Tag: draft experts

What draft experts said about new Packers defensive lineman Colby Wooden

Scouting reports from draft experts on new Packers DL Colby Wooden, a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers continued adding to the defensive front by taking Auburn’s Colby Wooden with the 116th overall pick in the 2023 draft.

Wooden produced 30.0 tackles for loss and 15.0 sacks while starting every game for Auburn over the last three seasons.

Want to learn more about Wooden, who has a chance to give the Packers an athletic interior rusher in the Kingsley Keke mold? Here’s what several prominent draft analysts said about Wooden during the pre-draft process:

Dane Brugler, The Athletic (draft guide): “A three-year starter at Auburn, Wooden was the starting defensive end in former defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding’s four-man front, although most of his snaps came inside the offensive tackle as 4i or 3-technique. His production improved each of the last three seasons and he is one of only nine Tigers to reach 30 career tackles for loss over the last 25 years. Wooden is very active off the ball with the lower-body agility and limb quickness to play in gaps. However, his block
destruction is undeveloped and he must do a better job staying on schedule to make a living battling NFL blockers. Wooden isn’t consistently disruptive when rushing from the outside, but he can set the edge or reduce down where his rush skills are more effective on the interior. He offers position flexibility as a rotational base end or 3-technique as an NFL rookie capable of ascending to starter.”

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Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Defensive line prospect whose steady weight gain and frame development have allowed him to see the game at a variety of alignments. Wooden is at his most disruptive when attacking from the interior. He has a quick first step to attack gaps and threaten the pocket, but he’s unable to sit down and drop a deep anchor against bullies in the run game. Wooden’s activity level and hand skill are the keys to his current and future success — they allow him to keep pressure on blockers from snap to whistle. High football character and scheme versatility work in Wooden’s favor, but he will need to find the right team fit.”

Pro Football Focus (draft guide): “Wooden is a bit of a tweener, as he played on the interior for Auburn yet clocked in at the combine at only 278 pounds. He was still productive on tape and earned a career-high 80.2 grade in 2021.”

Bleacher Report Scouting Department: “Colby Wooden has an interesting draft profile. He has a good combination of strength and athleticism that will show up on tape as a run defender but doesn’t seem to translate to his pass rush. When his hands are right, he’s strong at the point of attack and can get extension against offensive linemen to help disengage from blocks and make tackles near the line of scrimmage. He’s even better when slanting, where he can use his quickness and agility to make blockers miss. However, Wooden’s pass-rush skills leave something to be desired. While he’s shown flashes of winning with a hand swipe or push-pull, neither of those moves is consistent enough for him to hang his hat on at the next level. Teams are either going to have to be patient and work with him in that regard or get him moving on line games to be able to impact the quarterback in the passing game. Schematically, the Auburn product is a bit of a tweener where he’s a little light to play as a 4i-technique in odd fronts and isn’t a good enough pass-rusher to line up outside the tackle in even fronts. His best option is likely to play in the former scheme and bulk up. Overall, Wooden is a solid, middle-round defensive lineman whose versatility could be intriguing to some teams. He could be a good player as the fourth or fifth guy on the depth chart who mixes into the rotation.”

The Draft Network: “Overall, Wooden has the making of a highly-productive and impactful defensive lineman. His blend of size and strength at the point of attack allows him to play on run downs. The developmental upside as a pass rusher and pocket-collapser is tantalizing. Being asked to play at a consistent rate with technique, leveraging, etc will help as well. Wooden has the chance to be a three-down defensive lineman that teams will love to have.”

33rd Team: “Colby Wooden played all over the defensive front for Auburn, but he most likely projects as a strong-side defensive end in the NFL. While he lacks initial quickness, he is a good athlete who can work the edge of a blocker and be disruptive vs. the run and pass. Wooden could work his way into a valuable rotational role in the NFL.”

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What draft experts said about new Packers tight end Tucker Kraft

Scouting reports from draft experts on new Packers tight end Tucker Kraft, a third-round pick in the 2023 draft.

Taking advantage of a deep tight end class, the Green Bay Packers doubled down at the position, selecting Tucker Kraft out of South Dakota State with the 78th overall pick in the 2023 draft.

