Tag: first-round pick

Green Bay Packers 2024 first-round pick: OL Jordan Morgan

The Packers selected Arizona OL Jordan Morgan in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers selected Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan in the first round (No. 25 overall) of the 2024 NFL draft.

Height: 6-5
Weight: 311
Age: 22
From: Marana, AZ

College profile

Breakdown: 37-game starter at left tackle and two-time All-Pac 12 pick. Lacks ideal arm length for offensive tackle (under 33″) but is a terrific athlete overall. Wide, well-built frame with huge hands. Two-time team captain. Tore ACL in 2022 but returned to be a top player in 2023. The Packers think he has the athleticism, strength and intelligence to play both sides of the line at offensive tackle and guard. Expected to get a chance at left tackle but could compete to start at right guard right away.

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 7, Arizona OL Jordan Morgan

Dane Brugler’s scouting report: “A four-year starter at Arizona, Morgan was a constant at left tackle in offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll’s zone -based scheme (Carroll is the son of Pete Carroll and was the assistant offensive line coach for the Seattle Seahawks from 2015-21). After Arizona won a combined five games during his first three seasons on campus, Morgan helped lead the program’s turnaround in 2023 (Arizona won 10 games in a season for just the second time since 1998). A quick-footed blocker, Morgan displays range and aggression in the run game and gets on top of rushers quickly in his jump sets when he uses well-timed hands. His struggles in pass protection come when he is overaggressive with his kickslide and gets too far up the arc, which can create a two-way go for rushers and open the door for inside counters. Overall, Morgan struggles to anchor mid-slide versus power, but he is a balanced mover who is well-schooled and physical in all phases. Though he can survive at tackle in the NFL, his skill set projects much better inside at guard, similar to Matthew Bergeron.”

Daniel Jeremiah’s scouting report: “Morgan is a very athletic left tackle with average size. In pass pro, he is quick out of his stance to meet and cover up speed rushers. He can sink his weight and drop levels when bull rushed. He also does a nice job re-working his hands when he gets knocked back to regain leverage. He struggles to redirect inside when facing counter moves, getting beat on that inside shoulder too often. He also will occasionally duck his head, which is correctable. In the run game, he is more finesse than power. He can use his quickness to cut off the back side and he takes excellent angles to the second level to wall off linebackers. He doesn’t have a lot of knock-back power to displace defenders over his nose. Morgan is just over a year removed from ACL surgery, and I’m hopeful he can add more strength/power now that he’s healthy. Overall, he has starting tackle ability.”

Lance Zierlein’s scouting report: “Three-year starter who displayed his resilience and work ethic by coming back and playing good football after suffering a torn ACL late in the 2022 season. Morgan is both fluid and flexible in space, with the ability to help spring running plays with second-level blocks and play-side lead blocking. He fails to secure back-side cutoffs too frequently, but improving his pad level and landmarks might fix that issue. His punch approach diminishes his pass protection length and causes him to lose connection at the top of the rush. He will need to get his hands and feet synced up in order to improve his balance and consistency against athletic rushers. He’s a capable run blocker and pass protector, and he features projectable upside with more work. Morgan has the traits and talent to become a solid starting left tackle.”

They said it: “Big man, left tackle, really good athlete, can play out in space. Ability to play all four positions for us. Been a left tackle mainly there but we think he can move inside to guard. He has power in his lower body, can move people off the spot. He’s just wired like a Packer. Two-time team captain. A really good dude.” — GM Brian Gutekunst

New uniform

Packers.com

RAS card

Highlights

Jordan Morgan follows Brian Gutekunst’s first-round trends

Big, athletic and young, with positional versatility: Jordan Morgan follows the first-round trends of Packers GM Brian Gutekunst.

The Green Bay Packers taking Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan at No. 25 overall might have caught some surprise during the end of Thursday night’s first round, but Morgan — a young, elite athlete with versatility — perfectly fits what general manager Brian Gutekunst has looked for in a first-round pick since taking the job in 2018.

