Green Bay Packers: D-Line Best and Worst Case Scenarios
By Kenny Jilek
Guys Looking for Bigger Roles
Kingsley Keke and Montravius Adams are at very different points in their careers. After being drafted in the third round in 2017, Adams has failed to make much of an impact in his first three years in the league, and he is in a make or break season. Keke was a fifth-round pick last season and didn’t play a lot, but he’s hoping to be more involved this year and help this defensive line.
Montravius Adams
Adams has only made two tackles for loss, and six quarterback hits in his three years in the NFL after being a day two draft pick. That’s disappointing numbers, and the Packers are really hoping he can step it up this year.
This may be his last shot as it’s the final season of his rookie contract, and he hasn’t given the Packers any reason to give him another one. Fortunately for him, there are defensive line spots wide open and up for grabs. He’ll have his shot with a pretty weak defensive line group. If he’s improved this offseason, he could win a starting job.
Best Case Stats: 30 total tackles, 2 sacks, 3 TFLs
Worst Case Stats: 10 total tackles, 0 sacks, 0 TFLs
Kingsley Keke
Keke only played nine percent of defensive snaps and made just ten tackles last season, but he looked good in the snaps he got and will likely have an expanded role this season. Again, with the guys in front of him on the depth chart struggling to hold their own, he can jump up to that starting spot.
Hopefully, he’s put his work in this offseason to make himself the player that this Packers’ defense needs him to be. I have a lot of confidence in Keke to be a more impactful player this year, and while he won’t magically come in and transform this defense, he could make it a lot better. However, there still is the chance that he won’t make that jump, and he’ll be on the sidelines again.
Best Case Stats: 50 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, 5 TFLs
Worst Case Stats: 15 total tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFLs
Newcomers
Treyvon Hester and Willington Previlon are both coming to the Green Bay Packers without much fanfare. Hester 27-year-old who hasn’t done much in the NFL and Previlon an undrafted free agent. However, the Packers’ defensive line is the land of opportunity right now, and these guys have as good of a chance as anyone to make the team and at least get themselves in the rotation.
Treyvon Hester
You may know the name Treyvon Hester for one very specific reason; he was the guy that blocked the double doink kick by Cody Parkey in the playoffs two years ago by getting just enough of it with his fingertips.
Hester spent last season with Washington and is now on his fourth team in four years in the league. He is trying to find a place to stick, and this year he could play well enough to earn another contract, even if it’s a cheap one. If he doesn’t do anything, he could get cut, and this could be his last season in the NFL.
Best Case Stats: 25 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, 4 TFLs
Worst Case Stats: 10 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL
Willington Previlon
Previlon was an undrafted free agent signing of the Green Bay Packers this offseason, and he’s worth taking a flyer on. He’s a real two down lineman who doesn’t have much pass-rushing prowess, with only four sacks in college.
While he didn’t have much production at Rutgers in terms of stats, he has some traits that could translate to the NFL game. He’s pretty slim for a defensive lineman and relies on his quickness to shoot gaps as he doesn’t have a ton of bulk at 6’5″ 295.
This is a change of pace from guys like Lancaster and Adams, so he could stay on the roster as a different body type guy. He probably won’t play much this season and probably won’t even make the team, but he could refine his game playing on the practice squad, and we could hear his name in a year or two.
Best Case Stats: 15 total tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFLs
Worst Case Stats: 5 total tackles, 0 sacks, 0 TFLs
Next. Re-signing Kenny Clark Remains Top Priority. dark
What do you think of these possibilities and the defensive line group as a whole? Let me know in the comments below or @DairylandXpress. Next up in the series will be Edge players. Past articles in this series are below if you missed them.