Green Bay Packers 2021 NFL Draft Meeting Tracker & What to Know 3.0

Every few weeks throughout this pre-draft process, I’ve been highlighting the players that the Green Bay Packers have met with as part of the pre-draft process. In the first two articles, I’ve taken a look at about 25 players who have been connected to the Green Bay Packers this offseason, and while I’m sure there are many others, those are the ones that we know about.

Today I have a new group to take a look at, as each of these players has reportedly met with Green Bay over the last few weeks. While evaluating the player’s tape is always going to reign supreme, these meetings are important to the pre-draft process as well, as it allows teams to get to know the player a little better and to ask them questions that they have.

So with the help of The Draft Network’s Justin Melo, here is a quick look at who each of these players are that the Green Bay Packers have reportedly met with, what the draft analysts are saying, as well as what you need to know about them.

Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

Perhaps the Green Bay Packers have had a formal meeting with Bateman, but that hasn’t been reported. However, as Brian Gutekunst was making his Pro-Day tour, one of the stops was in Minnesota, where he was seen having a conversation with the Gopher receiver. Bateman is one of the more well-rounded receivers you’ll see, lining up out wide and in the slot, winning at the line of scrimmage as well as downfield, and he can run a variety of routes. He’s an immediate impact player.

"“Rashod Bateman projects as a starting NFL wide receiver after spending the last three seasons in the Minnesota Golden Gophers program. Bateman offers an impressive blend of route running, ball skills and competitive toughness into a frame that should alleviate any concerns about his projection to working on the boundary.” — Kyle Crabbs TDN"

Jevon Holland, S, Oregon

Another stop for Gutey was at Oregon’s Pro-Day, where it was reported by Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network that he was there to see Jevon Holland. While Holland is listed as a safety, Holland was the Ducks’ primary nickel cornerback in 2019. He is uber-athletic and is someone that would compete with Chandon Sullivan for those starting reps immediately.

"“He shows excellent versatility and football intelligence to align in multiple places in the secondary. He demonstrates good leadership and communication on the back end and easily adjusts with motion.” — Drae Harris TDN"

Deommodore Lenoir, CB, Oregon

While Gutey may have been in Oregon for Holland, he also spent time with his teammate, Deommodore Lenoir. A three-year starter with the Ducks, Lenoir has a career completion rate of 55.6 percent on 214 targets with six interceptions and 15 pass breakups, according to PFF ($$). He is at his best in zone coverage, which we are going to be seeing a lot of under Joe Barry.

"“In the run game, he is a willing and effective tackler. He doesn’t always wrap up, but he gets the runner on the ground efficiently. In the passing game, he demonstrates good hips in coverage. He is smooth and fluid in soft press and usually stays in phase.” — Drae Harris TDN"

Ramaud Chiokhiao-Bowman, WR, Northwestern

Bowman had a fairly quiet career up until 2020, when he became the Wildcats’ leading receiver, catching 64 percent of his targets for 508 yards at 12.4 yards per catch and with five touchdowns. He primarily lined up on the boundary and was an effective target in all parts of the field. Bowman will be a late-round pick or possible UDFA signee.

Jamien Sherwood, S, Auburn

Sherwood has three years of experience and was a starter for the 2020 season. That year he recorded two sacks, three tackles for loss, along with a completion rate when targeted of 62 percent, 12.4 yards per catch, and two pass breakups. Sherwood had that versatility on display as well, taking 310 snaps from the box, another 193 as the free safety, and 140 in the slot.

"“He’s a physical run defender who is a good tackler in confined areas. He has some pop in his hip as a tackler and is heavy at the point of attack. Sherwood is a good communicator on the back end and appears to have good command of their scheme. In the passing game, he is better as a low hole player in zone. He has the size to match up well against Tight Ends in coverage.” — Drae Harris TDN"

Anthony Butler, LB, Liberty

Between two years with Charlotte and this past year with Liberty, Butler tallied 18 total pressures, including four sacks, along with 15 tackles for loss. In coverage, he allowed only 7.8 yards per catch, came away with two interceptions — both in 2020 — and had seven pass breakups. This past season he was PFF’s 17th highest-graded coverage linebacker.

