Tag: 2022 draft class

Seahawks win Inside the League’s ‘2022 Best Draft Award’

For their phenomenal class, the Seattle Seahawks won Inside the League’s “2022 Best Draft Award” and were recognized at the scouting combine.

Nearly no one will argue the Seattle Seahawks 2022 draft class was one of the best in the league. Now general manager John Schneider and his team of scouts have received the recognition they deserve.

On Wednesday night, while in Indianapolis for the NFL scouting combine, the crew was recognized by Inside the League founder, Neil Stratton, and presented with the “2022 Best Draft Award.”

“I love our people so much, and they work their asses off all throughout the year, and they know their voices are heard,” Schneider said via the Seahawks website.

Seattle’s 2022 draft class consisted of the following players: tackle Charles Cross, linebacker Boye Mafe, running back Kenneth Walker III, tackle Abraham Lucas, cornerback Coby Bryant, cornerback Tariq Woolen, linebacker Tyreke Smith, and wide receivers Bo Melton and Dareke Young.

“To be acknowledged by your colleagues, scouts, who are at the Marriott Courtyards, up late typing reports, all that kind of stuff, going to schools and all that,” Schneider continued. “We know what it’s all about.”

Be sure and follow Seahawks Wire all week for the latest from the combine in Indy.

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With the Vikings’ draft class, we need to stay patient

The Vikings draft class hasn’t been very impactful this season. Is it a cause for concern? Let’s break it down

Let’s face it, when you lose, it’s human nature to want to place the blame somewhere and often times, it ends up with the unknown. In this situation, that lies with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s draft class.

Yes, the Vikings haven’t had the best start from their draft class, but there is already a narrative building about this draft class and it’s not a good one. There is a large portion of both fans and analysts that are incredibly frustrated with the lack of production in this class and they are starting to get more vocal.

Is it fair to be frustrated? Absolutely! It’s especially frustrating when you see players like Christian Watson and Jameson Williams, both of whom were selected with picks that the Vikings traded, are having success.

How frustrated are you allowed to be until it borders on being unfair to the team and front office? Well, it’s all circustantial and we will talk about that and how the rookies have been doing.

Cowboys rookie TE Jake Ferguson agrees to terms as Dalton Schultz waits

The Wisconsin product was the last unsigned draft pick; he’ll get extra reps in this week’s OTAs with the absence of Schultz. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The Cowboys have come to terms with their tight end.

No, not that one.

Jake Ferguson, the fourth-round draft pick out of Wisconsin, has agreed to a four-year deal with the club. That news comes courtesy of ESPN’s Todd Archer and was confirmed shortly thereafter by the team.

Ferguson was the last of the Cowboys’ draft picks to finalize his rookie contract; all nine will be officially inked before the start of mandatory minicamp next week.

The tight end position in Dallas has gotten extra attention this week with the announcement from incumbent starter Dalton Schultz that he would not be participating in the week’s four scheduled voluntary OTA sessions. The veteran had the franchise tag placed on him in March, but is reportedly frustrated that the front office has not made any significant moves to get him signed to a longer-term deal before the July 15 deadline.

If a new contract is not negotiated before then, Schultz will earn $10.9 million for 2022 and be a free agent at the conclusion of the season.

Quarterback Dak Prescott told reporters Tuesday night that he speaks with Schultz often and was not surprised by his absence. The Cowboys signal-caller says he understands why the Stanford product is opting out of the voluntary workouts- although he himself didn’t hold out after getting tagged in 2020- and maintains he feels “very confident” with Schultz and his current situation.

Schultz cannot be punished or fined for skipping this week’s practices, but would accrue escalating fines for each day of minicamp that he misses.

That won’t be an issue, however, for the 23-year-old rookie who grew up in Madison and then stayed for college, logging big numbers for the Badgers as the grandson of Wisconsin football legend Barry Alvarez.

Big things are expected of Ferguson in Dallas. At the very least, he is being looked to as the second half of a 1-2 punch at the position, partnered with Schultz in the offense’s frequent double-tight-end sets.

This week, though, he’ll be getting first-team reps with Prescott as Schultz sits out, working with fellow Cowboys tight ends Sean McKeon, Jeremy Sprinkle, Ian Bunting, and Peyton Hendershot.

