Green Bay Packers Hosting S Tariq Carpenter on Top-30 Visit

So far, we know of several players who have visited the Green Bay Packers as part of the 30 official pre-draft visits that each team has available to them. A few of those players include Treylon Burks, Sam Williams, Tyquan Thornton, Velus Jones Jr, George Pickens, and Eric Johnson, among others.

Now you can add Georgia Tech safety Tariq Carpenter to the Green Bay Packers list of pre-draft visits as well, according to Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network.

As we’ve discussed before, safety is a need for the Green Bay Packers this offseason. Henry Black, who is no longer on the team, played nearly 300 snaps in 2021 as the team’s third safety, but that playing time will have to be replaced. On the roster options include Vernon Scott, Shawn Davis, and Innins Gaines–all with minimal NFL experience.

However, as we know, the draft is also about planning ahead, not only the current year, and as we look forward to the safety position in 2023, Scott is the only player under contract currently.

Carpenter could be a late-round pick or possibly even go undrafted, so his impact on the defensive side of the ball may not be felt right away, but at some point, he could provide a much-needed presence as that hybrid safety/linebacker for Joe Barry. However, where he could contribute immediately is on special teams, with 408 career snaps at Georgia Tech.

Carpenter measured in at 6’2″ – 230 pounds and posted an 8.9 on the RAS scale, including a 4.52 40-yard dash time with an impressive 1.55-second 10-yard split. He would also post elite vertical and broad jump numbers but did struggle in the shuttle and 3-cone.

He is a very experienced defensive player with 2,178 career snaps. Carpenter is a sound and reliable tackler, recording 64 total tackles this past season, along with 11 stops, and he allowed 18 completions on 27 targets at 14.4 yards per catch with a pass breakup. He would also go on to receive a Senior Bowl invite, where, as Fowler mentions, he “showcased well.”

Carpenter was a very versatile defender during his time at Georgia Tech, with 843 career snaps in the box, according to PFF ($$), another 623 as the free safety, and 586 from the slot. Carpenter also has another 83 along the defensive front and some as a true cornerback as well.

For a closer look at Carpenter’s game, Joe Marino of The Draft Network said this about him in his pre-draft report:

"“At the next level, a transition to weakside linebacker or serving as a hybrid defender is likely necessary. He has the frame needed to play on the second level and features outstanding length. He is a physical defender that is a sound tackler. When it comes to concerns outside of the likely need to embrace a position change, Carpenter is a fairly tight athlete that lacks lateral movement skills. He’s a modest processor that as a safety, could not be trusted in deeper alignments while featuring matchup restrictions in man coverage.”"

In terms of Day 3 picks, the Green Bay Packers have one fifth-round selection and three in the seventh-round.