” was the message from Brian Gutekunst at the NFL Scouting Combine and the theory behind drafting Rashan Gary. Adding Gross-Matos certainly wouldn’t make the Packers any smaller.

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The list of 6’1” edge rushers in the NFL is not a long one. Uche hasn’t played very much football either, sitting behind Chase Winovich and Rashan Gary at Michigan, so his future in the NFL is even more of a projection than most. Still, there’s enough on tape for that projection to be exciting. Vs. the pass: Uche shows exactly the elite burst and elite flexibility that an undersized rusher would normally beat offensive tackles with. Ankle, knee and hip flexibility are unreal as Uche appears to be at a dead run with his body at a 45-degree angle. Despite his size, converting speed to power is a major plus. Uche could be used as a situational rusher from the wide9 technique or as an A-gap penetrator a la Za’Darius Smith. Vs. the run: As one might expect, Uche is going to have to get upfield to affect the run game. He simply doesn’t possess the mass to anchor against a tackle or a tight end. On early downs, Uche would have to be deployed as a one-gap penetrator or an off-ball linebacker. Asking him to ride with tight ends on outside runs is just unrealistic. He has plenty of wiggle to get upfield and create havoc in the run game.

Fit with the Packers:

Uche would require some creativity from Mike Pettine, because he doesn’t fit in any of the current roles the Packers like to deploy. He doesn’t fit as an EDGE player like the Smiths, won’t work (well) in the Blake Martinez role and certainly isn’t the hybrid safety type to play next to Martinez. Uche could have a more full-time role in the Za’Darius Smith rover role. Uche and Smith could give defenses fits in identifying the true pass rushing threats down-in and down-out.

136

> EDGE DEFENDER

Bradlee Anae (SR)

Utah

Darrell Taylor (rSR)

Tennessee

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 257 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.93

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 267 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 31” vertical | 115” broad | 4.43 sec. 20 yd |

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

7.44 sec. 3-cone | 25 bench reps

(2018) stats: 46 tackles | 8.5 sacks | 10 TFL | 4 PD | 1 FF

2019 stats: 41 tackles | 13 sacks | 14 TFL | 1 FF

In a nutshell:

Anae is an extremely high-motor and very productive player out of the Pac-12. Despite being a relatively compact rusher with short arms, he may have the most technically advanced hands in the class. He’s also a world-class competitor who is, frankly, strong as hell. Vs. the pass: Anae isn’t overly explosive, long or flexible. His victories are from raw effort and immense technical skill. His initial burst is adequate but nothing to write home about. He uses the long-arm/stab, cross/chop and club/rip efficiently. His bend on film is accurately represented by his mediocre 3-cone time. His pass rush counter game needs to be developed, specifically his inside counter, which is almost always neutralized. Anae recorded 13 sacks his senior year. Vs. the run: The Utah product is extremely solid as a run defender, both as a penetrator/disruptor and as an edge setter. A disciplined gap defender, Anae uses his brute strength to set a firm edge. He will only occasionally get swallowed up by big offensive tackles but often “efforts” his way out of major issues.

Fit with the Packers:

Green Bay doesn’t draft quite as many Pac-12 players under Gutekunst as they did under Thompson, but Anae, the Utah product, could replace Kyler Fackrell from Utah State as Green Bay’s fourth rusher. The Packers don’t seem to value the superbendy edge rushers, and Anae certainly isn’t one of those. There is some Za’Darius Smith to his game.

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In a nutshell:

While we don’t have combine numbers to attach to Taylor, on film he appears to be an ideal athlete for the EDGE position. Taylor, however, is the definition of a project. Everything excellent on film came in a “flash” or a “spurt”, and most of his pass rush victories were based on pure athleticism. Taylor’s combine numbers would’ve likely raised his stock even higher than this. Vs. the pass: Taylor doesn’t appear to be a very instinctual player which is often seen by a lack of ball get-off. No one will accuse Taylor of jumping the snap count. It sometimes appears Taylor is reading the tackle (which could be his assignment from the coaches) instead of flying off the ball. Taylor packs an excellent initial punch and offers a lot of bend for a 267-pound athlete. He’s not an effective counter-rusher (yet). Taylor can actually cover a little bit and isn’t lost in space. Vs. the run: Nothing to write home about here, where Taylor struggles at times to diagnose the play, specifically in the readoption game. Taylor tackles really well for an EDGE and moves laterally well enough to occasionally be used in a two-point stance. He’s not very stout, and it shows. He’s not a player to be utilized setting a strong edge against tackles and tight ends.

Fit with the Packers:

Taylor would likely start off as a special teams maven due to his athleticism and work with Packers outside linebackers coach Mike Smith until he can be counted on as a consistent defender. As mentioned previously, Taylor is a project, so the Packers would be forced to bring in a veteran to compete with Rashan Gary for their EDGE3 spot. Taylor won’t be ready in year one.

137

> EDGE DEFENDER

Terrell Lewis (rJR)

Alabama

Jonathan Greenard (rSR)

Florida

Measurables: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 262 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 263 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.87

NFL COMBINE: 37” vertical | 124” broad

NFL COMBINE: 30.5” vertical | 113” broad | 4.34 sec. 20 yd |

2019 stats: 31 tackles | 6 sacks | 11.5 TFL | 2 PD

7.13 sec. 3-cone | 22 bench reps

2019 stats: 53 tackles | 10 sacks | 16 TFL | 4 PD | 3 FF

In a nutshell:

Lewis is just the latest in a long line of draftable edge rushers out of Nick Saban’s 3-4 defense at Alabama. He sports a phenomenal NFL body straight out of central casting. Lewis possesses tremendous length but is still a fluid athlete. We’ll just have to wait until Alabama’s rescheduled pro day for agility and speed numbers for Lewis. He’s a high-ceiling prospect who is still raw; he missed games due to injury and really good players playing in front of him. Vs. the pass: Lewis covers tremendous ground in his first three rush steps, challenging offensive tackles early in the rep. He uses his long arms to create separation between himself and the offensive tackle until he’s ready to take it away and work half-a-man. He can tilt and bend, but it would be surprising if he were a sub-7 3-cone player. Lewis is not an effective counterrusher at this time, and it would be best to not stand him up in coverage under most circumstances. Vs. the run: Lewis is maddeningly inconsistent. Too often he is “handled” in the run game by a tight end. Two plays later, he’ll bench press a tackle and use his length and extension to completely control his gap and the edge. His tackling radius is tremendous, largely due to his incredible wingspan.

Fit with the Packers:

Lewis is a high-upside project the Packers could certainly take a peek at in the middle rounds. He has the length they clearly covet and is an explosive athlete with experience as an outside linebacker in an odd front. Mike Smith would have a field day teaching Lewis how to win in ways outside of raw athleticism and effort and giving him a true rush plan.

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In a nutshell:

Greenard is a good, not great, athlete who doesn’t possess a ton of burst but is a gifted technician. More a fluid athlete than a twitchy one, Greenard is a master of hand-fighting, both in the pass game and the run game. His ball-get-off is less than ideal, but his skill and persistence normally prevail. He should be a core special-teamer right away. Greenard only has one full season as a starter under his belt. Vs, the pass: Not only are Greenard’s hands well-trained, they’re also extremely heavy. Stacks tackle up consistently and then goes to work. Greenard is not a phenomenal counter-rusher, but he does have an occasionally passable inside move. He’s not a super-bender and rushes past the quarterback often without flattening. Speed-to-power is his calling card. Vs. the run: Greenard is quite stout against the run. He’s a high-impact, high-effort player. Greenard is not very rangy sideline-to-sideline but tackles well and seems to possess an impressive wingspan/tackle radius. He is a very strong edgesetter for a player of his size.

Fit with the Packers:

Greenard is certainly the size of a 3-4 outside linebacker but hasn’t proven very much in a stand up role or a role in space. Greenard would have to be put into the Za’Darius Smith role in Green Bay as Preston Smith was (easily) the outside linebacker that dropped into coverage more often. Greenard would have to pretty exclusively be part of the four-man line in nickel situations and a first-day special teamer.

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> EDGE DEFENDER

Anfernee Jennings (rSR)

Alabama

In a nutshell:

Jennings is an intriguing prospect in that the Senior Bowl and the combine asked him to arrive as a linebacker and not as a defensive lineman/edge player. With that said, he’s been an EDGE his entire college career and profiles as such for a 3-4 team in the professional ranks. Jennings was very productive at Alabama in 2019, registering eight sacks and five passes defensed. Vs. the pass: Jennings doesn’t show the hip or ankle flexibility that you’d like to see from an edge defender his size and doesn’t appear to be a very explosive player. His production exceeded his physical gifts because of fine technical work. He puts his hands in the right place and extends, then makes good decisions when the time comes to disengage. Jennings is not the type of athlete you want in space defending the pass despite his linebacker-ish size. Vs. the run: Jennings, like most Alabama EDGE players, is a very useful run defender. He plays with excellent gap discipline and has the ability to stack and shed with extension. His tackling radius is fine, not great, mostly because he’s not particularly long. Jennings doesn’t profile as an elite sideline-to-sideline athlete against outside runs. He misses tackles occasionally due to what appears to be a lack of short-area quickness/agility.

13 Derrek Tuszka (rSR)

North Dakota St

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 251 lbs. In a nutshell: Tuszka put forth perhaps the most impressive combine of any EDGE, highlighted by his 6.87 3-cone time, a drill the Packers have historically shown they care about… a lot. Tuszka was extremely productive for North Dakota State, finishing his career with 29.5 sacks and 42 tackles for loss. Described by NFL Scouting Combine invitee James Robinson (Illinois State) as the best player Robinson faced during his college career. Tuszka is a long, flexible lottery ticket.

14 Alex Highsmith (rSR)

Charlotte

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 248 lbs. In a nutshell: Highsmith is a great snap-jumper who is often the first man across the line of scrimmage, possessing enough initial burst to stress tackles vertically early in the rep. He’s an extremely high-motor player but lacks elite athleticism and length. Highsmith is not a high-upside prospect, but he should be an early contributor as a try-hard guy with very good instincts. Should work out on special teams, too.

15 Kenny Willekes (rSR)

Michigan St

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 264 lbs. In a nutshell: If there was such a thing as a run defense specialist at the EDGE position, it’s Willekes. He is consistently in the backfield, as he is very, very good at anticipating the snap count. That anticipation helps in the passing game as well. Not a particularly strong player on film—doesn’t look to overpower, but his technique and football IQ make up for that in spades. Willekes has more bend than you might think.

Fit with the Packers:

Jennings could be used as an off-ball linebacker on early downs who drops down onto the line in sub-package situations. It’s not a role that really exists in Green Bay’s defense… yet. If he does test at Alabama’s pro day, it could hold a lot of weight as to whether Green Bay views him as an option.

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> EDGE DEFENDER

16 Trevis Gipson (rSR)

Tulsa

17 Trevon Hill (rSR)

Miami

Measurables: Height: 6’4’’ | Weight: 268 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 261 lbs.

In a nutshell: Gipson is a one-trick pony, but it’s a heck of a trick. A shorter, bendy rusher, Gipson goes to the rip-anddip often, creating passing game disruption. Gipson will not be a plus run defender in the NFL. Could develop, as he has a nice frame, but needs to do a better job with his hands and arms of keeping offensive tackles out of his chest.

In a nutshell: Hill isn’t very big, but he’s a crafty pass rusher. Less athletic on the testing side (didn’t have a great combine) than he appears on film, Hill is a low-ceiling prospect. Straight-line speed is high-end for an edge player. Likely a sub-rusher inside with Green Bay, as he doesn’t fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Hand usage as a whole could use refinement, and his pad level could be lowered.

18 Khalid Kareem (SR)

Notre Dame

19 Jason Strowbridge (rSR)

North Carolina

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 268 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 275 lbs.

In a nutshell: The “other” EDGE prospect from Notre Dame, is a bursty athlete with an excellent NFL frame. Kareem will start off as a stout run defender with the upside to become a better pass rusher. Does not possess a tremendous amount of bend. He needs to rush with more of a plan and develop counter-moves off of those plans. He seems to certainly have the tools and is a high-floor player.

In a nutshell: Strowbridge is a difficult player to peg. He started out as a 245-pound defensive end but checked in at the combine at 275. Potentially a 5-tech in Green Bay’s system, and almost certainly not a true outside linebacker in a 3-4, Strowbridge possesses “the juice”. As an inside rusher or defensive tackle, Strowbridge profiles as a 90-plus percent athlete with elite explosive numbers. In time, he could be a Za’Darius Smith-like interior rush specialist.

20 Jabari Zuniga (JR)

Miami Arizona Satate

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 264 lbs. In a nutshell: Zuniga has a great NFL body and frame for the EDGE spot and brings a rare combination of speed and power. That said, he needs to clean up his snap anticipation and awareness. Too often, he is the final player off the defensive line. Also needs to develop counter rushes if his initial plan of attack fails. Zuniga has rare traits but needs to end up with the right coach in the right system.

21 Jonathan Garvin (JR) Miami 22 Alton Robinson (SR) Syracuse 23 DJ Wonnum (SR)

South Carolina

24 Kendall Coleman (SR) Syracuse 25 James Smith-Williams (rSR)

NC State

26 Tipa Galea’i (rSR)

Utah St

27 Jessie Lemonier (rSR) Liberty 28 Oluwole Betiku Jr (JR) Illinois 29 Joe Gaziano (SR) Northwestern 30 Calvin Taylor Jr (SR) Kentucky

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Position Analysis:

Dan Dahlke

ILB

1. Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

2. Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma 3. Patrick Queen, LSU 4. Zack Baun, Wisconsin 5. Logan Wilson, Wyoming 6. Malik Harrison, Ohio St 7. Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech 8. Willie Gay Jr, Mississippi St 9. Troy Dye, Oregon 10. Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian St 11. Davion Taylor, Colorado 12. Jacob Phillips, LSU 13. Markus Bailey, Purdue 14. Khalele Hudson, Michigan 15. Evan Weaver, California 16. Cameron Brown, Penn St 17. Joe Bachie Jr, Michigan St 18. Justin Strnad, Wake Forest 19. Mykal Walker, Fresno St 20. David Woodward, Utah St

Patri c k QUE E N JR LSU

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> INSIDE LINEBACKER

Isaiah Simmons (JR)

Clemson

Measurables: Height: 6’4’’ Weight: 238 lbs.

40 Time: 4.39

NFL COMBINE: 39” vertical 132” broad

2019 STATS: 102 tackles 16 TFL 8 sacks 5 hurries 1 FF 3 INTs 7 PBUs

In a Nut Shell:

After Simmons played his first two seasons for Clemson at safety, the Tigers found the best way to capitalize on his unique skill set is to line him up in a variety of positions on the field, making him a nightmare for opposing offenses to game plan against. On any given play, Simmons can line up as an off-ball linebacker and play in the box, or he can drop as a deep zone defender and be a ballhawk safety. He can even line up over the slot and cover wide receivers or squeeze down the line and blitz off the edge. Simmons’ versatility and rare athleticism make him an invaluable linebacker prospect. Vs. Run: Simmons is at his best against the run when he can stay off blocks and use his speed and athleticism to roam free and track down ball carriers. His impressive range allows him to make plays from sideline to sideline, and his quick explosiveness enables him to burst through the line and be disruptive in the backfield. Simmons is an excellent pursuit defender. Vs. Pass: Simmons is also an elite cover player as a linebacker. His experience as a defensive back aids him in defending tight ends down the seam or tracking slot receivers across the middle of the field. He also has the athleticism to stick with shifty backs in the open field or spy mobile quarterbacks on passing downs. The strength of his game is his ability to roam in space and make plays on the ball.

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COMBINE:

Simmons’ performance at the NFL Combine was nothing short of jaw-dropping and should solidify his status as a top-10 selection in the draft. His blazing 4.39 40 time put him in the 99th percentile of all players over the past 10 years at his position, while his vertical (91st percentile) and broad jump (98th percentile) were also elite marks. Comparably, Devin White was selected fifth overall in last year’s draft and was the first linebacker off the board, and his combine numbers (4.42 40, 39.5” vertical, 118” broad) do not quite stack up to Simmons’. Weighing 18 pounds heavier, Simmons’ performance compared favorably to Julio Jones’ 2011 numbers (4.34 40, 38.5” vertical, 135” broad). Needless to say, Simmons is a special athlete who only comes along once in a generation.

Fit with the Packers:

It is highly unlikely Simmons will be available when the Packers are on the clock with the 30th overall pick, but in the case they have a chance to select the former Clemson standout, their defense would significantly improve. Simmons is a versatile athlete who could be used all over the field and fill many gaps Green Bay may have on defense. Whether it is as a true inside linebacker, roaming safety, blitzing off the edge, or lined up as a big slot corner, Simmons can excel and make his presence felt.

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> INSIDE LINEBACKER

Kenneth Murray (JR)

Oklahoma

Measurables: Height: 6’2’’ Weight: 241 lbs.

