Green Bay Packers 2022 Draft Prospects to Know: OT Abraham Lucas
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers will have David Bakhtiari back in the mix this upcoming season, but offensive tackle still remains a need. While maybe the Packers don’t need a Day 1 starter, they do need depth.
Green Bay had several tackle options last season, but Billy Turner ended up as a cap casualty, Dennis Kelly is a free agent, and Elgton Jenkins is still recovering from an ACL injury.
At the moment, it is assumed by many that Yosh Nijman will be the Week1 starter at right tackle for the Green Bay Packers, and when Jenkins returns, that job could be his with Nijman becoming the team’s swing tackle off the bench. However, until that time comes, the Packers aren’t left with many options behind Bakhtiari and Nijman.
Cole Van Lanen and Royce Newman both played tackle in college, but both seem to be at their best at guard at the NFL level. On top of that, even when Jenkins is healthy, as we saw in 2021, a team can never have too much depth at one of football’s most important positions.
So up next in our Green Bay Packers prospects to know series is Abraham Lucas from Washington State, someone the Packers have already spoken with at the NFL combine.
Lucas is a four-year starter at Washington State with nearly 2,900 career snaps, and just about every one has come at right tackle, according to PFF ($$). Lucas would allow only one sack during his final two seasons and 13 total pressures.
In 2021 specifically, he finished 13th among offensive tackles in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric and Lucas would also finish the year with the third-highest pass-blocking grade as well, by PFF’s metrics. Brennen Rupp of Packers Wire notes that Lucas’ impressive pass-blocking numbers may have benefitted from the Cougar’s quick passing game.
It’s also worth pointing out that in Washington State’s air-raid offense, only about 27% of Lucas’ career snaps came as a run-blocker. This certainly could be an area of his game that will have to continue to develop in the NFL—although, it’s not as if the Packers need him to be a Day 1 starter either.
Lucas was also a Senior Bowl invitee where he didn’t allow a single pressure in the college All-Star game. He was also named one of PFF’s 10 biggest draft risers from that week in Mobile after his performance in practice and in the game.
At the NFL combine, Lucas would measure in at 6’6” – 315 pounds and posted a RAS of 9.5 out of 10, which included a 4.92-second 40-yard dash, a 4.4-second shuttle, and a 7.25 second 3-cone.
For a closer look at Lucas’ game, here is what The Draft Network had to say:
"“He has very good range and length on the perimeter, and as a result, he is difficult to speed rush. He has very good latch strength in his hands. For a bigger guy, he doesn’t anchor as well as he should nor does he play the game with the brute strength and power his bigger frame suggests.”In the run game, he shows a physically tough temperament and can generate some vertical movement. He is athletic enough to get to the second level and uses his length and competitiveness to engage. In the NFL, he could certainly ascend to become a starter at right tackle in some schemes.”"
For an additional perspective, here is what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com has to say about Lucas:
"“Teams will need to balance the run game limitations against his potential success in pass protection when placing draft value on Lucas. He’s too upright as a drive blocker and too lumbering to get to lateral and second-level blocks.“In pass protection, however, his length and power make him a wider target to circumvent for rushers, while his patience and core strength make him tougher to counter. His need for tight end help when protecting against true edge speed could be a catalyst for a move inside to guard. Lucas is scheme-limited but has eventual starting potential at either right tackle or guard.”"
Over at the NFL Mock Draft Database, which compiles hundreds of mock drafts and dozens of big boards, Lucas is ranked as the 94th overall player in this draft class and projected as a third-round selection.
Given the need for depth as well as the importance of offensive tackle, don’t be surprised to see the Green Bay Packers spend one of their five top-100 picks on the position. In every draft so far, Brian Gutekunst has drafted an offensive lineman at least once, and he’s made six total offensive line selections in the previous two drafts alone.