Like all but one first rounder before him, Morgan is 22 years old or younger and has a Relative Athletic Score above 8.0 — 9.24 out of 10.0 as an offensive tackle and 9.83 out of 10.0 as a guard. Under Gutekunst, the Packers have prioritized finding young, elite athletes in the first round to maximize potential and return on investment at a crucial part of the draft.

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Here’s the new updated first-round chart for Gutekunst:

Year Name Pos School Pick RAS Age
2018 Jaire Alexander CB Louisville 18 9.54 21
2019 Rashan Gary EDGE Michigan 12 9.95 21
2019 Darnell Savage S Maryland 21 8.35 21
2020 Jordan Love QB Utah State 26 8.46 21
2021 Eric Stokes CB Georgia 29 9.38 22
2022 Quay Walker LB Georgia 22 9.63 21
2022 Devonte Wyatt DL Georgia 27 9.60 24
2023 Lukas Van Ness EDGE Iowa 13 9.39 21
2024 Jordan Morgan OT Arizona 25 9.24 22

Gutekunst said the Packers debated moving down in the first round but ultimately felt Morgan was too good to risk losing.

“Where we had him valued, this was a pretty easy decision for us,” Gutekunst said.

Morgan isn’t just young and athletic — he fits what the Packers look for in an offensive lineman. He started 37 games in college at left tackle, ran the 40-yard dash in 5.04 seconds and put up 27 reps in the bench press. Experienced, fast and strong. He might fit better by moving inside to guard, where his lack of arm length could be negated some, but the Packers believe he can play both tackle spots and both guard spots at the next level. Gutekunst called him a four-position player along the offensive line.

“Having guys who can play multiple spots that are athletic enough to do it and strong enough to do it and smart enough to do it, it gives you a lot of comfort,” Gutekunst said.

Morgan’s arms measured in at just under 33″ long. It wasn’t a worry for Gutekunst and the Packers.

“The longer the better, but we’ve had a bunch of guys who have played outside without prototypical arm length and been fine. What makes up for it is usually feet and athleticism, and that’s what Jordan has.”

DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah talks learning Chiefs defense, transition to NFL from college

Chiefs defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah spoke about learning Steve Spagnuolo’s playbook and transitioning to the NFL from college. | from: @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs made Felix Anudike-Uzomah one of their first-round selections in the 2023 NFL draft in front of his hometown crowd. Despite being an overwhelmingly popular pick, his draft slot came with high expectations that are different than most of his teammates in training camp.

Anudike-Uzomah updated reporters on his progression in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system on Monday after the Chiefs’ rain-shortened practice session, emphasizing that he is still on the upswing in terms of his uptake.

“At the end of the day, I’m still learning,” said Anudike-Uzomah, “For me, I’m still not there yet. And I’ve got some learning to do.”

Anudike-Uzomah is already holding himself accountable for his work at training camp as he continues to find his way through the trials and tribulations of his first season in the NFL. The former Kansas State star detailed some of the differences between life in Manhattan and the professional ranks.

“Coming from college, you’re not met with the same competition as people in [the] NFL,” Anudike-Uzomah explained. “Other people [here] are the best of the best and… there [are] a lot more things to learn from jumping from Kansas State to here, like technique-wise and plays. Plus, I was in a 3-4, and now we’re in a four-down defense. So there’s a lot more stuff, and I’m dropping back. So it’s a lot of stuff that I gotta learn. So, yeah.”

The Chiefs have Anudike-Uzomah working in most second and third-team groups during practices as he continues to find his groove in St. Joseph.

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Green Bay Packers 2023 first-round pick: OLB Lukas Van Ness

The Packers selected Iowa OLB Lukas Van Ness in the first round of the 2023 draft.

The Green Bay Packers selected Iowa edge rusher Lukas Van Ness in the first round (No. 13 overall) of the 2023 NFL draft.

