The Packers are undefeated in the 2024-25 season and have 5 draft picks in the first three rounds of the upcoming NFL April draft. That is the optimism of February and March in the NFL.
Even though the season is months away, Packer needs are coming into focus. But how do those needs fit with the quality of players that are projected to be available when the Packers’ draft picks come to the podium?
Early mock drafts are all over the board, as to be expected. No pundit has seen the draft prospects work out at the combine or truly know their health/injury status. A number of mocks have the Packers taking injured Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean.
DeJean broke his fibula in November, missed games, and is still not healed. He will not run at the NFL Combine. Packer’s Central has the Packers landing Georgia Offensive Tackle Amarius Mims.
Mims also has an injury (foot) and won’t test at the Combine. This is not the pattern most fans want Brian Gutekunst to follow. The Packers have watched injuries decimate their secondary and offensive line the last two years. A unanimous request from the Packers faithful would be to use these top picks on healthy players, please.
But enough with the Captain Obvious fan expectations. The Packers have a new Defensive Coordinator. There is talk the Packers will play more of a 4-3 defensive approach and more single high safety. The Packers prioritized safety in the draft in 2019 (Darnell Savage Rd:1) 2017 (Josh Jackson Rd:2) and 2014 (Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Rd:1). They also paid in Free Agency in 2019 signing Adrian Amos.
Safety First: Green Bay Packers 2024 NFL Draft Needs
Many fans and pundits see Safety as a key need to upgrade. Savage has had a few highlight plays over the years but his tackling is still suspect and his ball skills on deep passes over his head have led to explosive plays for opposing offenses.
Not even diehard homer fans see a secondary that tackles with authority, like the Legion of Boom in Seattle back in the early 2010’s. Earl Thomas and Cam Chancellor ruled the defensive secondary by filling hard with solid tackling and sticky man to man coverage.
Now, it’s easy to write an article and state the Packers need to replace a starter (Darnell Savage) whose contract has run with a rookie, but is there a difference maker at safety in this draft? And what draft selections will the Packers use to nab a potential starter at safety?
ESPN lists the top safeties as Minnesota’s Tyler Nubian, Washington State’s Jaden Hicks, and University of Miami’s Kamren Kinchens. Nubian is listed in all of the draft projections as a second-round pick. ESPN lists him at 48th on their best available.
Kinchens is listed at 53. So, the Packers, with draft picks 45 and 58 will likely have the option of any of these players. Hicks looks more like a strong safety while Nubian and Kinchens seem more adaptable in a single high scheme.
Draft analysts also seem to think that available running backs will start coming off the board in the second round as well. Since A.J. Dillon is at the end of his contract, picking one of the top backs with that extra second round pick seems like a reasonable strategy.
Jonathon Brooks of Texas seems to be the consensus top halfback (ESPN listed at 40th best available) followed by Michigan’s Blake Corum (listed 64th) and USC’s Marshawn Lloyd (listed 72nd) To wait for a running back to fall is often dangerous, it is a skill position and teams drafting above the listed talent grade is not unusual.
The Packers did not trade up in 2019 and watched Jonathon Taylor go early in the round while they settled for Dillon. Imagine what a Taylor/Aaron Jones dynamic duo in the Green Bay backfield would have been like these last four years.
Another need, inside linebacker, has talent graded out to start off the board at pick number 29. Edgerrin Cooper is the highest graded inside backer out of Texas and the only first round graded inside linebacker.
After Cooper there is a drop off in talent as Junior Colson from Michigan slots in at number 50, followed by Payton Wilson from North Carolina State. Wilson is another player with a concerning injury history. Two ACL tears on the same leg and a shoulder injury that required him to miss a whole season make his highlight real less appealing.
Clearly safety, inside linebacker and running back can be addressed on days two and three of the draft. The sticky question is when do the Packers address the offensive line and cornerback.
With starting guard Jon Runyan a free agent and Bakhtiari too questionable to rely on for a full season, the Packers must address the offensive line. Add to the loss of two quality starters the realization that backup Royce Newman is a liability and Yosh Nijman is too inconsistent to rely on against real quality defensive lineman, the Packers will probably need two or three offensive linemen to restock the depth chart.
Offensive lineman will be available in round one, but the first round graded tackles will be off the board by the time the Packers pick. The top guards and centers will be available for the Packers, but Gutekunst tends to look for offensive lineman with tackle experience, especially if they are drafting early.
Currently, Troy Fautanu is the top-rated guard by ESPN and is listed as the 27th ranked overall player. The top centers, Graham Barton of Duke and Jackson Powers-Johnson are ranked overall at 31 and 37 respectively. Powers-Johnson impressed at the Senior Bowl and may jump up the board, especially if he performs well at the Combine.