The Packers believe they have gotten one of the more well-rounded tight ends in the draft as Kraft finished his college career with 99 receptions for 1,211 yards and nine touchdowns while also proving to be a capable blocker.

Want to learn more about Kraft, who has a chance to follow in the same footsteps as former Jackrabbit Dallas Goedert? Here’s what several prominent draft analysts said about Kraft during the pre-draft process:

Dane Brugler, The Athletic (draft guide): “A three-year starter at South Dakota State, Kraft was a hybrid tight end (inline, wing and slot) in the Jackrabbits’ balanced offense. After passing on lucrative NIL offers from programs like Alabama, he returned to Brookings in 2022 for what NFL scouts expected to be his breakout season, but an ankle injury in the first quarter of the opener vs. Iowa curtailed that plan (he still returned and helped the program win the 2022 FCS National Championship). As a pass catcher, Kraft is an outstanding catch-and-go creator with fluid adjustment skills and balanced feet. As a blocker, he might not be polished, but he gets after it with the body control and desire to sustain and finish blocks. Since 1976, South Dakota State has only produced two top-100 draft picks and both were tight ends (Dallas Goedert, the No. 49 pick in 2018 and Steve Heiden, No. 69 in 1999); Kraft should be the third. Overall, Kraft needs development time to refine his route running and blocking techniques, but he is big, strong and athletic with the ball skills and blocking tenacity to evolve into an NFL starter. His play style and talent are reminiscent of Foster Moreau.”

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Combination tight end with the projectable skill set to handle pass-catching and run-blocking duties at the next level. Currently, he’s a more effective blocker in space than in-line, but that is correctable with better hand usage and proper angles of entry into his base blocks. Kraft provides formational versatility that will be appealing for teams that make heavy use of 12 personnel (two tight ends). He has the body control and catch toughness to be more than just a traditional Y tight end. Kraft has Day 2 talent and should see the field early with a chance to become a TE1.”

Mike Renner, Pro Football Focus (draft guide): “Kraft is a raw physical athlete who possesses all the traits evaluators are looking for in a tight end. He has an excellent combination of size and speed but can definitely improve as a route runner. His best season came in 2021, when he put up 770 receiving yards and six touchdowns en route to an 89.1 PFF receiving grade. Unfortunately, Kraft got injured earlier this season, so he was not able to play as much as a junior. Nonetheless, his upside potential is still there. Believe it or not, Kraft is a very similar tight end to Dallas Goedert, who is also a South Dakota State product.”

Bleacher Report Scouting Department: “Tucker Kraft is a bet on an NFL-ready body type with a bundle of dangerous athletic traits. At 6’5″ and 254 pounds, Kraft is a matchup problem with the way he moves. His acceleration and speed aren’t quite elite, but they’re great for a player his size. Kraft can get a step on most linebackers and will give plenty of safeties issues as well. Kraft is also a smooth mover for his size. His change of direction is effortless, especially with the ball, and he has the explosiveness to leave defenders whiffing at nothing. Kraft’s blend of size and easy athletic ability allow him to move all over the formation, finding success at multiple tight end alignments as well as wide receiver alignments. He can be a bit of a skeleton key for his future NFL offense. Kraft is also a suffocating blocker. Though there are times where he plays a bit high, he generally has the foot speed and mobility to make up for it without toppling over. Kraft’s length, strength, and physical demeanor go a long way in allowing him to win most blocks, be it versus a defensive end or a linebacker at the second level. Kraft can block both in-line and as a moving wing piece, and he’s even shown good pass-protection reps on film. Unlocking Kraft’s potential comes down to the finer parts of the pass-catching realm. As of now, he is a clunky route-runner. Kraft clearly has the movement skills to improve, but he too often moves like he’s thinking about every step he takes, which slows him down. Sharp-breaking routes often take too many steps for him to finish off and explode out of. On top of that, Kraft’s ball tracking comes and goes. His hands are good when he finds the ball well, but his hand-eye coordination can fail him when throws aren’t straight in front of his facemask. Kraft is an exciting prospect. Tight ends with his size and athletic profile are exactly what the NFL is looking for, and he’s also stepping into the pros as a ready-made blocker. Better yet, it’s reasonable to expect Kraft to improve his deficiencies as a route-runner with good coaching. Kraft should fit into any offensive system, though he would probably be best-valued in an offense that prioritizes his yards-after-catch skills.”

