Green Bay Packers: 7 Realistic Predictions for 2021 NFL Draft

All but one pick will have a RAS above 8.0

If you’re unfamiliar with the Relative Athletic Scoring table (RAS), it’s a way to compare the athleticism of athletes within their respective position groups based on their measurements and the athletic testing completed at the Combine or their Pro-Days.

The scale ranges from 0 to 10, with 5.0 being average—the closer to 10 a prospect scores, the better the athlete. And remember, these scores are based on the position group, so a center and a cornerback can have the same RAS score even though their testing is quite different.

So how does this tie into the Green Bay Packers? Well, over Gutey’s three drafts, 25 of his 28 draft picks have been RAS eligible. Of those 25, 22 have scored 8.0 or higher. And of those 22, 13 of them have been above the 9.0 mark. It’s clear, Gutey loves elite athletes.

Now, I don’t think the Packers are scrolling through RAS scores, but when there is this strong of a correlation, it can’t be ignored either. So my prediction is that this trend continues, although I am allowing one player to be below that 8.0 mark because in that has happened in each of Gutey’s first three drafts—Cole Madison in 2018, Jace Sternberger in 2019, and Jake Hanson in 2020.

So if there is a prospect you really like but their RAS is below 8.0, I’d be wary.

No WR or LB in the First Round

So many mock drafts this offseason have had the Green Bay Packers taking a wide receiver or a linebacker in the first round. And as I’ve said before–I get it. Receiver is a huge need for the 2022 season, and it is a deep class, while the linebacker position can be upgraded, not to mention that it needs more depth as well.

However, when it comes to the Green Bay Packers and taking a receiver or a linebacker in Round 1, history says otherwise.  As Ross Uglem of Packer Report has pointed out, since 2005, the Packers have spent just one combined first-round pick on a linebacker, receiver, interior offensive lineman, or a tight end.

Sure, trends can be broken. In fact, one of my predictions is that Green Bay strays away from one of their long-standing trends–the height and weight thresholds for receivers. But I don’t see that being the case here. With the depth at receiver, they can still land a difference-maker in Rounds 2 or 3, and at linebacker, well, I just don’t think they value it enough to spend a first-round pick on it.