The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The trio of Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes and Rasul Douglas gives the Green Bay Packers one of the best cornerback rooms in the NFL.
With those three in place, cornerback likely won’t be high on their priority list as they head into the 2022 NFL Draft. However, the depth behind those three could stand to be strengthened and Gutekunst will likely look to address the position on day three of the upcoming draft.
A player that Green Bay’s general manager could target on the third day of the draft is Chase Lucas. The Arizona State cornerback checks in at No. 38 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
Lucas is the most seasoned and experienced cornerback in the draft. He finished his career at Arizona state with 49 career starts.
In 2017, Lucas recorded 59 tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions, and 10 pass deflections. The following season, Lucas recorded 62 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, three interceptions, and eight pass deflections. In 2019, Lucas recorded 53 tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception, and five pass deflections. He also blocked a field goal.
In four games in 2020, Lucas recorded five pass deflections and allowed just 109 yards in coverage. This past season, Lucas recorded six pass deflections.
Lucas has the savviness of a 10-year veteran in coverage. He shows excellent field awareness and has a high football IQ. He has controlled feet in his backpedal. He does a good job of using the sideline as his friend. Over the past three seasons, Lucas allowed just one touchdown in coverage.
“When you have a five-year starter in a conference that absolutely slings the ball around early and often every Saturday, that speaks volumes on the level of your savviness and the typical “been there, done that” element really pays off,” Hod Rabino a beat writer for Devils Digest said. “The fact that he did not allow a touchdown last season is another indicator of his level of talent. I’m sure there are bigger athletic freaks than him in the draft at his position, but when it comes to technique and mechanics I honestly think that he certainly is one of the better ones. He’s not afraid to be physical although I would not call him an over-aggressive corner either. He’s not flat-footed by any means but if he can jam the wide receiver early in his route, then slowing him down can definitely make you an effective corner in coverage.”
In run support, Lucas is willing. He’s physical and will play scrappy, but that physical nature comes and goes. He needs to bring that physicality each rep and he occasionally struggles to get his man down.
“His run support skills are adequate for a cornerback,” Rabino said. “A role that naturally would not get all that involved in that aspect of the defense. As mentioned he is plenty physical to mix it up against ball carriers if needed. But I can’t say that he really stood out in a major way in that department.”
Lucas finished his career at Arizona State with six interceptions and 36 pass deflections. Lucas is pesky at the catch point and shows a knack for disrupting passing lanes.
“I wouldn’t call him the biggest ball hawk on the team because again I think that he’s not an over-aggressive corner by nature,” Rabino said. “But his veteran experience in the last couple of years has made him very effective in coverage and even if the stat sheet doesn’t always have eye-popping numbers attached to it when you watch the film you can see how much he can frustrate the wide receivers he was covering.”
The quickest way for rookies to see playing time is on special teams. Rabino believes that Lucas could be a day one contributor on special teams in the NFL.
“With his football IQ I have no doubt that he can contribute on special teams,” Rabino said. “I think he knew from day one that he will have to excel in that department if he does want to get drafted which is honestly no different than players such as him that are probably going to be a day three selections.”
Fit with the Packers
With Alexander, Stokes and Douglas in place, the Packers don’t need to find a day one starter in the draft. What they need is a player that could help on special teams and provide quality depth behind the dynamic trio.
Lucas would provide quality depth behind Alexander, Stokes, and Douglas and has the ability to contribute on special teams.
“If you’re able to play at the level that he’s had for so many years, against easily some of the best passing offenses in all of the Power Five conferences you certainly have the potential to do well on Sundays,” Rabino said. “Don’t forget, there were a lot of former NFL coaches in his ear at Arizona State, who told him how it’s done at the next level. That makes him unique too. I’m not picking him as a starter from day one but I think he can develop into a solid depth cornerback early on is an NFL career and who knows where it can take off from there.”
Lucas is a crafty cornerback. He has solid ball skills, he’s a willing contributor against the run, and has the versatility to play on the boundary or in the slot. He’s the type of cornerback that could step in and be a spot starter in case of an injury and wouldn’t panic if he was thrown into the fire.
For a team that could be looking for a depth piece in the secondary on day three of the draft, Lucas would be a slam dunk pick for the Packers.
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