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Top roster battles to watch as Packers open training camp

Top roster battles to watch as Packers open training camp

Training camp is almost here for Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers.
Rookies report on Friday, veterans report next Tuesday and the first practice is set for next Wednesday. Football is almost back, and camp means nothing if not competition.
Here’s a breakdown of the best roster and depth chart battles likely to play out during training camp in Green Bay:

No. 3 running back

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
If Kylin Hill (ACL) is healthy for camp, this roster battle will come down to Hill, an explosive 2021 draft pick vs. Patrick Taylor, who scored a touchdown in the season finale last year. If Hill isn’t ready and needs to start the season on the PUP list, Taylor would become the front runner against undrafted rookies BJ Baylor and Tyler Goodson. There’s also a chance the Packers would keep four here, especially if one can provide special teams value. The Packers want to feature Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, so having strong depth here is important. As always, joint practices and preseason games will be huge for figuring out the depth chart at running back. The team needs to see on-field vision and tackle-breaking ability against live opponents.

Everything wide receiver

(AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
There’s a good chance that veterans Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Sammy Watkins are locked in as the top three receivers to start the year, and rookies Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs will both make the team. Wide receiver looks like a position that is unsettled in terms of play time and targets but mostly settled in terms of who is going to be on the roster. There are still question marks that need answers this summer. Is Amari Rodgers a lock after a disappointing rookie season? Can seventh-round pick Samori Toure surprise and force his way onto the team? Are Juwann Winfree or Malik Taylor capable of taking a big jump and incentivizing the team to keep more than six? Watson and Doubs could be starters if Watkins suffers another injury or isn’t good enough during camp.

Backup at outside linebacker

(AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
The Packers have veteran Preston Smith and ascending star Rashan Gary locked in at edge rusher, but everything behind them is a question mark. Jonathan Garvin, Tipa Galeai, Randy Ramsey and Ladarius Hamilton all return with a chance to be a top backup. But are the Packers ready to trust one of them as a starter if Smith or Gary gets hurt? The draft provided some help. But is fifth-round pick Kingsley Enagbare talented enough to be a rotational player right away? He played a lot of good football in the SEC and has some Za’Darius Smith-like qualities. Still, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Packers looked at signing a veteran edge rusher eventually.

No. 2 linebacker

Quay Walker
Who starts next to De’Vondre Campbell? The Packers obviously think Quay Walker has elite talent and will eventually be an impact player, but he’s a rookie learning a new defense and may need time to adjust. Krys Barnes, who has started 23 games the last two seasons, provides legitimate veteran competition. Ideally, Walker impresses during camp and wins the job, relegating Barnes into a valuable backup/special teams role. This might be the only starting job that is up for grabs on the Packers defense entering camp.

Backups at cornerback


The top three are written down in Sharpie. But who backs up Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes and Rasul Douglas at cornerback, a premium position where depth is critical? Free-agent add Keisean Nixon and 2021 draft pick Shemar Jean-Charles look like the favorites based on the offseason workout program. Kabion Ento is going into his fourth season in Green Bay, so he can’t be discounted here. It’s now or never time for him. Rico Gafford switched back to cornerback, giving him a better chance to make the team. He’s a speedster. The rest of the competition – Kiondre Thomas and rookie Raleigh Texada – needs to have a big summer to have a chance. Maybe Gutekunst finds a trade partner for some help here later in this summer.

Backups at safety

Shawn Davis (30) is shown during Green Bay Packers minicamp Tuesday, June 7, 2022 in Green Bay, Wis.
Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage will start. The other two or three spots are very much up for grabs during camp. Vernon Scott, Shawn Davis, Innis Gaines and rookies Tariq Carpenter and Tre Sterling will all compete for the coveted roster spots behind the starters. Davis, a fifth-round pick of the Colts a year ago, looked like the early favorite this spring, but Scott and Gaines are right there, and Carpenter is probably a good bet considering his size, athleticism and hybrid position potential. Like cornerback, this is a spot where the Packers could add outside help if the depth doesn’t develop right during camp.

Kicker

(AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Can veteran Mason Crosby bounce back from a disappointing 2021 season and beat out rookie Gabe Brkic, who made a nation-high five kicks over 50 yards at Oklahoma last season? Brkic has legitimate talent. But is he mentally tough enough to take out Crosby, the franchise leader in field goals and points? The Packers, a Super Bowl contender, need a kicker they can count on. Crosby is the better bet over a rookie, but there’s a reason the Packers are holding a competition.

