After seeming to strike gold with wide receivers Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft and defensive lineman Karl Brooks in last year’s NFL Draft, seventh-year general manager Brian Gutekunst will need to do the same on another couple of prospects this April to take the Green Bay Packers from NFC contenders to Super Bowl contenders.
Taking into account Green Bay’s primary positions of need and who will realistically be available to the team in the first two rounds, here are 15 likely players atop Gutekunst’s big board, though for this one we feature scouting reports from The Athletic’s draft guru, Dane Brugler, and use the rankings from his latest big board, posted in mid-February.
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Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
I’ll start with the No. 17 prospect on Brugler’s latest big board. Maybe that’s the ceiling of Green Bay’s trade-up territory in the first round. The Packers seem content with Rasheed Walker as their left tackle. They also haven’t drafted an offensive lineman in the first round since 2011 (tackle Derek Sherrod), finding the likes of David Bakhtiari, Zach Tom, Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang and Corey Linsley on Day 3. Gutekunst might want competition for Jordan Love’s blind spot, though, and you’d think that would come earlier in the draft rather than later. Mims exclusively played right tackle at Georgia, but do the Packers think he could switch sides? Or, if the Packers draft him, would they move Tom to left tackle and have Walker as their swing tackle?
Brugler: “One of the more fascinating projections in this class, Mims has only eight career starts on his college resume. But he offers an enticing package of traits, and teams will go back to his performance against Ohio State in the 2022 College Football Playoff as proof that he is ready for the big time. At 6-7, 330 (pounds) with exceptional length, Mims has rare feet and body control plus the strength to control the point of attack.”
RoundPickOverallNotes
1
25
25
2
9
41
From Jets
2
26
58
3
24
88
3
27
91
From Bills
4
26
126
5
34
169
Compensatory
6
26
202
6
43
219
Compensatory
7
25
245
7
35
255
Compensatory
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Brugler: “A nimble big man, Guyton has quick movements in his lower body, with the fluid hips for natural recoveries. He comfortably sinks his weight and strengthens his anchor to keep blocks centered. He is still fundamentally raw in areas, however, and bumps in the road should be expected once he faces NFL talent. Still, his tools and upside make Guyton worthy of a top-20 pick.”
Troy Fautanu, OG, Washington
An offensive lineman who played left tackle in college but can also play inside in the NFL? Color Gutekunst intrigued, especially since the Packers might have long-term uncertainty at left tackle with Walker and more of a short-term question at right guard with Sean Rhyan. Walker and Rhyan could end up starting, but Gutekunst has made it clear he wants competition across the line.
Brugler: “With his lower-body agility and flexible hips/knees, Fautanu displays athletic muscle twitch in his pass sets and when pulling and locating in the run game. Although he needs to become more disciplined with his technique, he flashes violence with his hands and makes defenders feel it when he connects. Because of his explosiveness and body control, Fautanu is ready for NFL snaps and has the length/talent to stay at tackle. His fit inside at guard might be even better, though.”
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Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Do the Packers need a starting center in 2024? No. But Powers-Johnson played guard in college, too, and could give the Packers a center option if Josh Myers leaves in free agency next offseason.
Brugler: “A multi-sport athlete growing up, he plays light on his feet in pass protection and as a run blocker, with the natural movement skills and stability at contact to torque and fend off defenders. Powers-Johnson was already considered a potential top-25 pick entering Senior Bowl week and only helped himself with his performance.”
Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
DeJean might be the most popular Packers projection during this year’s pre-draft process. First, he went to Iowa, and the Packers have drafted several Iowa defenders in the past 12 years (Lukas Van Ness, Mike Daniels, Micah Hyde and Josh Jackson). Second, he might fill two positions of need — cornerback and safety — for defensive back specialist and new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
Brugler: “With his natural anticipation in coverage, DeJean is rarely out of position and uses his athletic gifts and top-tier ball skills to make plays (allowed only one catch of 15-plus yards last season). He has a steady process to gather and go, but his lack of initial suddenness is something he must continue to mask to limit separation at the top of routes.”
Iowa’s Cooper DeJean could help the Packers at cornerback and safety. (Keith Gillett / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Whether the Packers target a cornerback this early hinges on their evaluation of Carrington Valentine. The 2023 seventh-rounder certainly held his own as a rookie, but do the Packers want an upgrade opposite Jaire Alexander? Eric Stokes, the 2021 first-rounder who has missed most of the last season and a half with injuries, can only be counted on as a depth piece at this point.
Brugler: “With his athletic profile, Wiggins moves with quiet, controlled feet/hips to seamlessly transition out of breaks and accelerate to top gear (allowed only one catch of 20-plus yards last season, on 41 targets). His thin frame is a concern, and he needs to improve his consistency as a run defender.”
Graham Barton, C, Duke
Barton might be the second-most “Packer-y” prospect in this draft behind DeJean, if only for his projected versatility across the offensive line and his near-perfect 9.99 RAS (relative athletic score).
