1 Draft Prospect to Know at Each Position of Need for Green Bay Packers
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers Need: Offensive tackle
Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
Admittedly, Smith is a player who likely isn’t ready to compete for playing time right away with his overall technique needing some serious work, but with David Bakhtiari and Yosh Nijman the likely Week 1 starters at the moment, along with Elgton Jenkins returning at some point, that’s also not necessary either.
Smith would provide needed depth and someone who could develop into a high upside starter. He has the size and athleticism teams look for at offensive tackle, and while a move inside isn’t necessary, he gives the Packers that option as well–which we know is important to them. During the 2021 season, Smith would allow just two sacks, nine pressures, and he was one of PFF’s highest-graded run-blocking offensive tackles.
Green Bay Packers Need: Slot cornerback
Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor
As I mentioned initially, this isn’t a must like some of the positions on this list, but another reliable slot option in addition to Jaire Alexander would give Joe Barry an immense amount of flexibility. While Alexander could finish the 2022 season with the most slot snaps, he is going to be moving around quite a bit as well.
Although listed as a safety, Pitre has 1,153 career snaps in the slot, nearly triple the amount of anywhere else he was asked to line up. In coverage, Pitre allowed a completion rate of 64% on 74 targets over the last two seasons, but at only 8.5 yards per catch, along with two interceptions and six pass breakups.
He was also one of PFF’s highest-graded run defenders at the cornerback position — which is very important for anyone lining up in the slot — and he also logged 33 pressures as a blitzer.