Long snapper


It’s Steven Wirtel, the incumbent, against Jack Coco, the rookie challenger. Wirtel replaced Hunter Bradley last season but was too consistent. Coco snapped for several years at Georgia Tech but has never done it at the NFL level. Expect both to get plenty of chances this summer. If neither is good enough, the Packers will need to find one off the scrap pile before the start of the regular season.

Others to watch


Defensive line: If the Packers keep six, will it be Jonathan Ford or Jack Heflin? The top five look solid. Both Ford and Heflin are run-stuffing role players.
Offensive line: Finding depth is the key here. Jake Hanson, Cole Van Lanen and Rasheed Walker, three recent draft picks, could be battling for one spot. Where the Packers need depth the most could decide it here.
Tight end: Will a player such as Eli Wolf or Alize Mack push Dominique Dafney for a roster spot?

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Breaking down every move involving the Packers in free agency

Breaking down every move involving the Packers in free agency

Free agency is off and running for the Green Bay Packers. General manager Brian Gutekunst has used the legal tampering period and the start of the new league year to start shaping his roster for the 2022 NFL season.
Here’s a breakdown of every move involving the Packers in free agency, with live updates coming after every new move:

Contract extension for OLB Preston Smith


The four-year extension is nothing short of a win-win for the team and player. The Packers are retaining a valuable and reliable player at a premium position while also drastically lowering his cap number in 2022 on a team-friendly new deal. Smith, meanwhile, gets money up front and some long-term security as a reward for his impressive season. After producing a career-high 62 pressures and playing well against the run in 2021, Smith earned a new deal. He doesn’t turn 30 until November and has missed just one game in seven professional seasons, making the investment far less risky. His return gives the Packers a highly capable veteran starter opposite star rusher Rashan Gary.

Release OLB Za’Darius Smith


With Smith’s cap number approaching $28 million in 2022, the Packers had few other options for getting under the cap without taking him off the books. The end result was a release, which saved the Packers over $15 million. One of the best defensive players in football in 2019 and an All-Pro in 2020, Smith missed all but one game in 2021 with a back injury that required surgery. The issue is a legitimate concern moving forward, especially for a pass-rusher. The emergence of Rashan Gary and retaining Preston Smith made this move easier to make, but there’s no discounting what the Packers are losing. When healthy, few rushers in football are more disruptive from the inside and outside as Smith, who produced 26 sacks and 60 quarterback hits in his first two seasons in Green Bay. He’ll get a good deal elsewhere.

Released OL Billy Turner


A minor surprise, but the Packers released Turner with a failed physical designation, so, like Za’Darius Smith, there’s an injury and cost factor at play here. Turner was a warrior for the Packers over three seasons, playing right guard, right tackle and left tackle at a high level. His versatility – especially his ability to play tackle on both sides – was incredibly valuable and should make him an attractive player on the open market. The Packers likely saw the emergence of Yosh Nijman in 2021 and the expected return of Elgton Jenkins – who could be the long-term future at right tackle – and deemed Turner expendable. The move saved less than $3 million on the cap. The flexibility of the Packers’ offensive line takes a big hit here. Turner will be missed, especially if Nijman struggles or injuries hit the offensive line hard in 2022.

Re-sign LB De’Vondre Campbell


The Packers retained their first-team All-Pro linebacker on a deal that will pay him $10 million per season and have a cap number of under $5 million in 2022. Losing Campbell after he finally fixed the team’s perpetual problem at inside linebacker would have been a big blow, especially considering how many big plays he made and how he helped the Packers defense get better against the run and at covering intermediate areas of the field. He can run, he doesn’t miss tackles and he blossomed as a playmaker in Joe Barry’s defense. Keeping Campbell gives the Packers defense a chance to be good again in 2022. This is an all-in move for a team that is keeping open its Super Bowl window.

Contract extension for QB Aaron Rodgers


The biggest piece of the offseason puzzle. Rodgers’ return was no longer in doubt, but the structuring of his contract was still a mystery, and the four-time MVP didn’t actually sign the deal until Tuesday. Now, we know Rodgers is locked in for at least the next two seasons and possibly three. This is a strong commitment from both the player and team. The Packers were willing to pay huge money up front and take on big dead cap hits in future years to drastically lower Rodgers’ cap number in 2022 and allow Brian Gutekunst to put a title-contending roster around him. The drama is now over. Rodgers is a Packer, and will likely retire as a Packer. All that’s left is winning another title.

