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 Utah defensive back Terrell Burgess:
What he can do
– Safety and slot corner versatility. Definitely a Packers-type of player
– Played a ton of snaps near the line of scrimmage. Comfortable close to the action
– Moves more like a corner than a safety. Really quick in short areas. No issues changing directions or bursting out of stop. Looks more than athletic enough to play in the slot
– Looks more like a corner. 5-11, a little over 200 pounds. Short arms. Doesn’t have much in terms of length. May struggle against bigger players in the slot
– Covers like a corner, too. Tape shows highly encouraging man to man skills from a variety of spots on the field, including in the slot. Mirrored routes of all kinds. Good feet. Smart. Handled quick receivers. Easily ran with running backs and tight ends
– Great coverage reps against Washington tight end Hunter Bryant
– Deep speed is so-so. Ran 4.46 but doesn’t have burner speed
– Looks much more comfortable playing one-half of the field as a deep safety. More of a Cover-2 safety
– Tackling technique is sound. Stays under control, balanced. Wraps and drives. Takes smart angles and gets into easy tackling positions
– Did miss a key tackle in his gap in the Pac-12 title game, led to a long touchdown run
– Coaches celebrated his high football IQ, per Dane Brugler. Almost never had coverage breakdowns
– Carries slot receivers and tight ends up the seam in trail coverage
– Might not be a plus run defender near the line. Isn’t really a block-shedder. Probably not a hybrid linebacker candidate, missed gap responsibility on another touchdown run in the Pac-12 title game. Generally gap responsible
– Will burst downhill to cut off run angles
– 20 reps on the bench, strong for his size
– Looks really comfortable passing off receivers in zone or matchup zone
– Pre-snap communicator in the secondary
How he fits
In the slot, and as a rotational player at safety. Burgess is athletic, smart and versatile, and an easy player to project into the Packers defense. He looks like the inverse of Damarious Randall. Whereas the Packers moved Randall from safety to cornerback and got mixed results, Burgess probably needs to play less in the deep half and more in the slot. He’s strong near the line of scrimmage, with man-to-man coverage ability and well-refined instincts, but he’s also fast enough and smart enough to play reps on the backend. The Packers value versatility in the secondary and need a long-term starter in the slot.
NFL comp
Burgess looks like he could be a Darqueze Dennard-like player in the slot. Both are on the small side but also smart and quick and comfortable playing closer to the action. PFF likes Jimmie Ward as a comp, which fits from a positional versatility standpoint.
Where Packers could get him
Day 2. Burgess should be a second- or third-round pick, especially if teams think he can handle starting responsibilities in the slot. He’s smart, athletic and can cover man-to-man. Teams pick those kinds of players early.
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
LB Malik Harrison
RB Darrynton Evans
WR Lynn Bowden Jr.
WR Gabriel Davis
LB Josh Uche
CB Trevon Diggs