Welcome back to the Green Bay Packers 2023 Draft board for the NFL draft. This will obviously be the Packers draft board for the defense. You can read last year to give you an idea how this works. Same as the offense, the Packers have specific thresholds for each position. As with the offensive plays, they will be listed in order of RAS score. You can learn more about RAS on Kent’s website.
Defensive Line:
With the Packers thresholds, they like their defensive linemen athletic. 6’2+, 290+, with a 40-yard dash time of 5.1 or faster, and a 7.6 3-cone or better. This class is much better than recent classes. Even with Devonte Wyatt being drafted in the first last year, they could still use more depth on the line with Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed both gone from last year. I would expect them to take at least one.
- Keion White – Georgia Tech – 9.92 age, weight
- Adetomiwa Adebawore – Northwestern – 9.72 weight
- Jalen Redmond – Oklahoma – 9.71
- Scott Matlock – Boise State – 9.66
- Bryan Bresee – Clemson – 9.61
- Spencer Waege – North Dakota State – 9.58
- Gervon Dexter – Florida – 9.52
- Shakel Brown – Troy – 9.47
- Zacch Pickens – South Carolina – 9.22
- Moro Ojomo – Texas – 9.16
- Jacob Sykes – UCLA – 9.05 weight
- Keeanu Benton – Wisconsin – 8.9
- Jamal Woods – Illinois – 8.84
- Jacob Slade – Michigan State – 8.76 weight
- Dante Stills – West Virginia – 8.61 weight, vertical
- Jason Lewan – Illinois State – 8.54
- Caleb Thomas – Louisiana-Monroe – 8.13
- Mike Allen – Western Kentucky – 8.07
- Chris Mejia – Washington State – 7.67 weight, short shuttle
- Trey Botts – Colorado State-Pueblo – 7.63 weight
- James Nyamwaya – Merrimack – 7.18 3-cone
- Ellison Hubbard – Sam Houston State – 6.83 vertical
- Nesta Jade Silvera – Arizona State – 6.56
Of course, there are players who didn’t test that I expect to be on the Packers’ draft board, like Jalen Carter — if he is there. Guys I would like to see in GB, but don’t make the thresholds include: Calijah Kancey-Pitt, Jerrod Clark-Coastal Carolina, Zi’Yon Hill-Green-Lousiana-Lafayette, and Kobie Turner-Wake Forest.
Edge Rusher:
The Packers have always liked highly athletic edge rushers. Generally a 4.75 or faster 40-yard dash, 35″ vertical, and a 7.25 3 cone or faster. So far in Joe Barry’s tenure, the preference for bigger edge rushers has somewhat held up, so I am still sticking with guys who are over 250, with 33″ or longer arms.
This year’s class is pretty deep, and the Packers need depth with Rashan Gary coming off an ACL and Preston Smith being over 30. I expect them to draft at least one. This list isn’t very big because this class is full of undersized pass rushers.
- Yaya Diaby – Louisville – 9.86
- Myles Murphy – Clemson – 9.71 vertical
- Isaiah Foskey – Notre Dame – 9.6
- Isaiah McGuire – Missouri – 9.53 3-cone
- Derick Hall – Auburn – 9.4 weight
- Lukas Van Ness – Iowa – 9.39
- Zach Morton – Akron – 9.32
- Tavius Robinson – Ole Miss – 8.77 short shuttle
- Zach Harrison – OSU – 8.73 short shuttle
- Felix Anudike-Uzomah – Kansas State – 8.72
- Jalen Harris – Arizona – 8.66
- Thomas Incoom – Central Michigan – 8.54 vertical
- Deslin Alexandre – Pittsburgh – 8.42
- Chance Main – Colorado – 8.28 vertical
- DJ Johnson – Oregon – 8.3 broad jump, vertical
- Baldonado, Habakkuk – Pittsburgh – 8.13 weight
- Travez Moore – Arizona State – 7.6 weight
Pretty much everyone in this group did some workouts. A few guys who are off the Packers’ draft board that I would like to see them make exceptions for would be: Bj Ojulari-LSU, Will McDonald-Iowa State, Dylan Horton-TCU, Andre Jones-Louisiana, and Viliami Fehoko-San Jose State.
Linebacker:
In the past, linebackers were very much like tight ends in Green Bay. They did not have a high threshold for the position. Generally speaking, they liked linebackers who are 6’1+ 230+ with a 4.45 short shuttle or better, and a 7.25 3-cone or faster and not much else beyond that. The guys they have drafted have had an average RAS of 6.33.
This usually leaves us with a large group of linebackers who fit, but since Gutekunst has taken over it seems he likes his LB’s a little more athletic. There isn’t much need on the roster for a linebacker outside of some depth.
