The Green Bay Packers’ top three draft picks – Rashan Gary, Darnell Savage and Elgton Jenkins – played over 2,000 total snaps during the 2019 season. All three were top-50 picks. Savage and Jenkins were both early starters.
Will the Packers get any kind of early impact from the rookie class in 2020?
It’s a fair question. The three top-100 picks from the first two days don’t really have a clear path to the field. The Packers aren’t planning for first-round pick Jordan Love to play in 2020, second-round pick A.J. Dillon will be the third-string running back behind Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams, and third-round pick Josiah Deguara – despite looking like a strong fit for the scheme – plays a tough position for Year 1 impact and may enter his rookie season as the third or fourth tight end on the depth chart.
Day 3 picks might have a better chance of contributing early.
Linebacker Kamal Martin, the Packers’ fifth-round pick, will enter the team’s weakest position group. There’s no sure-fire starter next to Christian Kirksey. Offensive lineman Jon Runyan has all the tools to be a successful interior option, possibly even as a future starter. Jake Hanson could be the backup center.
Safety Vernon Scott and outside linebacker Jonathan Garvin both have a chance to assume depth roles behind established starters.
Still, finding one Packers rookie with a legitimate chance to play even 500 or more snaps in 2020 is difficult. Dillon could become a major part of the offense if either Jones or Williams gets hurt, and Martin has a chance to be the No. 2 linebacker after Kirksey. Both are more likely to be rotational players. Runyan might need a year before he’s ready to challenge for a starting job.
Love, if all goes right, will sit on the bench and learn behind Aaron Rodgers for at least a year.
The Packers are coming off a 13-3 season and clearly used the 2020 draft to build the roster for the future, especially on offense. The 2019 draft found instant starters. The 2020 draft built depth. Don’t expect early impact.
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