Latest draft intel delivers concerning development for the Packers as Day 2 approach faces new challenges
The start of the second round may have a run on interior defensive linemen, and that’s an undeniable need for the Packers’ roster. Gutekunst will have to find other avenues to improve the team
The Green Bay Packers have some obvious needs in the draft process, and defensive tackle is one of the biggest ones. However, it might get hard to solve it with their first pick — 52nd overall, late in the second round. According to NFL insider James Palmer, some of the top interior defensive linemen still available might not be on the board much longer.
Strong board at DT
There are several high-end defensive tackles snubbed in the first round and among the top available players for Day 2. A to Z Sports’ draft simulator tool has them in this order: Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald, Georgia’s Christen Miller, Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter, Oklahoma’s Gracen Halton, Iowa State’s Domonique Orange, Florida State’s Darrell Jackson Jr., and SE Louisiana’s Kaleb Proctor.
Sure, one of them may still be available with the 52th pick, but McDonald, Miller, Hunter, and Halton in particular could go early on Friday night. Moving back to a 3-4 base under Jonathan Gannon, the Packers know it’s an important task.
“There’s probably a little bit more appetite for a pure nose,” general manager Brian Gutekunst mentioned before the draft, “because some of the snaps we’re going to play are going to have that, maybe we wouldn’t have had that with Jeff [Hafley].”
The other side
On the other hand, a run for defensive tackles could create other opportunities for general manager Brian Gutekunst. The list of cornerbacks available include Jermod McCoy, Colton Hood, Brandon Cisse, Davison Igbinosun, Julian Neal, and Will Lee III.
Among the wide receivers still on the board are Denzel Boston, Chris Bell, Chris Brazzell, and Ted Hurst.
“If we end up waiting 51 picks before we pick, that’ll be a long time,” Gutekunst added. “Hopefully I have the patience and the discipline to do that.”
It will be a long night for the Packers, and new challenges are inevitable during the process. But Gutekunst has different avenues to improve the roster over the next two days.
