By Tanner Ostrowski
Febraury 16th, 2026
Most of the Packers’ rookies did not meet expectations this year, as they had a difficult time getting on the field. Additionally, when the players were on the field, most of them did not reach their potential. Here are their after season grades.
Round 1(23) - Matthew Golden, WR, Texas, 5’11” and 191 pounds: Many fans of the organization had very high hopes that Golden would elevate the team’s offense to new heights. However, the coaching staff had other plans. He was not on the field very much, and there are a multitude of possibilities about why this happened. It could be that the wide receiver room was already crowded, which limited his time on the field or the coaching staff did not trust him. It was most likely the former, because when Golden was on the field, he made the contested catches that were needed on crucial downs and was clutch for the team. Otherwise, he did not produce enough to get a quality grade.
Grade: D+
Round 2(54) - Anthony Belton, OL, NC State, 6’6” and 335 pounds: Belton was on the field for the latter parts of the season when the offensive line suffered injuries. He played right guard the majority of the time, and it felt like a rollercoaster ride. Sometimes he would be penalized non-stop during a game. At other times, he appeared to show his value and why he was selected. There were a lot of ups and downs for him throughout the season.
Grade: C+
Round 3(87): Savion Williams, WR, TCU, 6’4” and 220 pounds: Williams was not utilized on the field very often due to injuries and the fact that he was a “project” pick. The coaching staff planned this out, as he needed significant development in his game to be a contributing factor for the offense. However, he did play on special teams, returning kickoffs. His abilities were not showcased very often due to the injuries that he played through. His grade will remain the same.
Grade: C-
Round 4(124): Barryn Sorrell, EDGE, Texas, 6’3” and 256 pounds: Sorrell was somewhat impactful, though not as many others had hoped for the edge rusher. At most, he was average against the run and a little better pass rushing the quarterback. He did not come up with many sacks, accumulating only 1.5 sacks. Now, there were players in front of him, like Micah Parsons, Rashan Gary, Kingsley Enagbare and Lukas Van Ness. This could have caused the low sack total, but his talents did not match his production on the field.
Grade: C-
Round 5(159): Collin Oliver, EDGE/Linebacker, Oklahoma State, 6’2” and 240 pounds: Oliver only played one game the entire season because of a torn hamstring suffered at the NFL Combine. Then, he had complications with the injury during training camp. This was a redshirt year for him.
Grade: TBD
Round 6(198): Warren Brinson, DL, Georgia, 6’5” and 315 pounds: He was put in a bigger role than expected after fellow defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt suffered a season ending injury. At college, he was known for being better against the run rather than the pass. However, the opposite was true when he was placed on the field more often. Despite his lack of ability to stop the run, he did a good job considering he was a 6th rounder.
Grade: B
Round 7(237): Micah Robinson, CB, Tulane, 5’11” and 184 pounds: No one will ever know what he could have become as he was snagged off the practice squad in late October by the Tennessee Titans.
Grade: N/A
Round 7(250): John Williams, OL, Cincinnati, 6’4” and 322 pounds: He ended up sitting out the entire season on the PUP (physically unavailable to perform) list due to a back injury. He never played, so next season should provide a better evaluation.
Grade: TBD
Overall Summary and Grade
The previous grade that was given to this draft class was a B-. However, wide receiver Matthew Golden did not meet his lofty expectations and the best player in the draft class was Warren Brinson, considering the value he gave to the team as a late round draft pick. Belton had his highs and lows. Barryn Sorrell’s performance was not up to par. There were three players that were either hurt or on another team. Savion Williams did not contribute much to the offense, but that was the plan for developing him. Williams also had difficulties on special teams because of a foot injury. Due to the aforementioned factors above, the grade significantly decreased to a C-.
By Tanner Ostrowski
May 4th, 2025
This exercise talks about the Green Bay Packers’ draft picks and my analysis about each individual draftee. It includes what I think about the selections, which will be indicated by my grades.
Round 1(23) - Matthew Golden, WR, Texas, 5’11” and 191 pounds:This scenario worked out perfectly for the Packers, as they addressed a position of need at a great value. Golden was the fastest WR in this year’s combine, running a 4.29 40-yard dash. He can take over the Christian Watson role, who is recovering from a torn ACL. He has an excellent change of direction and can run routes well too. He can make the adjustments in order to catch the contested ball. He can also play on the inside. Overall, he can take over Watson’s role, but can do so much more and gives QB Jordan Love a dangerous weapon to use all over the field.