Some observers are already crowning Ferguson the heir apparent in the group, the puzzle piece that will ultimately render the far more expensive Schultz expendable.

And for now, he’s the one who’s locked in for the long haul.

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Packers draft grades 2022: Mostly high marks for Brian Gutekunst

Most analysts really liked the Packers draft class in 2022. Some didn’t. It doesn’t really matter. Have some patience, and enjoy the ride!

For their work during the three days of the 2022 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers received mostly high marks despite a few outlier grades from various draft analysts.

Every year, Rene Bugner compiles draft grades from 18 different sources to help establish a consensus grade. This year, the Packers ranked 14th in overall grade among the 32 NFL teams. Their final grade was brought down by a few C’s and one D grade.

Let’s say this right off the bat (and we say this every year): Instant draft grades are mostly meaningless little things. For most, it’s basically an exercise in looking at the general consensus on a player, figuring out if the player was a reach or a steal, and then doing it several more times, all while trying to understand if the team addressed the perceived draft needs. And it’s nearly impossible to factor in how each individual player will develop amidst a million different variables.

True grades can’t be established until two or three years down the road. But instant draft grades are undeniably fun. They can be informative if done correctly. Evaluating the process is valuable. We don’t know what the players will become, but we can try to understand what the team was thinking during each part of the event. And if an expert really knows the players, grading value in each draft slot can be accomplished to some degree.

So take the grades for what they are and don’t be bothered either way.

Of the 18 draft grades compiled, the Packers received five grades in the A range and five more in the B+ range.

Chad Reuter of NFL.com gave the Packers an A or A- during each day of the draft.

Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield of parent site Touchdown Wire gave the Packers an A for their work.

From Farrar and Schofield: “It took a while for the Packers to make Aaron Rodgers a little less miserable by taking receivers in this draft, but they may have hit a home run with North Dakota State’s Christian Watson, who can win from any area of the field, and has special potential as a deep target. Nevada’s Romeo Doubs, last seen catching bombs from Carson Strong, was one of the NCAA’s most productive deep receivers in 2021, so if Rodgers wants to air it out in 2022, he’s got the guys who can make that work. But it’s on the defensive side of the ball where the Pack really made strides. Georgia linebacker Quay Walker is a do-it-all guy who can play off-ball and rush the quarterback, Devonte Wyatt looks like a Kenny Clark clone, and South Carolina EDGE Kingsley Enagbare fell far below his potential. If those three prospects ascend to their potential in 2022, the Packers might challenge for the title of the NFL’s most balanced team.”

Not everyone was convinced.

James Dator of SB Nation gave the Packers a “D,” mostly due to his thoughts on the first-round picks.

From Dator: “Thank god the Vikings allowed Green Bay to trade up and bail them out, because this class was ugly otherwise. Christian Watson has huge potential to become a stud, but both Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt will turn into mediocre, wasted picks. There was some nice depth in the later rounds, but this draft was largely a failure in terms of making this team better, which is terrible when you enter with two first round picks.”

Some like a lot of what the Packers accomplished but not all, like Luke Easterling of Draft Wire, who gave Green Bay a B+ grade.

From Easterling: “Back-to-back defensive picks in the first round kicked things off for the Pack, and while Walker has promising tools and upside, Utah’s Devin Lloyd would have been the better pick at that position. It’s hard to argue with much else in this class, though. WR Christian Watson has superstar athleticism and potential, OLs Sean Rhyan and Zach Tom give Green Bay tons of versatility up front, and WR Romeo Doubs was a great value pick. Enagbare could have easily gone two rounds earlier, and fits this defense perfectly. OT Rasheed Walker was another steal late on Day 3.”

Don’t stress too much about draft grades. They are fun little exercises in the immediate aftermath of a major roster-building event in the NFL, but As on the first day of May won’t guarantee a Super Bowl in February, just like a Ds and Fs won’t doom a team to the first pick next April.

The Packers picked 11 players they really liked. Some will help Matt LaFleur’s team right away. Some might bust. Others might turn into annual Pro Bowlers and keep the Packers winning for years to come.

On the surface, the draft class looks strong. The Packers added athletic young players in the defensive front, found three wide receivers and three offensive linemen to address big needs, and possibly found big sleepers at edge rusher and offensive tackle on Day 3.

Want to give your own grade for the Packers? You can vote in our poll here.

