Green Bay Packers: Immediate Reactions to Kylin Hill Selection
By Paul Bretl
For the final pick, the Green Bay Packers’ 2021 NFL Draft, they take running back Kylin Hill from Mississippi State, adding to the running back room. Here are a few initial thoughts on the selection.
– The Green Bay Packers taking a running back felt inevitable. Yes, they have AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones, but RB3 is up for grabs. On the roster, options before the Hill pick included Patrick Taylor, Dexter Williams, and Mike Weber.
– Hill is a very experienced pass-catcher, totaling 83 targets over his career, including 67 receptions at 9.4 yards per catch and with six receiving touchdowns. This, of course, is a plus in the Matt LaFleur offense.
– Standing at just over 5’10” and weighing 214 pounds, Hill posted a Relative Athletic Score of 7.31 out of 10.
– Hill opted out after three games in 2020, but during the 2019 season, he rushed for over 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns. The year before, in 2018, he rushed for 734 yards and four touchdowns on 117 attempts, according to PFF ($$).
– Hill was a big play waiting to happen at Mississippi State. In 2018, he averaged 6.3 yards per rush and in 2019, 5.5 along with 59 runs of 10 yards or more. His 40 runs of 10 yards or more in 2019 were the 13th most in college football.
– Hill is a very well-rounded back, as you can see from his rushing and passing game numbers, but he’s also a very technically sound pass-blocker as well. Again, something that LaFleur covets at the running back position.
– The Green Bay Packers’ overall draft isn’t going to draw much attention, but they did a fantastic job of addressing team needs. This pick further illustrates that point.
– As a runner, Hill doesn’t go down easy. If a defender isn’t going to wrap up and put everything he has into bringing Hill down, he is just going to bounce off of him.
– Hill primarily lined up out of the backfield but does have brief experience out of the slot.
– For more on Hill’s game, here is what Jordan Reid of The Draft Network had to say in his pre-draft scouting report:
"“Hill is a maturely built rusher that can have a lasting impact as both a rusher and pass-catcher out of the backfield. His body structure comes into play on runs as he has well above-average contact balance. His ability to withstand would-be tacklers is one of the bigger assets to his game overall. Hill doesn’t contain many different speed levels, as he hardly ever will be a running back that produces explosive plays in bunches.Hill is a running back prospect that can be aligned at various spots in formations and be utilized in those certain spots. Best in a zone-blocking scheme, he’s a runner that can get upfield to take advantage of creases that are made available to him. His density enables him to churn out tough yardage and finish carries with lots of intensity.”"