While Green Bay Packers fans hold their breaths about Aaron Rodgers (eye roll), they are preparing for the NFL Draft. The Packers have several holes to fill this offseason and last week’s NFL Draft Combine gave them a preview of who might be available. Today, we take a look at several prospects that might be a part of the 2023 Green Bay Packers draft.
7 Packers Draft Prospects Who Stood Out at NFL Combine
As pointed out in earlier pieces, there are three positions that will be high on the Green Bay Packers draft list: tight end, edge pass rusher, and safety. Chances are, the Packers will address one of these positions with their first-round pick.
General manager Brian Gutekunst and his scouting staff were present in Indianapolis last week at the NFL Combine. There are some that don’t put much stock in the event, but for Gutekunst and his staff, the Combine is a great way to see what will be available in this year’s NFL Draft.
Tight End
With Marcedes Lewis nearing the end of his career and Robert Tonyan about to enter NFL free agency, tight end was one position to watch at the combine. Many have Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer as the top tight end in this year’s NFL Draft. But the position is deep. This means the Packers might be able to grab a quality prospect in the second or third round.
Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave has been frequently linked to the Packers. There is a lot to like about Musgrave. He was the Beavers top target in their pro-style offense. Along with displaying sure hands, he also showed a willingness to block. These two attributes should make him a target for the Packers.
He had a very solid combine. He clocked in at 4.61 in the 40-yard dash, 1.54 seconds in the ten-yard split (top for tight ends), and 36 inches in the vertical jump. Musgrave’s strong performance should move him up many teams draft boards. The Packers, if interested, now can only hope he is available when they select in the second round.
Lewis is arguably the top blocking tight end in the NFL. His blocking prowess has been essential for the Packers offense. With his career coming to an end, the Packers might be looking for a younger version of Lewis. One prospect might be Darnell Washington.
Washington posted a 4.64 40-yard dash, a 1.57 10-yard split, and 21 reps in the bench press. He also looked impressive doing drills on the blocking sled. If Gutekunst is looking for a younger version of Lewis, Washington might fit that role.
Darnell Washington vs other TEs on the sled 😂
https://t.co/t3aKmNhZ33— Footballism (@FootbaIIism) March 6, 2023
Edge Pass Rusher
The Packers should be looking to draft a young prospect to complement Rashan Gary this off-season. While Will Anderson, Myles Murphy, and Tyree Wilson look to be off the board when the Packers are on the clock in the first round, there is still a good group behind them.
Isaiah Foskey posted 11 sacks for Notre Dame this past season. Besides the production, Foskey has the size to be a solid NFL pass rusher, 6’5″ and 265 pounds. Many scouts wanted to see what numbers he would produce at the combine.
Foskey did well, posting a 4.58 forty-yard dash, 1.66 in the ten-yard split, and had 22 reps in the bench press. Many have Foskey pegged for the second round. But with his production, and what he did in Indianapolis, there wouldn’t be much arguing if the Packers used their first-round selection on him.
Gutekunst drafted two defensive players in the first round from Georgia last season. It appears he likes what Kirby Smart is doing defensively at Georgia. So, he could once again look at another Georgia player in this year’s NFL Draft.
Nolan Smith didn’t have the production Foskey did in his college career. This past season, he posted three and a half sacks before he suffered a season-ending injury. But from what he did at the NFL Combine, he might draw the attention of NFL scouts.
Smith was the top edge pass rusher in three categories, the 40-yard dash (4.39), the ten-yard split (1.52), and the vertical jump (41.50). However, with the lack of production, scouts will need to determine if he is just a workout warrior.
😂 Georgia players respond to Nolan Smith’s 4.44 pic.twitter.com/KIn2UOYZkw
— Brooks Austin (@BrooksAustinBA) March 2, 2023
Safety
Alabama’s Brian Branch is the top safety prospect in this year’s NFL Draft and would be a great fit for the Packers. His numbers weren’t overly explosive, but it shouldn’t knock him off the top position.
While Branch’s position wasn’t affected, there are several prospects that improved their stock, like Sydney Brown from Illinois. He hauled in six interceptions last season for Illinois and his combine numbers also should help him make his way up draft boards. Brown registered a 4.47 40-yard dash, 1.51 in the ten-yard split, and a ten-foot ten-inch broad jump.
Some NFL Draft experts have Texas A&M’s, Antonio Johnson, ranked as the second safety prospect in the class. Similar to Branch, Johnson was hoping that he wouldn’t hurt his stock with his combine performance.
While his numbers weren’t gaudy, 4.52 40-yard dash, 1.52 ten-yard split, and 31-inch vertical jump, it shouldn’t hurt his draft status. However, his eight reps on the bench press might make some teams question his strength.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