Grade: A+
Round 2(54) - Anthony Belton, OL, NC State, 6’6” and 335 pounds:The pick is somewhat confusing at first, due to the fact that the team has OT Rasheed Walker and OT/OG Jordan Morgan (the latter is their 1st Round pick from last year). However, when I think about it more, it now makes sense. Rasheed Walker is entering the last year of his contract and it sounds like the Packers think Belton can also play OG. Current RG Sean Rhyan is another one in the final year of his contract. Belton is very athletic for his size, scoring a 7.72 RAS out of 10 as an OT and 8.80 as an OG. He is a big man and can maul defensive linemen with ease. He is best suited at OG due to his athleticism, strength and stature. This selection is for the future and the offensive line could look like this after this season - LT Jordan Morgan, LG Aaron Banks, Center Elgton Jenkins, RG Anthony Belton, RT Zach Tom.
Grade: B-
Round 3(87) - Savion Williams, WR, TCU, 6’4” and 220 pounds:He is an athletic freak, running a 4.48 40-yard dash at his size. At college, he was used as a WR, and surprisingly, was also utilized in the backfield, whether that would be at RB or at wildcat QB. He can run through people with his combination of speed, size, and toughness. However, he is more of a gadget player than a pure WR at this point. He can drop the ball easily, despite his build and his large 10 ¼” size hands. Savion Williams needs to get this issue under control to become a more integral part of the offense in the future, otherwise, he will remain a gadget player and that is not what the Packers drafted him for.
Grade: C-
Round 4(124) - Barryn Sorrell, EDGE, Texas, 6’3” and 256 pounds:Sorrell has great athletic abilities that allow him to get into the backfield. He can shed blocks and get to the runner. He also never gives up on a play, always showing 100% effort the entire time he is on the field. He looks the part of a developed player, because of the fact he played in 49 games throughout his four years in college. He accumulated 25 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in his last three seasons at Texas according to Sports Reference's website. Overall, this is an excellent value pick considering the type of player Sorrell is.
Grade: A+
Round 5(159) - Collin Oliver, EDGE/Linebacker, Oklahoma State, 6’2” and 240 pounds: Oliver has elite speed for his size. He is at his best when rushing the QB, both at the Linebacker and EDGE rusher positions. However, he is better off on the EDGE due to his lack of instincts at Linebacker. Not only that, but because of his smaller build, he will most likely be used as a situational pass rusher. While his traits are brilliant, his size is what worries me the most.
Grade: B-
Round 6(198) - Warren Brinson, DL, Georgia, 6’5” and 315 pounds:While Brinson’s athleticism pops out on tape, his lack of strength also sticks out. From what I have seen, it looks as if he cannot finish off plays most of the time. That is concerning. Another reason to be alarmed is that he was mostly a part-time player. If he cannot be a full-time starter at Georgia, how will that work out in the NFL? Not very promising.
Grade: C-
Round 7(237) - Micah Robinson, CB, Tulane, 5’11” and 184 pounds:Robinson is a smaller CB who plays primarily on the outside. He is fast, running a 4.42 according to people that were at his pro day. He has good instincts and seems to be a sure tackler. However, he does not have the athleticism that many people would like from a smaller CB, as he has a RAS of 6.41 out of 10. That limits his upside at the pro level.
Grade: C+
Round 7(250) - John Williams, OL, Cincinnati, 6’4” and 322 pounds:John Williams is a brilliant selection at this point in the draft. He was primarily a LT at college, but could transition to Guard due to his size. He has the athleticism to play OT and the strength to play as an OG. He takes on pass rushers with ease. Overall, this is a sneaky upside pick by the Packers. They could develop him into a valuable swing offensive lineman, or maybe even a starter. This is definitely one of my favorite picks considering Green Bay’s track record with turning late round offensive linemen into starters.
Grade: A+
Overall Summary and Grade
Things can (and will) change in the future, but for the sole purpose of this exercise, I will give this draft class a grade of a B-.There are some excellent picks like WR Matthew Golden, EDGE Barryn Sorrell, and OL John Williams. However, there are selections that are mind-boggling, such as the decision to draft WR Savion Williams in the 3rd Round, along with drafting DL Warren Brinson and CB Micah Robinson. If it were not for the three previously mentioned picks, the class would have received a B+ to A-.
By Tanner Ostrowski
April 21st, 2025
The mock draft above was completed on Pro Football & Sports Network, four days before the draft occurred. It includes trades and the simulation covers the entire draft (Rounds 1-7).
Round 1
The Packers had the 23rd pick originally but there was not much value, so I traded down to the 30th pick overall and selected Defensive Tackle Walter Nolen (6’4” and 296 pounds) out of Ole Miss. Nolen has a lot of upside because he is 21 years old and will only continue to develop his great athleticism and pass rush moves. Ultimately, his tremendous potential is what gets him drafted here.
Round 2
The first pick of this round was received via a trade up, which allowed me to get one of my favorite Wide Receivers, Utah State’s Jalen Royals (6’0” and 205 pounds). He has a great ability to gain many yards after the catch and ran a 4.42 40-yard dash. He has easy acceleration too, as he runs a 1.49 10-yard split, which tied for first at the NFL Combine. The ability to escape, along with his great speed and acceleration makes him a good selection.
