Two Wisconsin players could be highly impactful for the Packers
Since Brian Gutekunst took over as the general manager in 2018, it hasn't been frequent for him to select players from Wisconsin. From the 61 players he has drafted, there is only one from the local college: offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen, in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Ted Thompson wasn't a […]
Since Brian Gutekunst took over as the general manager in 2018, it hasn't been frequent for him to select players from Wisconsin. From the 61 players he has drafted, there is only one from the local college: offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen, in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Ted Thompson wasn't a frequent Wisconsin drafter either — he famously (or infamously) passed on TJ Watt in 2017, even though he got Vince Biegel with the extra pick acquired in the trade down. Thompson also drafted Jared Abbrederis (2014), and that's it.
But this year might be different. There are two players who can be truly impactful for the Packers and who fit Green Bay's typical profile, running back Braelon Allen and interior offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini.
RB Braelon Allen
According to the NFL Mock Draft Database's consensus board, Allen is the 81st best prospect of the class. That means the Packers can get him in the second round, or maybe even in the third if they get slightly lucky.
He didn't run the 40-yard dash in the NFL Combine, so there isn't a card of his Relative Athletic Score. However, he did show his athleticism in Indianapolis, which bodes well to his chances of becoming a Packer.
His fit is interesting as well. The Packers are expected to keep Aaron Jones, who is under contract for 2024, but not to re-sign AJ Dillon. And the plan is to have a faster and a bigger back. Allen, then, would be an ideal Dillon's replacement.
"I do think we would always like to have one power, bigger back on the roster for short-yardage situations and playing in the weather and closing out games," Gutekunst told Packers.com.
"His speed, strength, and newfound receiving ability in his final season are the perfect fit for today's NFL," said Travis May, A to Z Sports' College Football Managing Editor. "At the Combine, I learned he's been training with Proactive Sports Performance out in California to help round out his game from an on-field athleticism, footwork, and receiving game standpoint."
Braelon Allen has made an effort to improve as a pass-catcher and pass blocker to elevate the perception NFL teams have of him.
"Those are two things that NFL teams are looking for in a back," Allen said. "Especially a guy that's my size and seen more as a bruiser back."
Just like AJ Dillon, though, he doesn't have the run creativity to get much more than what the offensive line gives him, so his big-play ability is limited.
IOL Tanor Bortolini
Bortolini is the 135th player on the consensus board, which means he is expected to be a late fourth-, early fifth-rounder. Generally speaking, he is everything the Packers love in a prospect.
First of all, his athletic profile is off the charts, with elite explosion, speed, and agility. He's undersized, but that historically hasn't been a big factor for Green Bay.
Moreover, his positional versatility is real. Throughout his college career, he had 942 snaps at center, 469 at left guard, 179 at right guard, and 229 at right tackle. The Packers would probably want to play him as an interior lineman, because his arms (31.5) are too short to play tackle at the NFL level.
"He played all three interior spots this past season for the Badgers," Travis May added. "He just posted a 99th percentile A to Z Sports' Athletic Composite Score, showing that he is the best athlete in this class among all offensive line prospects. He's a plug and play option from day one anywhere on the interior. If he drops to day three of the NFL Draft, he'll be a steal."
His perceived weaknesses, like the high pad level, are coachable for the most part.
Potential UDFAs (consensus board)
- LB Maema Njongmeta (332nd)
- IOL Jake Renfro (420th)
- LS Peter Bowden (476th)
- QB Tanner Mordecai (495th)
- S Jason Maitre (511th)
What if the Packers only took absurd athletes in the draft?
It’s a RAS-centric mock draft