Height: 6-5
Weight: 272
Age: 21
From: Barrington, IL

Breakdown: Played in 27 games at Iowa, producing 19.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. Played mostly inside in 2021 and moved outside in 2022. The Packers think he can do both at the next level and expect him to contribute right away. Should get development time behind Rashan Gary and Preston Smith before becoming full-time player. Game is mostly power. One of the most athletic edge rushers in the class overall.

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 8, Iowa edge rusher Lukas Van Ness

Brugler’s scouting report: “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.”

Jeremiah’s scouting report: “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.”

Zierlein’s scouting report: “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.

Iowa profile

They said it: “Big man. Powerful. Fast. Explosive. Really big upside…The physical traits are all there for him to grow, so there’s no real limitation on him. But also, the versatility to win outside with speed and inside with power. There’s so much in front of him, and that’s where his best football will be.” — GM Brian Gutekunst

New uniform

Packers.com

RAS card

Highlights

Packers film room: Closer look at what first-round pick Lukas Van Ness brings to defense

Breaking down the tape of Packers first-round pick Lukas Van Ness, the hulking edge rusher from Iowa.

The Green Bay Packers added a powerful edge rusher with their first pick in the 2023 draft.

Lukas Van Ness was considered one of the top pass rushers in this year’s class after two productive seasons at Iowa. The Packers took him with the 13th overall pick, even though he never started a game for the Hawkeyes.

“It’s unusual, but he played close to 1,000 snaps the last two years,” said Brian Gutekunst Thursday night. “Iowa’s got a very good culture there, and that’s just kind of the way they do things a little bit, but he played a majority of the snaps of anybody on the defensive line.”

While Van Ness’ lack of experience was a concern during the pre-draft process, Green Bay made the pick knowing that his best football was ahead of him. Despite coming off the bench in 2021 and 2022, he still managed to accumulate 13.0 sacks, 19.0 tackles for loss and 74 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

“Really big upside,” Gutekunst added. “The physical traits are all there for him to grow, so there’s no real limitation on him. But also, the versatility to win outside with speed and inside with power. There’s so much in front of him, and that’s where his best football will be.”

Speaking of physical traits, Van Ness measured in at 6-5, 270 lbs at the combine before he ran a 4.58 40-yard dash, with eye-catching 10- and 20-yard splits and a 7.02 three-cone. When teams talk about moldable traits, this is what they mean.

However, scouting ultimately boils down to projection. Though production at the college level is taken into consideration, it means nothing once you are in the NFL. What can the player do, and where is he headed?

Much of that is uncovered by turning on the tape. In Van Ness’ case, the film speaks volumes about the player the Packers are getting, both as a pass rusher and run defender.

Today, we are breaking down both areas of Van Ness’ game. By the end, hopefully, we have more insight into Green Bay’s reasoning behind the pick and how they think he will fit into their defense.

For this film review, we are evaluating the All-22 from Van Ness’ performances against Ohio State and Michigan this past season. Let’s get started.

2024 NFL draft: Three Alabama players receiving first-round projections

2024 NFL draft look ahead seems quite promising for the Tide

I know, I know, we aren’t even complete with the 2023 NFL draft yet, but just for fun, let’s look ahead. The 2024 draft class is going to be special. Caleb Williams, quarterback for USC, and Marvin Harrison Jr., wide receiver for Ohio State, are widely regarded as two of the best prospects at their respective positions in the past decade. As well as having some insanely high-end talent, the draft is very deep with 20 players already receiving first-round grades according to On3 Sports.

It is well-documented that Alabama has dominated the draft under the guidance of head coach Nick Saban, and 2024 will be no different. During Saban’s time in Tuscaloosa, he has had 44 players drafted in the first round compared to only 27 losses. I mean that’s just bonkers.

As things currently stand, the Tide have three players receiving first-round grades in OT J.C. Latham, EDGE Dallas Turner and CB Kool-Aid McKinstry. Even a year away, it is pretty hard to imagine any of these guys playing themselves out of a first-round grade.

The Tide have also landed two first-round picks via the portal in Jameson Williams and Jahmyr Gibbs and I don’t think Saban is done shaping his roster quite yet. Additionally, there are guys in-house that will play themselves into first-round picks.The 2024 NFL draft could be another massive one for Alabama.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor 2024 NFL draft projections.