This needs to be said every year when it comes to draft grades: Don’t overreact, have some patience, and enjoy the ride!

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Breaking down Packers’ 2022 draft class: Best picks, sleepers, overall assessment

Breaking down the entire Packers’ draft class in 2022, including best picks, sleepers and an overall assessment.

The Green Bay Packers made 11 selections in the 2022 NFL draft, starting with linebacker Quay Walker at No. 22 overall in the first round and ending with receiver Samori Toure at No. 258 overall in the seventh round.

It’s time to break down the class. Best picks. Sleepers. Winners. Losers. Strategy. Let’s dig in.

Here’s a closer look at the Packers’ draft class in 2022:

How athletic is Packers’ 2022 draft class?

The Packers made a few exceptions, but the 2022 draft class was another highly athletic group for Brian Gutekunst. Relative Athletic Score tells the story.

The Green Bay Packers targeted elite athletes early, made some concessions late but otherwise created one of the most athletic classes in the 2022 NFL draft.

Relative Athletic Score, the brilliant creation of Kent Lee Platte, provides an ideal way of looking at a prospect’s athleticism in relation to size. Every team wants bigger, fast, more explosive players. This metric packages everything together into one number on a 10-point sliding scale.

The Packers selected nine players with official scores. Another (Romeo Doubs) had enough testing numbers from a an individual pro day to create a RAS.

The average RAS for the Packers’ 10 picks was 8.18. The Packers picked six players with a RAS over 9.0, including five of the team’s first six picks. Rasheed Walker, a seventh-round pick, didn’t have a RAS because a knee injury prevented him from pre-draft testing.

Player Pick RAS
LB Quay Walker 1.22 9.63
DL Devonte Wyatt 1.28 9.60
WR Chrsitian Watson 2.34 9.96
OL Sean Rhyan 3.92 9.35
WR Romeo Doubs 4.132 8.28u
OL Zach Tom 4.140 9.92
OLB Kingsley Enagbare 5.179 6.26
S Tariq Carpenter 7.228 9.06
DL Jonathan Ford 7.234 3.53
OT Rasheed Walker 7.249 N/A
WR Samori Toure 7.258 6.15

Needless to say, this was another highly athletic draft class for the Packers. The team picked two players in the 96th percentile in the first round and then got two of the most athletic prospects at their respective positions (Christian Watson, Zach Tom) over the next two days.

Top pick Quay Walker combined incredible length with elite speed in the 40-yard dash and a tremendous finish in the three-cone drill for a player his size. Fellow first-round pick Devonte Wyatt had a 99th percentile finish in the 40-yard dash, 20-yard split and 10-yard split and a 93rd percentile finish in the three-cone drill at 304 pounds. Both first-round picks can really move.

Watson narrowly missed becoming the most athletic wide receiver ever. He finished in the 99th percentile for the broad jump and 10-yard split. He’s nothing if not explosive at 6-4.

Tom is an interesting prospect. His RAS is well above 9.0 whether he’s considered an offensive tackle, offensive guard or center. At center, he’d be the most athletic prospect ever (10.0). He likely profiles best at guard. The same goes for Sean Rhyan, who had a RAS under 9.0 (but above 8.0) as an offensive tackle, but he’s likely moving inside to guard, where he’ll be an elite size/athleticism prospect.

The Packers took Enagbare, a dominant player on film but who didn’t test well athletically, in the fifth round. They think he’s more athletic and plays faster than his numbers. Really poor agility numbers killed his score. We’ll see if his lack of explosiveness and quickness at edge rusher hurts his NFL career .

Carpenter is an excellent size/speed prospect, but he was countered one pick later by Jonathan Ford, the worst athlete in the class. Walker, an agile offensive tackle standing 6-6, likely would have tested well if not for an injury. He doesn’t factor into the Packers’ final average. Toure is on the smaller side and was hurt by a poor vertical and 10-yard split, but his athletic profile is otherwise strong.

RAS Cards for each prospect

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Introducing the Green Bay Packers 2022 draft class

Presenting the Green Bay Packers’ 11-player draft class in 2022.

The Green Bay Packers made 11 picks during the 2022 NFL draft. The class started with Georgia’s Quay Walker in the first round and finished with Nebraska’s Samori Toure in the seventh round.

