Evaluating prospects for our “Prospect for the Pack” series inevitably led to finding a few draft crushes during the process. Here are 25 players we love – in terms of talent and fit – for the Green Bay Packers in the 2020 NFL draft:
WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
A quarterback’s best friend and a perfect fit in Green Bay. He catches everything, creates easy throws to the middle of the field, wins contested catch situations, delivers after the catch, operates off schedule and succeeds in the red zone. Plug him in as the Day 1 slot receiver in 2020 and let him quickly gain the trust and affection of Aaron Rodgers, who needs a reliable target after Davante Adams. Jefferson and Rodgers look like a dream pairing of receiver and quarterback.
DB Ashtyn Davis, Cal
One of the most underrated defenders in the class. Want a super athletic safety prospect with the best range in the class and the versatility and toughness to play all over the secondary? Davis is the guy. He might be synonymous as a player with Darnell Savage, but having two safeties who can really run and play multiple positions in the backend would be really valuable. Davis looks like an ideal modern safety.
WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
The help wanted ad for the Packers at receiver reads a lot like Aiyuk’s profile. He can win vertically as an outside receiver, create explosive plays from the slot, beat anyone after the catch and excel in space on manufactured touches. He’s dynamic and versatile. He moves like a little guy but plays big. Aiyuk with Matt LaFleur is a great match.
DL A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
Epenesa isn’t a quick-twitch rusher and his position in Green Bay would be a projection, but he’s a damn good football player who wins in a variety of ways and could help the Packers at several spots. There’s a chance he could be an end in the three-man front and a valuable rusher on passing downs, offering immense value to a team that needs help along the front but also craves versatility in the pass-rushing plan.
RB Cam Akers, Florida State
Akers would be in the running to be the first running back selected had he not played the last three years in the dumpster fire in Tallahassee. He is super quick and elusive. Don’t be surprised if he emerges as the most productive running back in this class.
WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
Mims became a household name after destroying the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine, but his tape is full of advanced skills playing the receiver position. He wins late separation with his hands, is physical at the line of scrimmage and into routes, has terrific body control in the air and near the boundary and makes tough catches away from his body. Running a full route tree could unlock his immense potential.
TE Chase Claypool, Notre Dame
Teams will want to give Claypool every chance to be an outside receiver after he produced elite testing numbers at the combine. And there’s a chance he could be a Vincent Jackson-like weapon at receiver. Smart teams will increase their odds on the lottery ticket and transition him into a hybrid role, accentuating his combination of size, physicality and athleticism as a big slot or move tight end prospect.
OT Josh Jones, Houston
The guy just gets the job done, and he gets it done at a high level. Turn on the Oklahoma game from last year and you’ll fall in love with Jones’ ability to seal the left side of the pocket in the passing game and physically manhandle people on the edge. He’s a four-year starter with elite production as a pass blocker and a nice combination of size and athleticism. I’d expect him to be a starter at left or right tackle for a long time in the NFL.
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
Human heat-seeker. He’s small for an inside linebacker, but his ability to get to any spot on the field with speed and disrupt plays against the run and pass is perfect for the modern game. ADG is always in attack mode, slipping past blocks and beating people to spots with his explosiveness. If the Packers want to teleport to the 21st century at inside linebacker, drafting Davis-Gaither is the quickest way to do it.
CB Jeff Gladney, TCU
Gladney is the Great Value version of Jaire Alexander. He has the ultra-competitive playstyle and all the tenacity and energy of Alexander, but he’s not quite as athletic and probably won’t go as high as Alexander, the 18th pick in 2018. The Packers met with Gladney pre-draft. Despite a slower than expected three-cone time, I’d be surprised if the Packers didn’t really like him as a player at a premium position.
WR/RB Antonio Gibson, Memphis
Truly the ultimate offensive weapon. Gibson is precious cargo, and he can’t fall into the wrong hands or his special skillset could be wasted. He lacks a true position but is possibly the most dynamic player in the class with the ball in his hands. No one could tackle him at the college level. Gibson needs a patient coach and a smart, creative playcaller to maximize his gifts and unlock his true potential as a receiver/running back hybrid.
DB Terrell Burgess, Utah
Burgess looks cut from the Malcolm Jenkins mold. He can play safety and slot cornerback, but his man-to-man coverage ability and comfort level playing near the line of scrimmage suggests a need to play him in the box as a nickel defender. He’s smart and instinctive and could easily carve out a hybrid role in the right scheme.
