Packers’ 2021 first round draft prediction after first week of free agency

The Green Bay Packers were the only team in the NFL who failed to sign a free agent from another team after the first week of free agency, but that doesn’t mean their situation hasn’t changed. Even if it’s not a dramatic shift, the Packers completely canceled out running back as an early target for this team. But which positions are still at the top of the list?

The Packers have a lot of work to do and could be waiting until later in the offseason to target some bargains in free agency. General manager Brian Gutekunst hinted as much during the season and said they’d like to be involved in the surplus of veterans who were expected to become available as a result of the depressed salary cap.

Given Green Bay’s lack of activity, they still have a number of positions they need to address before the start of next season. Their first-round pick–the 29th overall selection–will likely play a huge role in addressing those needs. So, without further ado, let’s make a prediction about which position they’ll target with that top pick.

Here’s a prediction about some of the positions the Green Bay Packers could target in the 1st round of the NFL Draft following the 1st week of free agency.

Prediction: Offensive Tackle

Ideally, the Packers would be able to snag a cornerback who’s ready to start from Day 1 with their first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, it seems unlikely one will fall to them at pick no. 29. Greg Newsome out of Northwestern would be an amazing fit, but he’s much more likely to go in the early 20s.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is offensive tackle. There should be an abundance of tackles on the board and many of which should have first-round grades depending on the team. Every franchise has a different draft board, but Green Bay will likely have their pick from a number of guys who could be available late in the first. Those players include Walker Little, Sam Cosmi, Tevin Jenkins, and Dillon Radunz if the board falls correctly.

Offensive tackle is up in the air for Green Bay in 2021. David Bakhtiari is obviously their stud, but he’s recovering from a torn ACL in late December and it’s way too early to tell when he’ll be ready to come back. Billy Turner will fill in for him, but he’s probably best suited to play inside. Green Bay also released Ricky Wagner to create some cap space, but that’s left them incredibly thin at the position. Elgton Jenkins is another possibility to slide outside, but Green Bay needs to add some more capable bodies upfront and their first-round pick is a nice way to do that.