As part of the compensation I received for 23rd pick, I got the 58th pick and selected Arkansas EDGE Landon Jackson (6’6” and 264 pounds), who is an athletic marvel with a RAS of 9.78. He is an absolute monster and at his stature, could also play on the Interior Defensive Line if he gains more weight.
Round 3
I traded up for the 100th selection and picked Cornerback Jordan Hancock (6’0” and 205 pounds) from Ohio State. First, he has some very good athleticism, scoring a 9.82 RAS, which will meet Green Bay Packers’ General Manager Brian Gutekunst’s standards for athleticism. He can also play Safety and in the slot. However, he was not my number one choice, as I was hoping to get another Cornerback, but they were flying off the draft board. This meant I decided to take one before the decent ones were gone. I panicked and it was not smart. This is my least favorite pick.
Round 4
This time around, there was a player falling down so I took that opportunity and traded up plenty of spots to get him. That player is none other than Stanford Wide Receiver Elic Ayomanor (6’2” and 206 pounds). This is my favorite pick because the opportunity presented itself to trade up and select this player. He also ran a 4.44 40-yard dash and is somewhat a great route-runner, as he is able to find his way to the ball seemingly a lot of the time. He shows his willingness to get better on the field due to his brilliant work ethic according to multiple sources. It should be noted that the Packers also used a top-30 visit on him.
Round 5
No one was drafted as the pick(s) were traded away.
Round 6
The next selection was Wisconsin Offensive Tackle Jack Nelson (6’7” and 314 pounds), who could become a very good swing/backup Tackle for the Packers. He has some athleticism but there is no official testing, so his athleticism is in question. He was given draftable grades by websites, and the Packers usually draft Offensive Linemen, so I took one here.
Round 7
At this point in the Draft, the selections are lottery tickets. The players have high potential, but also a very low floor. These next two picks are exact examples of that. The first of two 7th Round picks was Nebraska Wide Receiver Isaiah Neyor. He is a freakish athlete at 6’4” and 218 pounds, with a RAS of 9.98. He ran a 4.40 40-yard dash and a 38” vertical jump. He could take over Packers’ Wide Receiver Christian Watson’s role as the deep threat because of his height, weight, and speed. However, this will probably not happen as Neyor has a tendency to drop many passes. That is the reason he will be drafted late, and if he could catch, he would be drafted much earlier.
The final pick was used on Florida Cornerback Trikweze Bridges (6’2” and 196 pounds), who was not even invited to the NFL Combine this draft cycle. However, he showed out at his pro day, getting a 9.16 RAS. He is very similar to Jordan Hancock, the previous selection, as he can play Safety and even in the slot too. Some sources said he ran a 4.38 40-yard dash and others have timed it at 4.45. He would be an excellent depth piece and probably has a higher floor than his fellow 7th Round pick.
By Tanner Ostrowski
January 23rd, 2025
There is a possible Cornerback crisis going on in Green Bay, with Jaire Alexander possibly getting cut because he seems unhappy and is injury prone and Eric Stokes likely won’t be re-signed due to his lack of production. That means the only top CBs there are Carrington Valentine and Keisean Nixon.
There were 5 random CBs that were evaluated to decide whether they would fit the Green Bay Packers defense. There was a system put into place that would look into a variety of factors by using video clips that showed their athleticism, their production in college, the amount of effort that they had, etc. Stats would also be looked at to see how much production the players had in college. This would help decide their positives and negatives, and then an analysis was explained for each player and what they can contribute for the team.
*Note: These rankings do not include Travis Hunter from Colorado and Will Johnson from Michigan, as most draft boards have them being gone by the time the Packers make their selection.
He is a monster on the field. He can make the tough tackles when absolutely necessary and cause disruptive plays against the offense, creating a loss of yards. He also has great ball skills while keeping track of the Wide Receiver, despite not being the fastest player on the field. However, he does have great quickness and fluidity. He also knows how to use leverage, but may be grabby towards the WR at times. Due to these attributes, this helps him complete the interception process. Morrison does have some versatility, playing inside and outside, which will help the Packers when injuries hit, but he plays his best on the perimeter, as that is where he made the biggest impact on the field.
Barron is a very tough and physical player, making plays all over the field. He can deliver the thump on the tackle when his teammates cannot finish the tackle. He is also very versatile, as he has played Safety, in the slot and on the outside. He is almost always near the ball and the stats back this up, as he had 11 pass defended and 5 interceptions according to ESPN. This would make him a great piece for Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley’s defense, as Green Bay loves versatility. However, there are questions about his athleticism, as he did not look like the greatest athlete while playing. The NFL Combine will help him the most to show what he is capable of. Now, bad NFL Combine results do not determine his career, but the better the results are, the more likely he will be drafted higher.