Introducing the full Green Bay Packers’ draft class for 2022:

40 special teams standouts for Packers to consider in 2022 NFL draft

An in-depth breakdown of the top special teams standouts available to the Packers in the 2022 NFL draft.

After watching another promising season go up in flames in large part due to special teams failures, the Green Bay Packers took a major step towards fixing the annual problem by hiring well-respected special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. His task? Improving a group that was arguably the worst in football last season.

A coach can only do so much. Even the best teachers need good players. General manager Brian Gutekunst will need to provide an assist for Bisaccia, potentially starting in the 2022 NFL draft.

Here are 40 special teams standouts for the Packers to consider in the draft class:

Note: this list doesn’t include punters or kickers.

D’Marco Jackson, LB, App State

Jackson is coming off a stellar 2021 campaign. He was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year after recording 119 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, six sacks, one interception and five pass deflections. Jackson shined on special teams during his time at App State and the thumping linebacker will likely carve out a role as a special teams ace in the NFL.

“Special teams is a huge part of the game for me,” Jackson said. “It’s vital to setting the tone of the game. I can be a solid four-core special teams guy. I have the skill set to do it all. That’s how I found my way to the field in college. Some may not see it as glorious, but for me it’s a pride thing.”

Grant Morgan, LB, Arkansas

The Arkansas linebacker is going to be more than a special teams standout when all is said and done, but there is no doubt that Morgan will make an immediate impact on special teams as a rookie. Morgan finished his career at Arkansas with over 700 special teams snaps to his name.

“Going into my senior year, I had the third most special team snaps in the nation. So what I would bring is a ton of experience. I would positively impact any team with my special teams attitude.”

Tanner Conner, WR, Idaho State

Connor was a two-sport athlete at Idaho State. On top of being a standout on the gridiron, Connor competed on the Idaho State track team. He showcased that track speed when he ran a 4.37 40-time. Connor has experience playing on special teams and with his speed, he could provide an immediate impact as a gunner.

“I believe I offer a unique skill set for any special teams unit,” Conner said. “I have elite speed to run down on punt or kickoff, but I’m also big and strong enough to hold up and block guys as well.”

Nick Grant, DB, Virginia

Grant played primarily on special teams during his first two years on campus. With his quickness and experience playing on special teams, Grant could provide an immediate impact as a rookie in that phase.

“I have a lot of experience playing on special teams,” Grant said. “That’s been my brand for years at Virginia, even while starting I have been on two or three special team units every year making an impact. I’m just the type of guy that’s willing to make plays there. My coach really emphasized that great players make plays on special teams. Those plays end up being some of the most critical.”

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Nolan Turner, S, Clemson

Turner is the son of the late Kevin Turner, who played eight years in the NFL. Turner started at safety for Clemson the last two seasons and has plenty of special teams experience. As a redshirt freshman, Turner earned two Special Team Player of the week awards. At Clemson’s pro day, Turner clocked a 4.46 40-yard dash time.

Tycen Anderson, S, Toledo

Anderson was listed on Bruce Feldman’s Annual Freak’s list for the 2021 season. The versatile defensive back has over 800 special team snaps to his name. As a day three pick, Anderson would provide quality depth in the secondary with his versatility, while providing instant impact on special teams.

Marcus Jones, CB, Houston

Another player that may not fit Green Bay’s size “thresholds,” but there is no denying that Jones is an electric return man. Jones earned accolade after accolade in the AAC for his ability as a return specialist. This past season Jones had four return touchdowns (two kickoff and two punts). He finished his career at Houston with six kickoff return touchdowns and three punt return touchdowns. Jones would bring much needed juice to Green Bay’s return game.

Damarion Williams, CB, Houston

Due to the presence of teammate Marcus Jones, Williams had limited reps as a return man. The JUCO transfer averaged 15.6 yards per punt return (five attempts) and 21 yards per kick return (two attempts) during his Cougar career. Williams is one of the best tackling cornerbacks in the 2022 NFL draft and could be a key member on coverage units.

Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State

Andersen was the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year in 2017, after starting games at both running back and linebacker. He then earned first-team all-conference honors the following year after playing quarterback. This past season he was Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year after recording 147 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions. Anderson has all the tools to be a team’s starting linebacker. There is little doubt that he could step in on day one and provide an immediate impact on special teams.

Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson

There is no doubt that Spector could be a hired gun on special teams his rookie season. The Clemson linebacker has experience playing on special teams and possesses the straight-line speed to be an impact special teams player as a rookie.

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Percy Butler, DB, Louisiana

Butler is a versatile safety with plenty of special teams experience under his belt. Butler was an assassin on LA’s punt coverage team and with his quickness (4.36) there is no reason to think he couldn’t provide an immediate impact as a gunner for an NFL team.

Reed Blankenship, DB, Middle Tennessee State University

Blankenship covers a lot of real estate from his safety position. The athletic safety finished his career as the program’s all-time leading tackler (419 career tackles). As a punt returner, Blankenship averaged nearly 10 yards per return. He has over 400 career special team snaps to his name.

JoJo Domann, LB, Nebraska

Domann can line up at linebacker, nickel or even safety. He has that type of versatility. The Nebraska linebacker can also provide an immediate impact on special teams, just like he did during his time in Lincoln. Domann was a special teams demon during his first season as a Husker and has over 500 career snaps on special teams.

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Velus Jones Jr, WR, Tennessee

Jones might be one of the most dynamic return specialists in the 2022 NFL draft. This past season Jones was named Co-Special Teams Player of the Year in the SEC after averaging 27.3 yards per kick return and one return touchdown. The USC transfer also averaged 15.1 yards per punt return.

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Josh Thompson, CB, Texas

Thompson has outside-inside versatility as a cornerback. Thompson is a sound tackler and has good quickness, two things that made him a special teams asset on the punt team for Texas. As a day three selection, Thompson would provide quality depth in the secondary while providing an immediate impact on special teams.

Connor Heyward, TE, Michigan State

The younger brother of Cam Heyward, Connor is going to carve out a role early in his career as a special teamer. The running back turned tight end has experience playing on special teams and while he could provide quality depth to any tight end room, his instinct impact will be on special teams.

Kyron Johnson, LB, Kansas

Johnson has juice. At his pro day, Johnson clocked a 4.36 40-time. He is a versatile linebacker that can line up on the edge or play off the ball. The Kansas Jayhawk has over 500 special team snaps to his name and with his world-class speed, he’ll make an immediate impact on coverage units.

Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana

McFadden was a 29-game starter for the Hoosiers. McFadden has a high football IQ and a reliable tackler. He has over 300 special team snaps to his name and could provide quality depth at linebacker while providing an immediate impact on special teams.

Brad Hawkins, S, Michigan

Hawkins played exclusively on special teams early in his career at Ann Arbor. That’s something that he’ll have to do early in his career in the NFL to get on the field. He has a high motor and is a sure tackler. He may never be a starter in the NFL, but he could carve out a career as a career special teams standout.

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Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah

Sewell was a special teams standout during his collegiate career. The converted safety recorded 89 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and one interception this past season at Utah. He’s a reliable open-field tackler and has all the tools to be a special teams ace.

Elijah Hicks, DB, Cal

Hicks finished this past season with 72 tackles and three interceptions. Hicks finished his career with 46 career starts and over 400 career snaps on special teams. Hicks would provide quality depth at safety, while providing an immediate impact on special teams.

Drew Hartlaub, S, Penn State

The Penn State gunner ran a 4.22 40-time at Penn State’s pro day. Hartlaub is a priority free agent and may never be anything more than a hired gun on special teams. With that world-class speed, the Penn State defensive back has the ability to run past people as a gunner and with the Packers needing to improve on special teams, he could be worth the look.

Zakoby McClain, LB, Auburn

McClain knows one speed and that’s fast. McClain has a relentless motor and plays with a ton of energy. His speed and effort make him an ideal special teams standout. He has plenty of special teams experience under his belt and will without a doubt provide an impact as a rookie.

Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati

Bryant’s biggest impact will be the one he provides as a cornerback. The Jim Thorpe award winner has over 300 special teams snaps to his name. It’s an area where he provided an impact early in his career and if he were to land with the Packers it’s the place where he could provide instant impact while playing behind Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes and Rasul Douglas.

Alontae Taylor, CB, Tennessee

Taylor was a special teams standout during his time at Tennessee. Taylor is a physical defensive back and is a willing participant in run support. That physicality shows up on special teams coverage units.

Nick Cross, S, Maryland

Cross is an athletic freak. Cross clocked a 4.34 40 at the combine and recorded a vertical of 37 inches. Cross is an explosive player with over 400 career special teams snaps to his name. That experience on special teams easily translates to the next level.

Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Oklahoma State

Rodriguez finished his career at Stillwater as a four-year starter with 408 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and two interceptions. Not only was Rodriguez a four-year starter, but he was also a mainstay on Oklahoma State’s special teams unit during his collegiate career.

Darrian Beavers, LB/Edge, Cincinnati

Beavers is an intriguing prospect. He has the versatility to play off the ball or line up on the edge. Wherever he lines up, there is no doubt that Beavers could provide an instant impact on special teams. Beavers has plenty of special team snaps under his belt and finished his career with 230 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks.

Tariq Carpenter, DB, Georgia Tech

Carpenter is listed as a safety, but teams could view him as a dime or nickel linebacker. He is at his best coming downhill. The four-year starter finished his career with 223 tackles and seven tackles for loss. He has experience playing on special teams, where his physical nature really shows up.

Jesse Luketa, Edge/LB, Penn State

Luketa has all the traits to be a special teams demon. He’s physical, quick, and has a motor that’s always running. With over 600 snaps on special teams, Luketa could step in from day one and help any team on special teams.

“It’s an area I know I’ll be able to contribute to immediately,” Luketa said. “With well over 600 snaps under my belt, I’m comfortable in every phase on special teams.”

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Mykael Wright, CB, Oregon

Wright was a dynamic return man during his time at Oregon. With two kickoff return touchdowns to his name, Wright could provide an immediate impact as a return specialist in Green Bay. During his three-year career as a Duck, Wright returned 35 kickoffs and averaged 28.1 yards per return.

Leon O’Neal Jr, S, Texas A&M

O’Neal finished his career at College Station with 32 career starts. Prior to becoming a full-time starter, O’Neal was a special teams standout for Texas A&M. As a freshman in 2018, O’Neal recorded 14 tackles, while playing primarily on special teams.

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Smoke Monday, S, Auburn

With the name Smoke Monday, you better be a special teams standout. Monday has experience playing on special teams. The Auburn safety is a reliable open-field tackler and is at his best playing closer to the line of scrimmage. With his reliability as a tackler, Monday could be a standout on coverage units.

Juanyeh Thomas, S, Georgia Tech

Thomas made an immediate splash during his time at Georgia Tech as a return specialist. As a freshman in 2018, Thomas returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and averaged 25.3 yards per return. Thomas has the versatility to play safety, in the slot, as a sub-package linebacker and also brings special teams value with his return ability.

Teagan Quitoriano, TE, Oregon State

Quitorianio was a mainstay on OSU’s special teams coverage units early in his career. He’s a player that’s willing to do the dirty work. He has the quickness and toughness to step in and be a special teams contributor as a rookie.

Chase Lucas, CB, Arizona State

Lucas is one of the most seasoned cornerbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft. Lucas finished his career at Arizona State with 49 career starts and saw plenty of playing time on special teams. Lucas has the football IQ, toughness and quickness to be a special teams standout early in his career.

Dane Belton, DB, Iowa

Belton is a versatile defensive back that is a four-core special teams player. This past season Belton recorded five interceptions and proved to be a playmaker in Iowa’s secondary. With his versatility, Belton could provide an impact in the secondary as a rookie, but he’ll without a doubt make an impact on coverage units with his 4.43 speed.

Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia

Tindall runs like a cheetah. The Georgia linebacker clocked a time of 4.47 at the scouting combine. That speed will make him an immediate impact player on special teams. Tindall played in a crowded linebacker room and had over 400 special teams snaps to his name. Tindall has all the tools to be more than a special teams standout, but as a rookie that’s where he could provide an immediate impact.

Jeremiah Gemmel, LB, UNC

Gemmel was a three-year starter for the Tar Heels. He has a nose for the football and finished this past season with 73 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. While he didn’t play a ton on special teams at UNC, that’s the route Gemmel is going to have to go if he wants to make an impact early in his career.

Jack Sanborn, LB, Wisconsin

This past season, the Badger linebacker enjoyed a career year. Sanborn recorded 89 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and five sacks. The Badger linebacker has all the traits to be a hired gun on special teams with his energy, toughness, and closing burst. He has a high motor and could be a mainstay on Green Bay’s special teams early in his career.

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