[sendtonews_embed video_id=”xHvkFbcDpz-710122-7498″]
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 Ohio State linebacker Malik Harrison:
What he can do
– Good size for the position (6-2, 247). He’ll survive just fine at inside linebacker at the next level
– Thumping run stopper. Works through blocks, fires downhill through gaps and patrols well sideline to sideline. Aggressive. Always arrives at the ball carrier with physicality. Should be a plus run defender
– Long arms and good overall length (nearly 80″ wingspan) provide a big tackling radius
– Tested well at the combine. Had explosive jumps and finished the three-cone drill in 6.83 seconds. Profile suggests a quick, easy mover, but didn’t always show on tape
– High energy and always in pursuit
– Some struggles in both man and zone coverage could limit his usage. Can be manipulated in zone and didn’t have an abundance of good reps in man
– Not sure he can flip his hips and hang with fast tight ends and running backs downfield
– Showed ability to use length, quickness and power to shed blocks
– Lived in the backfield. Produced 25 tackles for losses the last two seasons
– Ohio State liked using him as a blitzer and spy. Effective in both roles. Great burst downhill
– Indecisiveness shows up from time to time. Hesitation steps put him a step behind the action. Might need to trust his eyes more; see it, and go. Problem will be magnified at the next level
How he fits
Each of the last two seasons, the Packers had to scramble during August to find a veteran run-stopper at linebacker, trading for Antonio Morrison in 2018 and B.J. Goodson in 2019. Harrison is the upgrade on both players. There are question marks about his ability to be a true, three-down linebacker in today’s NFL, but he’ll bring verified run-stopping ability to the table early in his career at the next level. If his play-diagnosing ability catches up to his athletic ability, he’ll have a chance to be one of the top run-stopping linebackers in the league over time. If the Packers took Harrison, they’d be banking on Oren Burks developing into the complementary coverage player at linebacker.
NFL comp
Former Buckeye linebacker Raekwon McMillian, who went to the Dolphins with pick No. 54 in the 2017 draft. They are both big, physical run defenders with limitations in coverage. Harrison is probably a slightly better athlete.
Where Packers could get him
At some point on Day 2. Teams that think Harrison can play on all three downs might like him in the second round. He should be a top-100 player.
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
S Grant Delpit
TE Cole Kmet
OT Tristan Wirfs
QB Jordan Love
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
DB Jeremy Chinn
RB/WR Antonio Gibson
DL Jordan Elliott
DB K’Von Wallace
WR Bryan Edwards
DL Ross Blacklock
LB Logan Wilson
DL Justin Madubuike
RB Cam Akers