The Draft Network: “Tucker Kraft looks to follow in Dallas Goedert’s footsteps and be the next South Dakota State tight end to be an early draft pick. Kraft entered the season with some hype as he was extremely productive as a sophomore in 2021, producing 780 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 65 receptions. Unfortunately, Kraft suffered an ankle injury during his junior season, which knocked him out for five games, so he wasn’t able to replicate his 2021 success. That said, as a prospect, Kraft didn’t fall in my eyes. Even though Kraft went to a small school, he has top-tier physical traits. He has excellent size and is very well built, possessing a wide upper body and thick lower half. Kraft lines up all across the formation—with snaps in-line, in the slot, and outside—and is relied upon heavily both in the run and passing game. He is an excellent athlete for his size, showcasing good speed, fluidity, and short-area quickness. A productive receiver, Kraft flashes very good body control and ball skills. He is a strong and physical runner who is tough to tackle after the catch. Kraft is just an average route-runner. He is best used on short and quick routes which get the ball in his hands early. That allows him to make things happen with his athletic ability. He has above-average hands overall but will have some drops, which are a concern. In the run game, Kraft is a willing player who does flash some power at the point of attack if he wins the leverage game early. While he has strength and effort, he must improve his pad level when blocking as well as his hand placement. He certainly is a plus player in the run game and will only get better at the next level. At this point in time, Kraft is more athletic than a nuanced football player, but his skill set is easy to project at the next level. He will be a complete tight end that has the athleticism to be a high-volume pass target who can make plays on his own thanks to his run instincts and strength while also being a solid run blocker.”

33rd Team: “Kraft is a very good athlete with great size and build. He has very good speed for the position and is a fluid, effortless mover. As a receiver, he shows solid route-running ability with a good stem at the top of his routes to separate, but does not run a wide variety of routes. He has a good ability to use his size and box out smaller defenders. He has just okay hands, he has some drops, but shows good technique not allowing the ball to get in on his body. He does have the ability to make big plays with open-field speed and run after the catch ability. As a blocker, he has traits but needs a lot of work. Tucker Kraft shows a good base and strength at the point of attack but his hands are all over the place and oftentimes he plays high.”

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What draft experts said about new Packers tight end Luke Musgrave

Scouting reports from draft experts on tight end Luke Musgrave, the Packers’ second-round pick in the 2023 draft.

The Green Bay Packers added an offensive weapon with the 42nd overall pick in the 2023 draft, selecting Oregon State tight end Luke Musgrave.

Musgrave had his senior season cut short by a knee injury, but he was able to return for the Senior Bowl, where he turned heads with his elite athleticism and pass-catching ability.

Want to learn more about Musgrave, who has a legitimate chance to compete for TE1 duties right away in Green Bay? Here’s what several prominent draft analysts said about Musgrave during the pre-draft process:

Dane Brugler, The Athletic (draft guide): “A two-year starter at Oregon State, Musgrave was a Y tight end in offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren’s run-heavy scheme, lining up both inline and in the slot. After two seasons as a backup behind two future NFL players Noah Togiai (Philadelphia Eagles) and Teagan Quitoriano (Houston Texans), he became a starter as a junior, but his targets were limited in the Beavers’ run-first offense and he missed almost all his senior year because of injury. An impressive size/speed athlete, Musgrave runs like a gazelle (elite high school track numbers for his size), and his lacrosse and skiing backgrounds translate to football with his core strength and hip fluidity as both a pass catcher and blocker. He blocks with outstanding body control and leverage to be a physical edge setter and engage defenders at the second and third levels, although he still needs to improve his sustain skills and steadiness as a pass blocker (only 5.9 percent of his career snaps on offense came in pass protection). Overall, Musgrave must continue to build up his football resume and overall consistency, but he is a high-level athlete with the route running and blocking talent to be a productive starting combo tight end in the NFL. He should be the first-ever Oregon State tight end drafted in the top 100 picks.”