His athletic abilities are out of this world. For someone of his size, he sure plays much bigger than that, as he can stop the opposing player’s momentum. There was a clip where he pushed a pile of teammates and the opposing players all by himself. He has undeniable strength. His speed is also excellent, as he can blow up plays with how fast he gets to the player. There was an instance where East Carolina used him as a blitzer and he got to the opposing Quarterback quickly. He is always making plays on the ball, especially near the player that he is covering, as he is sticky in coverage. Because of this, he broke up a lot of passes, but could not come down with the interception. He did a few times, but not a lot, which is a little concerning considering the weaker competition he faced since he was not in a top college conference. He should have had a lot more picks than he did. However, he tore ACL he this past season according to Pete Thamel from ESPN. This is a major concern and where he goes in the NFL Draft will depend on how his physicals are at the NFL Combine, and whether the doctors think his ACL is healing properly or not. He is a very good player, but the Packers may be scared off due to the ACL.
Strong is a very good CB, as he looks like a lockdown corner. Interestingly enough, Virginia Tech posted on their site that he is the second FBS CB since 2014 to allow less than 10 catches and 100 receiving yards while playing 300+ coverage snaps in 2023. He is also very competitive at the catch point against the opposing receiver. He can break up the pass, but when the WR does catch the ball, he tries to knock the football out of WR’s hands and create turnovers while tackling the WR in the process. He mirrors his WR very well, which is what most likely caused the aforementioned stats. His speed also has helped him, as he has the ability to get back to his receiver when getting blocked from covering him. He gets out of the block (or sometimes called a “pick”) and immediately gets back to the receiver and only allows minimal yards. He also chases players down in the open field so they cannot score a touchdown. He will prove at the NFL Combine that he has the speed, and as a result, he will fly up draft boards. The Packers will love his competitive nature and if his combine results meet expectations, he will be drafted much earlier than many expect.
Thomas is a very sticky CB, as he has good athleticism and smoothness in his hips, which helps him excel in coverage. One negative though is that he can be grabby towards the WR he is covering. Thomas is also a willing tackler, but also needs help with tackling as he does not do the best job. He got blocked by a WR and could not break free. He will most likely need to go into the weight room. While he was able to stay in coverage, the ball was not thrown his way a lot of the time. Thomas is a very difficult prospect to evaluate and he is overrated due to the negatives. The fact he is always close to the WR when in press is good, as that is the Packers/Hafley’s preferred way to cover receivers, but this is a wait-and-see situation until he gets to the NFL Combine and see how he does in the drills and athletic testing.
By Tanner Ostrowski
January 30th, 2025
These are some of the major needs for the Green Bay Packers. While the defense improved in almost every single defensive category under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, the pass rush was not adequate enough. The defense could not pressure the opposing QB and gave them too much time to throw, ranking 20th in both categories.
The front four needs to improve drastically, so an assessment of 10 random Interior Defensive Linemen/EDGE players was completed to evaluate whether they would fit the Green Bay Packers defense. Thus, a system was created to evaluate the IDL/EDGEs.
Random IDL/EDGE profiles were looked into to see if they fit the Packers defensive scheme. Pre-draft stats would also be looked at to see how much production each of the players had. If the player fit the Packers defensive scheme, athletic traits, production, the effort that they showed each time they went on the field. This was used to assess their positives and negatives. After watching the videos on the players, the player’s analysis would be summarized explaining what they can do for the team.
*Note: The analysis began before Senior Bowl week and was completed during the event. The rankings will be updated after the NFL combine.
Mykel Williams plays on the edge both standing up and with his hand on the ground. He also has many athletic attributes that teams will love. One of them is his arm length, as when he puts his hand on the ground, it looks like he is standing up. He absolutely dominates the offensive line at ease, as he has the speed, quickness, and pure power to do so. He bullrushes them, destroys the offensive lineman and gets to the QB. He has the speed and quickness to get past them also. He also knows a few pass rush moves. His athleticism helps him take on double teams and still sack the QB. He can also cause plenty of pressure on the QB, force him out of the pocket and cause turnovers like a mad man. These abilities also help him in the run game, as he can snuff the runner out and stop them for a short gain or even a loss of yards. He can also suppress the run out in space. His football IQ is off the charts, as he never falls for fakes and gets after the QB running a designed QB run. He seemingly knows the exact play the opposing offense is about to execute. Unfortunately for Green Bay, he may not be there by the time the Packers are on the clock, as his attributes and abilities will attract teams into taking him. His draft stock will only go up after the NFL combine.