40 Time: 4.52

NFL COMBINE: 38” vertical 129” broad 21 bench reps

2019 STATS: 102 tackles 17 TFL 4 sacks 5 hurries 4 PBUs

In a Nut Shell:

Emerging immediately as a starter in the Sooners defense, Murray put together three stellar seasons at Oklahoma. He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors as a junior and amassed 334 tackles in his collegiate career. Murray is an electric linebacker who makes a lot of splash plays, as is evident with his 37 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and 22 pressures at Oklahoma. He’s a sudden athlete who wins with burst and physicality at the contact point. He is also a true leader on the field who plays with tremendous football instincts. Vs. Run: Murray is an aggressive downhill run defender, and he makes his presence felt as he arrives in violent fashion to punish ball carriers. His aggressive nature can get him in trouble, as he will overpursue angles at times, but overall, his reckless take-no-prisoners approach to the position wreaks havoc for opposing offenses. His range against the run is also impressive and allows him to make plays out on the perimeter. Vs. Pass: Murray is a much better zone defender than man coverage player. He is able to rely on his instincts and athleticism to make plays on the ball when dropping in zone coverage. However, because he is more of a linear downhill athlete, he can lose a step at times in man coverage, and he may struggle shadowing quick backs out in space.

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BIG GAME:

Murray was able to showcase his versatility as a defender in Oklahoma’s 30–23 win over Baylor in the 2019 Big 12 Championship game. Not only did he record 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, a hurry, and a pass breakup, but he also made these plays at crucial points in the game. Murray’s sack came on a 3rd-and-3 with Baylor driving around midfield in the second quarter. Another tackle for loss came late in the third quarter when Murray ran down the scrambling quarterback to setup a third-and-long, forcing Baylor to punt the next play. And with Baylor only down 20–23 and on the 10-yard line looking to score with 3:30 left in the game, Murray blitzed off the edge and forced the quarterback to throw the ball away on third down.

Fit with the Packers:

Murray is exactly the kind of linebacker the Packers need in the middle of their defense. He’s an explosive athlete who makes plays on the field. He would also bring some much-needed speed and attitude to the second level of the Packers defense— something they have not had for quite some time now. If he is still on the board when the Packers are on the clock with the 30th overall pick, they should not hesitate to pull the trigger.

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> INSIDE LINEBACKER

Patrick Queen (JR)

LSU

Measurables: Height: 6’0’’ Weight: 229 lbs.

40 Time: 4.50

NFL COMBINE: 35” vertical 125” broad 18 bench reps

2019 STATS: 85 tackles 12 TFL 3 sacks 1 hurry 1 FR 1 INT 6 PBUs

In a Nut Shell:

Queen continues a long line of outstanding linebacker prospects coming out of LSU. After breaking into the starting lineup late in his sophomore year, Queen established himself as one of LSU’s best defenders his junior season. Showing superb cover skills as a linebacker, Queen quickly developed into a threedown defender for the Tigers. His ability to smoothly change direction in space and rapidly close ground makes him a dynamic presence in the middle of the field. Queen is an elite athlete who still needs to develop his mental processing and shore up sloppy technique as a tackler. Vs. Run: While Queen may whiff tackles at times out in space, his active playing style still makes an impact against the run. Queen is a tremendous run-and-chase linebacker with sidelineto-sideline speed and agility to make plays in pursuit. However, he needs to improve his ability to stack and shed blocks in order to excel as a box defender.

BIG GAME:

Queen saved his best play for LSU’s two-game championship playoff run this past season. During LSU’s 63–28 win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, the rangy linebacker led his team with eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. He then followed this up with eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack in the championship game against Clemson.

Fit with the Packers:

Green Bay has not had a good coverage linebacker on its roster for some time, and Queen would immediately fill this need. With Queen staying on the field on third downs, the Packers would no longer have to rely on a safety to play up in the box and cover tight ends or halfbacks in passing situations. They would also not have to hide an inside linebacker in pass coverage through zone-heavy schemes. Queen would give them the flexibility to take more risks blitzing and sending pressure because they have the insurance of a reliable cover player in the middle of their defense.

Vs. Pass: Queen’s ability to play man coverage is one of the strengths of his game. He can stick on a tight end’s hip down the seam or pick up crossing receivers in the middle of the field. He also serves well matched up one-on-one with tailbacks out in space because he is such a tremendous athlete. Queen’s natural ball skills and instincts in coverage also are rare traits for his position.

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> INSIDE LINEBACKER

Zack Baun (rSR)

Wisconsin

Logan Wilson (rSR)

Wyoming

Measurables: Height: 6’2’’ | Weight: 238 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.65

Measurables: Height: 6’2’’ | Weight: 241 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.63

NFL COMBINE: 32.5” vertical | 115” broad | 4.31 sec. 20 yd |

NFL COMBINE: 32” vertical | 121” broad | 4.27 sec. 20 yd |

7.0 sec. 3-cone | 24 bench reps

7.07 sec. 3-cone | 21 bench reps

2019 stats: 105 tackles | 8.5 TFL | 1 sack, 2 hurries | 1 FF |

1 INT | 2 PBUs

4 INTs | 7 PBUs

In a nutshell:

Baun made a name for himself for the Badgers with two outstanding seasons at outside linebacker. He consistently made impact plays on the Badgers defense, including 27 tackles for loss, 15 sacks and 33 pressures. Baun will have to make the transition to off-ball linebacker in the NFL. However, good athletic testing at the combine and an impressive showing at inside linebacker at the Senior Bowl will assuage teams’ concerns. Vs. Run: Baun does a tremendous job using his hands, leverage and functional strength to hold the point of attack against linemen much bigger than him. This will aid him as an inside linebacker in the NFL. His motor also never stops, and, combined with his quick first step, upfield explosiveness and ability to quickly read play progressions, Baun has the makings to be a very good run defender at the next level. Vs. Pass: The former Wisconsin standout will need time to develop his coverage ability. While he does possess the athleticism and fluid hips to drop in space, Baun was not asked to play in coverage in college very often. Given Baun is at his best getting downhill, it will take him some time to adjust to playing more in space and defending the pass on third downs.

Fit with the Packers:

Baun would give the Packers a linebacker who can flow to the ball and play physical in the box against the run, while also bringing some juice as an interior blitzer. His versatility could be a real strength for their defense and a fun chess piece for Mike Pettine to utilize in a variety of ways. Baun could compete immediately for a starting job at inside linebacker, and his playing style would complement Oren Burks well.

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While he may not have the name recognition of some of the other linebackers in this class, Wilson is one of the most wellbalanced and Day 1-ready defenders at his position. He not only possesses the combination of size, speed and agility teams desire for a linebacker prospect, but he also plays with tremendous football instincts. His non-stop motor also leads to him making many hustle plays on the field. As a four-year starter at Wyoming, Wilson averaged over 105 tackles per season and totaled 35 tackles for loss, 10 interceptions and 14 pass breakups. Vs. Run: Wilson does an excellent job reading and diagnosing runs. He’s a physical player, taking on blocks and holding the point of attack. He also moves well laterally and is quick to scrape over the top of the line and break on the ball once he sees an opening. His quick upfield burst allows him to make plays behind the line of scrimmage, while he also has the fluid hips to change direction and rundown ball carriers on the perimeter. Vs. Pass: Wilson is a reliable pass defender and really excels as a mid-range zone roamer. He also has the hands and instincts to make plays on the ball in coverage. Wilson may get exposed at times matched one-on-one with speedy backs out in space, but overall, he is a very solid coverage linebacker.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Wilson is a complete three-down linebacker and would be a tremendous find for the Packers in the second or third round. While he may not be elite in any one aspect of the game, he also has very few deficiencies and is a well-rounded and consistent player. He could start immediately for the Packers and be an upgrade at the position.

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> INSIDE LINEBACKER

Malik Harrison (SR)

Ohio St

Jordyn Brooks (SR)

Texas Tech

Measurables: Height: 6’3’’ | Weight: 247 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.66

Measurables: Height: 6’0’’ | Weight: 240 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.54

NFL COMBINE: 36” vertical | 122” broad | 4.32 sec. 20 yd |

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

6.83 sec. 3-cone

2019 stats: 108 tackles | 20 TFL | 3 sacks | 12 hurries | 1 FF | 1 FR

In a nutshell:

Vs. Run: Harrison is one of the best inside run defenders in this year’s class. He diagnoses runs quickly and is decisive in taking smart angles to the ball. He also has the functional strength to take on blocks, plug rushing lanes, and work his way through the trash..

Vs. Run: Brooks has the size-speed profile to be a stellar run defender at the next level, but he needs to be more consistent with reading and diagnosing plays. He also needs to improve his hand technique when taking on blocks. Too frequently, he allows opposing linemen to get their hands on him, taking him out of the play. However, these are deficiencies that can be coached up and improved going forward.

Harrison is a smart, physical middle linebacker who was productive in the Buckeyes defense as a two-year starter. He led Ohio State in tackles each of the past two seasons, along with 25 tackles for loss. Harrison has the size, instincts and short-area quickness to be a very good “Mike” linebacker in the NFL. While he may not have the high athletic ceiling some of the other linebackers in this class do, the former Buckeye standout could be a great pickup for a team on Day 2 of the draft who is need of an immediate starting-caliber inside linebacker.

Vs. Pass: Harrison is effective as a short-area zone defender against the pass. He’s best when he keeps the play in front of him, allowing him to close on the ball. However, he may struggle in man coverage at the next level. There is some stiffness to his lateral movement, and he lacks the top-end speed to keep step-for-step with athletic halfbacks or tight ends.

Fit with the Packers:

Harrison would immediately upgrade the Packers run defense. He would give them a physical presence in the middle of the field who could challenge opposing offensive linemen and stuff inside runs. He is also sufficient enough in coverage to factor in on third downs. However, if the Packers are looking for an elite cover player at the position or a linebacker with sidelineto-sideline speed they may need to pair their Harrison selection with a small, athletic linebacker in the draft.

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Brooks started at inside linebacker all four of his seasons at Texas Tech, leading his team in stops for three of those four years. He led the Big 12 in tackles for loss with 20 as a senior, earning him first-team all-conference honors. His quick first step and downhill explosiveness enables him to be disruptive behind the line of scrimmage. Brooks makes a lot of splash plays and has the potential to be an impact player at the next level, but inconsistent football instincts lead to him guessing too often when reading run progressions.

Vs. Pass: Brooks is a very effective blitzer. In his time at Texas Tech, he recorded seven sacks and 33 pressures, primarily getting this work done as an interior blitzer. Brooks’ short-area burst allows him to close ground rapidly and pressure the quarterback, but Brooks will need to develop further in coverage in order to be a complete defender in the NFL.

Fit with the Packers:

Brooks fits the Packers’ size-speed profile at inside linebacker. He would be a viable option for Green Bay in the draft if they miss out on the first tier of linebackers. While Brooks’ game has plenty of room to grow, he would at least be a rookie who could immediately compete for playing time. He would bring speed and physicality to the position, and he has the potential to be a three-down player under the right tutelage.

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> INSIDE LINEBACKER

Willie Gay Jr (JR)

Mississippi St

Troy Dye (SR)

Oregon

Measurables: Height: 6’1’’ | Weight: 243 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.46

Measurables: Height: 6’3’’ | Weight: 231 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 39.5” vertical | 136” broad | 4.3 sec. 20 yd |

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

7.08 sec. 3-cone | 21 bench reps

2019 stats: 28 tackles | 3.5 TFL | 1 hurry | 1 INT | 1 PBU |

2 INTs | 4 PBUs

1 FF | FR

In a nutshell:

Gay grabbed national attention with his outstanding combine performance. Among all linebackers, he had the best broad jump, second-highest vertical and second-fastest 40-yard dash. Needless to say, the Mississippi State native is an unique athlete with very rare physical traits for the position. However, Gay only played in five games in his junior season because of a foot injury and two separate suspensions—one of which was for punching a teammate. Gay also only played a part-time role in his previous two seasons with the Bulldogs, making a lack of experience a major concern with his game. Vs. Run: At his best, Gay is a wrecking ball against the run. He has the downhill speed and explosiveness to blow up blocks and wreak havoc. He is an incredibly strong player, which enables him to hold the point of attack and plug rushing lanes. His quick burst also allows him to make stops behind the line of scrimmage and run down ball carriers in pursuit. However, Gay needs to improve his ability to read and diagnose plays.

In a nutshell:

Dye was highly productive as a four-year starter at Oregon. He amassed 397 tackles, 44 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, five interceptions and 16 pass breakups while only missing two starts. The former All-Pac 12 linebacker is a rangy defender with excellent football instincts, which allows him to make plays on the field. Unfortunately, Dye sat out the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine because he had surgery this offseason to repair a torn meniscus. Vs. Run: Dye is a very good sideline-to-sideline run defender who uses his speed and athleticism to track down ball carriers on the perimeter. He quickly diagnoses plays and is decisive in breaking to the ball. He takes smart angles and is physical at the contact point. However, he could improve his functional strength and add weight to his frame in order to hold up better on inside runs.

Vs. Pass: Gary lacks experience dropping in coverage, and this is the part of his game that really needs time to develop at the next level. He is certainly athletic enough to play well in space, but he was rarely asked at Mississippi State to drop in coverage and pick up receivers crossing the middle of the field.

Vs. Pass: Dye is a natural athlete out in space, which helps him in coverage. He has good instincts against the pass and does an excellent job reading route progressions and breaking on the ball. He also shows good ball skills, and his length also makes him effective in defending tight ends down the seam. However, he is at his best dropping in the middle of the field as a zone defender.

Fit with the Packers:

Gay could be an immediate early-down run stopper in Green Bay’s defense. He would need time to develop his coverage ability to stay on the field for all three downs, but he would give them a physical and explosive athlete to feature at inside linebacker. For a team that needs to improve their inside run defense, selecting a player like Gay would make a lot of sense.

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The Packers could use an athlete and three-down linebacker like Dye on their roster. The former Oregon standout boasts a well-balanced game. He’s an active run defender, but he also has the instincts and speed to defend against the pass. Other than injury concerns, there are not that many red flags with Dye’s game, and he would be a tremendous find for Green Bay in the middle rounds of the draft.

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> INSIDE LINEBACKER

Akeem Davis-Gaither

(SR)

Appalachian St

Davion Taylor (SR)

Colorado

Measurables: Height: 6’1’’ | Weight: 224 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’0’’ | Weight: 228 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.49

NFL COMBINE: 21 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: 35” vertical | 35” broad | 4.26 sec. 20 yd |

2019 stats: 104 tackles | 14.5 TFL | 5 sacks | 6 hurries |

6.96 sec. 3-cone | 21 bench reps

1 INT | 8 PBUs

In a nutshell:

Earning the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year, Davis-Gaither showcased his versatility on the field as a senior by making impact plays in a variety of ways. At times he lined up in the box or over the slot, while also rushing the passer off the edge on third downs with success despite playing around 218 pounds. Davis-Gaither is a quick-twitch athlete with an explosive first step. He closes ground rapidly and is excellent in pursuit. However, because of his size and lack of cover ability he may have trouble finding a true identity in the NFL. Vs. Run: Davis-Gaither is an electric sideline-to-sideline defender. He can track down ball carriers from the backside or slice through the line and make plays behind the line of scrimmage. He is a headache for opposing offenses to scheme against because he is so active and quick to diagnose plays. He always seems a step ahead of the play progression, making him a very effective run defender. Vs. Pass: Despite his small athletic build, Davis-Gaither’s ability in coverage is under-developed. On paper, he appears to fit the mold of a linebacker-safety hybrid, but he primarily rushed the passer on third downs in college. He is more effective as a downhill defender rather than dropping to cover in space.

Fit with the Packers:

Davis-Gaither would bring a certain attitude to the Packers defense, but he may be an awkward fit in their scheme. Because he is better working upfield and finding opportunities to be disruptive, his best role at the next level would be a 4-3 weakside linebacker who can work downhill and make plays in pursuit. He may struggle to take on blocks and defend the middle of the field if asked by the Packers to play as a true inside linebacker.

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Taylor is a fast, athletic linebacker built for the modern NFL. He excels playing out in space, where he can utilize his agility and speed to make plays on the ball. He also possesses natural cover skills and should fit well as a nickel or dime linebacker at the next level. Despite the tremendous upside, Taylor will be a player that will need time to grow and develop. Because of certain religious beliefs, he did not play football until he entered college, and this inexperience shows up at times on film. He needs to develop better hand technique to get off blocks and improve his ability to read and diagnose plays. Vs. Run: Taylor is more of a space player and can get lost in the trash at times. He needs to do a better job of anticipating run progressions and holding his ground against linemen in the box. Too frequently he gets washed out of plays. However, Taylor would be at his best if he lands in a defensive scheme that would allow him to roam free and use his speed to chase down ball carriers. Vs. Pass: The strength of Taylor’s game is his ability to drop in coverage and stay step-for-step with slot receivers or tight ends streaking down the seam. He can also shadow backs out in space or spy mobile quarterbacks. He has the tools to become a very effective third-down defender in the NFL.

Fit with the Packers:

Green Bay simply needs more speed on defense, and Taylor fits the bill. He would also give them a linebacker who can hold up well in coverage—something they have not had in a while. However, Taylor has a long way to go before he is a true threedown player. If the Packers selected Taylor, they would also need a physical run stopper to pair with the undersized Taylor.