Restricted tender for WR Allen Lazard


An expected move, given Lazard’s rise as a do-it-all receiver in Matt LaFleur’s offense. The tender will cost a little under $4 million in 2022, but the Packers can lower that number by adding void years or signing him to a long-term deal. Lazard can play any of the receiver positions and is a valuable blocker from multiple alignments. His production blew up late in 2021 when he started making contested catches regularly. For the most part, the Packers scheme does a terrific job scheming him open as a secondary target. Most importantly, Lazard has earned the trust of the quarterback.

Lose LB Oren Burks to 49ers

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Burks never lived up to his billing as a hyped third-round pick, but he stuck around for four years in Green Bay because he thrived on special teams and slowly developed into a more well-rounded player defensively. In 2021, he led the Packers in special teams snaps and was on the field for over 200 defensive snaps, both at inside and outside linebacker. He’s headed to San Francisco. The 49ers aren’t getting a game-changer, but Burks has value in his role. He was just never able to translate his size and athleticism into a legitimate role on defense. Moving forward, Rich Bisaccia and the Packers special teams will have to replace a core member.

Lose OL Lucas Patrick to Bears

(AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Combining Patrick’s departure with Turner’s release delivers a blow to the Packers’ depth and versatility on the offensive line. Both played multiple positions for offensive line coach Adam Stenavich over the last three seasons. Patrick’s value is on the inside, where he can play all three of the interior positions. He was better at right guard in 2020 than at center in 2021, but he’s serviceable at each spot and valuable as a super-sub behind starters.  will get a chance to start in Chicago under former Packers assistant Luke Getsy.

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Action-packed first day in Green Bay

Action-packed first day in Green Bay

The Green Bay Packers let go of two valuable players at premium positions but also retained two key players with commendable new deals on Monday, the first day of legal tampering and the unofficial start of free agency in the NFL.
The wild day of news coming from Green Bay started with reports of unhappiness from Davante Adams’ camp. Predictably, the All-Pro wide receiver isn’t pleased with the franchise tag and won’t play on the one-year tender in 2022. No one involved wants him playing on the tag. It’s beneficial for both Adams and the Packers to get a long-term deal done, but the two sides aren’t close and probably won’t have a deal completed by the start of the new league year. As of now, Adams counts a little over $20 million on the cap, stressing the path to getting under the cap by Wednesday. A new deal will drastically lower the number, but finding a compromise might take months. This negotiation is starting to get ugly. Fortunately, the two sides have until mid-July. Adams might losing patience, but time is valuable here.
With the new league year looming, the Packers got to work on shedding cap commitments elsewhere on the roster.
Gone are edge rusher Za’Darius Smith and offensive lineman Billy Turner, who were both released. Smith’s cap number of almost $28 million was untenable in 2022, especially after a lost season to a back injury in 2021, and Turner was released with a failed injury designation. In need of cap space but with depth at edge rusher and offensive tackle, the Packers parted ways with two important players from the last three seasons. The cap crunch forced the Packers to make tough (but financially-motivated) decisions on good (but possibly damaged) football players. Smith, a two-time Pro Bowler, has a surgically repaired back, while Turner, a 43-game starter for Green Bay, was released with a failed physical designation.
Overall, the Packers saved $17,245,000 on the salary cap by releasing the pair.
There was better news. The Packers finished a team-friendly contract extension for edge rusher Preston Smith and re-signed All-Pro linebacker De’Vondre Campbell with a five-year deal.
Smith’s new deal lowered his cap number by over $8 million in 2022. By structuring the contract with low base salaries and big roster bonuses in 2023 and 2024, the Packers have Smith on a year-by-year basis with little long-term risk. He will need to play at a high level to stick around. He played at a high level last season and earned a big payday.
With Preston Smith’s extension added in, the Packers cleared around $25.5 million off the books in three moves. And more are coming.
Some of the new space got used up right away. The Packers returned Campbell on a deal averaging $10 million per year, well below the top range at the inside linebacker position ($19 million). He’ll get good (and well-earned) money in the first three seasons, but general manager Brian Gutekunst has to be pleased with retaining an All-Pro linebacker at a low cap number in 2022 – and without having to do a top-of-the-market deal to get it done.
What does it mean?
Losing Za’Darius Smith and Billy Turner may require the Packers to invest valuable draft capital into edge rusher and the offensive line in April, although it’s likely both positions were already priorities for Gutekunst in the draft before Monday. The Packers general manager has proven over and over again that he will keep edge rusher and the offensive line well-stocked, either with veterans or a constant flow of draft picks. If an immediate starter at right tackle isn’t selected next month, Yosh Nijman becomes the likely starter there until Elgton Jenkins returns mid-season.
Keeping Preston Smith lowers the immediate need at edge rusher, especially after Rashan Gary’s ascendance in 2021, but finding a capable third option is still necessary. At the very least, Smith and Gary are a productive and reliable duo for 2022 and probably 2023. At inside linebacker, Campbell’s return finally stabilizes the position long-term and drastically lowers the draft need. The Packers could target a sidekick for Campbell, but Krys Barnes, an exclusive rights free agent, is good enough as a No. 2.
What could be next?
The Packers still need to get a contract finalized with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and decisions could be coming on pricey, older veterans such as Randall Cobb, Mason Crosby and Marcedes Lewis as Gutekunst attempts to get under the cap by Wednesday. Others such as Adrian Amos and Dean Lowry could be restructure candidates. Top unrestricted free agents Rasul Douglas and Marquez Valdes-Scantling will likely decide their futures on the open market soon; both could find rich deals elsewhere. Restricted free agent Allen Lazard remains likely to receive a tender, possibly at the second-round level. Cornerback Jaire Alexander will get an extension at some point, but will it arrive before Wednesday? A lot of business remains in play for the Packers entering Tuesday. Expect another busy day.
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Assessing Packers’ need at each position entering free agency

