The Green Bay Packers are moving a 2018 draft pick from the defensive side of the football to offense.
James Looney, a seventh-round pick in 2018, is moving from defensive line to tight end, per coach Matt LaFleur.
“He did such a good job on the scout team that he caught our eye. He’s a big athletic guy,” LaFleur said Friday. “We wanted to make the switch to give him the rest of the season and give him a foundation leading into the offseason.”
Looney is currently on the Packers’ practice squad. He switched numbers from No. 99 to No. 49.
The move might be a long shot but it is intriguing. Even at 287 pounds, Looney ran the 40-yard dash in 4.89 seconds, hit 35.5″ in the vertical leap and finished the 3-cone drill in 7.32 seconds at the combine, showcasing his blend of speed and explosiveness coming out of Cal.
It’s possible Looney, who has a brother that plays offensive line for the Dallas Cowboys, could cut weight and become an athletic run blocker at the position.
As LaFleur stated, Looney’s move provides an opportunity to learn the new position to end this season and gain an understanding of what’s expected of him there during the offseason.
Looney played in three games for the Packers in 2018 but has been on the practice squad throughout this season.