Green Bay Packers: Two Prospects to Target on Day 2

Amidst the uncertainty and question marks around the future of Aaron Rodgers, the 2021 NFL Draft class may go a long way in dictating the success of the Green Bay Packers in the coming years. With numerous holes to fill and weapons to get, all eyes will be on the Green Bay war room.

After selecting Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes with the 29th selection of the first round, the Packers have hopefully found their long-term solution to play opposite Jaire Alexander on the outside. However, the job is not finished. With two days left in the draft, Brian Gutekunst and Co. have their work cut out for the remaining rounds.

The middle rounds of the draft are often littered with future Pro Bowlers, and the Green Bay Packers could certainly benefit from hitting the mark on one of these selections. With rounds two and three rapidly approaching, the Packers have numerous questions at positions of need. I  will focus on a few prospects that would fit well in the Packers scheme and fill the different voids on the roster.

Specifically on the offensive line. With All-Pro David Bahktihari out a majority of the season with his torn ACL, and Corey Linsley departing in free agency, some holes need to be filled. On top of this, in what seems like a cruel joke on repeat, the Packers have continued their trend of neglecting to select play-making receivers in the first round. Look for Gute to finally pull the trigger on a wideout that will add another dynamic athlete to the already dominant offense. Lastly, there is some great value inside linebacker prospects that could potentially help cement the young core of Krys Barnes and Kamaal Martin.

Round 2: An Answer on the O-Line

In the second round, the Packers hold the 62nd pick and will be in the prime position to select an impact player. One prospect that could be the answer to the offensive line question marks is Wisconsin’s own, Quinn Meinerz. Yes, the homegrown division 3 center from UW-Whitewater would be the perfect fit to be a staple of the Packers offensive line for years to come.

The 6 foot 3-inch, 320-pound Meinerz was not the highly touted prospect out of high school that the majority of prospects hearing their name called in Cleavland were, but he has proven he can compete with the best. By absolutely dominating the competition at Whitewater, he was invited to the Senior Bowl, which provided a perfect proving ground for the unknown D3 prospect.

While at the Senior Bowl, Meinerz not only displayed more than enough talent to play in the NFL but also took the football world by storm with his unique style on the field. Beyond this, his physical makeup is exceptional for the center/guard hybrid he will be in the league. The Relative Athletic Score (RAS) depicts the general athleticism for prospects based on their different measurements and times throughout the scouting process. To say Meinerz scored well on this is an understatement.

Meinerz and the Warhawks of Whitewater did not have a season in 2020, and he did break his hand at the Senior Bowl, so there was a hiccup in the scouting process. Yet, even with the limited film, Meinerz shot up big boards as more workout videos emerged, complimenting his strong performance against other prospects in Mobile. Flexibility is also part of the appeal to Meinerz as well. Having experience at both center and guard, the Packers could experiment and find out which spot fits him best in their scheme and go from there.

Assuming Quinn Meinerz is on the board when Gutekunst and the Packers are on the clock, he would be a phenomenal addition to the Green Bay Packers.

Round 3: More Help on Defense

The third round of this year’s draft offers a lot of intrigue for the Packers. There is a plethora of options Gutekunst and his staff could take at this juncture, but few make more sense than North Carolina linebacker Chazz Surratt. The former quarterback turned inside linebacker showed flashes of elite potential, and he might just pan out to be the missing piece for the Packers’ defense.

Transitioning from starting quarterback to starting inside linebacker while at UNC, Suratt is still learning the position and is a very raw prospect. However, as new as he may be to the position, the man put up stellar stats at inside backer. During his two seasons in this new position, Surratt had 206 total tackles, including 22.5 TFL and 12.5 sacks.

The pure athleticism and instinct possessed by the former Tar Heel give a small glimpse into what his potential is at the next level. Surratt is a developmental project that will take a couple of seasons to further learn the inside linebacker position, but the wait may turn out to be well worth it. The ball skills, intangibles, and things you cannot teach are there… he has the IT factor and could be a nightmare for opposing offenses once he fully develops.

The North Carolina native’s athletic profile is something that gives him an edge over the competition. Having displayed the ability to cover the pass, fill gaps in run defense, and rush the quarterback, Surratt has all the tools to become a great player in the league. Many of the weaknesses in Surratt’s stem from his lack of experience and can be ironed out through coaching and just more time as a linebacker. Some analysts question his strength and ability to truly fill gaps and win the 1 on 1 battle with running backs.

Look at this clip… does that seem to be an issue here?

I love the potential of Chazz Surratt, and the upside is too high for Brian Gutekunst to not take the former Tar Heel if given the opportunity. After learning the position more, Surratt could very well come one of the league’s premier backers.