WR Michael Pittman, USC
Quietly, Pittman emerged as one of the most polished and pro-ready receivers in the class. During a terrific final year at USC, he showed an ability to do just about everything that will be asked of him at the next level, including winning to all areas of the field, separating in and out of routes and dominating at the catch point. He is highly skilled and athletic. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if he catches 60 or more passes as a rookie.
RB Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State
Comparing any running back to Aaron Jones isn’t really fair, but Evans has that kind of feel as a runner. He shows the vision to find cutback lanes, the quickness to dart into the second level and the natural athleticism to glide around defenders in the open field without losing top speed. Any team that misses out on the top tier of backs but takes Evans in the middle rounds will still get a really good player.
WR Jalen Reagor, TCU
Almost every scouting report on Reagor includes the word “explosive,” and for good reason. His ability to create late separation on vertical routes with a burst of speed is rare. He could be a dangerous vertical threat who can create himself with the ball in his hands at the next level. That skill set is an ideal fit in Green Bay.
DL Jason Strowbridge, UNC
There were times watching Strowbridge at North Carolina that I thought I was watching Datone Jones at UCLA. They are similar types of players. Strowbridge is a great athlete who might be able to handle playing end in the three-man front and also rushing from the inside on passing downs. Jones got stuck between positions and didn’t work, but Strowbridge might provide another opportunity to get this right.
LB Troy Dye, Oregon
There are question marks about Dye’s size and ability to handle life as a run-stopper, but he’s going to be an effective coverage linebacker at the next level, and that’s hugely valuable. Dye looked good playing a variety of coverages at Oregon and should be ready to contribute against running backs and tight ends right away. If he develops, Dye could have a Cory Littleton-like impact.
DB K’Von Wallace, Clemson
Playing defensive back for Mike Pettine requires knowing the entire defense and having the ability to wear different hats. Wallace earned the trust of the coaches at Clemson and played all over the Tigers defense, showing the high football IQ that’s required for versatile players at the next level. Throw in the great numbers he put on the board at the combine and his potential to play in the slot, and Wallace could be a terrific fit.
OT Jack Driscoll, Auburn
Driscoll was a dominant pass-blocking offensive tackle, even at the SEC level, and he tested like one of the top athletes at the position. Strong pass blockers who can move are good bets at offensive tackle. While he lacks length and power, Driscoll fits in the zone blocking scheme and will have starting-level upside at both tackle and guard.
LB Logan Wilson, Wyoming
Wilson was a tackling machine at Wyoming. He showed both toughness and NFL-level play speed, the latter of which was backed up by a terrific showing at the combine. More than anything, Wilson is just solid is so many areas of playing the position. Finding linebackers who can survive on all three downs in today’s game is tough, but Wilson has that potential.
WR John Hightower, Boise State
Sometimes, a player and a scheme just seem destined for each other. That’s how I view Hightower and the Packers offense. Boise State’s scheme asked Hightower to do all the things the Packers would likely want him to do at the next level, creating an easy transition. He was moved around pre-snap, given opportunities to win vertically and manufactured touches in space. For the Packers, Hightower might be an ideal mid-round fit.
TE Dalton Keene, Virginia Tech
His versatility as an H-back prospect, athleticism at the position and surprising run after catch ability combine to create a unique player that could help the Packers replace Danny Vitale in the offense. Keene played all over for Virginia Tech but was underutilized in an average offense. He’ll arrive in the NFL with some untapped potential.
OT Lucas Niang, TCU
Niang would be in the conversation for the first round had he delivered another quality season in 2019 and avoided major injury. His surgically repaired hip will be a red flag, but teams betting on him returning to 2018 form could get a really good player at offensive tackle on Day 2. He’s big, looks great on the move and can mirror in pass pro.
CB Reggie Robinson, Tulsa
Length, speed and production on the ball. Robinson checks the big boxes for what the Packers like at corner. He needs some development early, but Robinson has starting-level traits and high upside.
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU
Truly, the most underrated player on a historic LSU offense. Edwards-Helaire was a big player in big moments of big games. He lacks size and isn’t super athletic but he has terrific instincts as a runner and is one of the best pass-catching backs in the class. His chances of becoming an impactful pro are high.
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