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Jacob Phillips (JR)

LSU

2019 stats: 113 tackles | 7.5 TFL | 1 sack | 3 hurries | 1 FF | 1 PBU

In a nutshell:

During the Tigers’ 2019 Championship run, Phillips was a cornerstone of the LSU defense. He not only led the SEC in tackles with 119 stops his senior season, but he also developed into a true leader on the field as their “Mike” linebacker. Phillips is an aggressive downhill defender who possesses short-area quickness and burst, which enables him to quickly close ground. However, while the former LSU standout is explosive, he is more of a straight-line athlete and shows some stiffness in changing direction and moving laterally. Vs. Run: Phillips is very active against the run. He’s physical at the contact point and will throw his body in the trash to take on blocks and wreak havoc at the line of scrimmage. He also has the speed to make stops in pursuit. Lack of size and functional strength can hinder him against power running schemes. Vs. Pass: Phillips is an average coverage defender. He shows some ability as a short-area zone defender, but stiff hips and change of direction ability could lead him to struggle covering tight ends across the field or backs out in space.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

As a mid-round prospect, Phillips could bring a lot of value to the Packers defense. His aggressive playing style would give them a physical presence in the middle of the field and give Green Bay an enforcer to help bolster their run defense. Phillips still needs to develop as a pass defender, but, in the very least, he could be an early-down run stopper and immediate special teams contributor.

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13 Markus Bailey (SR)

Purdue

Measurables: Height: 6’0’’ | Weight: 235 lbs. In a nutshell: Bailey is one of the more difficult linebackers to project in this class. His 2018 film is outstanding—a season where he recorded 119 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He’s smart, physical, and active. However, his senior season was cut short because of a knee injury he suffered in week four, making it his second season-ending knee injury in his collegiate career. The injury also prevented Bailey from participating in the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, making him too much of a risk to select in the early rounds of the draft.

14 Khalele Hudson (SR)

Michigan

Measurables: Height: 5’11’’ | Weight: 224 lbs. In a nutshell: After starting at safety his sophomore season, Hudson added 20 pounds and made the transition to linebacker his final two years at Michigan. Playing their Vyper linebacker/ safety hybrid role, Hudson proved to be a feisty and physical run defender. He also possesses impressive 4.54 speed to pair with his aggressive downhill playing style. However, despite possessing some desirable traits, Hudson is still a mid-round player in this class because he lacks the size to be a true linebacker in the NFL and doesn’t show the coverage instincts to trust as a third-down defender.

15 Evan Weaver (SR)

California

Measurables: Height: 6’2’’ | Weight: 237 lbs. In a nutshell: Weaver was a tackling machine in his final two seasons at California. The former Golden Bears standout led the nation in 2019 with 182 stops, and this came after a junior season where he tallied 155 tackles. Needless to say, Weaver is a very active downhill defender who makes his living in the box. However, Weaver’s limited range and mobility will minimize his role in the NFL. Despite this, the former All-Pac 12 linebacker should provide value as an early-down run stopper and special teams ace.

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16 Cameron Brown (SR)

Penn St

17 Joe Bachie Jr (SR)

Michigan St

Measurables: Height: 6’5’’ | Weight: 233 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’1’’ | Weight: 230 lbs.

In a nutshell: Brown is a long athlete with a lot of upside. He also has the frame where he could add more weight and not lose his mobility. He possesses short-area burst, which enables him to close ground quickly and make plays behind the line of scrimmage. However, there is some stiffness to Brown’s game, and his change of direction can be labored at times, which could hinder him as a coverage defender in the NFL.

In a nutshell: Bachie is a productive Big Ten linebacker who has been a staple in the middle of the Spartans defense for the past three seasons. The Ohio native averaged 91 tackles per season as a three-year starter, and despite flying under the radar as a linebacker prospect entering the draft, Bachie is a viable Day 3 option for any team looking for a reliable defender with a high football IQ and potential to become a key special teams contributor.

18 Justin Strnad (SR)

Wake Forest

19 Mykal Walker (rSR)

Fresno St

Measurables: Height: 6’3’’ | Weight: 238 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’3’’ | Weight: 230 lbs.

In a nutshell: Strnad’s film shows a smooth athlete in space who holds up well dropping in coverage and can flow to the ball. However, abysmal athletic testing at the NFL Combine raises too many questions and significantly hurts his draft stock. His 4.74 40 time put him in the middle of the pack, but his broad jump, vertical and short shuttle were among the worst at the position, showing below average agility and explosiveness.

In a nutshell: After transferring from junior college and then making the switch to linebacker his senior season from defensive end, Walker’s game remains raw. However, the 230-pound linebacker shows flashes of quick-twitch athleticism and upfield burst, making him an interesting prospect to take a chance on in the middle rounds of the draft. Walker’s 4.65 40, 122-inch broad and 4.25 short shuttle show the kind of athlete the Packers like at the position.

20 David Woodward (rJR)

Utah Satate St Arizona

Measurables: Height: 6’2’’ | Weight: 230 lbs. In a nutshell: Woodward made a living at Utah State quickly reading run progressions and running down ball carriers. He tallied a team-high 227 tackles in his final two seasons as a starter for the Aggies. However, the Washington native may have a limited role at the next level due to average speed (4.79) and athleticism. Woodward is a smart, tough player who is active against the run, but he may be a liability in coverage and lacks the size and functional strength to be a true force in the middle.

21 Francis Bernard (SR) Utah 22 Shaquille Quarterman (SR) Miami 23 Carter Coughlin (SR) Minnesota 24 Shaun Bradley (SR) Temple 25 Michael Pinkney (SR) Miami 26 Kamal Martin (SR) Minnesota 27 Jordan Mack (SR)

Texas A&M

28 Scoota Harris (SR) Arkansas 29 Chapelle Russell (SR) Temple 30 Michael Divinity (SR) LSU

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150

Position Analysis:

Erik Fretland

1. Jeffrey Okudah, Ohio St

2. CJ Henderson, Florida 3. Kristian Fulton, LSU 4. AJ Terrell, Clemson 5. Trevon Diggs, Alabama 6. Dane Jackson, Pittsburgh 7. Damon Arnette, Ohio St 8. Bryce Hall, Virginia 9. Michael Ojemudia, Iowa 10. Jaylon Johnson, Utah 11. Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn 12. Jeff Gladney, TCU 13. Lamar Jackson, Nebraska 14. AJ Green, Oklahoma St 15. Troy Pride, Notre Dame 16. Lavert Hill, Michigan 17. Cam Dantzler, Mississippi St 18. Reggie Robinson, Tulsa 19. John Reid, Penn St 20. Darnay Holmes, UCLA

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JEFFREY OKUDAH JR OHIO ST

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Jeffrey Okudah (JR)

Ohio St

Measurables: Height: 6’1” Weight: 205 lbs.

40 Time: 4.48

NFL COMBINE: 41” vertical 135” broad 11 bench reps

2019 STATS: 34 tackles 1 TFL 3 INT 9 PBU 1 FF

In a Nut Shell:

Although no NFL draft choice is ever fully guaranteed to be a success in the league, Jeff Okudah is a close thing to it. His combination of great technique, very good athleticism and versatility gives him the highest floor in this cornerback draft class. Vs. Pass: In coverage, Okudah works best when close to the line of scrimmage. He’s capable of pulling out a different tool from his toolkit on any given play, showing the ability to stonewall receivers at the line with a two-handed jam, getting control of them early in the route using only one hand at the line or playing soft press and mirroring the release with his top-level footwork and smoothly matching receivers through their route. He has also played well enough in both zone and off man to be useful to a team that likes to mix up coverages, although he did occasionally struggle to break on passes in front of him out of deeper alignments. In terms of ball skills, Okudah prefers to play the receiver’s hands rather than trying for an interception, and he often forces incompletions when a catch seems all but inevitable.

STAT HIGHLIGHT:

Okudah’s critics may point to his low interception numbers (only three, all coming in his final season). However, as stated previously, his preferred technique when the ball is in the air involves staying in position and keeping his eyes on the receiver and then matching his hands to theirs and contesting at the catch point as the receiver tries to bring the ball in. He is more than capable of turning to find the ball in the air, but his preferred style of contesting the catch results in getting beat less often and gives him much more consistency on a snap-tosnap basis, which is what teams look for in a top coverage cornerback.

Fit with the Packers:

Should Green Bay decide to trade up for Okudah, he would slide into strong contention for the starting spot opposite Jaire Alexander, possibly as soon as the first few games of the 2020 season. Although Kevin King has his strengths, Okudah’s reliability over the whole length of the field would be a compelling reason for him to get the nod in base packages over King.

Vs. Run: As a run defender, Okudah is a willing and gap-sound tackler but did not play with much functional strength or have especially good tackling technique. He does well in keeping blocking receivers at arms’ length.

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> CORNERBACK

CJ Henderson (JR)

Florida

Measurables: Height: 6’1” Weight: 204 lbs.

40 Time: 4.39

NFL COMBINE: 37.5” vertical 127” broad 20 bench reps

2019 STATS: 33 tackles 3 TFL 1 sack 11 PD

In a Nut Shell:

Henderson’s superb linear athleticism showed up consistently on tape, but he’s far more than just an athlete on the field. His stellar footwork, impressive fluidity and top-tier closing speed make him a formidable matchup for any offense. Vs. Pass: Like Okudah, Henderson excels at the line of scrimmage. Henderson does a good job of winning early on in the route stem, using his footwork to establish position and his hip fluidity to turn with almost any fake steps on the receiver’s release and then being very comfortable with leaning into the receiver as they run downfield, legally preventing himself from getting stacked or beaten deep. His movement skills are almost as good in off man and zone, although at times in off man, he depends on making contact at the top of the route to stay in position. He mirrors underneath routes well and has very good closing speed on short in- and out-breaking routes. With the ball in the air, Henderson demonstrated comfort both playing the ball directly and forcing incompletions through contact.

Best Game:

CJ Henderson’s best performance in 2019 came against South Carolina, where the UF offense struggled and his team was down going into the fourth quarter. He contributed to shutting down the SC passing attack and holding SC to under 50 percent completion, and his nine total tackles made a solid impact in the run game. His final stat line of nine tackles, one sack and one PD showed his ability to contribute in all facets of the game.

Fit with the Packers:

Henderson possesses a lot of the same positive attributes that Jaire Alexander does (fluidity, burst and a willingness to mix it up at the line) but in a slightly more prototypically-sized package. Unlike many rookie corners, Henderson could likely be relied on in a pinch as a spot-starter, but his tackling and his inconsistent awareness in zone coverage could keep him off the field for his first season. However, a safe projection for a second-year jump would place him firmly in the starting spot Kevin King now holds.

Vs. Run: Henderson’s tackling is a major question mark in terms of technique (although not in willingness), as he often dives at ball carriers' feet or fails to square up.

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> CORNERBACK

Kristian Fulton (SR)

LSU

Measurables: Height: 5’11½” Weight: 197 lbs.

40 Time: 4.46

NFL COMBINE: 35.5” vertical 123.0” broad 6.94 sec. 3-cone

2019 STATS: 38 tackles 1 TFL 1 INT 14 PD

In a Nut Shell:

Like the other top corners in this class, Fulton thrives near the line of scrimmage, which is where he’ll find the most success early on in his NFL career. Where Fulton differentiates himself is in his start-to-finish ability to stay in position through the route stem, putting himself in position to defend nearly every route. Vs. Pass: Although Fulton is somewhat less adept at using his hands in press situations than the top two corners in this class, he makes up for this with his footwork and agility that enable him to handle almost any release off the line. When he does take a false step at the line, he moves fluidly enough to recover within a step or two and be back in position to defend the route. From snap to whistle, he is comfortable executing his game plan against any opponent. Vs. Run: As a run defender, Fulton has experience playing in a number of different alignments depending on the offensive formation, but despite his experience playing these positions, he rarely demonstrated good tackling or play strength, often either picking the wrong gap to defend or getting shrugged off by a ball carrier.

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Best Game:

Fulton’s most impactful games of 2019 bookended LSU’s season against Power 5 opponents. In Week 2, before LSU was widely viewed as the powerhouse it was, LSU traveled to Austin and established momentum with a close win against the Longhorns. Fulton contributed to the win in both phases of the game, with four solo tackles and two passes defended. In LSU’s final game of the season, their championship win over Clemson, Fulton helped hold Clemson’s stacked offense to 25 points and racked up six solo tackles along with one pass defended.

Fit with the Packers:

Fulton has the polish and poise to go along with the athletic and technique requirements to be an early starter at a position that is notoriously difficult for rookies. His poor run defense might keep him off the field on early downs, but his experience playing multiple alignments would make him an extremely useful player for a DC like Mike Pettine. He could feasibly be used as a slot defender, considering his agility and ability to defend two-way releases from tight splits.

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AJ Terrell (JR)

Clemson

Trevon Diggs (SR)

Alabama

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 195 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.42

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 205 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 34.5” vertical | 129” broad | 15 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: n/a

2019 stats: 34 tackles | 0.5 TFL | 0.5 sack | 2 INT | 3 PD

2019 stats: 37 tackles | 0.5 TFL | 3 INT (1 TD) | 8 PBU | 2 FR (1 TD)

In a nutshell:

For Terrell, both his highest-profile game and his worst box score performance came on the same night: Clemson’s national championship matchup with LSU. However, if one looks past Ja’Marr Chase’s huge stat line that night and instead at the film from both that game and the rest of Terrell’s career, a wellrounded, highly-skilled cornerback stands out. Vs. Pass: Even on plays where Terrell was beat, he was never far from being out of position. He typically plays very under control and is a very good press man corner while also having the versatility and athleticism to play zone and off man. His agility and body control while moving at full speed or mirroring a wide receiver are two of his best attributes. He does show some concerns with functional strength and finding the ball in the air, especially playing against future NFL starting wideouts.

The brother of NFL wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Trevon shows much of the same athletic ability and potential his older brother possesses. Vs. Pass: A primarily press man corner who excels when engaging a receiver with his hands early in the route, Diggs demonstrated the ability to compete at the highest level against stiff college competition. He is especially effective defending routes breaking in front of him from both press and off alignments, but a few questions arise when defending deeper routes, namely whether he can find the ball in the air consistently and whether he has the balance to stay in position to defend deep-ball fade routes that can be converted to back-shoulder throws.

Vs. Run: Terrell is a willing run defender and tackler versus screens and does a good job keeping blockers off him. However, his tackling form is inconsistent, if not outright poor, and has led to giving up some big chunks of YAC.

Vs. Run: Diggs is a smart player in the run/screen game and is aware of his responsibilities but is an average-at-best tackler in both his tackling form and the resulting outcomes.

Fit with the Packers:

As a product of Nick Saban’s defensive system and with the track record that Diggs has against high-level competition, it’s not unreasonable to believe that Diggs could play a role on defense for an NFL team as a rookie. If drafted by the Packers, Pettine should have confidence in Diggs’ ability to process complicated defensive schemes, checks and responsibilities. Although Diggs played press man/pattern match most often at Alabama, he played well enough in both off man and zone to be used in multiple ways in Pettine’s scheme.

For the most part, Terrell’s college tape shows the athletic ability and technique required to play a limited role in the NFL as a rookie. To survive against bigger, stronger wideouts, Terrell will need to add strength to help him win both at the line as well as in maintaining position throughout routes all the way down the field. If drafted by the Packers, he could see the field early in passing situations or in situations where Pettine prefers to play more press man and less zone, where Terrell had ups and downs. He also has the fluidity to be a viable contender for slot duties if he can quickly pick up the playbook.

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FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

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> CORNERBACK

Dane Jackson (rSR)

Pittsburgh

Damon Arnette (rSR)

Ohio St

Measurables: Height: 6’0” | Weight: 187 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.57

Measurables: Height: 6’0” | Weight: 195 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.56

NFL COMBINE: 35” vertical | 122” broad | 7.07 sec. 3-cone

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

2019 stats: 43 tackles | 3 TFL | 0.5 sacks | 1 INT | 12 PBU

2019 stats: 35 tackles | 1 TFL | 1 INT (1 TD) | 8 PBU | 1 FF

In a nutshell:

Vs. Pass: Near the line of scrimmage, Jackson has polished, patient footwork, and once a receiver commits to a release, Jackson is very comfortable being physical throughout the route. At times he crosses the line to the point of risking a flag. He also moved well in press bail zone assignments. Playing off the line, he has very good awareness in zone and in patternmatch responsibilities.

Vs. Pass: Arnette has a high level of versatility in that he played from a number of different alignments and flashed very good qualities in each of them. However, his too-frequent false steps at the line of scrimmage, overaggressive hand usage and halfsecond too-slow reactions in off man and zone are what prevent him from being in the top tier of 2020 cornerback prospects. Despite all this, his good plays are very good, and the agility he displays on the field is often enough to paper over most technique deficiencies.

How excited one gets about Dane Jackson depends on whether a higher emphasis is placed on athletic measurables or on ability demonstrated on film. His testing numbers do indicate some potential limitations at the NFL level, but for the most part, he was able to overcome these and play at a high level even against strong competition in college.

