The Packers as of today have hosted or will be hosting 14 players. Those visits would seemingly provide some straightforward insight into what the Packers are looking at later this month.
Teams can use their top 30 visits for several different reasons. That reason could be straight forward – they like a particular player and want to use the opportunity to look deeper at the prospect. They might use them to build backup plans for when another prospect they’ve already decided on doesn’t make it to the spot they assumed. They might even use them to throw other teams off the players that they are actually targeting.
Wide Receiver
- Isaiah Bond – Texas
- Matthew Golden – Texas
- Emeka Egbuka – Ohio St.
It should be no surprise that wide receiver is a priority for the Packers. Between Christian Watsons injury, Romeo Doubs concussion history and Dontayvion Wicks inability to catch (so far) the position is in need of attention. In addition, all three players will be looking for second contracts soon.
While Golden has been placed higher in mock drafts than the other two, Egbuka to me is the ideal Packer. He’s got reliable hands, can play both outside and in the slot, and has the measurables that you’d want from a high pick. History suggests that the pick won’t be a receiver, but if Egbuka is the guy Packers fans should be thrilled.
Edge
- Shemar Stewart – Texas A&M
- James Pearce – Tennessee
- Mykel Williams – Georgia
Similar to WR, the Packers looking at edge players makes perfect sense. Despite promising numbers in 2023, and the defense improving as a whole in 2024, the pass rush has left something to be desired. There is hope that Rashan Gary returns to form with a year in the new scheme under his belt, and that the coaching change helps Lukas Van Ness take that next step. But ultimately the team needs more firepower.
Picking the ideal Packer from this group is a little tougher than it was with the wide receivers. While all three have the kind of measurables that the Packers seem to value in their top picks, their actual production at the college level is low, even for a team like Green Bay that is more willing to take risks in that regard.
There are arguments to make that “production” matters less now than it has in the past with how the college game has evolved, but any of these three players would represent a departure from what the Packers have been willing to do in the past.
If I had to pick one, Williams would be the choice. He was injured his last season which could contribute to the lack of production, in addition to being a part of a once again loaded Georgia defense.
Offensive Line
- Esa Pole – Washington State
- Jacob Bayer – Arkansas State
- Dalton Cooper – Oklahoma State
- Josh Simmons – Ohio St
- Anthony Belton – NC State
- Josh Williams – Cincinnati
With two spots unsettled on the line and a third being helmed by a player switching positions its not surprising that Green Bay is looking at o-linemen. Despite picking Jordan Morgan at the top of their draft last year, the Packers could still decide the group needs reinforcements. This is particularly true if they are hesitant about paying Rasheed Walker after this season.
While the idea of taking another first round lineman doesn’t necessarily sit well with me given the other needs on the team, the overall lack of offensive line depth across the league makes it that so picking one in the draft is never a bad idea.
While I see the appeal of taking a chance on a player like Simmons who might fall due to injury, the only player I’d really want at 23 isn’t one that has visited with the team. That would be Texas LT Kelvin Banks.
The Likely Path
The Packers also hosted DT TJ Sanders from South Carolina, and CB Jason Marshall Jr from Florida. Neither position would be a surprise given Green Bays needs, but the amount of players the Packers are doing homework on at other spots suggest that those may be targets for later in the draft.
It is very likely that one if not more future Packers are on the lists above. Look to previous years if you have any doubt:
2023 also saw the Packers taking multiple players they had met with prior to the draft. While everything is on the table, my guess right now is that the pick is ultimately a wide receiver or offensive tackle.
Don’t forget however that this is a team that makes trades every single year come draft day. With the Alexander situation still unresolved, don’t be surprised if the Packers name comes across the ticker more than once come draft day.
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