As of now, Grant is a better run stopper than pass rusher. He causes chaos for the opposing offense that has to deal with him, as he has super strength to take on double teams on the inside of the offensive line, which is quite impressive. Despite the double teams, he can still get to the runner and get first contact at times to stop the play from the get-go. He can also chase down the runner outside the numbers due to his motor. Grant also has the power to shed blockers to get the stop. He is a constant disrupter and can push the offensive linemen back into the pocket. It is a risky choice for the opposition to leave him on an island against one of their offensive linemen. He is also quick enough to make the QB feel like the pocket is collapsing. He can tip the ball into the air and has the ability to snuff out screen plays when his fellow linebackers and defensive backs cannot get there. However, he is not fast enough to get the QB but that could be fixed if he learns more pass rush moves. This would make it easier for him to get sacks. He will do great at the combine and ultimately move up draft boards. The question is by how much due to his lack of production?
He is an absolute athletic freak and has the strength to do almost anything he wants to do on the football field. Stewart can take on double teams and can knock players down at times. He is also fast enough to get past the offensive line and get the ball carrier in the backfield. He is too fast and powerful for offensive linemen to deal with. Stewart also has excellent bend for someone of his size, which helps him when trying to get into the backfield. All of these attributes help him be a great run defender, where he neutralizes the play. However, he is not a good pass rusher at all, as he knows almost no pass rush moves and relies only on his abilities. It even shows up in the stats, as he has only 4.5 sacks over three seasons while at college according to ESPN. If he were to learn pass rush moves, he would not only be a great run defender, but a dominant pass rusher with his athletic traits.
Burch is an edge player who can also play some on the defensive line. He relies on his quickness and speed more often than not. He uses his speed and quickness to get past the offensive lineman to blow up the QB or runner in the backfield. He also uses his speed in space to sack the scrambling QB. He can also get past the offensive lineman at times without them laying a hand on him due to his quickness. He can also get “skinny” to get past the offensive lineman or sidestep them in order to create a loss of yards. One of his underestimated attributes is his strength. At times, he can get the offensive lineman to the ground, get to the QB, and cause turnovers. He is one that could rise up draft boards, but will be there for the Packers in the 2nd Round or past that round.
Scourton is very athletic as he can get off fast when unblocked. He can get to the QB at times and create turnovers. He never gives up on a play. Scourton has a superb spin move, which is his main pass rush move to get to the QB. He creates pressure but can still miss sacks at times. His ability to stop the run is great and can stuff up the runner. He can also shed blocks in order to stop the run. He played as a 4-3 defensive end, but can also play in a 3-4 defense, which is the position he played for Purdue before transferring to Texas A&M. Playing in a 3-4 defense allowed him to stand up where his athleticism appears more. The stats show this too, as he had 12 sacks in two seasons at his former college (though during his final year at Purdue, he had 10 sacks) and 5 sacks at Texas A&M, which is stated by ESPN's website. Now granted, he was playing two entirely different defensive schemes at each college, but he is more athletic playing in a 3-4 defense, despite what others are saying.
Ivey is super fast and if he is left unblocked, he will cause chaos, as he will produce plenty of sacks and turnovers. This year alone, he had 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery according to the ESPN. Ivey is faster than others his size, but is less strong than others similar to him. Despite this, he plays standing up and his hand in the dirt. In most instances, he cannot push a lineman to the ground but can move them. He does find ways to stop the run as he can navigate his way around to create a loss for yards. Ivey can finish off the sack for his teammates if they cannot take them down. He does not get fooled easily, as he can read the RPO (run-pass option) and see who keeps the ball and tackle them. Overall, he is not as strong as others his size, but he is dangerous due to his explosive speed.
Walker knows how to rush the QB, as he has an excellent get-off and good swim move. Walker easily moves the offensive linemen and can take on double teams, helping his teammate(s) get the sack due to the QB moving around frantically in the pocket. He can also collapse the pocket and get to the QB. Walker can make first contact at times due to his strength and surprising athleticism for someone his size. He can also chase the QB down side-to-side. He can also jump and tip the ball at the line of scrimmage, which is shocking in itself considering how big he is. He can even get to the RB by moving the entire interior offensive line, just with his power alone. However, this does not seem to be his main focus, as he is more focused on getting the QB than stopping the run. He has stopped the RB for a loss a few times, but most of the time, when he gets the runner, the runner has gained 2-to-4 yards down the field. Overall, he is better at making the highlight play than the plays that win the offense the game.
Tyleik Williams is twitchy and quick for his size. He knows how to get to the QB with a variety of pass rush moves and how to get past the offensive line. He is also fast enough to get the QB on stunts. He also never gives up on a play. He can stop the run and does not fall for plays, such as the RPO. However, there are some concerns about his game, as he can be very inconsistent. For a guy his size, he is not as strong as someone would expect and he gets pushed back by offensive linemen easily, even though at different times he beats them down. If he gets stronger and does the things he does best on a more consistent basis at the next level, he will be a massive steal for whoever takes him in the draft.