Vs. Run: Jackson made a number of instinct plays that stood out on tape in the run, screen and pass game. He very frequently looks to get involved in run plays and is a reliable tackler by cornerback standards.

Fit with the Packers:

Although Jackson doesn’t currently have one specific trait as polished as the best traits of the prospects higher than him on this list, he will be able to perform well in most situations that don’t involve him playing man-free coverage on a speedy receiver. If the Packers end up drafting Jackson in the second or third round, he could have a similar career progression to former Packers like Casey Hayward or Micah Hyde—seen as a limited player early on in his career due to athleticism question marks. But as his instincts and technique further develop he can grow into a high-caliber defensive back who doesn’t require elite athleticism to execute and make plays.

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Watching certain plays from OSU’s 2019 season, Damon Arnette looks like he should be the top corner off the board. Watching other plays, it becomes apparent that there are a number of minor-to-moderate flaws or inconsistencies that need to be addressed before Arnette develops fully into a quality NFL starter.

Vs. Run: In the run game, Arnette is a fairly reliable open-field tackler and is not an obvious weakness for opposing teams to throw screens and scheme YAC opportunities against.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Depending on Arnette’s final agility and explosiveness numbers from his pro day, he may or may not fit the Packers’ mold for defensive backs. If he does end up in the Green and Gold, he would likely start his career as the fourth or fifth cornerback on the depth chart and will only see the field once he proves he won’t be a penalty liability or a liability defending short throws from off coverage. However, a smaller set of responsibilities on his plate to start off with may be better for his development than being thrown into the fire as a rookie cornerback playing a high number of snaps.

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Bryce Hall (SR)

Virginia

Michael Ojemudia (rSR)

Iowa

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 202 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 200 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.45

NFL COMBINE: 11 bench reps (injury DNP)

NFL COMBINE: 36.0” vertical | 122” broad | 6.87 sec. 3-cone

2019 stats: 20 tackles | 3 TFL | 1 sack | 4 PBU

2019 stats: 53 tackles | 1 TFL | 3 INT | 9 PBU | 1 FR

In a nutshell:

Hall is a very solid cornerback prospect for teams planning to play a high frequency of off man and zone coverages. Vs. Pass: Although he occasionally has some solid reps in press, his inconsistent footwork and often over-aggressive hand usage prevent him from thriving when lined up close to a receiver. When lined up deeper off the line, Hall moves well throughout his backpedal and transitioning out of it, protects himself well from vertical double moves and has decent-to-good route recognition in underneath zone coverages. A potential source of concern is an ankle injury suffered halfway through the 2019 season, which prevented him from participating in the combine. Vs. Run: Against the run, Hall is not a heat-seeking missile by any means, but he is a reliable tackler who has a good sense for how aggressive or conservative he should be in the angles that he takes to the ball carrier. He attacks blocking receivers well and can be a challenge for offenses to win against in the screen game.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Hall played a number of alignments for Virginia, although most often as an outside corner. This versatility, combined with his capability in the run game, may help him get on the field sooner than most other rookie corners. He has the size to play outside, but a better fit for him may be in the slot, as he can match up well with big slot receivers, contribute in the box against the run and defend underneath zones well in addition to blitzing on occasion. Considering how well he moves in a backpedal and when starting a play from depth, he could even see some snaps at safety if Pettine decides to keep Darnell Savage in the slot close to full-time.

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Coming out of Iowa’s quarters/pattern-match scheme, Ojemudia has experience playing nearly every type of coverage responsibility, from off man and deep zone to press man and underneath zone. He showed enough positive traits in each area to heavily outweigh the negative ones, making him a potential draft target for a wide range of teams running a variety of different schemes. Vs. Pass: He especially flashed in route recognition for underneath routes, contesting short routes from both off man and in underneath zone. He moves well in Cover 3 and 4 zones, running well with receivers downfield although not always able to find the ball in the air. He shows good recognition of route concepts in both deep and underneath zone responsibilities. One area where he stands to improve is in his real-time play processing, as he occasionally struggled to recognize where the ball was going or adjusting to his receiver on a scramble drill. He also can be too aggressive jumping shorter routes, making him vulnerable to double moves. Vs. Run: As a tackler, Ojemudia frequently flies to the ball carrier, especially as a zone defender coming up to tackle in the flats. Unfortunately, his enthusiasm to hit is not matched by his technique, and seeing him try to wrap up a ball carrier is rare.

Fit with the Packers:

If drafted by the Packers, Ojemudia’s size, athleticism and coverage versatility would give him a leg up over many rookie cornerbacks on the path to playing time. Like fellow Hawkeye DB Josh Jackson, Ojemudia will have a learning curve before he can be counted on, but unlike Jackson, Ojemudia has the speed to run with fast receivers in zone or main schemes. His awareness in zone coverage will make him useful in nickel and dime packages in obvious passing downs.

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Jaylon Johnson (JR)

Utah

Noah Igbinoghene (JR)

Auburn

Measurables: Height: 6’0” | Weight: 193 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.50

Measurables: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 198 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.48

NFL COMBINE: 36.5” | 124” broad | 7.01 sec. 3-cone | 15 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: 37” vertical | 128” broad | 15 bench reps

2019 stats: 36 tackles | 1 TFL | 2 INTs (1 TD) | 11 PBU

2019 stats: 42 tackles | 1 TFL | 7 PBU

In a nutshell:

Johnson is prototypical off coverage cornerback with a gambler’s mentality—skilled enough to win more often than he loses and confident enough to shake off the losses and move on to execute on the next play. Vs. Pass: He thrives in off man and off zone, where he backpedals smoothly and closes extremely well on routes that break in front of him. He is less consistent defending deep routes and has question marks around finding the ball in the air, especially in situations where he’s already slightly beat on a deep route. When asked to play press man, he showed a high comfort level using his hands to engage receivers, but his footwork was often too passive and resulted in him losing early in the route. Vs. Run: On run plays, Johnson usually worked hard to get off blocks but rarely showed a willingness to get involved in tackle unless he had to. He is an average tackler at best by the standards of a cornerback prospect.

Fit with the Packers:

In the RPO era, offensive play callers are getting progressively more intelligent about taking what the numbers tell them to do, and throwing a quick slant against off coverage usually seems like a smart play. However, if Pettine was able to include Johnson in his defensive game-planning, Johnson’s near-elite ability to defend short in- and out-breaking routes from off coverage would significantly change things. Although Johnson would first have to improve his footwork near the line of scrimmage and his ability to defend deep routes, if that were to happen, he could be a valuable chess piece for Pettine.

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If good things come in small packages, then at 5’10” and a shade under 200 pounds, Noah Igbinoghene fits that description for a cornerback. Although he measures under the prototypical height for a corner, he plays much larger than his size, and his explosiveness and nearly 32-inch-long arms help make up for any height deficiencies he may have. Vs. Pass: Of more immediate importance than his size is his relative lack of experience playing defensive back. He only has two full seasons of organized football experience on the defensive side of the ball, and it shows in a lack of polish in his footwork and occasionally sloppy technique with his hand usage. He also struggles to accurately identify route concepts in zone coverage, and he’s often slow to diagnose individual routes. With this said, the upside is clearly there, as demonstrated on the plays where he matches the receiver’s release, engages with his hands early and smothers receivers down the sideline. Vs. Run: Igbinoghene showed up against the run in both positive and negative ways, as he actively looked to get involved in group tackle, but did not show the strength that would be expected from a defender built as compactly as he is.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

After Igbinoghene is drafted, whether by the Packers or by any other team, he will likely require a good amount of time on the bench as he develops behind other cornerbacks on the depth chart. Fortunately, the Packers have a number of mentors in the defensive backs room, and based on his progression in college, he’ll likely be a fast learner. In the meantime, Igbinoghene may be able to contribute on special teams, as he has two kickoff return touchdowns in his career.

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Jeff Gladney (SR)

TCU

2019 stats: 31 tackles | 1.5 TFL | 0.5 sacks | 1 INT | 14 PBU

In a nutshell:

It’s not easy to play cornerback in the wide-open Big-12, but Gladney made an impact for TCU for four consecutive years, racking up at least 28 tackles and five pass breakups in each season. All the more impressive is the fact that he played a majority of snaps at outside corner, despite physically profiling more as a slot defender. Vs. Pass: Gladney was trusted to play on an island fairly often, usually with a soft press alignment and technique. His footwork in this situation was far from textbook but usually effective, as he prefers to shuffle backwards and stay square to the receiver for as long as possible.. However, he occasionally waits too long to open his hips and run with receivers, which can make him susceptible to double moves. He also occasionally struggles with sticking with receivers at the top of their route when in off coverage, likely due to size limitations. In off zone alignments, he possesses very good awareness for route concepts and moves well to cover an entire zone. Vs. Run: Against the run, Gladney triggers quickly and is a plus run defender and tackler for a cornerback.

Fit with the Packers:

Due to the Packers’ size and measurable preferences for cornerbacks, the odds of Gladney winding up in Green Bay are low. Although he checks the speed and explosiveness boxes, his height and his 3-cone time indicate that Gutekunst and Co. will look elsewhere for defensive back help. If he does happen to end up in Green Bay, he will thrive in underneath zone assignments and may actually see playing time sooner than other rookie corners due to his better run defense.

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13 Lamar Jackson (SR)

Nebraska

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 208 lbs. In a nutshell: Jackson is a boom-or-bust corner, where the outcome of each matchup is often determined within three yards of the line of scrimmage. His slow feet are often compensated for by his heavy-handed jams, but when both fail, he doesn’t have the movement skills to easily cover up for a loss early in the route. He isn’t a bad mover, but he isn’t an elite one.

14 AJ Green (SR)

Oklahoma St

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 202 lbs. In a nutshell: Green fits the mold for the stereotypical press corner with plus size who comes with agility and movement concerns. Surprisingly, he is often more effective in soft press without immediately going for the jam than when he commits his hands right at the snap. His backpedal in off man is clunky, which results in mixed success when defending vertical routes from off man. He’s a willing run defender of about average effectiveness for a cornerback.

15 Troy Pride (SR)

Notre Dame

Measurables: Height: 5’11” | Weight: 193 lbs. In a nutshell: Pride possesses the athletic ability to match up with some of the NFL’s fastest receivers, as shown by his 4.4-second 40 time and sub-7 second 3-cone drill. These numbers carry over to the field to some degree, as he moves fluidly in his zone footwork and covers ground well. However, his footwork and technique in press coverage is suspect, and this partially contributed to his inconsistency in being able to defend vertical routes in the 2019 season.

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> CORNERBACK

16 Lavert Hill (SR)

Michigan

17 Cam Dantzler (rJR)

Mississippi St

Measurables: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 190 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 188 lbs.

In a nutshell: Despite his size, many of Hill’s wins in college came on snaps playing press coverage. Although his press technique with both his hands and his footwork can be improved, he often made up for this with tenacity and good ball skills, especially when targeted on deep routes. He showed some ability to play in the slot in college, which is where he’s most likely to have success at the next level.

In a nutshell: The concerns that come up when watching Dantzler on tape (namely, slow feet and questionable top end speed) were not addressed in the slightest by his 4.64 40 time at the combine. However, for teams that want to keep things simple schematically and have their corners challenge at the line of scrimmage and contest vertical throws with long frames, Dantzler has a lot of appeal. He also can help shore up a team’s run defense or at least will not be a liability in the run game.

18 Reggie Robinson (SR)

Tulsa

19 John Reid (rSR)

Penn St

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 205 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 187 lbs.

In a nutshell: Before 2019, Robinson was off many scouts’ radars due in equal parts to playing for Tulsa as well as his zero career interceptions through three seasons. After a breakout season where he intercepted four passes and had 13 PBUs, he made sure he kept the NFL’s attention by running a 4.44 at the combine while having good size and explosiveness measurements. He can also contribute on special teams, as he’s blocked four kicks in his career.

In a nutshell: A key cog in the PSU defense for four years, John Reid came into the combine quietly and let his athletic testing do the talking. Not only did he come in under 4.5 seconds in the 40, he impressed with 20 reps on the bench, solid explosiveness numbers, and most crucially, a 6.95 3-cone time that indicates that he has the agility required to play in the slot at the NFL level.

20 Darnay Holmes (JR)

UCLA Arizona Satate

Measurables: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 195 lbs. In a nutshell: Holmes has the physical tools to work with and to be coached into a solid NFL player, but his tape from UCLA too often showed a player with the unfortunate combination of an aggressive mindset and poor recovery skills. He generally recognized routes and concepts well, but does not yet have the footwork or technical abilities to be a contributor from either off or press coverage.

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21 Stanford Samuels (JR)

Florida St

22 Amik Robertson (JR)

Louisiana Tech

23 Javelin Guidry (JR) Utah 24 K’Von Wallace (SR) Clemson 25 Harrison Hand (JR) Temple

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Position Analysis:

Erik Fretland

1. Xavier McKinney, Alabama

2. Grant Delpit, LSU 3. Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne 4. Brandon Jones, Texas 5. Antoine Winfield Jr, Minnesota 6. Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois 7. Ashtyn Davis, California 8. Antoine Brooks Jr, Maryland 9. Shyheim Carter, Alabama 10. JR Reed, Georgia 11. Geno Stone, Iowa 12. Terrell Burgess, Utah 13. Jordan Fuller, Ohio St 14. Julian Blackmon, Utah 15. Josh Metellus, Michigan 16. Daniel Thomas, Auburn 17. Kenny Robinson Jr, West Virginia 18. Tanner Muse, Clemson 19. Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame 20. Kamren Curl, Arkansas

J E remy c hinn SR southern illinois

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Xavier McKinney (JR)

Alabama

Measurables: Height: 6’0” Weight: 201 lbs.

40 Time: 4.63

NFL COMBINE: 36.0” vertical 122.0” broad 19 bench reps

2019 STATS: 95 tackles 5.5 TFL 3 sacks 3 INT (1 TD) 5 PD 4 FF 1 FR

In a Nut Shell:

In today’s NFL, it’s not simply enough for a player to be “versatile,” meaning he has experience lining up in a number of different spots and playing a number of different roles. To be a key cog in a defense, a player has to also be able to be a difference-maker in one or more of those roles, and Xavier McKinney is the definition of such a versatile player. Vs. Pass: At Alabama, McKinney played a type of “star” big nickel, meaning many of his snaps were as an overhang player, outside linebacker or slot corner. He has a great feel for underneath zones and moves well to defend different route combos, can shut down tight ends in man coverage and can even hold his own against most slot receivers. When he did line up as a deep safety, he showed good (although not elite) range and route recognition. Vs. Run: Although not sized like a stereotypical linebacker, McKinney is very strong at taking on blocks in the run game and sorts through trash very well to find the ball carrier. He tackles reliably when in the box but showed some inconsistency in one-on-one situations against backs in space. He is not a huge hitter, typically playing under control and avoiding sloppy mistakes.

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BEST GAME:

Okudah’s critics may point to his low interception numbers Statistically speaking, McKinney demonstrated his range against LSU with 13 total tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. McKinney spent much of his time near the line of scrimmage and was used as a blitzer on pass plays more often than in other games. He showed natural pass rush instincts, as he closed well to the quarterback, turned the corner around blockers, maintained speed through contact and adjusted to the quarterback’s movement and throw timing in order to attack the windup and force a fumble as Burrow brought the ball back at the top of his drop.

Fit with the Packers:

Although the re-signing of Chandon Sullivan indicates the Packers plan to continue to use him in their big nickel packages going forward, drafting McKinney would immediately shift Sullivan one spot down the depth chart. Although Sullivan has a great feel for underneath zone coverage, McKinney’s ability in this area, in addition to all the other areas in which he stands out, would make him a prime candidate for playing time early on. He would also serve as the top backup to Amos and likely Savage as well should either miss playing time, as he can execute their roles with only a small dropoff in performance.

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Grant Delpit (JR)

LSU

Measurables: Height: 6’2” Weight: 213 lbs.

40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

2019 STATS: 65 tackles 4.5 TFL 2 sacks 2 INT 7 PD 1 FF 1 FR

In a Nut Shell:

In the same mold of LSU safeties like Jamal Adams and Tyrann Mathieu who came before him, Delpit lived up to the No. 7 jersey he wore, leading the Tigers defense to a national championship while suffocating a number of quality offenses along the way. Vs. Pass: Delpit brought a little bit of crazy to the back end of the LSU defense—sometimes well-controlled crazy, other times less so. He flies up to passes and screens in front of him, often blowing up blockers and making his present felt on ball carriers. However, this tendency can be exploited at times, as he occasionally overpursues passes outside the numbers and takes himself out of the play. He has the athleticism to succeed in man coverage but should likely be limited to covering tight ends and big slot receivers in the pros. He has good recognition of route concepts in underneath zone coverage, but when playing deep, he did not show the range that his athleticism would suggest he has. Vs. Run: Similarly to how he defends short passes and screens, Delpit is quick to close on runs from both deep and box alignments. He fills the alley well and sorts through trash well, especially from overhang and slot alignments, but misses tackles in open space at a higher than ideal rate.