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Packers GM Brian Gutekunst on Lukas Van Ness: ‘Really big upside’

Brian Gutekunst on Lukas Van Ness: “Big man. Powerful. Fast. Explosive. Really big upside, and we’re really excited to get him.”

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst pointed to the athletic profile, positional versatility and growth potential of Lukas Van Ness as primary reasons why the Iowa edge rusher became the team’s first-round pick in the 2023 draft.

“Really excited about it. Big man. Powerful. Fast. Explosive. Really big upside, and we’re really excited to get him,” Gutekunst said after the first round on Thursday night.

Van Ness is 6-5 and in the 270-pound range. His Relative Athletic Score is 9.39 out of 10.0, meaning his size-athleticism ratio is in the 94th percentile for edge rushers. And the Packers like that Van Ness played both on the edge and inside and brought an “explosive nature” against the run and as a pass-rusher.

“He’s a very versatile player. That’s very important to us,” Gutekunst said. “He’s a different player than (Za’Darius Smith) was, but I think he’s going to be able to do a lot of that stuff. His best football is ahead of him. He is going to be a guy that can move inside and out.”

Van Ness could be the long-term edge-rusher partner of Rashan Gary, another highly athletic big man from the Big Ten who the Packers took at No. 12 overall and developed into an elite player.

“Both big, fast, long, powerful athletes. I think they will complement each other well,” Gutekunst said.

Despite not starting one game at Iowa as an underclassman, Van Ness produced 18.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks over 27 games. Gutekunst said he played roughly 1,000 snaps over the last two seasons.

A combination of Van Ness’ talent and upside and the positional value of edge rusher helped get him to Green Bay.

“I think it was just how we had him rated. We very much believe in rushing the passer, and edge rusher is a very premium position for us,” Gutekunst said. “We were happy to take him at 13.”

Van Ness, 21, got a late start in football and then only played two seasons at Iowa, creating the profile of an ascending player who can grow and learn at the next level.

“He was a hockey guy growing up. He started playing in high school, so I think there’s a lot of growth in his game,” Gutekunst said. “The physical traits are all there for him to grow, so there’s no real limitation on him. But also, the versatility to win outside with speed and inside with power. There’s so much in front of him, and that’s where his best football will be.”

Gutekunst said he believes Van Ness will play right away.

“I would expect him to be out there helping us this year,” Gutekunst said.

The final piece of the puzzle was the person. Gutekunst saw Van Ness at the combine and the Iowa pro day and checked the last box.

“The character of the guy really checked out. He’s a culture guy for us. He’s a fit for us here. He’s a worker. It’s really important to him. That always gives you comfort. Whatever talent he has in his body, if he’ll work, he’ll get there.”

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Packers offered first-round pick for Panthers WR D.J. Moore

The Packers were willing to part with a first-round pick to get Panthers WR D.J. Moore.

The Green Bay Packers were willing to spend big to get D.J. Moore out of Carolina.

Earlier Sunday, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported on the team’s interest in Moore but said the Panthers weren’t willing to deal.

The Panthers really wanted to keep Moore.

Jay Glazer of FOX Sports expanded on NFL Network’s report, stating the Packers offered up to a first-round pick in exchange for Moore but were turned down.

Here’s the segment from Glazer from Sunday:

Moore, with his ability after the catch and physicality down the field, would have been a near-perfect fit for Aaron Rodgers in the Matt LaFleur’s offense, and there’s no doubt the Packers need the help at wide receiver, both in the short and long term.

But it takes two sides to get a deal done, and the Panthers weren’t willing to part ways with a core player.

Moore, 25, has 33 catches for 425 yards and three touchdowns this season. The fifth-year pro entered 2022 with three-straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons. An added bonus is that Moore is signed through the 2025 season, so acquiring him now wouldn’t have meant a short-term rental.

