Green Bay Packers: 4 Tackles to Know at Pick 29 in NFL Draft

If we were to rank the Green Bay Packers’ positional needs from most important to least important, at 1A, I would have cornerback, and right behind it would then be offensive tackle.

Recently, the Green Bay Packers cut Rick Wagner in lieu of some cap savings, which isn’t a move that surprised many, but it does leave Green Bay dangerously thin at the tackle position for 2020–especially with David Bakhtiari injured. The only other true tackle on the roster is Yosh Nijman.

On top of that, Billy Turner’s future with the team is uncertain beyond 2021, so not only is finding added depth and a swing tackle for the 2021 season important but finding the right tackle of the future is a must as well.

The good news for the Green Bay Packers is that the 2021 NFL Draft has a very deep tackle class.

With the 29th overall pick in the first round, there will likely be several starting-caliber players available to them if they choose to go that route. While we never know how the draft board is going to end up falling or who exactly will be available, as of now, these are four tackles to keep your eyes on and could be future Green Bay Packers.

Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

The 6’6″ -320 pound Teven Jenkins has primarily played right tackle during his career but also has some snaps at left tackle, as well as right guard. He’s also a very experienced player, having played in 37 games and taken almost 2,700 career snaps.

Jenkins has been a starter since 2018, and after allowing two sacks and 21 pressures during that season, he hasn’t allowed a single sack over the last two years and only 11 total pressures over 623 pass-blocking snaps. As a run-blocker, Jenkins had the third-highest grade among tackles in 2020, according to Pro Football Focus ($), and the 17th highest grade in 2019.

Here is what Jordan Reid of The Draft Network says about Jenkins in his scouting report:

"“A quick setter that’s prone to take horizontal pass sets, he’s created a habit of establishing quick wins by striking his hands and controlling defenders. As a run blocker, he’s able to create considerable amounts of movement when able to gain momentum prior to engagement points. A well above average finisher, Jenkins is the type of offensive lineman that attempts to humiliate players in the opposite color jersey. The echo of the whistle doesn’t slow down his process and he continues on with his process until he wants to conclude. Jenkins’ athleticism and lack of overall range may create questions about his potential at offensive tackle and there will be some teams who grade him as a guard as a result.”"

We all know that the Green Bay Packers love drafting top athletes at their respective positions, so the athletic testing for Jenkins is going to be important, as Reid notes a “lack of overall range.” If Jenkins doesn’t perform well or Brian Gutekunst feels he is best suited to be a guard, then the Packers won’t be selecting Jenkins at this point in the draft.

But if all of that checks out, Jenkins has the dominant performances that NFL teams want to see. Not to mention that who doesn’t want an offensive tackle that “attempts to humiliate players in the opposite color jersey.”