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STAT HIGHLIGHT:

Although Delpit has been asked to play all over the field for the Tigers, including often as a deep safety, one thing that stands out both on tape and in the box scores is his aptitude for disrupting in the backfield. In 2018, Delpit almost broke double digit TFLs and racked up five sacks. For his career, his 17.5 tackles for loss equate to a tackle for loss on nearly nine percent of his total tackles.

Fit with the Packers:

Delpit would be an interesting addition to the Packers’ roster in 2020, as his talent is undeniable, but the holes in his game may be enough to keep him as a developmental player for at least his first season. One area where he will be immediately reliable is as a man-coverage box safety, so should either Amos or Savage miss time, Pettine would likely feel comfortable plugging him into the injured player’s spot, while the healthy starter of the two would take on more deep single-high coverage responsibilities.

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Kyle Dugger (rSR)

Lenoir-Rhyne

Measurables: Height: 6’1” Weight: 217 lbs.

40 Time: 4.49

NFL COMBINE: 35.5” vertical 123.0” broad 6.94 sec. 3-cone

2019 STATS (7 GAMES): 31 tackles 1 TFL 2 INTs (46.5 yd/return) 4 PD

In a Nut Shell:

Projection is the name of the game when evaluating Dugger, as his lack of competition against high-level opposition is the biggest question mark when considering his status as an NFL prospect. However, the dominance that stood out on tape and the athletic display he put on at the combine show a quality NFL prospect and a potential future star. Vs. Pass: Like many of the other safeties in this draft class, Dugger was a jack-of-all-trades in terms of where he lined up on the field. When asked to play deep middle safety, Dugger looked comfortable ranging anywhere between the numbers and showed very good ball skills and kept his cool with the ball in the air. He’s especially a factor in jump-ball situations, where his 6’2” frame plus 42-inch vertical allows him to contest and win most 50-50 throws in his zone. Vs. Run: Depending on the team that drafts him, Dugger may be asked to be a run-supporting box safety or to serve as the last line of defense against the run in deep coverage. His tape shows his ability to do both, but he plays at a higher level when near the line of scrimmage, with great sideline-to-sideline range and the ability to very quickly close the gap to outside runs and screen passes. He doesn’t always pick the right alley to fill and has room for improvement in sorting through blockers and defenders.

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Best Game:

To open the 2019 season, Dugger led the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears to a dominant victory over St. Augustine, where he made his mark with two highlight reel interceptions. For the Bears’ first points of the season, Kyle Dugger lined up deep over the slot, closed on a post route, snagged a bobbled pass and, 30 yards later, was celebrating in the end zone. Exactly 15 game minutes later, Dugger dropped deep underneath a St. Augustine shot downfield and, like a center fielder in baseball, easily hauled in the pop fly.

Fit with the Packers:

Due to the significant difference between Lenoir-Rhyne’s 2019 opponents and Dugger’s 2020 NFL opponents in talent and offensive scheme complexity, his coverage skills may need refining before he sees a large role as a coverage safety at the next level. However, with his combination of size and sidelineto-sideline athleticism in the run game, it’s feasible for him to have a role on defense from day one. Depending on opposing personnel, Dugger may line up next to Christian Kirksey in “base” formations, or he may play a role similar to Chandon Sullivan in big nickel formations lining up over opposing tight ends.

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Brandon Jones (SR)

Texas

Antoine Winfield Jr (rSO)

Minnesota

Measurables: Height: 5’11” | Weight: 198 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 5’9” | Weight: 203 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.45

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

NFL COMBINE: 36.0” vertical | 124.0” broad

2019 stats: 86 tackles | 4.5 TFL | 1 sack | 2 INT | 4 PD | 1 FF | 1 FR

2019 stats: 83 tackles | 3.5 TFL | 3 sacks | 7 INT (1 TD) | 1 PD | 2 FF

In a nutshell:

Vs. Pass: In coverage, Jones does his best work man-to-man on slot receivers and tight ends. Although his footwork coming out of his backpedal needs to be cleaned up, his athleticism, physicality and ball awareness allow him to shut down receivers more often than not. He’s functional in both deep and underneath zone coverage, with average route recognition and feel for routes behind him. As a blitzer, he showed flashes of being able to redirect well at top speed. Vs. Run: Jones excels against the run when lined up as an overhang player or outside linebacker. Simply put, he is a problem for any slot receiver or tight end who has to try and block him on a run play. Jones shed blocks more often and more quickly on average than any other safety in this class and tackled reliably after shedding blocks. He’s somewhat less consistent against the run when lined up deep, but he still can be trusted as the last line of defense when a ball carrier breaks into the secondary.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Brandon Jones is more likely to end up a Packer than any of the safeties ahead of him on this list since he won’t be as expensive on draft day. If drafted by the Packers, he could slide into Chandon Sullivan’s spot on first and second downs when Pettine wants to play big nickel, and he even has the mancoverage skills to take Tramon Williams’ slot corner spot.

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Vs. Pass: Built like an extremely short linebacker, Winfield may struggle at times to defend larger receivers or win jump balls. But what he lacks in height, he makes up for in many other areas. His ball skills are one of his best traits, as he can track and adjust to the ball in the air and has the hands to secure the interception, as demonstrated by his seven picks in 2019. Although he has decent range, he isn’t a sideline-tosideline eraser and will thrive most playing Cover 2. He matches routes well in zone and to a lesser extent in man, and he does a very good job of stacking receivers and running their routes for them. Vs. Run: His stout build gives him some clout around the line of scrimmage, as he’s more than capable of punishing blockers and ball carriers alike. He’s a very reliable tackler in a phone booth, but his limited wingspan can occasionally cause problems tackling in the open field.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Winfield would be an interesting player to work into Green Bay’s defensive scheme. Adding him to the roster might allow Amos to move into the Chandon Sullivan big nickel role, and Winfield would then be able to play more deep-half in Cover 2 looks with Savage as the other deep safety. In single-high looks, Pettine would have the flexibility to have either Amos or Savage play the deep middle, with Winfield matching up with a tight end, playing a robber zone or even blitzing.

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Jeremy Chinn (SR)

Southern Illinois

Ashtyn Davis (rSR)

California

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 221 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.45

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 202 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 41.0” vertical | 138.0” broad | 20 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: 14 bench reps

2019 stats: 71 tackles | 2.5 TFL | 1 sack | 4 INT | 3 PDs | 1 FR

2019 stats: 55 tackles | 1 TFL | 2 INTs | 4 PD | 1 FF | 2 FR

In a nutshell:

Vs. Pass: Chinn is an extremely high-ceiling player who may not be anywhere close to it at the moment. This is apparent when watching plays of him in coverage—generally sound, but interspersed with “wow” plays like athletic sideline toe-tap interceptions. However, he needs to improve his reading receivers in zone coverage and in playing off-man against shiftier receivers. Vs. Run: As his size would suggest, Chinn is more than capable of laying the lumber on both backs and receivers. He can be overaggressive in going for the big hit at times, but for the most part he can be counted on to secure the tackle. He has the ability to make tackles from a number of different angles, both on runs to his side and away from him, although he isn’t always able to accurately sort through the trash.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

It’s not out of the question that Chinn moves to linebacker fulltime at the next level. If he were to do so, then he could partner with Christian Kirksey in base personnel and handle some of the more rigorous coverage responsibilities. However, should Pettine have a different plan at linebacker, Chinn could also be used as a sub defensive back against offenses with tight ends that are both strong blockers and receivers.

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Vs. Pass: For teams looking for a true centerfield deep safety to be the lynchpin of a Cover 3 or Cover 1 defensive scheme, Davis is their best bet in this draft class. In the games watched for this analysis, he played over 50 percent of his snaps as a deep safety, most often in deep middle coverage. He covers ground very well moving forward to defend short passes and screens, but his instincts and recognition of deeper route combinations will need some improvement. Vs. Run: Davis comes up very quickly to support against the run from depth. He almost always filled the proper alley as the last line of defense, although he shows a tendency to take a tooaggressive angle on runs to the sideline. On the few snaps where he played as a box safety against the run, he did a good job taking on blockers and setting the edge, but he struggled to shed blocks and make the tackles himself.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Davis would be a luxury pick for the Packers, as both Amos and Savage have shown the ability to play Davis’ primary position (single-high safety) at a relatively high level. However, the addition of Davis would allow Amos to play closer to the box, where he’s stronger against the run than Chandon Sullivan. Davis also returned kicks at Cal, and, with his track speed, he may provide a spark to the Green Bay special teams unit.

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Antoine Brooks Jr (SR)

Maryland

Shyheim Carter (SR)

Alabama

Measurables: Height: 5’11” | Weight: 220 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.64

Measurables: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 194 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 34.5” vertical | 18 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

2019 stats: 87 tackles | 8.5 TFL | 1 INT | 5 PD | 1 FR

2019 stats: 43 tackles | 2.5 TFL | 1 INT | 7 PD | 1 FF

In a nutshell:

Vs. Run: Brooks Jr. is very effective in the box. He makes unblocked tackles reliably, diagnoses run plays well, blows up smaller blockers and doesn’t get swallowed up by tight ends or offensive linemen. He works through trash well, tackles well from different angles and has a very high motor.

Vs. Run: Carter is comfortable enough playing in the box, as he showed an aptitude for both setting the edge as well as tackling when unblocked in the alley. He didn’t consistently get off blocks well, even from receivers, so he’ll need to improve in this area. He possesses a high football IQ, as he frequently adjusted his teammates’ alignments and let them know their responsibilities on a given play.

Vs. Pass: Brooks Jr. is a prime candidate to move to linebacker at the next level due to his strength against the run as well as his weakness in coverage. Although not an outright liability, the further he gets from the line of scrimmage, the less effective he is and will need to be used exclusively in underneath zones or against tight ends and running backs when playing man. He demonstrated some high-level athletic ability on the final play of Maryland’s 2018 game vs Texas, sealing the game with a toe-tap interception downfield at the left sideline.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Adding Brooks Jr. would go a long way towards helping shore up the Packers run defense without sacrificing efficacy in the pass game—although Brooks Jr. is limited in coverage by the standards of a safety, he’d be an average to above average coverage linebacker or box safety. The attitude and effort that he brings in the run game would hugely benefit the Packers, as it seemed to be in short supply of late.

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Vs. Pass: Carter is a fundamentally sound defender who saw most of his 2019 snaps as a big nickel or overhang player, in a fairly similar role to teammate Xavier McKinney. He was almost exclusively used in man and underneath zone coverage rather than deep zone coverage and showed good awareness of different route concepts. He had good technique in man coverage, but some concerns about his long speed showed up against fast slot receivers.

Fit with the Packers:

Depending on whether or not the Packers resign Tramon Williams, Carter could have an outside chance to start from day one. In 2019, Pettine used Williams to match up with slot receivers and Chandon Sullivan to match up more with tight ends. Should Williams not return to Green Bay, Carter would be in the mix for that role, competing with Ka’Dar Hollman and Josh Jackson.

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JR Reed (rSR)

Georgia

Geno Stone (JR)

Iowa

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 202 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.54

Measurables: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 207 | 40 Time: 4.62 lbs.

NFL COMBINE: 34.0” vertical | 130.0” broad | 15 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: 33.5” vertical | 116.0” broad | 12 bench reps

2019 stats: 54 tackles | 2 TFL | 0.5 sacks | 1 INT | 7 PD |

2019 stats: 70 tackles | 3 TFL | 1 sack | 1 INT | 4 PD | 3 FF

1 FF | 1 FR (1TD)

In a nutshell:

Vs. Pass: Reed is a prototypical strong safety prospect—versatile enough in coverage to not be exposed if occasionally asked to cover a fast receiver or play the deep middle but will perform best if covering tight ends in man and only underneath zones. He can occasionally be too aggressive coming up to defend short passes, as he often tries for a big hit which doesn’t always lead to a clean tackle. Vs. Run: Reed closes distance downhill very well against both runs and screen passes, and he has a natural feel for identifying which alley he needs to fill. He tracks down running backs well once they’ve broken into the secondary and isn’t afraid to bring his full weight against backs who’ve built up a full head of steam.

Fit with the Packers:

Reed would likely not see much playing time as a rookie if he ends up on the Packers’ roster, except for possibly in some specific sub-packages geared more towards defending the run. However, should Amos miss time, he has the physical and skill set profile to be Amos’ direct backup.

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In a nutshell:

Vs. Pass: Although Stone had a very poor combine, the athletic limitations he has did not often show up on tape when he was used correctly. When given the opportunity to diagnose the play in front of him, Stone excelled, using his anticipation and route recognition to make plays on routes in front of him as well as effectively sinking underneath intermediate routes behind him. He also flashed in the screen game, flying downhill to beat blockers to their spot and kill the play for a loss. Vs. Run: Although Stone will not be a difference-maker in coverage from a single-high spot, he did show the ability to reliably serve as the final line of defense from that spot on plays where the running back broke into the secondary. He triggers quickly on run plays and comes downhill quickly, but under control.

Fit with the Packers:

Stone doesn’t exactly fit the athletic profile for defensive backs that the Packers gravitate towards, but his instincts and track record of performance might convince them to take a second look. If they do, Stone would probably need to show his value on special teams in order to see the field as a rookie, barring injury to one of the players ahead of him on the depth chart.

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Terrell Burgess (SR)

Utah

Measurables: Height: 5’11” | Weight: 202 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.46 NFL COMBINE: 33.5” vertical | 122.0” broad | 20 bench reps

13 Jordan Fuller (SR)

Ohio St

Measurables: HHeight: 6’2” | Weight: 203 lbs. In a nutshell: Fuller is a smart player that plays faster than his combine numbers indicate. He was used in a single-high role most often and showed the football IQ required to be an effective player there. He was comfortable moving side to side to provide over-top support between the numbers and was usually in the right spot playing downhill to support on runs and shorter throws in front of him. Some COD limitations showed up both defending cutbacks on outside runs as well as defending redirections by ball carriers in space in the middle of the field.

14 Julian Blackmon (SR)

Utah

2019 stats: 81 tackles | 7.5 TFL | 0.5 sacks | 1 INT | 5 PD | 2 FR

Measurables: Height: 6’0” | Weight: 187 lbs.

In a nutshell:

In a nutshell: In his first season as a safety after playing cornerback for three seasons, Burgess performed admirably, holding up well in deep and underneath zone coverage, although he still does not have the route recognition and quick trigger that one would expect from a more experienced safety. He’s a surprisingly reliable tackler despite his size and works through trash well, although he’s of the “hold-on-and-hope” type of tackler and will need to add size to play effectively against NFL running backs.

Vs Pass: Burgess is a versatile coverage player with enough athleticism to play well in most coverage responsibilities. He was only a one-year starter, before which he played in a total of 15 games as a rotational backup defensive back. There are a few coverage issues that come up on tape, notably in off-man coverage. He works best in coverage when in zone but has not shown the ability to be a consistent difference-maker. Vs Run: Burgess is a solid tackler for a player who’s more known for his pass coverage. His stout build allows him to throw his weight around in the box, but issues can arise when filling alleys from a deep safety alignment. He also has a tendency to get stuck in the mud and struggles to redirect when forced to try to tackle in open-field settings.

Fit with the Packers:

Overall, Burgess is still developing and currently does not have any elite traits. Still, the fact that he’s a generally reliable player indicates that there’s significant room for development, and he may even be worth a mid-round pick. He would have an uphill journey to playing time in year one, but depending on his development arc, he could easily be a contributor on defense in 2021.

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15 Josh Metellus (SR)

Michigan

Measurables: Height: 5’11” | Weight: 209 lbs. In a nutshell: If Metellus were two inches taller and fifteen pounds heavier, he would be talked about as an elite candidate to switch to linebacker. He pursues runs well sideline to sideline and tackles well both in space and in the box, and he stands out as one of the most reliable tacklers in this class. If he maintains his current weight, he has the range to play as a Cover 2 safety or, if he bulks up, can play well as a box safety or linebacker.

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16 Daniel Thomas (SR)

Auburn

17 Kenny Robinson Jr (rJR)

West Virginia

Measurables: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 215 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 198 lbs.

In a nutshell: Thomas is a strong safety prospect with versatility and ball production. He covers ground well and gets around well, and what he shows on tape is borne out by his 4.51 40-time and 37-inch vertical leap. He’s not as effective in the box as some other strong safety prospects are, but he makes up for it in range and ability to survive in deep coverage and in some other areas where most strong safeties have deficiencies.

In a nutshell: Robinson Jr.’s path to the draft has been a unique one. After being kicked out of the WVU program for academic fraud issues after the 2018 season, he wound up being drafted by the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL. In the 28 total games he played in for the Battlehawks and the Mountaineers, he snagged nine INTs, proving himself to be one of this draft class’ top ballhawks. However, he’s a very inconsistent last line of defense on run plays.

18 Tanner Muse (rSR)

Clemson

19 Alohi Gilman (JR)

Notre Dame

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 227 lbs.

Measurables: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 201 lbs.

In a nutshell: Muse is a good linear athlete with good size. He’s effective against the run when pursuing sideline to sideline and when not in open space, but he occasionally gets stuck in the mud in the open field. His seven career interceptions indicate a knack for finding the ball, but he is not especially quick to drive on routes in front of him and is not very fluid in coverage, turning to match deep vertical routes.