Cornerback is another place the Packers may target a high pick prospect. Gutekunst has a history of high corner picks, trading up in the first round for Jaire Alexander and taking Eric Stokes three years later.
Corners are always drafted high, and most of the real quality corners are slotted above the Packers first round selection. If there is any need that could motivate Gutekunst to trade up in April, it may be at corner.
Alexander and Stokes are injury prone, and Keisean Nixon is a free agent. Adding a solid tackler at corner would really help the defense improve their run defense. The top three corners are ranked 14th, 17th and 20th and may go above that initial ranking if they run fast at the Combine.
Cooper DeJean is ranked 24th, but the injury makes him a wild card. Ennius Rakestraw is ranked 28th overall but he is also injured and a real concern. He had core muscle (groin) surgery and is still recovering.
His Combine workout will be critical. With the multiple picks in his hand going into the 2024 draft, Gutekunst can take more risks than he normally would, but to do so with his first-round pick, seems doubtful.
So, all of the suspense will be focused on Gutekunst’s first round pick. It will dictate the rest of his picks and could leave either offensive line or cornerback, as a weak link in the 2024 roster.
Of course, he could pull another Carrington Valentine out of his hat in the later rounds and fill every need in the Packer roster. That is the beauty of being a Packer fan in March. Every wish could still come true.
To be fair, a secondary that tackles with authority like the LOB is rare.
But it can be said that a lot of players we see in Green Bay coming through, have indeed, graduated from The Tramon Williams School of Tackling.
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So, the Packers may part ways with 2nd round pick AJ Dillon?
Hmmm….Quadzilla didn’t quite live up to the hype Brian?
Of course there maybe the chance after Quadzilla test the free agent market, the Packers resign him to something around 1 to 2 million a year, idk.
Or, who knows, all it takes is one NFL GM who still has a chubby over AJ’s thunder thighs and signs him for 3 or 3.5 million/year.
Crazier things have happened.
My thoughts…..I’ve seen enough plays where Dillon gets blasted at the LOS, or behind it.
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Of course the Packers probably won’t resign Jon Runyan to a 2nd contract, like many of Gute’s picks, because…
A) He’s nothing special
B) They have a cheaper alternative with Sean Rhyan, despite his poor PFF grade of 51.7.
C) They’ll probably draft 2-3 lineman in the middle and/or late rounds. Plus they may draft a left tackle early if they are smart and willing to trade up to get one.
Sorry Rasheed Walker, but you aren’t the man yet with 9 penalties and 6 sacks given up in 15 games starting.
But, then again, Bakhtiari had 11 penalties and 8 sacks allowed his 1st season so….what do i know right?
Maybe i’ll just call Tommi’s NFL football psychic to get the right advice..
Nah….i’m drafting a new left tackle!!!
D) Like the majority of Gute’s picks, they don’t see a 2nd contract.
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Our own esteemed Paul Edwards entertains the Packers moving up in the first round to nab a corner.
Ok…i’ll beat a dead horse.
If we still had Rasul, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.
But hey, according to Gute, he got a trade to good to pass up!!
He moved up in the 3rd round about 18 slots, and all he had to do was give up an interception machine with a PFF grade of 82.2 to do it.
So, Rasul went to the Bills and picked off 4 passes for them in 9 games and then had a forced fumble in the playoffs.
Nice, a player making an impact play in the playoffs!!!
How bout dem apples Rashan?
Rasul Douglas would have more than likely been a cap casualty. Second or third corners aren’t that difficult to find in later rounds. Not to mention are far cheaper. Remember we have a franchise QB to sign thanks to Gutekunst. Yes, all those pretty stats and Rasul Douglas and the Bills were still Patrick Mahomes bitch in the playoffs. Who does that remind you of?
I would not be surprised if Gutekunst went DT in round one. This is more than likely Kenny Clark’s last season. With the switch to 4-3, it would be wise to draft and develop his replacement. Then use the four picks in rounds two and three for safety, corner and RB. It would also not surprise me to see Gutekunst use his fourth round pick to move up a few spots in round one if there’s a player he likes. Not unlike what he did when he drafted Jordan Love. Especially with the extra picks is the second and third round.
If the Packers decide to keep Bakhtiari, then there’s no need to draft a tackle early. With the recent bump in the cap, the Packers are currently about 14 million under the cap. Still I’m sure they’d like to part ways. His injury history complicates things.
Rasul is cap casualty, he’s too expensive? (good one😲) …..i see…lol
So, they can pay Gary an average of 24 million/year.