Assessing Packers’ need at each position entering free agency

So much is still unknown for the Green Bay Packers as the start of the new league year and the opening of free agency approaches. There are so many moving parts, free agents and players with uncertain futures, making the assessment of needs on the roster a more difficult exercise than most years.
How will general manager Brian Gutekunst put the roster together over the next few weeks?
Here’s a breakdown of the Packers roster entering free agency, using the players under contract and scheduled to be free agents to help highlight the team’s biggest needs.

Quarterback

(AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
On roster: Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love, Kurt Benkert, Danny Etling
Free agents: None
Cap casualty candidates: None
The Packers have four quarterbacks under contract, but the present and future status of this position rely on Rodgers’ decision. If he stays, this is a low-need area. If he departs, the Packers will likely need to add help, either with a veteran quarterback addition or draft pick. In terms of the salary cap, Rodgers’ contract will eventually provide a big part of the puzzle, regardless of whether he stays or goes. Also, it’s possible Love’s immediate future is tied to Rodgers’ eventual decision. The need here is low currently but fluid.
Need level: 3/10

Running back

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33).
On roster: Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon, Kylin Hill, Patrick Taylor
Free agents: None
Cap casualty candidates: None
Not much is needed here. The Packers have a dynamic 1-2 punch in Jones and Dillon and two capable young backups. Hill is recovering from a torn ACL but has an impressive overall skillset. Taylor flashed late in the season. Both will compete to be the No. 3 back in 2022. Adding an undrafted rookie is likely, like most years.
Need level: 1/10

Wide receiver

Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
On roster: Randall Cobb, Amari Rodgers, Juwann Winfree, Rico Gafford, Chris Blair
Free agents: Davante Adams, Allen Lazard (restricted), Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, Malik Taylor (exclusive rights)
Cap casualty candidates: Cobb
The Packers could use the franchise tag to keep Adams, lessening the need. But even if Adams returns, the rest of the position is in for a makeover and could look much different early on in free agency. Cobb has a cap hit of $9.5 million but won’t be back at anything near that number. Can the Packers find a way to keep Lazard and Valdes-Scantling, two important role players? A draft pick (or two?) is required. The Packers could also search for a veteran bargain in free agency. If Adams isn’t retained, receiver might vault to the top of the team’s biggest offseason need list.
Need level: 9/10

Tight end

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
On roster: Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara, Tyler Davis, Alize Mack
Free agents: Robert Tonyan, Dominique Dafney (exclusive rights)
Cap casualty candidates: Lewis
Lewis plays a valuable role but he’ll turn 38 in May and the Packers could find savings in his contract, clouding his future. Tonyan lost most of his 2021 season to a torn ACL. Although he’s still recovering, Tonyan might have a strong market in a league that is always looking for pass-catching tight ends. If the Packers lose Lewis or Tonyan, dipping into the free-agent market might be necessary. Rookie rarely contribute at tight end.
Need level: 8/10

