Green Bay Packers: Players to Watch at the NFL Combine

It’s NFL Combine week for many of this year’s draft prospects, and from the Green Bay Packers’ perspective, here are some key players at positions of need to keep your eyes on.

After hours upon hours of film work from draft analysts and NFL teams, it’s now time for everyone to convene in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine.

The NFL Combine is a week-long event where scouts, representatives from each NFL team, and the NFL media come together to see how members of this year’s draft class perform in on the field exercises, off the field interviews, as well as medical screenings.

Given that teams and analysts have poured over hours of film, what the combine can help provide is validation for what they have seen, or can create discrepancies which forces them to go back and take another look.

From the Green Bay Packers’ perspective, they, of course, hold the 30th overall pick and as we’ve seen in many mock drafts, just about everyone expects that selection to be either a receiver or a linebacker. However, those certainly aren’t the only needs that they have to address.

For me, there are seven positions that the Packers could easily address this offseason, whether that be via free agency or in the draft. I’ve already mentioned receiver and linebacker, but another includes tackle, as finding Bryan Bulaga’s current replacement or eventual replacement should definitely be on their radar.

Finding help for Kenny Clark along the interior defensive line, as well as added depth at tight end and cornerback are all to-do list items as well. And lastly, while many fans don’t want to acknowledge it, there is the possibility that this could be Aaron Jones’ final season in Green Bay, so spending a draft pick on running back isn’t a bad idea either.

So given that those seven areas all have the possibility of being addressed during this year’s draft, here is a list of prospects at each of those positions to keep your eyes on at the NFL Combine.

Also, keep in mind that there may be a few high-end players left off at certain positions. While I hate playing the “he won’t be there” game, for players like Isaiah Simmons, Derrick Brown, Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, Jeffrey Okudah, and so on, unless something really goes wrong between now and draft night, they won’t be around for pick No. 30.

Wide Receiver

Henry Ruggs, Laviska Shenault, Justin Jefferson, Jalen Reagor, Brandon Aiyuk, K.J. Hamler, Tee Higgins, Van Jefferson, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Denzel Mims, Tyler Johnson, Michael Pittman.

Linebacker

Patrick Queen, Kenneth Murray, Troy Dye, Malik Harrison, Jordyn Brooks, Zack Baun, Akeem Davis-Gaither, David Woodward.

Interior Defensive Lineman

Javon Kinlaw, Justin Madubuike, Raekwon Davis, Ross Blacklock, Neville Gallimore, Rashard Lawrence, Jordan Elliot, Marlon Davidson, Leki Fotu.

Tackle

Jedrick Wills, Tristan Wirfs, Mekhi Becton, Andrew Thomas, Lucas Niang, Prince Tega Wanogho, Josh Jones, Austin Jackson, Saahdiq Charles, Ben Bartch.

Cornerback

Kristian Fulton, C.J. Henderson, Damon Arnette, Jeff Gladney, Trevon Diggs, Noah Igbinoghene, Bryce Hall, A.J. Terrell, Jaylon Johnson, Cameron Dantzler.

Tight End

Hunter Bryant, Brycen Hopkins, Adam Trautman, Cole Kmet, Thaddeus Moss, Colby Parkinson, Jared Pinkney, Cheyenne O’Grady.

Running Back

J.K. Dobbins, D’Andre Swift, Jonathan Taylor, Cam Akers, Zack Moss, Eno Benjamin, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Darrynton Evans, Lamical Perine, Anthony McFarland, Antonio Gibson.

Obviously there are many other players that we could focus on, but a large majority of this group here could very well be on the board when the Green Bay Packers are on the clock with any one of their first four selections. So be sure to watch closely to see how any one of these prospects performs this week at the NFL Combine.

Prospect info courtesy of The Draft Network and NFL.com