The Green Bay Packers must use the 2020 NFL Draft to provide the finishing touches on a team that won 13 regular-season games and got within one game of the Super Bowl during Matt LaFleur’s first season as head coach.
Between now and the draft, Packers Wire will periodically break down one top prospect fitting the Packers’ roster needs.
Up next is Appalachian State linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither.
What he can do
– Nice physical tools/athletic traits; 22-year-old redshirt senior coming off his best season. Stands at 6-1, 224 but plays bigger than his size. Played at 215 pounds at App State but showed up to the NFL Scouting Combine at 224
– Did not participate in any drills at the Combine after it was discovered by medical staff he needs surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot, an injury he played with during the 2019 season; underwent surgery on March 3 with a recovery time of six to eight weeks
– Played all over the field at App. State and filled the stat sheet. Recorded 308 snaps at linebacker, 315 snaps on the defensive line and 254 snaps as a slot cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus
– Was named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and First-team All-Sun Belt after recording 104 tackles (14.5 for loss), 5.0 sacks, eight pass breakups and one interception in 2019
– Ideal size for NFL safety. Stuck in a ‘tweener’ body and may be relegated to sub packages as a hybrid safety/linebacker
– Willing tackler in the run game with good instincts. Consistently showed ability to evade blocks before much bigger, stronger linemen and tight ends could lock their hands on him
– On the flipside, he struggles to stack and shed blocks when contact is initiated, which is expected due to his lack of size
– Excels in coverage. Has good feel for his zone. Can mirror running backs in man coverage. Shows ease when transitioning from his backpedal
– Rushed passer often as a stand-up outside linebacker due to App State’s lack of available talent. Was inconsistent in winning 1-on-1 matchups against offensive tackles, but occasionally slipped past on speed rushes up the field
– Shows good bend when turning the corner on his pass rushes. Was much more effective as a blitzer. Recorded 25 quarterback pressures on 190 pass rushes
– Has a nose for the football. Batted down two passes at the line of scrimmage as a pass rusher against SEC opponent South Carolina in App. State’s 20-15 upset win
– Excellent motor. Rarely came off the field due to his versatility. Shows effort on nearly every play
– Will miss tackles occasionally but doesn’t shy away from contact
How he fits
Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine loves to utilize a hybrid safety as a dime linebacker. With the likely departure of Blake Martinez in free agency, the Packers have a clear need for a three-down linebacker who can be on the field at all times.
Davis-Gaither probably isn’t that type of player, but he has value in that he can play almost anywhere on the field. He isn’t as big as you’d like for a traditional linebacker, which is why he’d fill in nicely in a similar role that safeties Ibraheim Campbell and Raven Greene played this past season.
Davis-Gaither would provide more value than the smaller Greene (5-11, 197) and Campbell (5-11, 210) due to his combination of size and athletic traits. He projects most favorably as a run-and-chase weakside linebacker in a 4-3 system, but he’d step in and contribute immediately on special teams and would fill the role of dime linebacker in Pettine’s defense. Davis-Gaither told the Draft Wire back in early February, “I’m definitely an inside linebacker. … We don’t need to pigeonhole linebackers into a single position anymore.”
NFL comp
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Davis-Gaither to Bills linebacker Maurice Alexander, a former safety-turned-linebacker. A comparison Packers fans will be more familiar with is former safety Josh Jones. There’s no question Jones (6-1, 220) had all the physical tools to be successful during his time in Green Bay. Davis-Gaither is a similar case. It will come down Davis-Gaither’s mental processing on the field and attitude in the locker room. Jones was released from the Packers before the start of the 2019 season after Packers GM Brian Gutekunst pointed to a lack of “fit” between organization and player, both on the field and relating to the team’s vision.
Where the Packers can get him
Because he didn’t participate in the NFL Combine, Davis-Gaither was unable to raise his stock. Many have touted him as a third-rounder due to his lack of size, but he showed up to the Combine at 224 pounds. A strong performance in the athletic testing would’ve moved the needle into the second round. Because of a fracture in his foot, he most likely won’t be able to participate in App. State’s Pro Day on March 27. He might be available when the Packers select at the 94th pick in the third round, though a trade up into the mid-third round might be needed. The medical re-checks will be important for Davis-Gaither in late April.
Highlights
Previous Prospects for the Pack
WR Tee Higgins
LB Kenneth Murray
LB Patrick Queen
WR Jalen Reagor
WR Justin Jefferson
TE Harrison Bryant
WR Denzel Mims
WR Brandon Aiyuk
WR/TE Chase Claypool
LB Zack Baun