In a nutshell: Gilman plays with a high level of intensity and is sound in his run fits. He tackles well, but limitations in his play strength show up, as stronger ball carriers would often start to muscle their way out of his wrap-up tackles, and he was rarely able to prevent backs from falling forward. He possesses good intuition in coverage schemes, showing the knowledge to pass off routes underneath and pick up receivers coming into his zone. Gilman is versatile but isn’t much better than average at any one thing.

20 Kamren Curl (JR)

Arkansas Arizona Satate

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 206 lbs. In a nutshell: Curl is another strong candidate to move to linebacker, as he’s most comfortable playing nearer to the line of scrimmage. His change-of-direction limitations are apparent when tested in deep coverage, and his best efforts in run support come when he’s lined up in the box. He was a vocal leader for the Arkansas defense, often telling other players where to line up and what their responsibilities were.

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21 Jared Mayden (SR) Alabama 22 Myles Dorn (SR)

North Carolina

23 Reggie Floyd (SR)

Virginia Tech

24 Jaquarius Landrews (SR)

Mississippi St

25 L’Jarius Sneed (SR)

Louisiana Tech

170

Position Analysis:

Brandon Carwile DOMINIK EBERLE rSR UTAH ST

1. Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia

2. Tyler Bass, Georgia Southern 3. Dominik Eberle, Utah St 4. JJ Molson, UCLA 5. Cooper Rothe, Wyoming 6. Jet Toner, Stanford 7. Sam Sloman, Miami (OH) 8. Tucker McCann, Missouri 9. Logan Justus, Indiana 10. Justin Rohrwasser, Marshall

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171

> KICKER

Rodrigo Blankenship (rSR)

Georgia

Measurables: Height: 6’1” Weight: 187 lbs.

40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: n/a

2019 stats: 27/34 FG long of 50 46/46 XPs 127 points 65 TB on 85 kickoffs (62.2 avg.)

In a Nut Shell:

POSTSEASON GAME:

He made six out of nine attempts from over 50 yards with the Bulldogs. Blankenship also connected on 92.7 percent of his kicks under 40 yards. With a soccer background, Blankenship rarely miss-hits his kicks and has a smooth follow-through. The Georgia product even adds value as a kickoff specialist thanks to an innate ability to send kicks out of the end zone. Blankenship did miss three kicks in 2019 and has had three blocked in his career.

Fit with the Packers:

Blankenship was the recipient of the 2019 Lou Groza Award as the nation’s best kicker. A former walk-on, Blankenship climbed the ranks at Georgia, eventually earning a scholarship. Blankenship quickly became a fan favorite, earning the nickname “Hot Rod” because of his trademark dark, thick glasses and booming leg.

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In the 2018 Rose Bowl against Oklahoma, Blankenship set the Rose Bowl record by making a 55-yard field goal during the second quarter. Blankenship's field goal just before halftime cut it to a 14-point deficit for Georgia. Reenergized by the long field, the Bulldogs went on to score 14 unanswered in the third quarter. Georgia won the game in overtime 54-48.

Undoubtedly the best kicking prospect in the 2020 class and a great candidate to be an instant fan favorite. Blankenship would also be a real test for Mason Crosby because of his experience and ability to hit from deep. He would also be the cheaper option, but it would likely take a draft pick to get him. General manager Brian Gutekunst probably wants to use his draft resources elsewhere.

172

> KICKER

Tyler Bass (rSR)

Georgia Southern

Measurables: Height: 5’10” Weight: 183 lbs.

40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: n/a

2019 stats: 20/28 FG long of 49 36/36 XPs 96 points 55 TB on 72 kickoffs (60.3 avg.)

In a Nut Shell:

Bass is a marksman from short to intermediate range. On kicks between 30 and 50 yards, he made 93 percent of his attempts in 2019. Despite his small stature, Bass has the ability to rocket the ball on kickoffs. Through his college career, 198 out of 268 kicks were called for touchbacks. Only nine were returned last season. However, he doesn’t have much experience from beyond the 50; his career-long is just 50 yards. That said, Bass impressed at the Senior Bowl, where he showed off a strong leg. His downsides are kicking in inclement weather, a lack of explosiveness and kicking a high ball, which may take away from his distance.

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BEST GAME:

Bass made a career-high four field goals in Georgia Southern's 2019 meeting with Maine. Bass totaled 14 of the Eagles' 26 points and helped lead his team to their first win of the season. He also had six touchbacks for the game, completing neutralizing any potential kick returns by the Bears.

Fit with the Packers:

Bass is not an ideal successor to Crosby. His struggles in poor weather are well-documented, and that does not bode well in Green Bay. That said, in perfect conditions, he is as accurate as they come. Bass could have a long NFL career somewhere else.

173

> KICKER

Dominik Eberle (rSR)

Utah St

JJ Molson (SR)

Measurables: Height 6’2” | Weight: 190 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 197 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: n/a

2019 stats: 21/24 FG | long of 48 | 45/45 XP | 108 points |

2019 stats: 8/14 FG | long of 49 | 40/40 XP | 64 points |

37 TB on 75 kickoffs (59.1 avg.)

53 TB on 61 kickoffs (63.3 avg.)

In a Nut Shell:

Hailing from Germany, Eberle was named an honorable mention All-American by Pro Football Focus in 2019. He set the single-season school record for field goal percentage last year, at 87.5 percent. Eberle is fifth all-time in Mountain West history with 167 career points. He also tied two NCAA records by scoring 24 points in a single game and converted on three field goals from 51 yards. His career-long is a 52-yarder, which is 10th in school history. Eberle was four for seven on field goal attempts of at least 50 yards. On kicks from 30 to 49 yards, he was an outstanding 76.6 percent, however, he did miss three kicks under 30 yards in his career. Eberle could stand to add a little more touchback power after recording just 37 on 75 kickoff attempts in 2019.

Vs top opponent:

Eberle was one of the few Aggies to show up against one of the best teams in college football history in the 2019 LSU Tigers. The Utah State kicker accounted for all of his team's points with two field goals, including a 47-yarder in the first quarter. Eberle's long kick brought the Aggies back to within one against the Tigers. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough as LSU pulled away for a 42-6 win.

UCLA

Molson is a diverse athlete who played football, basketball, soccer, golf, and tennis in high school. He was a four-year starter with the Bruins, finishing with a 68.9 field goal percentage. Molson is known for consistent ball-striking and good trajectory. He was also a full-time kickoff specialist, totaling a 72.5 percent touchback rating over the last two seasons. Molson even possesses a sneaky good onside kick technique. Unfortunately, Molson is not consistent from distance, having made only one out of six attempts from at least 50 yards. His accuracy is also in question when it comes to intermediate kicks, as Molson converted 83 percent of attempts inside 40 yards.

Fit with the Packers:

Molson would be nothing but a camp body. While he does have an athletic background similar to Crosby, Green Bay is not going to settle for someone with accuracy issues and without a history of making lengthy kicks.

Fit with the Packers:

Eberle will be heavily sought-after if he goes undrafted, and Green Bay may be one of the teams vying for his services if it wants to bring in some competition for Mason Crosby. Eberle checks all the boxes as far as consistency and power and would put up a good fight in training camp.

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174

> KICKER

Cooper Rothe (SR)

Wyoming

Jet Toner (SR)

Stanford

Measurables: Height: 5’11” | Weight: 178 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 199 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: n/a

2019 stats: 15/22 FG | long of 53 | 37/40 XP | 82 points |

2019 stats: 12/16 FG | long of 51 | 13/13 XP | 49 points |

44 TB on 67 kickoffs (62.4 avg.)

12 TB on 30 kickoffs (58.7 avg.)

In a Nut Shell:

Rothe had somewhat of a down year with Wyoming after finishing first in the nation in field goal percentage (94.1) as a junior. Rothe was 16 for 17 in 2018 before closing out his college career 15 for 22 with a long of 53 yards. In four years with the Cowboys, he finished with a 76.6 field goal percentage. Rothe’s 342 career points are first all-time on the Wyoming scoring list. Rothe has decent power, but there are accuracy concerns after he missed three extra points in 2019.

Fit with the Packers:

Rothe will likely go undrafted during the 2020 NFL draft. He could possibly enter training camp for an open competition, however, Rothe would be hard-pressed to beat out a veteran. One thing he does have going for him is that he is used to kicking in the cold, which would come in handy in Green Bay.

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Besides having one of the coolest names in the 2020 draft, Toner is also one of the most proficient marksmen, with a career field percentage of 82.5. Toner’s senior season was cut short with an undisclosed lower-body injury. In 2018, Toner set the singleseason school record for field goal percentage with 93.3. He also never missed a single extra point in three seasons at Stanford, finishing 101 for 101. However, despite his noticeable stature, Toner doesn’t have much to show for it in terms of power. He has only three attempts beyond 50 yards and a 51-yarder as a career-long. Toner was not a kickoff specialist, having attempted only 35 in his career. Only 12 resulted in a touchback.

Fit with the Packers:

A weak leg isn’t going to do Toner any favors. While he may be one of the more accurate kickers in the class, his inexperience place kicking will make life difficult in making an NFL roster. Crosby has served as the team’s placekicker since he entered the league in 2007. That may seem insignificant to some, but good kick coverage often starts with the kicker’s power.

175

> KICKER

Sam Sloman (SR)

Miami (OH)

Tucker McCann (SR)

Missouri

Measurables: Height: 5’8” | Weight: 205 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 215 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: n/a

2019 stats: 26/30 FG | long of 53 | 34/34 XP | 112 points |

2019 stats: 16/22 FG | long of 52 | 34/37 XP | 82 points |

52 TB on 75 kickoffs (62.7 avg.)

58 TB on 64 kickoffs (64.6 avg.)

In a Nut Shell:

Don’t let his size fool you—Sloman has a big leg. On field goal attempts of at least 50 yards, he finished 4/5 in 2019 with a long of 53. Sloman’s 26 field goals on 30 attempts are best in school history. His 112 points as a senior rank fourth in school history for a single season. In 2019, Sloman was 14/17 on kicks ranging from 30 to 49 yards. He only missed one kick under 30 yards during his college career. Sloman adds tremendous value as a placekicker, having produced 127 touchbacks for the Red Hawks. One big question on Sloman’s profile is whether he can kick on the big stage, as he has no game-winners to his name.

Fit with the Packers:

Sloman may not have the ‘clutch gene’ that Green Bay has benefited from with Crosby. Still, it would be fun to see a 5’8” kicker booming 50 yarders through the uprights. Sloman will have to make the most of his opportunity at a camp tryout. It’s doubtful that will come with the Packers.

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Punting or kicking, McCann can do it all. He’s one of the few players in college football history who can say he hit four punts of at least 50 yards and three field goals of at least 40 yards in the same game. His career-long field goal came as a junior when he connected on a 57-yarder against South Carolina with just over a minute left to give Missouri a onepoint lead. In total, McCann was 3/7 on kicks of at least 50 yards with the Tigers. Yes, McCann may have something of a leg, but there are some accuracy concerns. His 72.6 field goal percentage isn’t great, and he missed three extra-point attempts last season. In four years with Missouri, McCann couldn’t convert 11 extra points. Consistency could be a huge issue on the next level.

Fit with the Packers:

Having a kicker who can also punt comes in handy, especially if a player gets sick or injured. Remember, JK Scott was questionable for last season’s NFC Championship with an illness. McCann will definitely get some looks because of his leg, however, he’s hardly considered a marksman and not a good fit in Green Bay.

176

> KICKER

Logan Justus (rSR)

Indiana

Justin Rohrwasser (rSR)

Marshall

Measurables: Height: 5’11” | Weight: 182 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 230 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: n/a

2019 stats: 17/21 FG | long of 50 | 45/47 XP | 96 points |

2019 stats: 18/21 FG | long of 53 | 35/36 XP | 89 points |

zero kickoffs

33 TB on 62 kickoffs (60.4 avg.)

In a Nut Shell:

As a former walk-on, Justus played only two seasons for the Hoosiers. However, he worked his way up to be the starter as a junior, and his field goal percentage never dropped below 80 percent. His career percentage rests at 82.1, having hit 32 out of 39 attempts. Justus was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2018 and 2019. During his junior season, Justus connected on a game-winning 42-yard field goal attempt against Maryland with 2:32 remaining. For as accurate as Justus is on paper, his limited experience is an overarching issue, having only kicked for two full seasons. On kicks ranging from 40 to 49 yards, he is a career 7/11. Also, Justus has made only one attempt from at least 50 yards despite three attempts. Three missed extra points are another red flag.

Fit with the Packers:

While it would be cool to have another lefty in camp, Justus doesn’t feel like the guy. A guy with such little experience won’t be a true test for a veteran such as Crosby. However, If Justus can ease concerns regarding his leg strength, maybe he has a shot in the NFL.

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Rohrwasser previously attended Rhode Island but later transferred to Marshall for his junior season. He played in all 13 games as a junior, hitting 15 out of 21 field goal attempts. He also showed some competitiveness in recovering two fumbles. The first thing you think of when you look at Rohrwasser is size. He’s a big kicker who some may liken to Sebastian Janikowski. In his senior season, Rohrwasser made 18 of 21 for an 85.7 field goal percentage. His longest made field goal was from 53 yards. Rohrwasser was 2/2 on attempts from at least 50 yards and was the team’s kickoff specialist. He may have a leg but, as can be said for many strong kickers, there are some inconsistencies with accuracy. During his junior season at Marshall, Rohrwassrer was 1/5 on field goal attempts ranging 40 to 49 yards. He also missed two kicks under 30 yards and three extra points in two seasons.

Fit with the Packers:

It’s hard to give Rohrwasser much of a chance to beat out Crosby. His 53-yarder was a game-winner against Western Kentucky, but he needs to learn how to make his bread from 40 and in. Crosby would easily outduel someone like Rohrwasser with accuracy concerns, although it would be interesting to see Green Bay with a big-bodied kicker.

177

Position Analysis:

Brandon Carwile

1. Braden Mann, Texas A&M

2. Michael Turk, Arizona St 3. Joseph Charlton, South Carolina 4. Tommy Townsend, Florida 5. Sterling Hofrichter, Syracuse 6. Alex Pechin, Bucknell 7. Arryn Siposs, Auburn 8. Dane Roy, Houston 9. Max Duffy, Kentucky 10. Dom Maggio, Wake Forest

BRADEN MANN SR TEXAS A&M

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178

> PUNTER

Braden Mann (SR)

Texas A&M

Measurables: Height: 5’11” Weight: 195 lbs.

40 Time: 4.83

NFL COMBINE: 31” vertical 111” broad 4.13 sec. 20 yd 7.03 sec. 3-cone

2019 stats: 57 punts 47.1 gross avg. 18 inside 20 33 TB 20 FC Long of 68

In a Nut Shell:

Renowned as the top punter in this class, Mann is one of the nation’s top field-flippers with a 49.1 career average. Mann received the Ray Guy Award in 2018 when he averaged 51 yards per attempt and recorded a long of 82. Although it wasn’t as good as his junior campaign, Mann capped off his college career with an impressive senior season. Mann displayed precision accuracy and touch by pinning 26 of his 57 attempts inside the 20. He also handled kickoff duties, booting 66 percent of his kickoffs for touchbacks. For a position that typically lacks toughness, Mann brings some tenacity. He totaled 10 tackles over the last two years. Rarely is kicking it too far a concern; however, in Mann’s case, it may be. His net average dropped by 3.5 yards from his junior to senior season. On too many occasions, he out-kicked his coverage, meaning he may need to add more hang time. There are also questions about his body of work, considering a noticeable drop-off from 2018 to 2019 and only two years of real production. Despite these concerns, Mann still has a good chance to be the first punter off the board in April.

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Best GAME:

Set the NCAA record for highest punting average in a game at 60.8 yards per attempt against Alabama.

Fit with the Packers:

It’s hard to imagine Green Bay bringing in a guy who isn’t a veteran or undrafted free agent. After all, JK Scott was a fifthround pick in 2018. However, Mann would bring an edge to the position, as Scott really isn’t known to get involved on tackles. Mann may even pack more power than Scott even though he is seven inches shorter. Perhaps the Packers would value Scott more because he gets better hang time. Bottom line: if Mann somehow goes undrafted, he would be an ideal candidate to light a fire under Scott.

179

> PUNTER

Michael Turk (rSO)

Arizona

Measurables: Height: 6’1” Weight: 228 lbs.

40 Time: 4.79

NFL COMBINE: 34.5” vertical 108” broad 4.72 sec. 20 yd 25 bench reps

2019 stats: 67 punts 46.0 gross avg. 36 inside 20 7 TB 22 FC long of 75

In a Nut Shell:

Football is deeply ingrained within the Turk family. Turk’s uncles, Matt and Dan, both had NFL careers that spanned at least 15 seasons. Turk often trained with Matt, who was an NFL punter for 19 seasons. Turk began his college career at Lafayette, where he saw immediate success as a freshman (42.7 yards per attempt) before transferring. Turk was required to redshirt in 2018 but quickly regained his form with a punt average of 46 yards, including a 51.8 gross average. Turk also displayed some touch, forcing 20 fair catches while pinning 36 punts inside the 20. His career-long came in his first game with Arizona State when he booted a 75-yarder against Kent State. Given his thick build, it’s easy to see that power is Turk’s strong suit.