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: “Musgrave is a tall, muscular tight end with elite play speed. Unfortunately, he missed all but two games of the 2022 season due to injury. He’s sudden in his release and is a weapon running down the seam. He pulls away from second-level defenders and can naturally high point the football. He is more of a home run hitter than an option-route player at this point in his development. He is consistent catching balls on his frame, but he struggles to reel in low passes when on the move. After the catch, he has the speed to pull away. He is a willing blocker and can effectively shield/wall off at the point of attack. Overall, Musgrave isn’t polished and he’s missed time, but he has the potential to emerge as the top tight end in the class.”

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Between the abbreviated 2020 season and an injury-shortened 2022 campaign, Musgrave’s snaps have been somewhat limited, but it’s easy to like what he’s put on tape. His route running harkens back to his slalom days with nimble feet and smooth hips helping to generate rhythm and separation in and out of breaks. He needs a little more bulk for combat in the trenches, but he offers what evaluators are looking for in technique, strain and demeanor. Musgrave has starter potential and should gain a coveted slot on draft boards from teams looking to add versatility to their 12 personnel (two tight ends) packages.”

Mike Renner, Pro Football Focus (draft guide): “Musgrave is a tremendous athlete, but his collegiate career has been littered with bad luck that has kept evaluators from seeing his best for any length of time. His four seasons in college included the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, where he caught 12 passes for 142 yards, and this past season, where a knee injury ended his year after just two games. The start of the 2022 season highlights why NFL teams will like him, though, as he averaged 3.38 yards per route run while totaling 89 and 80 yards in the first two games of the season.

Bleacher Report Scouting Department: “Luke Musgrave is a highly athletic tight end who may need to add some strength before he realizes his full potential. In simple terms, Musgrave is too tall and fast to cover easily. He’s 6’6″ but plays with airy change-of-direction skills and long, explosive strides that allow him to separate in the open field. He excels on deeper routes, such as seam routes, deep overs and corner routes that allow his athletic tools to shine. Moreover, Musgrave has the twitch and route-running chops for a full route tree, even from wide receiver alignments. Musgrave is fairly snappy at the top of his routes and can explode out of them in order to generate separation, a tough skill to find in most players his size. Combine that with his ability to track and reach the ball outside his frame, and you have a receiver who thrives in space. Musgrave is a solid blocker, too. His raw strength is about average, but he brings his game up a tier through great technique. Despite being 6’6″, he does well to find good leverage and play with a sound base under him. Likewise, he plays with smart, active hands and rarely ends up whiffing on his targets. He may not be a people-mover, but he gets the job done reliably. Where Musgrave struggles is with play strength as a pass-catcher. He is prone to getting jammed up at the line of scrimmage or rerouted early in routes. He doesn’t have the raw strength nor the crafty hand usage to combat it right now. Likewise, Musgrave can struggle when battling for position on the ball. He too often concedes positioning and allows defensive backs to get to the ball, disrupting his ability to finish plays in traffic. That’s going to be an issue against bigger, stronger NFL athletes. In all, Musgrave’s height, athletic tools and baseline blocking skills give him everything he needs to be a weapon. He can succeed as a field-stretching tight end who doesn’t have to leave the field on run downs, which gives him access to aggressive play-action concepts to make use of his speed. He will need to add weight and muscle in order to handle himself in traffic and over the middle of the field, however. Hopefully a year or two in an NFL weight training system can do the trick and unlock his potential.”

