11 Standout performers from Green Bay Packers OTAs

Voluntary OTAs have wrapped up for the Green Bay Packers. Over the last three weeks, the Packers held eight practices, three of which were open to the media. Based on what I was able to see during those open sessions, I have my list of standout performers.

It’s important to keep in mind this time of the year that the pads aren’t on, and every nugget of information should be taken with a grain of salt. Now with that said, these practices are far from meaningless either. Matt LaFleur and his coaching staff are collecting data points on each player that, when combined with what takes place during training camp and the preseason, will ultimately lead to playing time and roster decisions.

During these practices, the Packers are laying the foundation for what they want their offensive and defensive units to look like schematically, to then really begin building upon it in training camp, along with learning how to practice together.

The criteria to make this list is that a player either had to consistently make a play or two during the three practices that the media was able to attend, or perhaps they had just one really good day. Of course, there were others who made plays outside of those I discussed below, but this group stood out the most in my eyes, as there is only so much I can catch during practice.

Malik Heath, WR

As I mentioned on Twitter during the most recent practice, Malik Heath seems to make at least one impressive catch each day. During one session, he had what I thought was the play of the day, catching a highly contested pass down the sidelines from Sean Clifford with three defenders around him. Then this past Tuesday, he had back-to-back receptions along the sidelines in the two-minute drills, one on a deep out and another on a corner route, that were again contested, but he was able to make the catch and get both feet in.

Caleb Jones, OT

As expected for a second-year undrafted rookie, it’s not as if Jones didn’t experience some ups and downs when on the practice field. However, what I find to be most noteworthy is that when David Bakhtiari wasn’t participating in team drills, it was Jones who was at left tackle with the ones. In terms of him competing for playing time this year, I wouldn’t reach much into this. Obviously, Bakhtiari is the left tackle, and the backup will be either Zach Tom or Yosh Nijman, both of whom were competing at right tackle, which is why that spot was open for Jones. But this does also show that the Packers do think highly of him. Rasheed Walker also had some left tackle snaps with the twos. Next year there is some uncertainty at the tackle position for Green Bay, and at that time, we could see Jones competing for a starting spot.

Romeo Doubs, WR

To put it simply, Romeo Doubs was Jordan Love’s go-to target during several of these practices. During one two-minute drill, Love connected with Doubs four times on what ended up being a scoring drive. In the most recent practice, Love found Doubs in the back left corner of the end zone on a corner route, where Love dropped the ball in a bucket where only Doubs could make the catch. When asked if there was chemistry that has developed between him and Love, Doubs said that he believed there was. He added that the two had worked out together on several occasions this offseason. Then when Love was asked about his connection with Doubs, he said it’s easy to get him the ball because he’s always getting open.

Tarvarius Moore, S

The second safety spot is up for grabs this summer, and not surprisingly, so far, it has belonged to Rudy Ford. But based on what I’ve seen, if I were asked to put together a current depth chart at the safety position, I would have Tarvarius Moore in that third spot. Moore has also been taking snaps with the starters alongside Savage, and he came down with an interception off Love to end Tuesday’s two-minute drill.

Colby Wooden, IDL

Given the state of the Packers’ interior defensive line position, with so much inexperience at it, Green Bay is going to have to rely on Colby Wooden this season. Through OTAs, he was already taking snaps with the starters. In one practice in particular, he really made some noise, making his way into the backfield on a few instances, along with making what would have been a sack. LaFleur listed Wooden as one of the players who has stood out to him during OTAs. He will most certainly be used in passing situations, where his versatility allows him to be moved up and down the defensive front, but Wooden will also have to be on the field for run downs as well, an area that can be more difficult for young players to make an impact in. As run game coordinator Jerry Montgomery said, the Packers are prepared to “weather the storm” with Wooden and Karl Brooks.

Carrington Valentine, CB

Without Jaire Alexander or Rasul Douglas at the voluntary OTAs, we’ve seen Shemar Jean-Charles and Corey Ballentine as the primary boundary cornerbacks with the starting defense. However, Carrington Valentine saw some starting reps as well this past Tuesday, and he capitalized on the opportunity. During a red zone drill, Love tried to connect with Doubs on consecutive plays, but both were broken up by Valentine, one of which was nearly picked off by another defender with the ball deflected up into the air. Following that practice, LaFleur said that Valentine has done an “unbelievable job.” 

Tyler Goodson, RB

When given the opportunity, Tyler Goodson continues to showcase his playmaking abilities with the ball in his hands, something we saw from him often during last year’s preseason. Goodson has displayed excellent burst as well as vision as a ball carrier and has been utilized out of the slot as a pass catcher, where he brings a fair amount of experience from his college days at Iowa. LaFleur would say that Goodson has done a “nice job,” calling him “explosive” and also complementing him on his pass-catching abilities. With Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon dominating the offensive snaps in season, as running backs coach Ben Sirmans said earlier this offseason, special teams will play a “huge role” in determining who the third running back is.

Lukas Van Ness, Edge Rusher 

Lukas Van Ness spent the first two practices open to the media lining up wit the twos before spending most of Tuesday with the starters, alongside Preston Smith. While with the backups, Van Ness had a really impressive practice, living in the backfield on a number of plays. Using his power and ability to get off the ball quickly, he was able to make his way into the backfield by driving the offensive tackle back and also able to create separation, which freed him up to pursue the quarterback. His most impressive play came off of play-action, where he set a strong edge while identifying if the running back had the ball before pursuing the quarterback for what would have been a sack. As part of Van Ness’ development, working on a secondary pass-rush move to complement his power will be a must.

Jeff Cotton, WR 

Jeff Cotton is the oldest wide receiver on this Packers roster as a 2020 undrafted rookie. In the first two practices that I was able to see, he was relatively quiet, but he’s on this list because of how he performed this past Tuesday. During a red zone drill, Cotton ran a crosser from the right side of the field to the left, and Sean Clifford was able to connect with him in the soft spot of the defense. Then in the two-minute drill, with Clifford facing a blitz, he put the ball where only Cotton could catch it in the front right corner of the end zone. Cotton toe-tapped and caught the ball cleanly for the score. With the Packers having drafted six receivers in the last two years, the receiver depth chart could be pretty well set, but with Grant DuBose still not practicing, perhaps that sixth spot is more up for grabs than we think.

Justin Hollins, Edge Rusher

As I wrote recently, at least from a contract standpoint, Justin Hollins is not a roster lock, as there is very minimal dead cap that the Packers incur if they move on from him. However, with how he’s being utilized in training camp, either playing with the starters or twos, it’s hard to envision him not being on this team. If Rashan Gary beings the season on PUP, Hollins will then be a roster lock. Much like last season with Green Bay, it’s not as if there have been a ton of splash plays from Hollins during OTAs, but he’s been very steady against both the run and the pass, and there is absolutely something to be said for having reliability at a position.

Devonte Wyatt, IDL

Devonte Wyatt missed the second practice but returned to the field this past Tuesday and made a couple of splash plays, working his way into the backfield on three occasions, one of which likely would have been a sack. Kenny Clark said of Wyatt earlier this offseason that he has the ability to be a really good pass rusher, but where he has to continue to improve is against the run, where he is going to have to be relied upon heavily this season. Rookies Wooden and Brooks will see some run snaps too, as already mentioned, but I’m guessing the Packers preferred early-down configuration will be Wyatt, Clark, and TJ Slaton.