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 Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet:
What he can do
– Great size. Looks the part. Comfortably holds over 260 pounds on 6-6 frame
– Really good straight-line speed (4.7) provides ability to stretch the seam. Best snaps were when he could explode off the line and immediately threaten downfield
– Short-area quickness is a concern. Not explosive out of breaks. Just not an explosive player. Highlighted by 7.44-second three-cone time
– Could struggle to get open on his own. Scheme dependent. Separation will almost certainly be an issue in man-to-man situations
– Lined up a variety of spots in the Notre Dame offense. Caught a touchdown pass from the H-back spot on an angle route. Asked to do tons of blocking the move. Could be versatile in the right offense at the next level
– Not a polished or powerful one-on-one blocker. Should have the body type to get movement at the point of attack but rarely showed it. Needs a lot of work as a blocker
– Not experienced. Only one year of starter snaps and only modest production. Flipside: Young and raw and still growing into the position
– Press is going to get him a lot of trouble early. Jams and reroutes all but eliminated him from passing game
– Long arms (33″) and terrific leaping ability (37″ vertical) increase catching radius
– Will run through arm tackles and can drag smaller tacklers. Little wiggle in the open field. Won’t break many tackles at the next level
– Didn’t have many contested catches (3) or catches on passes thrown over 20 yards (4) in 2019
How he fits
Kmet could be considered the long-term replacement for both Jimmy Graham and Marcedes Lewis and the long-term complement for Jace Sternberger. Kmet has the seam-threatening ability the Packers occasionally got out of Graham and the frame to one day handle more and more run-blocking responsibilities, although the latter is a big projection at this point. Finding a big, pass-catching complement for Sternberger is intriguing, especially in Matt LaFleur’s offense. Kmet is raw and needs development in every area of playing tight end, but he has undeniable size and natural ability as a receiver.
NFL comp
It’s going to take time, but Kmet’s best-case projection might be Martellus Bennett. They were both two-sport players in college (Kmet in baseball, Bennett in basketball) and have similar builds and athleticism. It took Bennett several years to become a legitimate contributor, and the same is probably true for Kmet.
Where Packers could get him
Good question. Kmet’s biggest fans have him as the No. 1 tight end in the class and a potential first-round pick. Others believe he’s a Day 2 pick. Pro Football Focus barely has him in the top 100. It’s hard to see the Packers using a first- or second-round pick on a developmental tight end, especially after getting Sternberger in the third round last year, but Kmet could make sense late in Day 2 and into Day 3.
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
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither
OT Josh Jones
OT Austin Jackson
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
DL Raekwon Davis
DB Xavier McKinney
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
DL A.J. Epenesa
TE Hunter Bryant
RB Jonathan Taylor
RB Zack Moss
WR Michael Pittman
WR K.J. Hamler
WR John Hightower
LB Jordyn Brooks
LB Troy Dye
LB Willie Gay Jr.
OT Jack Driscoll
WR Devin Duvernay
OT Ezra Cleveland
WR Van Jefferson
OT Andrew Thomas
DB Grant Delpit