5 Packers whose stock is on the rise in training camp
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers Long-Snapper Jack Coco
Steven Wirtel struggled with consistency last season, which to some degree did play a role in Mason Crosby’s issues. Wirtel finished with the third lowest PFF grade in 2021 among all long-snappers while also being run over in the Packers playoff matchup with San Francisco that resulted in the blocked punt for a touchdown.
He now finds himself in a competition this summer with undrafted rookie Jack Coco.
Coco was signed following the draft after spending his college career at Georgia Tech. Coco was the team’s long-snapper — specifically on field goal and extra point attempts — from 2018 to 2020 before fully transitioning to tight end.
So far, through training camp, it has been Coco who has spent a majority of the first team reps with the field goal unit. Maybe the Packers just want to get some additional looks at the new guy, but it would appear that he is the current front-runner for this job.
A few things to watch moving forward are how Coco performs on punts, as he was never used in that capacity at Georgia Tech. Also, Coco and Wirtel are not only competing against each other but other long-snappers around the NFL who are in danger of being cut when final rosters are set. It’s not uncommon for teams to make late additions on special teams.