Tag: draft visit

Packers to host Western Michigan edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland on top-30 pre-draft visit

The Green Bay Packers will host Western Michigan edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland on a top 30 visit ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers will host Western Michigan edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland on a top 30 visit ahead of the 2024 NFL draft, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. During the pre-draft process, Kneeland will have taken 16 visits to teams.

Teams are allowed to host up to 30 prospects on visits ahead of the draft. Packers Wire is tracking all the reported visits here.

Kneeland (6-3, 267) played in 38 games (23 starts) across four seasons at Western Michigan. He produced 28.0 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and three pass breakups. He was a second-team All-MAC pick and a team captain in 2023.

At the combine, Kneeland ran the 40-yard dash in 4.75 seconds, hit 35.5″ in the vertical leap, covered 9-11 in the broad jump, completed the short shuttle in 4.18 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.02 seconds and finished 21 reps on the bench press. He has 34 1/2″ arms and a 83 3/8″ wingspan. His Relative Athletic Score is 9.08 out of 10.0.

Kneeland participated at the Senior Bowl.

Kneeland is the No. 60 player on the consensus big board. The Packers hold four picks on Day 2 of the draft: No. 41, No. 58, No. 88 and No. 91.

Packers host Bowling Green DL Karl Brooks for official pre-draft visit

The Packers hosted Bowling Green defensive lineman Karl Brooks on an official top 30 visit ahead of the 2023 draft.

The Green Bay Packers hosted Bowling Green defensive lineman Karl Brooks on an official top-30 visit, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Brooks (6-3, 296) produced 167 tackles, 46 tackles for loss, 27.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, six pass breakups and one interception over 52 games, 48 starts and five seasons at Bowling Green. He led the team in sacks during all five seasons (2018-22) and was a two-time All-MAC selection and a two-time team captain.

Over his final two collegiate seasons, Brooks created 30.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, highlighting his disruptive abilities.

At Bowling Green’s pro day, Brooks ran the 40-yard dash in 5.08 seconds, hit 26.5″ in the vertical leap, covered 8-9 in the broad jump, finished the short shuttle in 5.0 seconds and the three-cone in 7.63 seconds and finished 28 reps on the bench press. His Relative Athletic Score is 5.88 out of 10.0.

Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranks Brooks as the 16th best defensive lineman in the class and a likely Day 3 pick.

Brooks played all over the defensive front at Bowling Green, including snaps on the edge.

The Packers have only five defensive linemen on the current roster and need depth. Brooks, a Michigan native, could be a target at some point in the fifth or sixth rounds.

[lawrence-related id=92675,91611]

Packers hosting UAB OT Kadeem Telfort on official pre-draft visit

The Green Bay Packers are hosting UAB offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort on an official top-30 visit ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers are hosting UAB offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort on an official top-30 visit ahead of the 2023 NFL draft, according to NFL insider Aaron Wilson. The visit is set for Wednesday.

Telfort, a Florida transfer who spent two years at the JUCO level, played in 31 games and made 28 starts at UAB. He was a two-time All-Conference USA selection.

Telfort was suspended by Florida in 2017 and later transferred to a Kanasas JUCO school, where he played two seasons. He returned to the FBS in 2020 and spent three seasons at UAB.

Over the last two years, Telfort allowed only three sacks and 18 total pressures, per PFF. He earned excellent run-blocking grades in 2022.

At his pro day, Telfort measured 6-7 and 322 pounds, with 36″ arms and a 86″ wingspan. He ran the 40-yard dash in 5.45 seconds, hit 24.5″ in the vertical leap, covered 8-0 in the broad jump, finished the short shuttle in 5.10 seconds and the three-cone in 8.70 seconds and completed 19 reps in the benchpress. His Relative Athletic Score is 1.59 out of 10.0.

Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranks Telfort as the No.24 offensive tackle in the draft class and a likely priority free agent.

Telfort is 24 years old.

The Packers signed Caleb Jones as an undrafted free agent last year and may see Telfort as another project lineman worth developing. Both are massive left tackles with questionable movement ability.

[lawrence-related id=91611]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxb1xg7g19wqdc player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Packers host UCLA OL Atonio Mafi on official pre-draft visit

The Packers hosted UCLA offensive lineman Atonio Mafi on an official top-30 visit ahead of the 2023 draft.

The Green Bay Packers hosted UCLA offensive lineman Atonio Mafi on an official top-30 visit ahead of the 2023 NFL draft, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Mafi (6-2, 329) played two seasons along the defensive line before transitioning to the offensive line, where he was a 16-game starter at guard over the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He was a second-team All-Pac 12 selection after starting 13 games at left guard in 2022.

Mafi, 22, gave up only 18 pressures and earned high run-blocking grades from Pro Football Focus during the 2022 season. He played all 910 snaps at left guard.

Mafi was not invited to the combine. He put up 21 reps on the bench press but did no other testing during UCLA’s pro day because of a lower-body injury.

Mafi’s 56 games played at UCLA tied the school record. He also started 14 games (2018, 2019) along the defensive line before moving to the offense.

Last year, the Packers drafted Sean Rhyan out of UCLA.

Despite strong numbers along the offensive line, the Packers are a good bet to draft at least one more offensive lineman in this year’s draft, continuing a streak of taking at least one in all but one of the last 25 drafts.

[lawrence-related id=91611]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxb1xg7g19wqdc player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Packers to host official pre-draft visit with Northwestern edge rusher Adetomiwa Adebawore

The Packers will host Northwestern edge rusher Adetomiwa Adebawore on an official top-30 visit before the 2023 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers will host Northwestern edge rusher Adetomiwa Adebawore on an official top-30 visit before the 2023 NFL draft, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The visit is scheduled for Friday.

All teams can host up to 30 prospects for visits before the draft. The Packers’ list of reported visits can be found here: Tracking Packers’ official pre-draft visits ahead of 2023 NFL draft.

Adetomiwa (6-2, 282) produced five sacks, nine tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, 31 total pressures and 27 run stops for Northwestern during the 2022 season. A two-time All-Big Ten selection, he created 12.5 sacks, 24.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and six pass breakups over 41 career games and four seasons.

Adetomiwa was a star of the combine, finishing the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds, hitting 37.5″ in the vertical leap, covering 10-5 in the broad jump, finishing the three-cone in 7.13 seconds and the short shuttle in 4.26 seconds and putting up 27 reps on the bench press. His Relative Athletic Score is 9.72 out of 10.0. His performances the 40-yard dash, jumps and agility drills are among the best ever for a defensive lineman.

The Packers, who need help at edge rusher and along the defensive line, could view Adetomiwa as a dual-threat player who can play on the edge or inside as a situational pass-rusher.

It’s possible Adetomiwa could be a real option for the Packers in the second round, especially if the team acquires an additional second-rounder from the New York Jets.

[lawrence-related id=90502]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxb1xg7g19wqdc player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]