Frank Darby, WR, Arizona State

Darby saw ample playing time during the 2018 and 2019 seasons before playing in only three games during the shortened 2020 campaign. In those two seasons, he was targeted at least 50 times in each, totaling 1,037 yards with 10 touchdowns–eight of which came in 2019. Darby is a vertical threat, averaging 19.7 yards per catch over his career.

"“He is extremely competitive, typically winning off the line with good foot quickness and hand usage. He then creates separation against man coverage with creative route-running and sufficient separation quickness at the top of the route. He demonstrates good hands by catching the ball away from his frame, although he’s had some instances of body-catches. He is good in contested catch situations.” — Drae Harris TDN"

Eli Stove, WR/KR, Auburn

Stove spent five years at Auburn and, during that time, tallied 176 targets, catching an impressive 77.3 percent of those passes at 8.7 yards per catch with six touchdowns. He is someone who can line up both in the slot and out wide — which is always a plus in the Matt LaFleur offense — and could provide special teams a boost with his experience as a return man.

"“Stove is a good athlete and a dynamic return specialist with unpolished skills at receiver. He possesses upside, and his special teams ability may make him worth keeping around next season.” — Tony Pauline PFN"

Quinn Meinerz, IOL, UW-Whitewater

In an article on The Athletic, Bob McGinn mentioned that Meinerz has met with every NFL team at this point. The Division-III star has taken the draft world by storm this offseason by posting an elite RAS of 9.98 at his Pro-Day and putting on a show at the Senior Bowl. If the Green Bay Packers are looking for Day 2 help inside, Meinerz will be an option.

"“Playing strictly left guard (based on 2019 film), he’s found a comfortable home on that side of the line. He’s a below-average athlete, but he makes up for it with his knowledge of concepts and strength levels. Constantly showing Herculean-like strength against his surroundings, he’s been able to create and sustain high levels of production during his time as a starter.” — Jordan Reid TDN"

Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR, Iowa

Again, I haven’t seen confirmation of a meeting between the Green Bay Packers and Smith-Marsette, but Tony Pauline did report that the Packers were quite interested in the Iowa receiver. Over his four-year career, Smith-Marsette was featured heavily, being targeted 203 times, hauling in 110 of those passes at 14.4 yards per catch with 14 touchdowns.

2019 was his best year, tallying 744 yards at 16.4 yards per catch along with five touchdowns. Smith-Marsette is a very good athlete, who can line up out wide but also provide Green Bay with that added slot presence, and fill that gadget-type role. He has 53 career kick return attempts at Iowa as well.

"“Smith-Marsette brings ample speed, return skills, and vertical receiving to the game, and his production at the University of Iowa isn’t necessarily the best indicator or how talented he actually is—especially given that his open targets were much too often left short or hung in the air long enough to draw defenders back into the play.” — Kyle Crabbs TDN"

Asante Samuel Jr, CB, Florida State

This isn’t exactly new information, the Green Bay Packers had already met with Samuel, but as Melo reported, this was the second meeting–which shows a high level of interest from Green Bay. Samuel is a bit undersized; however, that didn’t stop them from taking Jaire Alexander, and selecting Samuel would go against the grain a bit as his Relative Athletic Score (RAS) is below that 8.0 threshold that Gutekunst has stuck to.

However, if there’s a player to make that exception for, it just might be Samuel. Samuel had a very productive career at Florida State; he is a very willing tackler–making plays around the line of scrimmage. While Samuel primarily played out wide, he could take some snaps from the slot if needed, and he is someone you can put in man coverage and not have to worry about him.

"“Samuel Jr. is a touch undersized, but he is outstanding in man coverage where his natural pattern matching instincts, loose hips, and quick feet make him tough to separate from. Despite not having ideal size, Samuel Jr. is a competitive run defender and tackler that gets his work done and isn’t a liability. While his frame may suggest to some that he’s slot only in the NFL, he’s in the mold of a Brandon Flowers/Denzel Ward and fully capable of playing wide in the NFL like he did in college—although he does have some experience in the slot.” — Joe Marion TDN"