Green Bay Packers Roundtable: 2020 NFL Draft Preview
By Paul Bretl
The NFL Draft is just a few days away, so here are some final thoughts on the Green Bay Packers’ needs, a few prospects, and some predictions.
Unlike the last offseason, this year’s free agency period for the Green Bay Packers was a relatively quiet one and given their tighter salary cap situation, that was to be expected. With four splash free agent signings in 2019 along with some key free agents in 2021, the Packers have had to be more mindful of their spending this time around.
However, the NFL Draft – which is finally just a few days away – presents Green Bay with a tremendous opportunity to bring in what hopefully ends up being a few impact players and pushes them closer to the Super Bowl.
So the million-dollar question in all of this is, who and what positions will they address early on? And while it is oftentimes difficult to know what a team is thinking in general, when it comes to the Green Bay Packers this offseason, it is especially tough.
For one, despite being just a game shy of the Super Bowl, they have a number of positions to fill. Of course, receiver and linebacker headline this list, but it’s worth pointing out that the Packers typically don’t value the linebacker position very highly. So will they spend a first-round pick on one as many hope they will?
On top of that, they need to find their right tackle of the future, get some reinforcements for the cornerback room, and find Kenny Clark some help inside. Not to mention that added depth at running back, tight end, and interior offensive lineman could also be on Brian Gutekunst’s to-do list.
Then there is the added element of Gutey being an absolute wildcard in the draft up to this point. In 2018 he would trade back before moving up to select Jaire Alexander. Then last year, he would select Rashan Gary at 12th overall even though he signed Za’Darius and Preston Smith in free agency, while also trading up once again, this time to take Darnell Savage.
So with all of these unknowns, a handful of our writers here at Dairyland Express have answered a few questions about the upcoming draft, giving their thoughts on what the Packers should do, as well as some prospects that they really like, and some that they aren’t as high on.