What to Know: Packers have 14 players in for tryouts at rookie minicamp
By Paul Bretl
Rookie minicamp is taking place this weekend for the Green Bay Packers. In addition to the 13 draft picks, 12 undrafted signees, and nine returning players who are able to participate, the Packers are also having an additional 14 players in for tryouts as well.
In part, the more players that are available, the more effective and efficient the Packers can be with their practice time over the next few days. However, with the roster still at 88 players, two short of the 90-man max that is allowed this time of the year, two of these tryout candidates could also end up being signed following this weekend as well.
A roster spot in the present for some does not necessarily mean that they will have a roster spot come training camp, as Brian Gutekunst is frequently churning the bottom of the roster, and there is a justifiable need at a few positions for a veteran addition. But being invited to rookie minicamp for a tryout is a terrific opportunity, nonetheless.
Before practice No. 2 takes place, here is a closer look at each of the 14 players who are in for tryouts with the Packers this weekend.
Mason Hunt, P, Southern Mississippi
6’2″ | 217
Hunt has 142 career college punt attempts. In 2022, he averaged 42.3 yards per attempt with a long of 59. Of all punters, he ranked eighth in the number of punts inside the 20-yard line and ninth in both hangtime and fair catches.
William Hooper, CB, Northwestern State
6’0″ | 185
Hooper is a boundary cornerback who was a very sound tackler, missing only five of his 75 career attempts. In 2022, Hooper allowed a completion rate of only 38% on 71 targets at 15.6 yards per catch with nine pass breakups. He graded out very well as a run defender by PFF’s metrics.
Ellis Merriweather, RB, UMASS
6’1″ | 220 | RAS: 5.49
Over the last two seasons, Merriweather averaged 4.7 yards per rush, including a 1,100-yard season in 2021. He would find the end zone eight times and lose two fumbles. Merriweather was used somewhat sparingly as a pass catcher and did so mostly out of the backfield totaling 28 receptions between 2021 and 2022, with just seven this past season.
Jamyest Williams, RB, Georgia State
5’9″ | 185
Williams averaged an impressive 6.0 yards per rush over three seasons and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. He would catch just 11 career passes, however, and has some punt and kickoff return experience.
Javon Scruggs, S, Liberty
5’11” | 185
Scruggs is an experienced player with 2,305 career snaps, with ample playing time in the box, as a free safety, and in the slot. In coverage in 2022, he allowed just 10 receptions on 20 targets at 13.3 yards per catch, with one interception and one pass breakup. Missed tackles were an issue at times. Perhaps appealing to the Packers is Scruggs’ 535 career special teams snaps.
Justin Ademilola, Edge, Notre Dame
6’1″ | 254 | RAS: 2.21
Ademilola posted 18 pressures and five sacks in 2021 and then 22 pressures and five sacks in 2022. Most of his career snaps have come as a traditional edge rusher, and for what it’s worth, his PFF run defense grades were below average the last two seasons.
Amir Siddiq, Edge, Charlotte
6’0″ | 239 | RAS: 7.55
Although not a ton by any means, Siddiq does have some pass rush experience lined up inside, along with primarily being a traditional edge rusher. Over the last two seasons, he accumulated 65 pressures and 10 sacks. In 2022 specifically, he was one of PFF’s top-graded pass rushers.
Broughton Hatcher, LS, Old Dominion
6’5″ | 232
Hatcher has 302 career special teams snaps and made three total tackles. Hatcher’s kicker, Ethan Sanches, was perfect on extra point attempts in 2022 and 10 of 13 on field goals, including 2-for-3 from 40-plus.
Jacquez Jones, LB, Kentucky
6’0″ | 227 | RAS: 3.14
Jones played over 1,800 total snaps in college, most of which came in the box. His 2022 season was cut short, but in six games, he was one of PFF’s highest-graded tackles at the position and also recorded five pressures and a sack. In coverage, Joens held opponents to 8.7 yards per catch with one interception and one pass breakup.
Isaac Moore, OT, Temple
6’7″ | 300
Moore was on the field for almost 3,200 snaps over his five-year playing career, with just about every one of them coming at left tackle. Between 2021 and 2022, he was credited with allowing two sacks and 31 pressures. In 2021, Moore ranked 42nd out of all offensive tackles in run-blocking grade.
Jack Plumb, OT, Iowa
6’7″ | 298 | RAS: 5.65
Plumb played 1,025 career snaps at Iowa, with 777 coming at right tackle and 246 at left tackle. In 2022, he surrendered four sacks and 23 pressures. His PFF grades were all down in 2022, but he always graded out better as a run blocker than pass blocker for much of his career.
LaQuinston Sharp, IOL, Mississippi State
6’3″ | 310
Listed as a center as that is where much of Sharp’s playing time came from, he also has college experience at both guard positions as well. In four seasons, he never allowed more than two sacks or 10 pressures. During his final two seasons, he was one of PFF’s better pass-blocking centers by grade.
Matt Carrick, IOL, Michigan State
6’5″ | 325
Carrick spent most of his career at Michigan State at right guard. Over the last two seasons, he gave up just one sack and six total pressures, although he played a combined 566 snaps. In a small sample size from the 2021 season (just 116 run-blocking snaps), he finished with a run-blocking grade of 85.6.
Antonio Moultrie, IDL, Miami
6’4″ | 275 | RAS: 5.24
Moultire played out of multiple gaps at Miami, including 624 from the B-gap, 294 lined up over the tackle, and another 265 as a traditional edge rusher. He recorded 21 pressures and two sacks in 2021 but only four pressures and a sack in 2022, although he ranked 27th in run defense grade out of all interior defenders.
All stats courtesy of pff.com