Green Bay Packers: Best Available Day 3 Prospects at Positions of Need

It’s Day 3 of the NFL Draft, an opportunity for teams to find those hidden gems and add to their overall depth. For the Green Bay Packers, they have a lot of flexibility heading into Rounds 4 through 7.

After addressing what was arguably their three biggest needs early on — cornerback, offensive line, and receiver — they truly are in a position to take the best player available, rather than feeling that they have to take a certain position–which is where every team wants to be.

So with six selections on Day 3 — 142, 173, 178, 214, 220, and 256 — and using Daniel Jeremiah’s big board as our guide, let’s take a look at the best remaining players at positions of need that we could see the Green Bay Packers could still address at this point.

Wide Receiver

The Green Bay Packers traded up for Amari Rodgers, and they have Aaron Rodgers’ top-3 targets from 2020 returning, along with Devin Funches now in the mix. But even so, we still might see them go back to the receiver well.

Currently, Rodgers is the only receiver under contract beyond the 2021 season. And while we expect Davante Adams back and perhaps either Allen Lazard or Marquez Valdes-Scantling also returns, looking ahead to continue bolstering what could be a thin position in 2022 is a very Brian Gutekunst-type of move.

Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State

Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC

Demetric Felton, UCLA

Dazz Newsome, UNC

Shi Smith, South Carolina

Jaelon Darden, North Texas

Cade Johnson, SDSU

Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa

Frank Darby, Arizona State

Cornerback

The cornerback position is in a similar situation as receiver when it comes to the long-term outlook. As of now, Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes are the only players that we know will be on this team next season. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Green Bay double-dip at this position to get a head start at restocking the cornerback shelf.

Zech McPhearson, Texas Tech

Tre Brown, Oklahoma

Robert Rochell, Central Arkansas

Keith Taylor, Washington

Darren Hall, San Diego State

Thomas Graham Jr, Oregon

Michael Carter II, Duke

Shemar Jean-Charles, Appalachian State

Tay Gowan, UCF

Interior Defensive Lineman

I imagine that of these remaining needs, this one might be at the top of the list. Green Bay needs to find another somewhat reliable rotational player, but also, they are extremely thin at this position when it comes to depth. The big question is whether or not the value is there when the Packers are on the clock, because as we all know, this is a very weak interior defensive line class.

Daviyon Nixon, Iowa

Marlon Tuipulotu, USC

Tyler Shelvin, LSU

Tommy Togiai, Ohio State

Jay Tufele, USC

Ta’Quon Graham, Texas

Bobby Brown III, Texas A&M

Linebacker

Krys Barnes and Kamal Martin both missed time with injuries in 2020, while Oren Burks is in the final year of his deal and has primarily been a special teams player, and so has Ty Summers. The Green Bay Packers could look to linebacker for some Day 3 depth as well as a hopeful special teams contributor.

And if they are able to land Jarbil Cox somehow, he is an immediate upgrade at the position in coverage situations.

Jabril Cox, LSU

Derrick Barnes, Purdue

Safety

There is the potential that we see Darnell Savage lined up more in the slot this year, which would open up a spot next to Adrian Amos in that two-high safety look that we see under Joe Barry. But this is also a position that is asked a lot of in this new system, and the more versatile options that the Packers have, the better.

Richard LeCounte III, Georgia

Tyree Gillespie, Missouri

Talanoa Hufanga, USC

Jamar Johnson, Indiana

Ar’Darius Washington, TCU

Running Back

We will see if the Green Bay Packers choose to address this position or not, but the RB3 role on this team is wide open. On the roster options include Patrick Taylor — who I really like — Mike Weber, and Dexter Williams. Depending on how comfortable the Packers feel about these players will dictate if they do anything at the running back position on Day 3.

Michael Carter, UNC

Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis

Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State

Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma

Edge Rusher

For starters, there is no such thing as too many pass-rushers, but looking ahead to 2022, there is some uncertainty surrounding this unit. Odds are that Preston Smith won’t be back with his massive cap hit, and while my gut says that Za’Darius Smith receives an extension to help lower his $28.1 million cap hit next year, we also still don’t know that for sure either.

Elerson Smith UNI

Cameron Sample, Tulane

Jonathan Cooper, Ohio State

Quincy Roche, Miami

Patrick Johnson, Tulane

Jordan Smith, UAB

Adetokunbo Ogundeji, Notre Dame

Gary Brightwell, Arizona

Rashad Weaver, Pitt

Offensive Tackle

With the addition of Josh Myers, perhaps that was a sign that the Green Bay Packers’ plan is to keep Elgton Jenkins at the tackle position. However, if that isn’t the case, then adding to the OT room should still be on their to-do list. With David Bakhtiari sidelined, Yosh Nijman is their only backup.

James Hudson Cincinnati

D’Ante Smith, East Carolina

Dan Moore Jr, Texas A&M

Tommy Doyle, Miami (OH)

Jaylon Moore, Western Michigan 

Tight End

I would be somewhat surprised to see this position addressed because the tight end room is set for 2021, but again, the draft is about planning for the future, and the Packers could run into someone serious question marks at the position.

Green Bay will be under a cap crunch again next offseason, so what if they can’t afford or just choose not to re-sign Robert Tonyan? What if Jace Sternberger doesn’t take that Year 3 leap? What if Marcedes Lewis retires? What if Dominique Dafney doesn’t take a step forward?

Those are a lot of “what ifs,” but on Day 3, when it’s really about taking the best player available, those “what ifs” could be enough to spark some action at the position by Brian Gutekunst.

Brevin Jordan, Miami

Noah Gray, Duke

John Bates, Boise State

Jacob Harris, UCF