Alexander has some great abilities, as he is quick, twitched up, fast, and knows a variety of pass rush moves in order to get to the QB. However, there are questions about his strength, as when he was at Toledo, he looked as if he had a rough time trying to bull rush the offensive lineman. This difficulty made him look as if he had average strength and the problem with that is he played at a lower level of competition than others on this list did. He will likely be drafted later due to this, because it looks like he will have below-average strength at the NFL level.
Norman-Lott is very quick, as he has an impressive get-off. He also has a good amount of strength to get past the offensive linemen blocking him. He is also willing to chase down the ball carrier. However, he does not finish off plays sometimes, particularly when it comes to getting the sack. He also tends to get pancaked by the offensive line. It may be that he is inconsistent or how he uses his leverage during some plays. The best parts of Norman-Lott’s game is his quickness and motor but has serious question marks about why he cannot finish off the sack.
By Tanner Ostrowski
February 9th, 2025
There is a huge Wide Receiver problem as Green Bay does not have a proven WR1. Not only that, but Christian Watson is recovering from a torn ACL and the team has concerns over Romeo Doubs's concussions. However, the Packers may get a top WR through free agency, but who knows if it will ever happen. If it does not, the Packers will certainly attack the position using draft picks, hoping that one of them becomes a major part of the offense. It may take a year or two for the player(s) to become WR1s and it is very difficult, but if one of the prospects do break out, these are top 5 WRs that will most likely do so based on scheme fit or athletic attributes.
A system was created to evaluate the WRs as random WR tape/video clips would be watched to assess their positives and negatives to see if they would fit the Packers defensive scheme. This includes athletic traits, production, effort, amongst other things. Stats would also be looked at to see how much production the players had in college.
Lastly, after watching the videos on the players, the analysis of each player would be summarized explaining what they can do for the team.
Golden would be good for the Pack because he can play Christian Watson’s role as a deep threat while Watson recovers from his torn ACL. Golden has the speed of Watson and finds many ways to be open, such as his good footwork and his great route running ability. He has a great release to break away from the opposing CB. An example of this ability is the TD fade route that he is able to run. While he does not use his body like Watson would in this situation, Golden can surely use his speed to score the TD. He has a fantastic spin move, a good stiff arm and the agility to make defenders slide off of him. This is all despite his weight. Even though Watson is 4" inches taller than him, Golden can still adjust his body to make the deep and/or TD catch, along with high pointing the ball at times too. He is used at all parts of the field, except in the backfield. Additionally, he can reach for the ball to catch it and can make the contested catch, even with defenders all over him.
As of now, Royals can adjust his body to the ball and high point it, even though he has a smaller stature. Royals has great footwork and balance to keep on going, along with undeniable speed and quickness. In college, he was better than many other players in terms of quickness, agility, and speed. Royals can turn short passes into big gains as he follows his blockers, along with his speed and his acceleration, which he reaches at ease. Royals can shake defenders off and break their ankles in the process due to his agility and quickness. He can make defenders slide off of him and make ridiculous catches, which includes one-handers. He has a great route running ability and can split the defenders. He can catch the ball despite the defender being all over him. Royals does resemble Jayden Reed, another Packers WR. Royals is a utility-type player, like how Reed is in this stage of his career. Both have the ability to expand their roles and become integral parts of the offense if Royals is indeed drafted by Green Bay. In addition, Royals has a little bit more strength than Reed, as Royals powers his way through leg tackles at times.
Bech has good speed and has decent route running skills. He can stop and go with ease and is difficult to bring down to the ground. He makes the contested catch look easy, as if he does it on a daily basis. He can do this in tight windows between defenders. He can adjust his body to the ball well, especially during 50-50 balls, which makes it easier for him. After the catch, he dashes away and bounces off tacklers if needed. Bech would contribute greatly to the Packers offense, as he could play Romeo Doubs’s role if necessary, yet can play Watson’s role if needed, though Bech would be better suited as a possession WR in Green Bay’s offense.
Brooks mainly plays on the perimeter and uses his speed, as he can be a major deep threat for the Green Bay Packers while Christian Watson is out. He can take it the distance many times. The 50-50 ball almost always goes in his favor due to this. He makes spectacular one-handed catches, as he can adjust his body well to almost every throw. He has the ability to stay inbounds. Brooks makes acrobatic, circus-like catches. The catches described above are made quite often by Brooks, even if the throw is inaccurate or is thrown into tight coverage. Louisville used him on short-to-intermediate routes. He can turn screen passes to a catch that gains plenty of yards. He was used in motion, which is what the Packers offense does. He is not the best at running routes but does run good routes from time to time. He has good footwork. Brooks does buy time for his QB and finds the soft spot on the field so his QB can throw it to him. Louisville also utilized him on special teams as a punt returner, which the Packers will love as they need some improvements in this phase of the game. He is very athletic in terms of speed and jumping, and while he is a willing blocker, he is not very physical, both at blocking and running with the ball.
