Packers: What do the Scouting Reports Say About Jake Hanson?

The Green Bay Packers selected Oregon center Jake Hanson in Round 6 of the draft. Here is what a few draft analysts have to say about his game.

In Round 6 of this year’s draft, the Green Bay Packers spent all three picks on the offensive line. And at pick 208, they would select center Jake Hanson from Oregon.

Hanson is about as experienced of a player as you will find in today’s NFL Draft. He started 49 games during his four-year career at Oregon, all of which came at the center position and he was named to the Pac-12 All-Conference second team as a junior and senior.

Although he didn’t test particularly well at the combine in the 40-yard dash, Hanson did put up 33 reps on the bench press and he has shown that he can be effective as a zone blocker in the run game. Which of course makes him an ideal fit for Matt LaFleur’s offense. He’s also been very dominant as a pass-blocker as well, rarely letting his quarterback, Justin Herbert, take a hit.

In fact, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), over the past three seasons that includes 1,233 pass-blocking attempts, Hanson allowed only 2 sacks and three quarterback hits during that span.

With Corey Linsley holding down the center position, in 2020 Hanson is going to be a backup where he can continue to develop. However, this is the final year of Linsley’s deal and with David Bakhtiari, Kenny Clark, Aaron Jones, and Kevin King free agents as well next offseason, unfortunately, there is no guarantee that Linsley will be back.

This opens the door for Hanson to potentially be the starting center beginning as soon as next season. And if that may seem a bit far-fetched, just remember that Linsley himself was a fifth-round pick thrown into the fire as a rookie in 2014.

For a more in-depth look at what Hanson can bring to this Green Bay Packers team, here is what a few draft analysts had to say about his game in their final scouting reports prior to the draft:

Kyle Crabbs – The Draft Network

"“Jake Hanson is a potential low end starter in a zone heavy scheme at the pro level. Hanson has a troubling lack of functional power to his game and as a result must rely on steering defenders out of gaps and using his mobility as a weapon.Heavy handed nose tackles will give him some problems anchoring in the middle of the line and Hanson is ideally a player who isn’t left on an island routinely in protection — units that prefer slide protections will help aid his ability in pass pro.”"

Lance Zierlein – NFL.com

"“Four-year starter who has the ability to assimilate into a variety of schemes but is unlikely to stand out in any particular one. His strong, accurate hands and determined effort are his calling cards and he’s been able to hang in against a series of big, talented interior linemen over the years. He lacks power and mass, which could hurt his chances with teams who play against odd-front defenses, but he’s a steady performer who could offer late-round value as a backup.”"

Tony Pauline – Pro Football Network

"“Jake Hanson was a consistent force for Oregon who can line up at center or guard. He’s tough as nails and gets the most from his ability but Hanson is a limited athlete with marginal upside.”"

As is the case with any sixth-round selection, Hanson’s game needs some refinement but he’s an experienced player who is a good fit for this offense and has the potential to become a staple along the interior of the Green Bay Packers’ offensive line in the coming years.