Offensive line

Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Yosh Nijman (73)
On roster: David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Billy Turner, Jon Runyan, Josh Myers, Royce Newman, Cole Van Lanen, Michal Menet
Free agents: Lucas Patrick, Yosh Nijman (exclusive rights), Dennis Kelly, Jake Hanson (exclusive rights)
Cap casualty candidates: Turner
Rebuilding the depth could be necessary along the offensive line if a few veteran free agents depart or the Packers move on from Turner, but the foundation is strong, especially if Bakhtiari is back to 100 percent and once Jenkins returns from a torn ACL. This team always spends mid-to-late round draft picks on offensive linemen to develop. Expect more of the same this offseason. Signing a veteran swing tackle is also a preferred roster-building option for the Packers, so Kelly or another option in free agency could be targeted.
Need level: 4/10

Defensive line

Green Bay Packers defensive end Dean Lowry (94)
On roster: Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, TJ Slaton, Jack Heflin
Free agents: Tyler Lancaster
Cap casualty candidates: Lowry
This might be the thinnest position on the roster, but at least the Packers have Clark (a Pro Bowler) and Slaton (a 2021 draft pick) to provide a solid foundation. Lowry is coming off a breakout season, upping the chances his contract is restructured, while Lancaster wouldn’t be expensive to retain. But it’s certainly possible neither player will be back in 2022, which would necessitate the Packers to add help, potentially through free agency and the draft.
Need level: 9/10

Edge rusher

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
On roster: Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Jonathan Garvin, Tipa Galeai, Ladarius Hamilton
Free agents: Whitney Mercilus, Chauncey Rivers (exclusive rights), Randy Ramsey (exclusive rights)
Cap casualty candidates: Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith
The Packers are expected to release Za’Darius Smith in a necessary cap-saving move. Losing such an impactful player would create an immediate need at a premium position, even if Preston Smith is retained on a new deal. Finding a long-term partner for Gary could be an offseason priority for the Packers, likely through the draft. A team can never have enough difference-making rushers.
Need level: 6/10

Inside linebacker

(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
On roster: Ty Summers, Isaiah McDuffie, Ray Wilborn
Free agents: De’Vondre Campbell, Krys Barnes (exclusive rights), Oren Burks
Cap casualty candidates: Summers
Barnes should be retained, but Campbell’s future is up in the air and will dictate the need level for the position. Losing him would create a big hole and make inside linebacker a need spot once again. Can the Packers afford to bring Campbell back after his incredible 2021 season? The first-team All-Pro will be a coveted player in free agency. Adding depth will be required even if Campbell returns.
Need level: 8/10

Cornerback

(Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)
On roster: Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Shemar Jean-Charles, Kabion Ento, Kiondre Thomas
Free agents: Rasul Douglas, Chandon Sullivan, Kevin King, Isaac Yiadom
Cap casualty candidates: None
Having Alexander and Stokes gives the Packers one of the best young cornerback duos in football, but the depth here could quickly erode in free agency, especially if Douglas turns his breakout season into a big payday elsewhere. King probably needs a fresh start elsewhere, but the Packers could probably get him or Sullivan back on inexpensive deals. Good teams need three good corners. The Packers have only two entering free agency.
Need level: 5/10

Safety

(AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
On roster: Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage, Vernon Scott, Shawn Davis, Innis Gaines
Free agents: Henry Black (exclusive rights)
Cap casualty candidates: Amos
Savage’s uneven season in 2021 might give the Packers pause on his career trajectory, but the guess here is he’s still very much part of the team’s long-term plans in the secondary. He needs a rebound in 2022. The need here could be found in the third safety role, where the Packers could probably use an upgrade. A veteran leader, Amos is an unlikely cap casualty candidate, but the team will probably need to touch his contract at some point.
Need level: 5/10

Special teams

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
On roster: Mason Crosby, Steven Wirtel, JJ Molson, Dominik Eberle
Free agents: Corey Bojorquez
Cap casualty candidates: Crosby
The Packers hired Rich Bisaccia to replace Maurice Drayton and are expected to prioritize getting the special teams personnel right after a disastrous 2021 season. There are three kickers on the roster, which is unusual, but it sounds like Crosby will get a chance to save his job. Bojorquez will be an interesting free agent; does Bisaccia want his own guy, or is he content bringing back a punter the Packers traded for last summer? Competition at long snapper is required.
Need level: 7/10

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Here’s who the Packers are taking in post-Super Bowl mock drafts

Here’s who the Packers are taking in post-Super Bowl mock drafts

The 2021 season is officially over for all 32 NFL teams. For the Green Bay Packers and the 31 other teams, it’s the offseason – and the offseason is prime mock draft time.
Who will general manager Brian Gutekunst get to fortify his roster? Last season, he hit a home run with cornerback Eric Stokes, who was terrific as a rookie. Guessing who he will target this time around is difficult, especially without knowing how he will construct his roster around the salary cap.
Here’s who the Packers – who hold the 28th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft – are taking in post-Super Bowl mock drafts, with reaction from Packers Wire draft expert Brennen Rupp.

WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas

Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Mock draft: Mike Renner, PFF
Reasoning: “Burks can be a better version of Allen Lazard as the Packers’ No. 2 wide receiver. He’s big enough to get involved as a blocker, which Matt LaFleur loves, and he has a speed element to his game that the Packers may miss if Marquez Valdes-Scantling walks in free agency.” — Renner
Our take: The Packers haven’t taken a receiver in the first round since 2002, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been this close to getting one recently. The receiver room could be in for big changes this offseason, so now might be the time to invest premium draft capital at the position.
Rupp’s reaction: “Burks is built like a running back (6-3, 232) and moves like one with the ball in his hands. He averaged over nine yards after the catch this season and is a load to take down for defensive backs.”

Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II

(AP Photo/Phil Sears)
Mock draft: Chad Reuter, NFL.com
Reasoning: “With Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith looming as potential cap casualties, the Packers might need a powerful edge player to complement Rashan Gary. Johnson fits that bill. Trading up for him will cost Green Bay two fourth-round picks (the team could pick up a compensatory fourth-rounder for the loss of Corey Linsley).” — Reuter
Our take: Trading up to take an electric defensive player certainly fits the Packers’ modus operandi. Johnson and Rashan Gary could form one of the best young pass-rushing duos in football.
Rupp’s reaction: “Johnson can do it all. He’s excellent against the run and can get after the quarterback. The 2021 ACC Defensive Player of the Year recorded 70 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. The Florida State edge rusher built off that strong season with a good showing during Senior Bowl week.”

Purdue edge rusher George Karlaftis

Indiana offensive lineman Luke Haggard (70) blocks Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis (5).
Mock draft: Jordan Reid, ESPN
Reasoning: “In a deep edge class, Karlaftis, who had 7.5 sacks in 2021, is in the mix after Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson. He has a chance to land in the top 20, but in this scenario he’d fall right in the Packers’ lap. Green Bay must get some depth along the defensive line, and Karlaftis’ combination of power and heavy hands could help him thrive in the NFC North.” — Reid
Our take: Edge rusher is going to be a top target for the Packers in mock drafts, especially if the team loses Za’Darius Smith or Preston Smith (or both). Karlaftis fits the bill here for the Packers in the first round; young, premium position, super athletic.
Rupp’s reaction: “George Karlaftis is a powerful edge rusher with a nonstop motor. He was No. 7 on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks list. The Purdue edge rusher will turn 21 in April and could be a player that Brian Gutekunst targets in a possible trade up in the first round.”

Georgia LB Nakobe Dean

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Mock draft: Bleacher Report Scouting Department
Reasoning: “The Packers do not typically invest in linebackers through the draft, but they might not have much of a choice this offseason. Campbell and backup Oren Burks are both on their way to free agency, leaving Krys Barnes as the only halfway competent option left on the team. Georgia’s Nakobe Dean would bring the same speed and physical demeanor that made Campbell a surprise star in Green Bay, as well as a rare knack for navigating trash near the line of scrimmage.” — Derrik Klassen
Our take: The Packers finally got a standout season from an inside linebacker. All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell is a free agent, so it’s possible the Packers could dip their toes into the inside linebacker market at the end of the first round if Campbell departs.
Rupp’s reaction: “Nakobe Dean has a great combination of speed and instincts. Dean is quick to diagnose plays and shoot gaps to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. He may only be 6-foot, but he is an imposing figure in the hole. Dean may not be built like a throwback linebacker, but he can thump with the best of them.”

Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson

Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
Mock draft: Luke Easterling, Draft Wire
Reasoning: “If Davante Adams heads elsewhere in free agency, the Packers will need a new No. 1 target, regardless of who is throwing the passes. Wilson is a polished, well-rounded playmaker who can stretch the field and make big plays after the catch.” — Easterling
Our take: Will the Packers be able to bring back Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard AND Randall Cobb? Probably not. Expect the Packers to use the draft to replace at least one of the four players listed here. If it requires a first-round pick, so be it. Using premium draft capital on this position is overdue.
Rupp’s reaction: “Wilson has outstanding body control and once a week made highlight reel catches. His route running is pro-ready and he has juice after the catch, averaging nearly six yards after the catch.”

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