The Draft Network: “Tight end Luke Musgrave was a consensus three-star recruit and top-five-rated player in the state of Oregon. He spent time in high school at the defensive end and wide receiver positions in addition to tight end. Musgrave was a multi-sport athlete. Along with football, he participated in, lacrosse, ski racing, and track. This provides context to the plus athleticism that Musgrave possesses. NFL football runs through Musgrave’s bloodline. His uncle, Bill Musgrave, is the current offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos. Also, he played quarterback in the NFL from 1991-1998 for multiple teams. Musgrave brings a big, athletic option in the passing game to an offense. Musgrave is alignment-fluid and versatile. If your offense wants to place him in-line as a traditional Y-tight end or split him into the slot, he can operate both well. As a pass-catcher, Musgrave has secure and reliable hands. He tracks the ball well and attacks it at the highest point. He is an adequate route-runner. He is at his best threatening vertically up the seams or across the field on benders (over route). If unimpeded, Musgrave’s speed can become a problem for linebackers. In the run game, he is a competitive blocker that gives maximum effort. Musgrave is more of a wall-off and seal blocker than a displacer. He does a good job using the defender’s momentum against them to cut them off from the ball carrier. As a result, he sells blocks well on TE leak or delay calls, allowing him to sneak past second and even third-level defenders downfield. Musgrave is a tremendous athlete and should test well this draft season. I do not see an overly explosive player on the field. He gallops and needs free releases to hit that top gear. When faced with physical coverage and resistance, Musgrave struggled to create separation on his routes. He does not play through contact well enough during his route stems. He can be impeded and slowed down if defenders can get their hands on him early in routes. His average play strength shows up in blocking sequences. Musgrave is not a uber-physical blocker—do not expect him to displace defenders. Also, he attempts to engage blocks with high hips and pad level. This limits his overall effectiveness as a man or gap scheme run blocker. Although Musgrave is versatile to align inline or detached, I believe his best reps come when he is in-line. As an NFL tight end, I envision Musgrave as a TE2 early in his career with the potential to develop into a starter. His value in the red zone is enticing. He can operate out of 12-personnel packages with two tight ends that can either use the pass or run game to move the football. Musgrave can stand to improve his play strength and defeat physical coverage quicker since time in the NFL is shorter for quarterbacks.”

33rd Team: “Musgrave has good upper body thickness but is narrow in his lower body. He is a good athlete with good speed and fluid hips. He has a good burst and the ability to stretch the field. He has a good stem at the top of his route to separate from his defender. He can run a variety of routes and has good quickness in and out of his cuts. He has solid hands with good technique catching the ball with his hands away from his body. He shows toughness and solid strength in contested catch situations. As a blocker, he shows good effort and toughness but lacks strength at the point of attack. He is a wall-and-shield type of blocker who just gets in the way rather than blowing his guy off the ball. He has a good ability to block in space and takes good angles.”

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What draft experts said about new Packers edge rusher Lukas Van Ness

Scouting reports from draft experts on Packers first-round pick Lukas Van Ness, an edge rusher from Iowa.

The Green Bay Packers stuck to their board with the 13th overall pick in the 2023 draft and took Iowa edge rusher Lukas Van Ness.

Van Ness plays a premium position, and with Preston Smith set to turn 31 this year and Rashan Gary coming off an ACL injury, this pick made sense for multiple reasons. Of course, we knew the Packers would take an impressive athlete in the first, and Van Ness happened to log a 9.39 RAS.

Want to learn more about Van Ness, who, despite not starting a single game in two seasons at Iowa, still managed to tally 13.0 sacks and 19.0 tackles for loss? Here’s what several prominent draft analysts said about Van Ness during the pre-draft process:

Dane Brugler, The Athletic (draft guide): “Coming off the bench at Iowa, Van Ness was primarily an edge rusher in defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s four-man front, but he also saw significant snaps inside over the B-gap. The Iowa coaches reward seniority, so John Waggoner and Joe Evans started at defensive end last season, but Van Ness had more defensive snaps than either and led the Hawkeyes in tackles for loss and sacks. Regardless of alignment, Van Ness has high-end tools with his length and play strength, which allow him to wear down blockers as a pass rusher or stack, locate and play off blocks in the run game. A hockey player most of his life, he credits his time on the ice for developing his balance, urgent play style and competitive toughness. Overall, Van Ness needs coached up with his pass-rush construction and overall pacing, but he is an ascending player and competes like a grizzly bear with his fierce power and explosive twitch. He has the upside of an impactful NFL starter with inside/outside versatility, regardless of scheme.”