BOWL GAME:

Punted eight times vs Florida State in the Sun Bowl for a total of 366 yards. Turk’s average for the game was 45.75 with a long of 64 yards. Two punts were called for a fair catch, and he pinned four punts inside the 20.

Fit with the Packers:

With some refinement, Turk can have a long career just like his uncles. He’s young (21), and his leg is a serious weapon, but it may not be enough for Green Bay to part ways with Scott. Turk is worth a look if the team can bring him in as a UDFA.

However, like Mann, power isn’t always ideal as Turk was also subject to out-kicking his coverage. And unfortunately, he is not the tackler that Mann is. Turk can stand to add some hang time as well and more control to his kicks (seven touchbacks in 2019). Also, he does not have experience doing kickoffs, which may turn some teams off, but his power is not something to ignore.

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180

> PUNTER

Joseph Charlton (rSR)

South Carolina

Tommy Townsend (rSO)

Florida

Measurables: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 195 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 191 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.75

NFL COMBINE: 13 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: n/a

2019 stats: 68 punts | 47.7 gross avg. | 28 inside 20 | 5 TB |

2019 stats: 42 punts | 44.0 gross average | 11 inside 20 | 4 TB |

27 FC | long of 66

17 FC | long of 71

In a Nut Shell:

Charlton was a three-year starter at South Carolina and is considered the greatest punter in school history. His career average of 45.5 per punt is the all-time record for the Gamecocks. Charlton’s 47.7 average last year was third in the nation, while his average hang time ranked seventh. Both helped make him a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. Charlton showed good progress throughout his college career, improving his average each season. He is a solid directional punter and has a good pooch kick that can go for 50plus. Charlton even was the holder on field goals at South Carolina. Opponents averaged 12.2 yards per return against Charlton. He also may need to speed up his technique after having a punt blocked in each of the last two years. Scouts consider him a below-average tackler, and they also question his ability to catch snaps in inclement weather. The redshirt senior never handled kickoff duties. Overall, Charlton needs to become more consistent on the next level, but he’s already had a good amount of experience so his ceiling may be too low.

Vs Top Opponent:

In 2019 facing Georgia in the regular-season finale, Charlton booted seven punts for 318 yards (45.43 avg), and five of those punts pinned the Bulldogs inside the 20.

Fit with the Packers:

It’s hard to see Green Bay giving Charlton much of a look. He has a similar build to Scott and also struggled with similar inconsistencies in college. However, Charlton is a good candidate to look at if he goes undrafted because of his potential.

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A very good athlete, Townsend was rated the No. 1 punter out of high school by some and committed to Tennessee. After redshirting as a freshman, Townsend transferred to the Gators, where his brother was a punter from 2013 to 2017. He did not officially log his first punt until his junior year in 2018, when he averaged 45.4 yards on the season. In his final college season, Townsend saw a slight decrease in his numbers but showcased an impressive hang time to prevent runbacks. Opposing returners averaged just 1.3 yards against Townsend. He also showed good touch at Florida, touting a 60 percent average of knocking pooch kicks inside the 10. You might say Townsend is known for his touch rather than his power. He has a very thin build but has since added weight in getting ready for the NFL. Townsend’s methodical punting style led to two blocked attempts in 2018. Coaches will likely need to work on speeding up his process. There is concern over his inconsistencies as a ball-striker. He may need some more work on his directional punting.

Fit with the Packers:

Townsend would bring some athleticism to the kicking room. He ran a fake for 18 yards in 2018 in a game against Vanderbilt. Townsend then had another fake for a first down last year against Miami. If Green Bay wants to get more creative on special teams, maybe he’s the guy. That said, there are too many other issues related to his actual job description to actually trust him with the job full-time. His sample size is small and doesn’t appear to be impressive enough to oust Scott.

181

> PUNTER

Sterling Hofrichter (rSR)

Syracuse

Alex Pechin (rSR)

Bucknell

Measurables: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 196 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.94

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 213 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.69

NFL COMBINE: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 34” vertical | 13 bench reps

2019 stats: 69 punts | 43.8 gross average | 27 inside 20 | 2 TB

2019 stats: 65 punts | 47.3 gross avg. | 31 inside 20 | 5 TB |

| 36 FC | long of 65

20 FC | long of 65

In a Nut Shell:

Not a lot of punters can say they have boomed a 60-plus yarder and also made a field goal of at least 50 yards, but Hofrichter can. The Syracuse product started all 49 games from 2016 to 2019. His 11,651 punting yards and 270 career punts are 5th and 8th respectively all-time in ACC history. He was even a four-time Ray Guy Award candidate. Hofrichter had his best season as a senior, averaging 43.8 gross yards, including a career-high 69 punts. He is known for his directional punting and quality distance control—thanks to one of the top hang times in college football. Hofrichter is also a willing tackler in coverage, logging three tackles in each of the last two seasons. In a pinch, he can even fill in on field goals; he made three out of four attempts for the Orange. Hofrichter also adds value as a kick-off specialist after finishing with a 62 percent touchback rate over the last two seasons. However, Hofrichter has only adequate size and does not possess an overly strong leg. His punting average for a season never eclipsed 44 yards. Two of his punts were returned for touchdowns at Syracuse. That may have been the result of poor coverage, but it’s worth noting. Some may view Hofrichter’s aggressive nature as a positive, but he may need to temper that in the NFL. Given his size, he could be at risk for injury.

Fit with the Packers:

It’s hard not to like Hofrichter, who is a jack of all trades so to speak. In 2019, playing against Holy Cross, he nailed a 52-yard field goal. Like Mason Crosby, Hofrichter would also be a solid last-resort tackler in kick-off coverage. He might not get drafted because of his size and distance, but Hofrichter will get some looks at the next level due to his versatility. Green Bay would be smart to take an interest post-draft.

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Pechin led the FCS with his 47.3 gross punting average and a 43.4 net average in 2019. His gross average ranks seventh in FCS history. He also graduated fifth all-time in the FCS with a career average of 44.5. Pechin has good size, a strong leg and some sneaky athleticism. He possesses good ball-striking and good directional traits; nearly half of his punts ended up inside the 20. In 2018, he boomed a career-long 71-yarder against Villanova. Pechin can also handle kickoffs and fill in as an emergency kicker. He made six out of 12 attempts at Bucknell and was 14/17 on extra points. Worth noting, Pechin completed a five-year dual major in biomedical engineering and management for engineers. While Pechin is clearly a well-rounded individual, there are concerns over his commitment to football. If things don’t pan out right away, he may pursue a career in the medical field. In terms of his punting, he has the tendency to outkick his coverage and allow sizable returns. His hangtime is also sub-par, per NFL standards. Scouts believe he may need to quicken his process to ensure his punts do not get blocked. In 2016, he suffered a season-ending injury limiting him to just two games.

Fit with the Packers:

If Pechin is serious about giving the NFL a shot, he’s going to want to try and make a team where he has a legitimate opportunity. That might not be with Green Bay, which invested a draft pick in Scott. If Pechin’s heart isn’t 100 percent in the game, not many teams will pursue him heavily. He has good traits that could make him a successful NFL punter, but commitment will be an underlying factor until proven otherwise. The Packers should pass for the time being and perhaps give Pechin a shot down the road if he’s still trying to break into the league.

182

> PUNTER

Arryn Siposs (JR)

Auburn

Dane Roy (SR)

Houston

Measurables: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 213 lbs. | 40 Time: 5.09

Measurables: Height: 6’7” | Weight: 240 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: n/a

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

2019 stats: 61 punts | 43.8 gross avg. | 16 inside 20 | 4 TB |

2019 stats: 54 punts | 46.9 gross avg. | 30 inside 20 | 2 TB |

27 FC | long of 52

8 FC | long of 69

In a Nut Shell:

Come November, Siposs will join the likes of very few rookies in NFL history who enter the league at least 28 years old. Before enrolling at Auburn, Siposs played five seasons of Aussie Rules Football in the Australia Football League. He quickly won the starting job in 2018 by averaging 44.2 yards per punt, which ranked 18th nationally. Siposs was steady once again in 2019 and decided to declare early. He has good size for the NFL and possesses above-average athleticism. Siposs is a good directional punter with a knack for pinning opposing offenses inside the 20. He also generates solid hang time. Distance is an obvious issue for Siposs. A long of 52 is nothing to boast about, especially considering open-field punts. He may need to hone in his craft a little more to get more behind his punts. Siposs also adds no value as a kickoff specialist. The fact that Siposs will turn 28 next season may be a red flag for teams. If he has already reached his ceiling, he isn’t going to last on an NFL roster.

Fit with the Packers:

Not the typical Green Bay prospect. Yes, Siposs has valuable experience as a former professional footballer, however, his upside appears to be quite limited. There are times the team will need a field-flipper, and that is not Siposs’ game. Overall, Siposs should be a hard pass for the Packers. His ceiling appears to be too low, and there is limited information to suggest he will drastically improve at the next level.

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Similar to Siposs, Roy has a background as an Australian footballer and will also be 28 during his rookie season in the NFL. Roy started out as an ice-cream salesman, selling the frozen dessert to local gas stations. After picking up the art of punting, Roy came to Houston in 2016, where he became an instant starter. As a freshman, Roy recorded a run of 11 yards and a pass for 15 yards in two different games. Roy’s average hovered around 41.0 gross average until his senior year. His 2019 numbers earned him an All-AAC selection. Roy has a booming leg with solid hangtime and touch to pin teams deep. He also won the AFL longest kick competition with a punt of 79 yards. Roy’s background ensures he’s a hard worker, but it’s hard to get past his age. He has other interests outside of football, so he may call it quits if things don’t pan out. Roy’s career-high hangtime is 5.4 seconds, however, his net average suggests he tends to outkick his coverage. Roy may be big, but he adds very little in coverage, logging only one tackle in 48 games with the Cougars.

Fit with the Packers:

Roy has Scott’s height but with a much thicker build. Roy will likely get his shot as a UDFA, but he better make the most of it given his age. Green Bay is unlikely to pursue a prospect who is four years older than their current punter, but Roy is still intriguing due to his leg strength. He can kick it a mile, but he still may be too raw to truly test Scott for punting duties.

183

> PUNTER

Max Duffy (JR)

Kentucky

Dom Maggio (SR)

Wake Forest

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 186 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 190 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: Did Not Participate

2019 stats: 49 punts | 48.1 gross avg. | 23 inside 40 | 4 TB |

2019 stats: 74 punts | 46.8 gross avg. | 30 inside 20 | 13 TB |

8 FC | long of 70

11 FC | long of 66

In a Nut Shell:

Yet another Aussie footballer, out of Kentucky, Duffy played two seasons in the AFL for Fremantle. After retiring from the AFL in 2018 to train to become an American punter, Duffy was rated the number one punting prospect by Ray Guy’s prokicker. com. Duffy’s gross average improved by 3.3 yards from his sophomore to junior season. He led the nation in 2019 with his 48.1 yards per punt. He also led the nation in net yardage. Nearly half of his punts (49 percent) ended up inside the 20, and only 11 percent were returned. Duffy has the ability to be a weaponizing field-flipper and has solid hang time for NFL standards. The Australian even totaled three career tackles in two seasons with the Wildcats, therefore he may be a solid last line of defense in coverage. Speaking more to Duffy’s athleticism, he ran a fake punt 26 yards on 4th and 6 against Missouri. Duffy will turn 27 in April, so he’s a tad younger than Siposs and Roy, however, he’s still no spring chicken compared to other top prospects. Duffy has a history of shoulder and hamstring issues that forced him out for lengthy periods during the 2013 and 2014 seasons in the AFL. As far as technique, he has a methodical punting process that may need to be sped up on the next level.

Fit with the Packers:

Duffy may get a chance in Green Bay if he goes undrafted. The Packers have turned to Kentucky players before, when Tim Masthay served as the team’s punter from 2010 to 2015. He appears to have the most upside out of the other Australianbased punters, but his history of injuries is a real concern. However, if he’s 100 percent healthy, Duffy might be a nice test for Scott during the 2020 training camp.

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Maggio rounds out the list, and it’s not just because his father, Kirk, was selected by Green Bay in 1990. Maggio has some ability. As soon as Maggio arrived at Wake Forest as a freshman, he was the starting punter. In his first season, Maggio boomed a career-high 80-yard punt in a game vs Clemson. He honed his craft over the next few years, leading to a career-best gross average last year. Maggio logged over 10,000 career punting yards as a Demon Deacon, including 30 punts of at least 50 yards in 2019. He has above-average power and solid size and athleticism for the position. Maggio also recorded four career tackles and held on PATs and field goal attempts. What it will come down to for Maggio is whether or not he gets a shot and if he can make the most of it. His body of work is solid but it’s not overly impressive. Early on he struggled with consistency.

Fit with the Packers:

A good overall athlete, Maggio excelled in baseball and basketball in high school. He even served as the football team’s emergency quarterback and wide receiver. Maggio is an ascending player with plenty of potential. He’s worth a look post-draft and would likely put up a decent fight to make the team in camp. Problem is, he would probably need some special punts to beat out Scott, but at this point in his career, special hasn’t described his ability.

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Position Analysis:

Brandon Carwile

RET

1. Joe Reed, Virginia

2. CJ Sanders, SMU 3. Javon Leake, Maryland 4. Isaiah Rodgers, Massachusetts 5. Keith Mixon Jr, Western Michigan 6. Antonio Gibson, Memphis 7. Jamal Parker, Kent St 8. Raymond Calais, Louisiana 9. John Hightower, Boise St 10. Anthony Hawkins, Colorado St

J AV O N LEAKE JR MARYLAND

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> RETURNER

Joe Reed (SR)

Virginia

Measurables: 38” vertical 123” broad

21 bench reps

NFL COMBINE: 38” vertical 123” broad 21 bench reps

2019 stats: 24 KR 796 yds 33.2 avg 2 TDs

In a Nut Shell:

A true jack of all trades for Virginia, teams definitely want the ball in Joe Reed’s hands. To maximize his playmaking abilities, Reed lined up at multiple positions during his four years with the Cavaliers. At the combine, Reed was asked to work out with both the running backs and the wide receivers. While Reed is built like a running back, he primarily played wide receiver in college while also being a core special teams player. Reed is a north and south runner with great vision to find alleys and make the most out of his opportunities. His 33.2 kick return average led the nation in 2019. His keys to success were being decisive with the ball and possessing enough speed to get to the edge against defenders to create big plays. In total, he returned five kickoffs for touchdowns.

Postseason game:

Reed was just a sophomore when he appeared in the 2017 Military Bowl against Navy. However, that didn’t stop him from making a huge impact. Reed returned three kicks, one of which went for a 98-yard touchdown on the opening kickoff. It was Virginia’s only score in a 49–7 loss.

Fit with the Packers:

Reed is very similar to Green Bay’s 2019 return specialist Tyler Ervin in that both are tweeners and perhaps fit best as gadget players within an offense. Reed’s ability to play the slot might give him the edge if the two were to battle it out in training camp. Overall, Reed’s versatility and physical attributes make him worth a gamble on Day 3 of the draft. He could even be tried at gunner on special teams.

Reed plays fast, but he doesn’t have that homerun gear that catches your eye on tape. Outside of special teams he’s a tweener, so whichever team that takes him may have to try him out at a few spots. Either way, Reed will have to find a niche fast, because he doesn’t have the speed of a Devin Hester or Joshua Cribbs.

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CJ Sanders (rSR)

SMU

Measurables: Height: 5’9” Weight: 183 lbs.

40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: n/a

2019 stats: 37 KR 949 yds 28.8 avg 2 TDs 5 PR 16 yds

In a Nut Shell:

Like father, like son: Sanders’ dad, Chris, played seven seasons for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans. Both are known for their speed. CJ began his career as a four-star wide receiver prospect playing for Notre Dame. He made an impression early, earning duties as the starting punt returner as a freshman. Later in the season, he returned a kickoff for a 93-yard touchdown against Stanford. Sanders transferred to SMU for his senior season and racked up over 1,122 all-purpose yards. If Sanders gets any room to work with, look out. He made two house calls last season, one coming in the season opener against Arkansas State and the other against Navy. His 28.8 kickoff return average ranked sixth in the nation. Unfortunately, Sanders’ impact has only been felt on special teams. He was seldomly used on offense and had 157 total yards receiving and rushing in 2019. It may also be hard for Sanders to take on punt return duties; on five attempts, he averaged only 3.2 yards for the Mustangs.

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Background:

Sanders grew up a child actor, having totaled nine roles in various movies and television shows. Arguably his most notable performance was in Ray (2004) as the younger Ray Charles at just six years old. Sanders later began playing football just like his dad and was a state champion track runner in high school.