In the end, a big offer from the Packers wasn’t enough. Moore remains in Carolina as a key part of the Panthers future, while the Packers are moving forward without getting any help at the trade deadline.

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For The Win: OKC Thunder ranked No. 1 in entire league for most future first-round draft picks in 2020s

The Thunder have the most potential first-round draft picks in the entire league for the remaining 2020s NBA Drafts.

For The Win’s Bryan Kalbrosky ranked all 30 NBA teams based on how many draft picks they own during the remainder of the 2020s.

As Kalbrosky mentioned in the article, draft picks are the easiest way for teams to acquire a star player that’ll stay in the long term due to their rookie contract and first extension.

That is especially the case for small-market teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, who will never be big-time free agency players due to their location. It seems the Thunder front office are believers of this theory: They own the most first-round draft picks of any team for the remainder of this decade.

Thanks in large part to the Paul George and Russell Westbrook trades from 2019, the Thunder have stocked up with 15 first-round picks.

  1. 2023: Own (can swap w/ LAC)
  2. 2024: Own
  3. 2024: via HOU (protected 1-4)
  4. 2024: via UTA (protected 1-10)
  5. 2024: via LAC
  6. 2025: Own (can swap w/ HOU if 11-30 or LAC)
  7. 2025: via MIA (protected 1-14)  
  8. 2025: via PHI (protected 1-6) 
  9. 2026: via HOU (protected 1-4)  
  10. 2026: Own
  11. 2026: via LAC
  12. 2027: via DEN 1-5
  13. 2027: Own
  14. 2028: Own
  15. 2029: Own

Potential pick swaps: 2

The Thunder already have a nice core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Josh Giddey and Lu Dort. Having 15 first-round draft picks down the line increases the ceiling of the franchise in multiple ways — whether by the team drafting its next franchise player or acquiring one via trade.

To see where the other 29 NBA teams stack up, click here for the full list.

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Packers film room: Will Quay Walker live up to first-round selection?

Breaking down the college tape of Quay Walker, the Packers’ first-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers did something they hadn’t done in 16 years with their first pick in the 2022 NFL draft: select an off-ball linebacker.

Quay Walker became the first inside linebacker since AJ Hawk to get selected by the Packers in the first round. Hawk was a fifth overall pick while Walker was 22nd, but hopefully, the former Georgia Bulldog will be even more successful.

Green Bay wants their linebackers to be long and fast, exactly what Walker is. He is 6-4, 240 pounds and ran a 4.52 at the scouting combine. His size and speed compare favorably to De’Vondre Campbell, who just signed a deal worth $50 million to remain a Packer for the next five seasons. Green Bay is hoping two athletic inside linebackers will allow their defense to be even more tenacious.

In four seasons at Georgia, Walker only started a season and a half. He sat behind a loaded linebacker group during his first two years before seeing an increased role as a junior. Last season, Walker started all 15 games for one of the best defenses in the nation, finishing with 65 tackles, along with 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 25 QB pressures, and three pass breakups.

Walker is a lot like Campbell in that he can impact the game in a variety of ways. Campbell was extremely disruptive in 2021, which led to his first All-Pro selection. Following Campbell’s breakout season and a resurgence to the Packers’ linebacking corps, the hope is that Walker will bring a similar skillset while fortifying the position for seasons to come.

To get a better idea of what Green Bay saw in Walker, we are going to dive into some of his film from his junior and senior seasons. By the end, we will know what Walker brings to the table and what he needs to work on to live up to his first-round hype.

Let’s begin.

Strengths

First, let’s talk about two of Walker’s best traits: range and tackling. Walker is a true sideline to sideline linebacker that rarely misses tackles. Pro Football Focus tallied only seven missed tackles during his collegiate career. For the most part, he is quick to diagnose and will take effective angles to the ball. As soon as he finds the ball, his closing speed is off the charts as he looks like a heat-seeking missile when tracking.

Walker tested in the 66th percentile for his short shuttle, which is slightly above average. However, this play really does his lateral mobility justice. Walker stops on a dime and then makes an impressive lunging tackle. It’s rare to see a guy this size move with such fluidity.