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: “Van Ness is a powerful defensive lineman with the versatility to stand up on the edge or slide inside and play over the guard. He is excellent at collapsing the pocket with his bull rush, getting his hands inside and driving opponents back with ease. He flashes a chop move and a rip move, but needs to develop a more diverse repertoire. Against the run, he has very strong hands to stack blocks on the front side and his effort/speed combination helps him make plays from the back side. For some reason, he didn’t start at Iowa. That doesn’t make any sense. Overall, Van Ness has ideal traits, and his best football is ahead of him.”

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Nicknamed “Hercules” by teammates, Van Ness is a well-developed defensive end with excellent lean mass and additional growth still to come. He’s a power-centric prospect with force as his modus operandi as both a run defender and pass rusher. Van Ness needs to work on hand attacks for quicker block shedding and to diversify his rush beyond bull-rush challenges. He’s taken snaps inside at Iowa but might need to keep filling out his frame before he’s ready to succeed as a run stuffer and pass rusher as a 4i in a 3-4 front. Van Ness is more of a splash player than consistent force on tape, but he possesses projectable traits that should allow for continued ascension as a pro.”

Mike Renner, Pro Football Focus (draft guide): “Lukas Van Ness is as strong as they come in terms of pass-rushing ability. Known for his power rush, he was able to generate 46 pressures and nine sacks this past season for the Hawkeyes. He is one of the reasons Iowa had such a dominant defense. Van Ness is also better against the run than most defensive ends in his class, finishing with an 80.9 run-defense grade in 2022. If he can continue to improve his pass-rushing moves, look out for him at the next level.

Bleacher Report Scouting Department: “Lukas Van Ness might be one of the most interesting draft projections in this year’s class. As a redshirt sophomore who didn’t log a single start in college, it was a bit of a surprise that he didn’t opt to go back to school. But he’s been getting first-round love because of his physical traits. Van Ness already has an NFL-ready body and can be an absolute bear in the trenches. He’s strong and physical at the point of attack, which gives offensive linemen a lot of trouble in pass protection and the ground game. Iowa also used him up and down the defensive line, so he can play multiple spots as well. However, he’s inferior athletically to a lot of other top edge-defenders in this year’s draft class. That seemed to limit the Hawkeye’s pass-rush arsenal to power moves and can cause him to lose contain against athletic quarterbacks. It will be important for him to put up some good numbers at the combine to show he can at least grow in that department.”

The Draft Network: “Lukas Van Ness grew up playing hockey and started playing football in the eighth grade. After redshirting in 2020, Van Ness spent 2021 as more of an interior defensive lineman before playing primarily on the edge in 2022. That transition started during spring practices in 2022. There’s so much to like about Van Ness and it starts with his functional strength. His ability to convert speed to power and play through blockers is outstanding. He maximizes his ability to bull rush and collapse the pocket with plus length, timing, and functional power to truly stress the anchor of offensive linemen. For a player of his body composition, I’m surprised by how much burst and flexibility he has to get off the ball, corner, flatten, and close. A B-gap defender in 2021, Van Ness is playing primarily on the edge and still getting chances to reduce inside. He should be able to bring that type of inside/outside versatility to an NFL defensive line, making him a wide-ranging fit, especially for the amount of fronts in today’s NFL that are multiple. Van Ness is a high-ceiling prospect that is still only scratching the surface of what he can become as a defensive playmaker. Despite being a highly attractive prospect, Van Ness never started a game for the Hawkeyes’ defense—although he received a significant amount of playing time in a rotational role. While he has all the power, length, and movement skills to be an outstanding run defender, his block recognition skills have room to improve so he can be more consistent fitting the run and leveraging gaps. Van Ness has a strong foundation as a pass rusher but he needs to continue to build his repertoire of moves off his length and power. He should become even more dynamic as he develops his vision to read the set of blockers and his technique becomes second nature. Van Ness has the makings of an impact starter in the NFL where he has a high ceiling to develop into. His room for growth makes him even more exciting given his relative newness to playing on the edge.”

33rd Team: “Lukas Van Ness is a tall, athletic and powerful defensive end who provides versatility to align off the edge or condensed inside. His long levers and relentless motor allow him to pressure the backfield and disrupt the run game. He has a high ceiling and will just need time on the job to refine his pass rush repertoire.”