Brugler: “A college left tackle, Barton plays with the athletic control, core strength and stubborn mentality in the run game to execute his assignments. His movements and finishing skills also translate to pass protection, but he lacks ideal length and will struggle cutting off NFL speed — which is why his future is inside. Barton played center as a freshman, so that should make the projection easier for NFL teams.”
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Brugler: “Although he lacks sudden twitch in his movements, he plays with a confident and controlled demeanor. Malik Nabers supposedly has been telling NFL scouts that McKinstry was the best cornerback he faced in college. McKinstry raises the degree of difficulty for completions with his length and ability to play through the hands of receivers. His game is reminiscent of James Bradberry’s.”
Jordan Morgan, OG, Arizona
The more I see these versatile offensive linemen atop Brugler’s big board, the more I think Gutekunst might take one in the first round. It’s so unlike the Packers to do that, though Gutekunst would say it’s simply because the opportunity hasn’t presented itself rather than the organization having a philosophy to draft and develop from Day 2 or 3. Now that the Packers appear to have their franchise quarterback, their top organizational priority becomes protecting him. This is another guy who could help advance that cause.
Brugler: “A quick-footed blocker, Morgan displays range and aggression in the run game and gets on top of rushers quickly in jump sets when he uses well-timed hands. His struggles in pass protection come when he is overaggressive with his kick slide and gets too far up the arc, thus creating two-way go options for rushers and opening the door for inside counters. He can stay at tackle in the pros, but a move inside would maximize his skill set, similar to Matthew Bergeron.”
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Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
The Packers lost their swing tackle this offseason when Yosh Nijman signed with the Carolina Panthers. Suamataia could compete for a starting spot, but he could also fill Nijman’s role since he just about split his snaps in college between left tackle and right tackle.
Brugler: “Suamataia played in an offense that wanted to run the ball downhill — and he was happy to oblige, displaying range and initial pop as a drive blocker. He is nimble in pass protection with the strength to lock down rushers. However, his timing, technique and recognition skills are currently immature parts of his game.”
Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
I’d be surprised if the Packers’ first pick is an off-ball linebacker, but it’s a position worth putting on here after they released De’Vondre Campbell and didn’t add anyone from outside the team in free agency, especially with the schematic switch under Hafley. Isaiah McDuffie showed last season why he can start, so he might get first dibs alongside Quay Walker even if the Packers draft someone at the position early.
Brugler: “Colson diagnoses the action well and quickly builds his speed to make stops at the line of scrimmage or out in space. I only need one hand to count the missed tackles I charted off his 2023 tape.”
Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
Safety might be the Packers’ biggest need (unless they consider 2023 seventh-round pick Anthony Johnson Jr. a starter), and Gutekunst recently said he’d rather pair marquee free-agent signing Xavier McKinney with a young player rather than a proven veteran who is still a free agent. Nubin didn’t test well, and it’s worth considering RAS when projecting who the Packers will take, but it’s not the be-all and end-all.
Brugler: “Using his smooth athleticism and awareness, Nubin keeps everything in front of him. He can drive off the numbers in the deep half to overlap the seam or track and finish from the post. As an alley defender, he is fearless but controlled and comes to balance with low pads to finish tackles with authority. Nubin has a four-down skill set with playmaking instincts.”
Tyler Nubin had five interceptions for Minnesota last season. (Matt Krohn / USA Today)
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
Brugler: “An above-average athlete for his size, Cooper beelines to the football with outstanding closing burst and aggressive tackling. He has elite arm length, but he can be better shooting his hands to escape blocks.”
Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State
Since releasing his latest big board, Brugler has upgraded Hicks to the top safety in this class. Hicks’ athletic testing numbers were significantly better than those of Nubin and Miami’s Kamren Kitchens, another of the top safeties in the class.
Brugler: “With his versatile skill set, he has the speed to play high and the toughness to play low, filling the alley with urgency or covering big targets in space. Although his read anticipation is a work in progress, Hicks plays confident and free, trusting his athletic instincts to help him make plays.”
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Cooper Beebe, OG, Kansas State
Beebe primarily played left tackle in 2021 before moving to left guard in 2022 and 2023. He has also played right guard and right tackle. That alone is why he’s one of my leading candidates for the Packers’ first of two second-round picks at No. 41. Not only do the Packers need depth at tackle, but they’re also going to need more depth than Royce Newman on the interior.
Brugler: “Beebe’s recovery skills in pass protection need continued development, but he has the disciplined eyes expected of a veteran and displays measured steps and strong hands to keep rushers occupied (one sack allowed over his final 41 games). Despite some excessive leaning from Beebe in the run game, the Kansas State offense consistently found success behind him.”
(Top photo of Graham Barton: Peter Joneleit / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
2024-04-05 21:05:33
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