In 2020 Brian Gutekunst had three sixth round draft picks. When day three of the 2020 draft was completed the Packers had three new offensive lineman. Their first sixth round pick, Jon Runyon, had offensive tackle experience, but the Packers quickly designated him a guard prospect. The three picks were all interior lineman. That strategy is a recent Packer pattern. In 2018, the Packers picked three wide receivers on day three of the draft. In 2017 the Packers again went triple on day three with three running backs.
The Packers have three extra picks on day three of the 2021 NFL draft. The question is will the Packers repeat this pattern of triple picks of players from the same position group on day three in 2021? The Packers have needs. While there “triple strategy” worked well with the running backs, the wide receivers picked in 2018 will need improvement to call that draft’s triple pick strategy a success. St. Brown needs to stay healthy. MVS needs to diminish his drops. The offensive lineman from 2020 will have a real chance to prove themselves this year with All Pro center Corey Linsley suiting up for the Chargers next year and David Bakhtiari not being available for the majority of the upcoming season.
When the Packers have played the triple strategy in the past, they have picked a position of immediate need or an upcoming need in the following year due to expiring contracts, like Linsley’s. With needs at multiple positions the smart strategy is to find position group strengths in the draft’s later rounds that also match Packer needs.
When you look at current Packer needs and the 2021 draft through the eyes of draft talent evaluators, the 2021 draft has depth at wide receiver, offensive tackle, inside linebacker, cornerback, and safety.
Draft grade prospects, those with sufficient talent/athleticism to earn a grade high enough to be drafted according to ESPN are as follows:
QB: 14
RB: 25
WR: 46
TE: 15
FB: 1
OT: 24
OG: 19
C: 9
DE: 25
DT: 19
ILB: 26
OLB: 13
CB: 36
S: 26
The numbers indicate the Packers might be able to find a gem through their triple pick strategy at linebacker, safety, corner or wide receiver. Let’s hope the strategy works as well as the 2017 running back strategy which produced an All-Pro in Aaron Jones and a dependable dual threat who never fumbled the football in Jamaal Williams.