Prather brings an element that Head Coach Matt LaFleur would love, which is being a willing blocker. He is a physical WR, which is not shocking considering his size. He plays on the perimeter and uses his power and strength as the main parts of his playing style. It takes multiple defenders to bring him down. He is a decent deep threat thanks to the way he plays, as he uses his physicality to adjust to the ball and make the tough, contested catch, even with the defender draped all over him. He also has a nice stiff arm. Furthermore, he is a good deep threat as his route running makes Prather seem open, despite the possibility that he is slow. Surprisingly, Maryland used him on sweeps and he does use a spin move, but overall, physicality is the name of his game. Prather is by far not a speedy guy, as he might finish his 40-yard dash(es) around the 4.5s or 4.6s when he goes to the NFL Combine, which is considered slower for a WR. That might scare off Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst because he likes faster guys and Prather is not at all fast and he at most has average speed. However, Green Bay’s scouts will pound the table for Prather to be drafted by Gutekunst.
By Tanner Ostrowski
February 22nd, 2025
The Packers have some difficult decisions to make when it comes to the offensive line this offseason, as Center Josh Myers is about to become a free agent. While Myers has been a favorite within the organization, it is easy to say that there are upgrades available in this year’s draft class. If Green Bay ultimately does decide to re-sign Myers, there will not be much concern for the team due to the consistency he provides. But what if the Packers let him sign somewhere else?
That is when the following scenarios come into consideration. There would likely be a major reconfiguration of their starting offensive linemen lineup, but are two likely options. One option is that RT Zach Tom would be moved to Center, but somebody would have to move to RT. Maybe 2024 1st Round Draft pick OL Jordan Morgan or LG Elgton Jenkins could move to RT. Jordan Morgan could also stay at Guard and form a combo with RG Sean Rhyan if Jenkins moves to RT. The second option would be to put Jenkins at Center and put Morgan at one of the two Guard spots with Rhyan.
This would mean that the Packers would have to draft some offensive linemen to find reassurance if they did decide to make Tom or Jenkins their next Center. The team also has the choice to draft a Center and call it a day, but they love versatility on the front lines, so they could mix up the offensive line daily during offseason practices and decide on their preferred lineup once the 2025 regular season starts.
This exercise covers these possibilities by finding players that could fit the Packers requirements with the help of video clips/tape to see how athletic they were and what they contributed to their teams. The prospects would then be ranked from best to worst and there would be an explanation on how they fit the Packers offensive scheme.
*Note: Initially, the plan was to look into as many offensive linemen as possible. However, there were not a lot of recent video clips of the prospects, so they were not included. This will be updated after the NFL Combine.
Zabel should definitely be one of the top prospects on the board for Green Bay due to his elite athleticism and strength. He can battle against two defensive linemen, all in one play. He is great at run blocking, both at the line of scrimmage, but is also better blocking in space. At the college level that Zabel played in, he was impossible to get through, as he stymied and bullied his opponents, shoving them to the ground. His leverage is not the greatest and he can be pushed around once in a while in the run game. However, it is not a serious issue as of now. His pass protection skills are superior. Zabel has plenty of upside to make himself, at minimum, a Pro Bowler one day. The Packers will love his athleticism and his versatility, as during his last three years at NDSU, he played RT, LG, and LT extensively according to PFF (Pro Football Focus). That will make him one of their top priorities.
Williams is shockingly quick considering his build. He sets his feet surprisingly well too. He changes direction easily for someone of his size. On top of that, he is athletic enough to block into the second level. His playing style also reflects his stature, where he destroys defenders. He was also trusted enough by his college to be on an island by himself facing many of the top pass rushers in the country. Furthermore, he can deal with multiple defenders. However, he may need assistance from his teammates through the use of double-teams, since he is such a raw player. Williams allows a lot of pressure to get to his QB. But with so much talent and sky-high potential, the Packers will definitely consider drafting him, despite Williams being termed a “project.” Plus, he can take Tom’ spot at RT since that is Banks Jr.’s natural position (per PFF) if Tom is indeed moved to Center.
Banks Jr.’s athletic abilities are off the charts. He has excellent movement skills and the athletic abilities to block out in space and get into the second level. He plays up to his size when opening up holes for the runner or when he is combating defensive linemen. Banks Jr. can push around his foe to the ground. He does have difficulty facing edge rushers though. He does continue on to keep on fighting though. Green Bay will love Banks Jr.'s athletic attributes, so he will be an option on their draft board. He could easily replace Zach Tom at Tackle, but there are two problems. The first one is that Banks Jr. only played LT at college, not Tom’s current position. The second is that he is not versatile, as he has not played any other position on the offensive line.