Fit with the Packers:

His speed will certainly attract looks from teams as an undrafted free agent. Sanders can be a core special teamer in the NFL, but it might be hard to fit him into other roles. He’s too raw at receiver to earn significant playing time even in Green Bay. Sanders will likely have to make his living on special teams with the occasional gadget play mixed in the offense. Maybe LaFleur could find a package for him. There’s also some potential for him at gunner with four career tackles.

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Javon Leake (JR)

Maryland

Isaiah Rodgers (SR)

Massachusetts

Measurables: Height: 6’0” | Weight: 215 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.65

Measurables: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 170 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 34” vertical | 125” broad

NFL COMBINE: n/a

2019 stats: 33 KR | 949 yds | 26.8 avg | 2 TDs | 15 PR |

2019 stats: 53 KR | 1295 yds | 24.4 avg | 11 PR | 120 yds |

112 yds | 7.5 avg

10.9 avg | 1 TD

In a Nut Shell:

In a nutshell:

Leake is a good playmaker who undertook a bigger workload in the backfield for the Terrapins in 2019, and he also handled kick return duties. His good instincts as a running back help him on special teams. Leake is quick to turn the edge and can effectively cut back if coverage over pursues. During his time at Maryland, Leake returned three kickoff returns for touchdowns. He’s able to fit through tight running lanes and possesses solid speed to break away. If he is about to be brought down, Leake will finish strong by lowering his pads. Leake put up good numbers on kickoffs, but he’s far from a burner (see 40 time). He lacks the explosiveness to be a potent home run threat against NFL kick coverage. There are also times he will hesitate before getting upfield.

BEST GAME:

Leake had a career outing in 2018 in a bout with Illinois. Not only did he return a kick 97 yards for a touchdown, but he also added 140 rushing yards on five carries for another three touchdowns. In total, Maryland scored 63 points in a 30-point victory.

Fit with the Packers:

Leake would be a good fit in Green Bay. His experience as a kick returner and sample size as a running back will likely get him drafted. He’s never been a bell cow, which is okay because the Packers wouldn't be asking that from him. However, Green Bay would lose some speed from their return game if he wins the job.

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Rodgers led the country by over 200 yards in kick return yards as a senior while also returning the most kicks, both singleseason records for the Minutemen. As soon as you flip on Rodgers’ tape, you will see a playmaker. He’s athletic and a former track star with a knack for making people miss. Rodgers scored three pick-sixes in college and also returned a punt 42 yards for a touchdown last year against Charlotte. His shortarea quickness can be a weapon, as can his long speed in the open field. While Rodgers is from a small school, he should not be overlooked. A 24.4 yard average on kick returns was Rodgers’ career high, which does not get you very excited. You’d like to see his return average a little higher for a guy who may have to earn his living on special teams. Rodgers also needs to improve his vision and, at 170 pounds, he may need to bulk up some to withstand the physical toll playing in the NFL takes.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Rodgers has a lot of upside, and not just on special teams. He’s worth a look at corner after totaling 11 career interceptions, four of which came in 2019. If he’s still around late on day three, Rodgers is worth consideration for a draft pick to ensure he doesn’t get a shot elsewhere as a UDFA. Green Bay is always looking to improve its defensive back room, and Rodgers would be a solid candidate.

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Keith Mixon Jr (rSR)

Western Michigan

Antonio Gibson (SR)

Memphis

Measurables: Height: 5’8” | Weight: 195 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 6’0” | Weight: 228 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.39

NFL COMBINE: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 35” vertical | 118” broad | 16 bench reps

2019 stats: 29 KR | 813 yds | 28.0 avg | 11 PR | 44 yds

2019 stats: 23 KR | 645 yds | 28.0 avg | 1 TD

In a Nut Shell:

In a nutshell:

Mixon sports a compact, broad-shouldered build. He looks like a running back and could be asked to switch there from wide receiver at the next level. Mixon began his career at Mississippi State but transferred to Western Michigan following his junior year to seek out more playing time. He made a solid impact as a receiver (50 receptions for 500 yards) and was a nice threat as a return man, finishing top-10 in the nation in yards per kick return. Mixon has a good motor and solid vision, which may warrant him a look at running back. He might even emerge as a receiving threat out of the backfield and is worthy of some gadget looks on offense. Overall, Mixon is a good athlete who runs with conviction, whether it be in tight spaces or the open field. He just needs to find his niche, and that could be easier said than done.

Fit with the Packers:

Mixon is small, but he plays big. He may not pan out as a wideout, as he falls beneath the Packers’ size thresholds for the position. He may have to try his hand at running back, a position Green Bay is looking to add to this offseason. Mixon is worth a camp tryout if he goes undrafted and could compete to be the Packers’ third option behind Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams while also vying for return duties.

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Gibson possesses a nice blend of size, speed, power, burst and vision. His best asset might be his versatility, having played both wide receiver and running back in 2019 while also handling kickoff returns. He totaled 735 receiving yards, eight receiving touchdowns and 369 rushing yards with four rushing touchdowns and a 97-yard kickoff return. Gibson’s play speed can be deceiving on film. He doesn’t look like a 4.3 runner, but he is, and his background as a high school sprinter helps him pull away when he’s in space. Seven of his touchdowns were at least 40 yards. Gibson runs hard and has a natural ability to cut back runs while also powerful enough to run through arm tackles. Gibson is a one-year wonder, with last season standing as his lone campaign with notable production. It’s hard to gauge how he will translate as a runner in the NFL with only 34 career rushing attempts. Sometimes, he will try to make something out of nothing, and it usually doesn’t work. Gibson also needs to improve his ability to make more guys miss in the open field.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

He’s a versatile player with an NFL-ready body. Gibson can play the slot and be a receiving threat out of the backfield on top of competing for the job as Green Bay’s kick returner. He’d be a low-risk selection on day three.

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> RETURNER

Jamal Parker (SR)

Kent St

Raymond Calais (SR)

Louisiana

Measurables: Height: 5’8” | Weight: 177 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

Measurables: Height: 5’8” | Weight: 188 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.42

NFL COMBINE: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 37.5” vertical | 120” broad jump | 20 bench reps

2019 stats: 29 KR | 797 yds | 27.5 avg | 1 TD

2019 stats: 19 KR | 541 yds | 28.5 avg

In a Nut Shell:

In a nutshell:

Parker is an explosive athlete with good short-area quickness, something his basketball background has helped him with. Once Parker took over as the full-time return man, he showed off his abilities, with his 797 return yards, which ranked second in the MAC. His vision is solid, and he doesn’t waste much time getting upfield. In his junior season, Parker had 164 return yards against Toledo, which is tied for fifth-most in a game in school history. Last year, he took the second-half kickoff 96 yards to the house against Eastern Michigan. Unfortunately, Parker’s body of work as a return man is not enough for some teams to look past his size limitations as a corner. He only handled return duties for one full season.

Fit with the Packers:

Brian Gutekunst likely won’t stretch his height threshold to allow Parker in at only 5’8”. He’s developed into a solid corner prospect with nine career interceptions, 156 tackles and 29 pass deflections, however, he will likely be limited to slot duties in the NFL. Don’t expect Green Bay to take a chance on Parker based on his value as a kick returner.

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Calais is an impressive athlete for his size. He can be a nice change of pace runner with good burst to gash through open running lanes, and his second level speed is a problem for opposing defenses. If he gets around the edge, he has the potential to go the distance. Calais returned two kicks for touchdowns during his sophomore season. He is good in the open field, having above-average elusiveness to not be brought down easily. He runs with good pad level and is not known for putting the ball on the ground. Calais is a guy that plays with a chip on his shoulder, and, overall, plays much bigger than he looks. At times, Calais thinks he’s a power back when it’s his speed that separates him. If he continues to challenge players physically, he may have issues with his durability. Calais can stand to have a little more patience in finding open running lanes. In tighter spaces, he loses some of his slipperiness.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Calais would be hard-pressed to be the third back for the Packers. He doesn’t meet Green Bay’s requirements in terms of pass catching and pass protection. Durability concerns may keep him off of kick returns, however, he does have experience playing gunner. Maybe he can carve out a spot elsewhere on special teams, but it likely won’t be with the Packers.

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John Hightower (SR)

Boise St

Anthony Hawkins (SR)

Colorado St

Measurables: Height: 6’1” | Weight: 189 lbs. | 40 Time: 4.43

Measurables: Height: 5’10” | Weight: 192 lbs. | 40 Time: n/a

NFL COMBINE: 38.5” vertical | 122” broad jump |

NFL COMBINE: n/a

4.21 sec. 20-yard shuttle | 7.07 sec. three-cone

2019 stats: 21 KR | 545 yds | 26.0 avg | 1 TD

2019 stats: 26 KR | 639 yds | 24.6 avg | 1 TD

In a Nut Shell:

Hightower is lacking in physical traits and competitiveness. He’s not going to break many tackles, and he’s not overly elusive. His kick return ability is only average to slightly above average only due to his speed.

Hawkins is not a natural kick returner. Outside of his 99-yarder, his longest return was 32 yards. He’s not a returner who is going to make people miss or break off big runs. His impact on defense dwindled over the last two seasons. Hawkins logged just nine tackles as a senior.

Hightower played only two years for Boise State after spending two years with a JUCO as a track athlete. He made the most of his time with the Broncos as both a receiver and kick returner. Top-end speed is Hightower’s best trait. When he’s not stressing defenses vertically, he’s being utilized on jet sweeps and busting through holes on kick returns. Once he breaks into the open field it’s all over. He exhibits above-average vision on kickoffs for a wide receiver with enough speed to beat the angles of kick coverage and get around the edge.

Fit with the Packers:

While very raw as a receiver, Hightower’s special teams value would make him a fun project. However, he needs to bring something other than speed to the table for the Packers to be interested. Hightower would need to land on a practice squad where he can work on his craft.

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Hawkins began his career at Colorado State at wide receiver before transitioning to corner following his freshman season. He had a team-high three interceptions as a sophomore and emerged as the starting kick returner prior to his junior year. He totaled 21 attempts for 456 yards, averaging 21.7 yards per attempt. Hawkins improved on all facets of his return game in 2019, even taking a kickoff 99 yards to the house against UNLV. Throughout his career, Hawkins has been an under-scouted prospect despite being a good athlete.

Fit with the Packers:

Hawkins is a long shot to make an NFL roster. He had decent numbers as a kick returner but nothing significant. That, accompanied by his pedestrian play at corner, will make it tough for him to get much of a chance on the next level. There is nothing to indicate Green Bay would have much interest in him.

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2020 PACKERS Mock Draft “Jersey Al" Bracco

As it stands now, the Packers enter the 2020 NFL draft with 10 draft picks, the same number as 2019. Last year, however, the Packers had six picks in the first 112 selections, giving them valuable trade currency; some of which they used to move up and select Darnell Savage. The three extra picks this year are all in Rounds 6 and 7, so staying put or a trade out of the first round is more likely. Regardless of trade possibilities, the approach taken with this mock is that Round 1 picks are a straight prediction of what the Packers will do. Everything after that is a combination of what, in these eyes, they will do and what they should do. Let’s get started:

Round 1, Pick 30

Tee Higgins

WR | Clemson | Height: 6’4” | Weight: 216 lbs.

The last time the Packers went offense with their first pick was Derrek Sherrod in 2011. Bryan Bulaga was their 2010 selection, and now he’s a Charger. While an offensive tackle would be a logical pick, the group is so strong in the first six or so that it’s likely they will all be taken before pick 30. It wouldn’t make sense to reach for one, so our attention shifts to wide receiver. The only position group stronger than offensive tackle in this draft is receiver, and chances are very good there will be a top playmaker available to the Packers at 30. Tee Higgins, Justin Jefferson, Denzel Mims, Levisha Shenault and Jalen Reagor are only a partial list of options at pick 30. It’s likely several will be available, so the Packers will have their pick or could try to accumulate additional draft picks with a trade down into the early second. If they stay put, the choice here is Tee Higgins, who fits the profile the Packers like and would hand Aaron Rodgers a lethal red zone target and deep ball threat. Alternate Choices: Justin Jefferson, Denzel Mims

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Round 2, Pick 62

Lucas Niang

OT | TCU | Height: 6’6”| Weight: 315 lbs.

Every year, I seem to find a tackle the draft community overlooks but NFL teams are all over, resulting in lots of raised eyebrows when that player gets selected much higher than he’s “mocked.” Some past examples are James Carpenter, Mitchell Schwartz and Juwaan Charles, all players who have had very nice NFL careers. Niang is my choice in that same vein for 2020. He sports a nice combination of athleticism and power and was really coming on before he suffered a torn hip labrum last season. He was not able to participate in the combine, but medical reports are promising. If healthy, Niang could very likely start at RT in year one or, at worst, be an excellent swing tackle backup. Alternate Choices: Matt Peart, Isaiah Wilson

Round 3, Pick 94

Leki Fotu

DL | Utah | Height: 6'5” | Weight: 330 lbs.

As much as Packers fans like to scream about the weakness at inside linebacker and how that is responsible for poor run defense, I somewhat disagree. The majority of the time, the Packers play with a single inside linebacker and depend on the defensive line to eat up blocks. Kenny Clark needs some help up front from a true double-team eater, and that's what you get with Fotu. Alternate Choices: Rashard Lawrence, Davon Hamilton

Round 4, Pick 136

Dane Jackson

CB | Pittsburgh | Height: 6'0” | Weight: 187 lbs.

As of this writing, Tramon Williams has not been re-signed, and it would not be far-fetched to see him retire and return to the Packers as a coaching assistant. Regardless, cornerback is a position where you need to always be feeding the pipeline, so the pick here is the aggressive and active Jackson. He plays with physicality against wide receivers and is a willing tackler in the run game. Alternate Choices: Darnay Holmes, Neville Clark

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Round 5, Pick 175

Robert Hunt

OT/OG | Louisiana-Lafayette | Height: 6’5” | Weight: 323 lbs.

As Rodgers enters the downslope of his career, keeping him upright becomes more and more important. Thus, the Packers double-down on the offensive line in this draft. Versatility is the keyword with this pick, as Hunt has the athleticism and physical tools to make a very good right tackle. Failing that, however, a move to guard (where he started out in college) would be an easy and successful transition. The small-school Hunt is one of my favorite draft "sleepers" on the offensive line. Alternate Choices: Alex Taylor, Saahdiq Charles

Round 6, Pick 192

Darrynton Evans

RB | Appalachian St. | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 203 lbs.

Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams make one of the better running back tandems in the league, but both are free agents after this season and at least one will be gone. It is currently in vogue in the NFL to go with young, cheap running backs on their first contract, so Evans is drafted as a first-year backup with the opportunity to assume an important role in 2021. Evans is projected as a one-cut outside zone runner with 4.41 speed thrown in. Another bonus: Evans has never fumbled in 500 career attempts. Alternate Choices: Eno Benjamin, La’Mical Perrine

Round 6, Pick 208

Shaquille Quarterman ILB | Miami | Height: 6’0” | Weight: 234 lbs.

Now it’s time for a Packers perfunctory pick at inside linebacker. While not a sideline-to-sideline type, Quarterman can fill the run-stuffing early down role that BJ Goodson held and will attack the line of scrimmage more aggressively than Blake Martinez ever did. As a situational linebacker and special teams contributor, Quarterman is a value pick at this spot. Alternate Choices: Evan Weaver, David Woodward

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Round 6, Pick 209

Quez Watkins

WR | Southern Mississippi | Height: 6’0” | Weight: 185 lbs.

Enamored with Watkins’ 4.35 40-yd dash and 36.5” vertical, the Packers take a chance on speed and athleticism. Any wide receiver selected this late in the draft is going to need a good amount of development, and Watkins is no exception. His main struggles will be against physical corners or press coverage in general. Work in the weight room will be tops on his to-do list. Alternate Choices: Antonio Gibson, Devin Duvernay,

Round 7, Pick 236

Brian Lewerke

QB | Michigan State | Height: 6’2” | Weight: 213 lbs.

The Packers haven’t drafted a quarterback in quite some time, and they need a fourth to go into camp with. If you’re going to roll the dice, you might as well pick a quarterback with a good arm (despite accuracy issues) and good mobility. If his mechanics and footwork can be improved, Lewerke might be worth developing on the practice squad. Alternate Choices: Anthony Gordon, Kelly Bryant

Round 7, Pick 242

Alohi Gilman

S | Notre Dame | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 201 lbs.

This far down in the draft, it’s a good idea to look for players with strong special teams experience as their possible path into the NFL. Gilman is one of those “does more with less” types who will always give you his max effort. He has more speed and athleticism than you might expect but needs a lot of schooling on how to play the position. Initially, just point him towards the ball, and he will attack with aggression. Alternate Choices: Tanner Muse, Geno Stone,

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JOSH JONES

DENZEL MIMS

OT HOUSTON

WR BAYLOR

2020 Pro Football Draft Guide from CheeseheadTV

Articles inside

Cornerback

Interior Offensive Line

Offensive Tackle

Tight End

Wide Receiver

Fullback/H-Back

Running Back

Packers Positional Analysis

CHTV Interview With Raven Greene

He Reminds Me Of

Thompson vs. Gutekunst

How NFL Prospects Prepare For The Draft

Letter From The Editor

Meet The Draft Guide Team