There are definitely things Walker can clean up when it comes to tackling, but for the most part, he is rock solid. He can do a better job with his pad level and getting his head across, but the fact that he does such a good job tracking the hip to stop a guy like Najee Harris in his tracks is a good sign.

Here is another example of Walker’s play strength. This is one of the most impressive clips I found of Georgia’s ILB. Evan Neal was the seventh overall pick by the New York Giants, and Walker tosses him to the side like he is taking out the garbage. Walker needs to improve at deconstructing blocks, but this shows he is more than capable.

The Packers will be able to play a lot more two-linebacker nickel with Walker and Campbell. Campbell can hold his own coverage, and Walker can as well when asked to play man to man. He is quick to break on the ball and even flashes some solid ball skills to shoot his hand in to break up the catch. By the way, this play was against Tennessee Titans’ first-round pick Treylon Burks.

Walker will be able to cover big slot receivers, tight ends, and most running backs at the next level. He really is a natural mover in man coverage thanks to his route recognition and ability to change directions. I think Walker will be very comfortable with matching routes and clamping down on stuff underneath.

Before moving on, I wanted to show two more clips of what impresses me most about Walker. His motor and competitive toughness are insane. In the first play, he nearly chases down Alabama’s burner Jameson Williams, the 12th overall pick by the Detroit Lions. Then, he is the first guy there on a bubble screen. I think Packers fans will be most impressed by Walker’s athleticism.

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Weaknesses

Walker has a quick trigger but will need to clean up false steps. He is obviously very athletic, it’s just that his instincts aren’t quite there yet. Over time his processing should improve, and the false steps will be eliminated. Still, when looking at this play, he shows impressive range and makes the stop for a minimal gain.

We saw earlier how Walker got off a block from one of the best tackles in the draft. However, it’s something he needs to do more consistently. Too often, he will get stuck to a block and get out leveraged from his lane. Walker has the play strength and length to be a better block shedder; he just needs to improve/quicken his technique.

For as explosive as Walker is, you would think he would be a better blitzer. Georgia did a good job mixing up looks to try and get Walker pressure on the quarterback, but he didn’t take advantage of them as much as he should. Instead, he was basically a battering ram trying to bull rush blocks without having an established plan. Most of the time, his attempt was easily stopped. If Walker can develop at least a few moves that he can implement effectively, Green Bay’s defense will benefit from having another formidable pass rusher. Otherwise, he won’t add much of anything as a blitzer and will be better off spying the quarterback.

Don’t ask Walker to play man against shifty route runners in the slot. The end result won’t be pretty.

I’d like to dive deeper into Walker’s coverage ability. It’s a very important aspect of the modern-day linebacker and allows Campbell to play all three downs. Walker can hold his own in man, but zone is an entirely different story. His vision is sporadic when he isn’t tasked with watching one guy and will lead to open throwing lanes for the quarterback. It will need to be coached up, or opposing offenses will try to pick on Walker.

Look at how easily Walker is manipulated by the quarterback. He can probably move Walker wherever he wants to deliver the ball to his desired spot. The Packers will need to harp on Walker’s responsibilities in zone. Right now, it’s just a matter of knowing where to be.

Conclusion

After watching the film, I can honestly say I’m not as excited about the pick as when it was first announced. Walker has a lot of desirable traits, but there are a lot of signs that show inexperience. Luckily, pretty much all of his weaknesses are things he can improve on and having Campbell around will certainly help. Walker should be watching and learning from Campbell as much as possible to improve his football IQ and become a better all-around player.

During his rookie season, expect to see Walker flying around the field on Sunday but also expect to see some head-scratching plays that will make you question why the Packers didn’t wait to draft a linebacker until the second or third round. It seems like they are expecting Walker to put everything together and become the next Campbell before his contract expires. If Walker can turn into an All-Pro or Pro Bowl linebacker than can defend the run and cover at a high level, using a first-round pick will have been worth it.

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