Mbow demonstrates the athleticism that NFL teams will love. His athleticism is close to elite as his footwork is excellent and mirrors pass rushers every step that the rusher takes. His mobility is amazing due to the fact that he can get to the second level and block in space with no trouble. He also has strength to keep pass rushers away from the QB and even pounds them into the ground. His punch and hand placement are all good. He can also run block so the defender cannot get to the ball carrier. He is great in both pass protection and at run blocking, but as of now, pass protection is his best contribution to a team. He also has some past experience at RG and RT according to PFF. The Packers will be really interested in drafting him based on his tape and versatility. If his NFL Combine performance confirms this, Green Bay might pounce on the chance to draft him.
Wilson’s playing style is based upon his great strength and good athleticism. He also has a sturdy frame. All of this allows him to push the defensive line around to create a hole for the ball carrier and gives him the ability to go into the second level. These abilities allow him to block in space too. Wilson is able to do all the things that a coach asks him to do because of the attributes that he has. The Packers should jump if they have the chance to draft him. He sounds like a potentially major upgrade over Josh Myers, who has underwhelmed ever since being drafted by the team in the 2021 NFL Draft with the 62nd overall pick.
Saviinaea has played both LT and RT, along with RG per PFF. The fact that he can play three or four out of five positions on the offensive line is attractive to NFL teams. He can battle with two defenders in one play and stop pass rushers from getting to the QB. This is especially true at the Guard spot. He uses a forceful punch too. He is more athletic than many would expect, as he is faster than quick. He runs from one side of the field to the other to accomplish the key block to help the ball carrier run away from defenders. He is much better at run blocking than pass protection. However, Saviinaea is not as strong as his frame indicates. Not only that, but he has difficulty against both power and quick, twitchy pass rushers. Even so, he can hold his own for just the right amount of time. While he can play both Guard and Tackle, he is most likely to play Guard in the NFL. Despite this, the Packers might see this evaluation differently and think he can play a variety of positions on the offensive line. Plus, versatility is what they look for on their team, so there is a better chance the Packers draft him. Saviinaea only needs to prove that he has the athleticism to thrive with the Packers.
Membou played Tackle in college, but many expect him to play Guard at the next level. His athleticism and strength are good qualities, but neither of them are elite. What he can do is block out in space. He does have good balance, which lets him resist and move pass rushers when they try to get to the QB. He handles finesse pass rushers the best and can even pancake defenders at times. However, that being stated, he is better suited at Guard due to his height. The Packers could possibly take a chance on him if they think he can live up to the versatility that people believe he can bring to the table. But if he does not have any highly regarded athletic traits, that will lower the chances that Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst drafts him.
Monheim is very athletic for his size and the position he plays at. He has brilliant footwork and is agile enough to shift from one offensive lineman to another, all in one play. Thanks to these abilities, he can block in space quickly. He also has good leverage. Monheim is also powerful, but not for his stature because he gets pushed around at times. It should be noted that he does not fully lose his balance. In addition, he redirects pass rushers and does not give up on the play against defensive linemen. He needs help from his teammates when facing power rushers, while holding his own against speed rushers. Therefore, he is better suited to block speedy defenders than powerful ones. The Packers should have a backup plan incase Jared Wilson is not there and draft Monheim. Green Bay loves athleticism and Monheim is exactly that. The only question is if he is strong enough.
Conerly Jr. has some athletic ability to block in space and go into the second level. He also runs to the other side of the line of scrimmage to block and create a hole for whoever has the ball. He maintains quick feet. Conerly Jr. does have some problems though when it comes to speed rushers but is great when blocking power rushers. He restrains pass rushers so they cannot get the QB. Conerly Jr. can shove defenders to the ground like they are nothing and then proceeds to get moved by defenders also. It is a very confusing situation overall. Other than this, he takes on two defenders in one play and can restrain run defenders. He is much better at run blocking than pass protecting due to his athleticism in the run game. Whether the Packers draft him or not will be based on his athletic results at the NFL Combine, However, he does fit a need for the Packers, as they need better run blocking on the offensive line.
Fairchild is fast and is able to block out in space because of his athleticism. It allows him to open holes up for the ball carrier and get into the second level also. Because of his athleticism, he does a better job in space than at the line of scrimmage. Fairchild is a much better run blocker than he is a pass protector, as his challenges are obvious. He is not strong enough and gets shoved around by power rushers and even speed rushers. He lacks leverage and his teammates help him by the use of double teams to stop the opponent. He gets pushed as if he were a piece of paper. The Packers would probably prioritize him as a late round draft pick or even undrafted free agent. This is where the “draft and develop” plan comes in, as they take day three prospects and try to turn them into future starters. That would be the plan.