A Closer Look at Green Bay Packers UDFA RB BJ Baylor

I completed my deep dive into each of the Green Bay Packers’ 11 draft picks, so now we move on to their 14 UDFA signings.

For a UDFA to have a chance at making the 53-man roster, they, of course, have to perform well over the summer, but two other important factors are that there needs to be room on the roster at the position they play, and they’ll need to contribute on special teams. In most instances, the ceiling for these UDFAs in their rookie season is the practice squad.

In these articles, I will be taking a look at the current state of the position that the UDFA plays, a look back at their college career, along with what any pre-draft scouting reports had to say.

Up first is BJ Baylor, a running back from Oregon State.

The current state of Green Bay Packers’ running back room

At the top of the depth chart, the Green Bay Packers have arguably the top running back duo in football with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. But after those two, I have a pair of questions about this position. The first being, will Kylin Hill be ready for Week 1? And second, how many running backs will the Packers roster?

My thought is that if Hill is healthy, he will be RB3 just as he was a season ago–and if the Green Bay Packers choose to keep just three running backs as they did in 2021, then the depth chart seems pretty well set.

However, if Green Bay keeps four running backs on the roster, then a spot will be available. Or if Hill begins the season on the PUP list, then one to two roster spots will be open, depending on how many running backs the Packers plan to keep.

Of course, if there is an opening(s), Patrick Taylor, who saw some playing time last season and is a terrific fit for the Matt LaFleur offense, would be the front runner and who I would expect to make the roster. But that could also leave an opening for BJ Baylor or Tyler Goodson to make a roster push if they can show that they are deserving during training camp and the preseason.

BJ Baylor’s college career

BJ Baylor was on the field for 670 total offensive snaps during the four seasons he played at Oregon State, with a majority of his playing time coming during this previous 2021 season.

Of his 368 career carries, 254 of them came this past year, per PFF ($$). Baylor would end up rushing for 1,259 yards on 6.0 yards per carry with 13 rushing touchdowns and also three fumbles. Most of his rushing attempts came in the zone running scheme as well, which is utilized here in Green Bay under LaFleur.

Baylor finished 16th among all running backs with 54 missed tackles forced, he had 32 carries of 10 or more yards, which ranked 15th in the country, and his 727 yards after contact were the 18th-most.

As a pass-catcher, Baylor caught 14 of his 22 career targets at 6.6 yards per catch, and he was used almost strictly out of the backfield. Also important to note that he didn’t have any special teams snaps.

Baylor measures in at 5’10” – 202 pounds and posted a RAS of 6.10 out of 10, which includes a 4.55-second 40-yard dash. He tested well in the vertical and broad jumps and his composite agility drills were “okay,” but what really hurt his overall score is his size and the 12 reps he put up on the bench press. However, if you remove his bench, Baylor’s overall RAS jumps to 7.09.

What the pre-draft scouting report has to say:

Tony Pauline – Pro Football Network

"“Positives: Highly celebrated ball carrier with average potential,” wrote Pauline. “Sees the field, finds the running lanes, and effectively follows blocks. Runs with an aggressive style, keeps his feet moving, and does not go down without a fight. Runs with authority, has a burst through the hole, and turns on the speed with a single step. Strong and breaks tackles to pick up yardage off initial contact.Negatives: Runs with an upright style and takes a lot of heavy hits. Loses momentum trying to cut back against the grain and alter the angle of runs. Rarely used as a receiver out of the backfield.Analysis: Baylor comes off a career season carrying the ball, but he is primarily an undersized downhill runner with average speed and no capacity to create yardage. The inability to catch the ball out of the backfield will be his downfall trying to make a roster.”"