Green Bay Packers: A Look at UDFA Jack Heflin & What Analysts are Saying

Getting Kenny Clark some help has been a big need for this Green Bay Packers team the last few years now, and if we look at the current construction of the IDL room, there’s a realistic path to this unit being much more successful.

Along with Clark, Kingsley Keke appears poised for a Year 3 leap after taking a step forward in Year 2. Rookie TJ Slaton can become a reliable run-stuffer as the nose tackle, while Dean Lowry and Tyler Lancaster could both be more impactful in reduced roles.

But on the flip side, outside of Clark, there is no guarantee any of what I just mentioned takes place either, and whether that be in 2021 or down the road, that could open the door for UDFA Jack Heflin from Iowa.

Heflin has four years of experience at the college level with nearly 2,000 career snaps. He spent his first three seasons at Northern Illinois from 2017 to 2019, totaling 65 pressures, including a career-high in 2019 of 33, and nine total sacks during that span that includes a career-high of six in 2018. Heflin would also tally 20 tackles for loss, including at least eight in each of the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

In terms of overall production and sound play, 2019 was the best of Heflin’s career, grading out as one of the best IDLs in the country, according to PFF ($$). His overall grade of 90.1 ranked as the sixth-best, while his 89.4 grade against the run ranked ninth.

After a successful three years at Northern Illinois, Heflin would transfer to Iowa for the 2020 season, where in eight games, he would record 13 pressures, a sack, and 3.5 tackles for loss.

Heflin has been a more productive run defender over his career — an area that this Green Bay Packers team could use some help in — than pass rusher, and he took a majority of his snaps lined up in the B-gap.

At his Pro-Day, Heflin measured in at 6’3” – 304 pounds with his arm length ranking in the 16th percentile and his wingspan in the 57th, according to Mock Draftable. Heflin would post a slightly below-average athletic score of 4.93 on the RAS table, scoring above average in the bench, vertical and broads jumps, as well as in the shuttle and 3-cone drills. However, his 40-yard dash time of 5.33 really brought down his overall score.

Now for more on what the Green Bay Packers are getting in Jack Heflin, here is what a pair of draft analysts had to say about the former NIU and Iowa IDL:

Lance Zierlein – NFL.com

"“Self-made interior lineman who began his career as a walk-on and finished as a four-year starter with his final chapter at a Power Five program. Heflin is low-cut and country strong with a wide frame carrying short arms. He’s capable of handling himself in one-on-one scraps with his quick hands and strength at the point of attack, but doesn’t have the technique to deal with double-teams just yet. He can bend and move, but struggles to make plays through block engagements. He is going to play hard as a rusher, but lacks NFL traits to make much of a difference in that category. His size and strength give him a puncher’s chance, but it’s tough finding a clean positional fit for him.“"

Tony Pauline – Pro Football Network

"“Positives: Hard-working, first-step lineman with marginal athleticism. Fires off the snap, plays with terrific pad level, and effectively uses his hands to protect himself. Quickly locates the ball handler, slides off blocks laterally, and plays through the whistle.Negatives: Lacks a great closing burst. Often controlled by a single blocker despite his size.Analysis: Heflin gets the most from his ability but lacks great upside. His tenacity and fundamentally sound football could help him capture a roster spot as a backup defensive tackle.”"