But they can’t pay a playmaking corner 7 million/year on average…that’s out of line Sparky?
You should be a hired as Russ Ball’s assistant as a capologist.
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I understand you’re a bit slow on the uptake, but let me see if i understand what you said here.
“Yes, all those pretty stats and Rasul Douglas and the Bills were still Patrick Mahomes bitch in the playoffs.” – FLIP FLOP
So….Rasul Douglas is worth giving up, for next to nothing in a trade because….
A) He’s too expensive at 7 mill/year?
B) Because Patrick Mahomes beat Rasul Douglas and the Bills in the playoffs?
What does Tommi Logic tell us?
Hmmm….Well, Patrick Mahomes beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl, so does Tommi Logic dictate that the 49ers playmakers aren’t worth keeping, because Patrick Mahomes beat the 49ers?
I know i’ve called you a dullard in the past, but now i don’t know if that word is strong enough to describe you.
Tell us more about how Cousins is nothing more than an average QB, Nimrod…lol
How about Douglas….Rasul’s play the last 3 seasons, is that NFL ‘average’ also?….lol
Alexander is the NFL’s highest paid Corner at 21 million/year average.
But Tommi Logic tells us Douglass is too expensive at 7 mill/year avg?
Pathetic dullard (yea, that’s better)
Ok, i need a short talk with Tommi over how i’ve treated him, and humiliated him the last 2 years plus.
I think it’s been deserved, and now i just feel like he still just doesn’t get it, after all this time.
Let me try to explain it to you like this Tommi, and give you a friendly piece of advice.
Stop trying so hard.
Face it Tommi, you’re a loser.
It’s nothing to be ashamed of.
It’s just your nature.
It’s the way God made you.
It’s part of his master plan.
If it weren’t for guys like you, how would the rest of us know who the winners were.
I hope this gives you a better understanding of yourself and answers some questions you’ve had regarding who you are.
You’re welcome.
So you can marvel at Rasul Douglas stats post trade but not a peep from you about what Jordan Love accomplished the last ten games of the season. Neither do you mention Jayden Reed breaking Sterling Sharp’s rookie record. That’s called cherry picking. Everyone realizes that Kevin and Cheese are wrong about Brian Gutekunst. Yet still they complain. This team is set up to win for the next decade. Even without Rasul Douglas.
As for Kirk Cousins. He’s won nothing. And he’ll never win anything. Of course you think so highly of him because he’s similar to your hero Aaron Rodgers who likewise always comes up small in big games…..
Lets see if we can marvel at Rasul’s ‘pre trade’ stats, ok Princess?
Douglas had 10 picks in 36 games with the Packers.
While Jaire Alexander has 10 picks, the last 6 seasons.
Gee…those aren’t bad pre-trade stats, what say you Nancy?
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I gave credit for Love’s last half of the season (more than once).
But either you’re too ignorant to admit it, or your just too stupid to realize that i did.
So then you do, what you do best…
You make up a lie about it.
I also denounced Love’s 4th quarter debacle against the 49ers for his bungled high school look alike interception when a big game…was on the line.
Love or Brock Purdy needed to come through with a scoring drive to win the game in the 4th quarter.
Like you always taught us Tommi, the great QB’s step up in big games.
We all watched Brock Purdy step up and win that game.
Isn’t that right Princess?
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“As for Kirk Cousins. He’s won nothing.” – Tommi
So…..
According to Tommi Logic….Cousins is average because he hasn’t won a Championship?
Gee….i guess that makes Dan Marino an average NFL QB.
That’s a lot of Tommi Logic to take in, in one day.
Gee, what’s wrong Princess, did you run out of loudmouth soup?
Kitty
Rasul had three years of stats for the Packers, and in 2023 was the most consistent corner the Packers had. To trade him for a third-round draft choice was telling. I don’t need to hear any spin from BG that it was a great deal. BG gave up on the team when they were 2-5 and was looking for next year. Good thing the rest of the team didn’t give up like BG did.
1989…. Remember the year? I do. The Pack played great, with a lot of those on that team never reaching that high in their respective careers after that.
I think I will reserve praise when individually and as a team they can duplicate or surpass the success of 2023.
Love played great for ten games and putrid for seven. I would be ecstatic if he could duplicate those ten games for 20 games, per year, the next ten years. Would love to see him never lose another game… ever.
I would love to see each receiver turn out to be better than Lofton, Adams, Sharpe, Driver ect.
Oh… and the last QB we had, won the Super Bowl and was named MVP of the game.. I guess it was a good thing he came up small.