- Jack Campbell – Iowa – 9.98
- Trevor Nowaske – Saginaw Valley State – 9.85
- Trenton Simpson – Clemson – 9.83
- Ben Van Sumeren – Michigan State – 9.65
- Yasir Abdullah – Louisville – 9.56
- Kyle Soelle – Arizona State – 9.25
- Anfernee Orji – Vanderbuilt – 9.23 weight
- Amari Burney – Florida – 9.19 weight
- Zaire Barnes – Western Michigan – 9.12
- Brandon Bouyer-Randle – UConn – 9.09 age
- Drew Sanders – Arkansas – 8.97
- Jeremy Banks – Tennesse – 8.95 3 cone
- Zeke Vanderburgh – Illinois State – 8.72 short shuttle
- Noah Sewell – Oregon – 8.38 3 cone
- Wilson Huber – Cincinnati – 8.34
- Shaka Hayward – Duke – 7.89 vertical, 3-cone
- Kelechi Anyalebechi – Incarnate Word – 7.92 height
- Elysee Mbem-Bosse – Davenport – 7.8 short shuttle
- Jadrian Taylor – UTEP – 7.44 broad jump
- Mariano Sori-Marin – Minnesota – 7.32
A few guys that I wish were on the Packers’ draft board: Dorian Williams-Tulane, SirVocea Dennis-Pitt, Owen Pappoe-Auburn, Jimmy Phillips Jr.-SMU, and Ivan Pace Jr.
Cornerbacks:
The Green Bay Packers have a type when it comes to corners. They look for guys who are 5’10 1/4+ 190 pounds+ with a 4.55 or faster 40-yard dash, and a 7.07 3-cone or faster. Their average RAS score has been a 7.21, but recently Brian Gutekunst he has liked them even more athletic.
While they have Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, and Rasul Douglas, Stokes is coming off an injury and Douglas could end up playing some safety — or could even be let go after this upcoming season. Plus, it’s always good to draft corners, so I expect them to draft at least one somewhere.
- Deonte Banks – Maryland – 10
- Julius Brents -Kansas State – 9.98
- Christian Gonzalez – Oregon – 9.95
- Tre Hawkins – Old Dominion – 9.83 weight
- Darius Rush – South Carolina – 9.8
- Jarrick Bernard-Converse – LSU – 9.77
- Kaleb Hayes – BYU – 9.76
- Joey Porter Jr. – Penn State – 9.72
- Cory Trice Jr. – Purdue – 9.67
- Jakorian Bennett – Maryland – 9.58 weight
- Art Green – Houston – 9.47 arm length
- Carrington Valentine – Kentucky – 9.29
- Azizi Hearn – UCLA – 9.19
- Mekhi Garner – LSU – 8.94 40 speed
- Ameer Speed – Michigan State – 8.86
- Cameron Mitchell – Northwestern – 8.85
- Kyu Blu Kelly – Stanford – 8.72 short shuttle
- Terell Smith – Minnesota – 8.66 short shuttle
- Darrell Luter Jr. – South Alabama – 8.46 short shuttle
- Jordan Perryman – Washington – 8.44
- Alex Austin – Oregon State – 7.3 vertical, short shuttle
There are of course some corners who didn’t make Green Bay’s board that I would like to see them make exceptions for: Clark Phillips-Utah, Devon Witherspoon-Illinois, Cam Smith-South Carolina, Tyrique Stevenson-Miami(Fla.), Lance Boykin-Coastal Carolina, and Kahlef Hailassie-Western Kentucky. Garrett Williams did not test, but I’m betting he’s on their board.
Safeties:
Safety is somewhat similar to cornerback when it comes to thresholds and the Green Bay Packers. Again, they like young and highly athletic guys. The Packers do like them a little bigger — about 5’11 and 200 pounds — but are more forgiving on the 40 speed, with 4.6 being the cut off and a 7.1 3-cone. They have also averaged an RAS score of 7.51.
They do not differentiate much from their safeties as far as what they look for from their free safeties versus strong safeties. The Packers have obvious need at safety, and I expect them to draft at least one, maybe two.
- Daniel Scott – Cal – 9.94 arm length
- Amaud Willis-Dalton – McNeese State – 9.41
- Jartavius Martin – Illinois – 9.23 arm length
- Morgan Vest – Northern Arizona – 9.27 arm length
- Gervarrius Owens – Houston – 9.21
- Chamarri Conner – Virginia Tech – 9.15
- Ty Okada – Montana State – 9.15 weight
- RJ Hubert – Utah – 9.1
- Jasir Cox – West Virginia – 8.99 40 time,arm length
- Matthew Jackson – Eastern Kentucky – 8.97 short shuttle
- Jason Taylor II – Oklahoma State – 8.92 3 cone
- Jordan Howden – Minnesota – 8.88
- Alijah McGhee – Minnesota State – 8.84 arm length
- Nico Bolden – Kent State – 8.74 arm length
- Kendall Williamson – Stanford – 8.65
- Aaron Maddox – Campbell – 8.57 arm length
- Tanner McCalister – Ohio State – 8.26 weight, arm length
- Anthony Johnson Jr. – Iowa State – 8.12
- Kaevon Merriweather – Iowa – 7.94 40 time, broad jump
- Brandon Hill – Pittsburgh – 8.55 height
- Jonathan Sutherland – Penn State – 7.51 arm length, 40 time
- Quindell Johnson – Memphis – 7.33 vertical
- Devon Matthews – Indiana – 7.33
- AJ Finley – Ole Miss – 6.94 Broad jump
One guy that didn’t test that I’m sure is on Gutekunst’s board is JL Skinner-Boise State. Some guys whose testing took them off Green Bay’s board that I hope they make an exception for are: Ji’Ayir Brown-Penn State, Tyreque Jones-Boise State, Ja’Von Hicks-Cincinnati, and Divaad Wilson-UCF.