Picking the perfect Round 4 draft target for the Packers after the 2024 NFL Combine
The transition from 3-4 to 4-3 isn’t as big of a factor as it was when the Green Bay Packers took the inverse route 15 years ago. Right now, teams play nickel packages 75% of the time, so they usually have four players on the defensive front anyway. So it’s easier to understand the concepts […]
The transition from 3-4 to 4-3 isn’t as big of a factor as it was when the Green Bay Packers took the inverse route 15 years ago. Right now, teams play nickel packages 75% of the time, so they usually have four players on the defensive front anyway.
So it’s easier to understand the concepts and differences if you use the updated terms. Instead of defensive or nose tackle, defensive end, outside linebacker and inside linebacker, just get used to say interior defensive lineman, edge defender, off-ball linebacker.
That said, the Packers will be fine at edge. They have Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, and Lukas Van Ness. But it’s such an important position, and Kingsley Enagbare tore his ACL in January.
Therefore, depth is a consideration for two main reasons. First, in the short-term, because Enagbare might not come back in 2023 — and if he does, it won’t be before November. Second, a long-term consideration, because Preston Smith may be in his last season with the Packers.
Right now, beyond Gary, Smith, and Van Ness, the only options are last year's undrafted edge Brenton Cox Jr., and some bottom of the roster players who signed future deals — Keshawn Banks, Arron Mosby, Deslin Alexandre, Deandre Johnson, and International Pathway Programa participant Kenneth Odumegwu.
And that’s why an edge in the fourth round might be a good option.
To make this exercise of analyzing who is the perfect target for each pick, we used The Athletic’s Consensus Big Board to the top 100, and the NFL Mock Draft Database for later picks.
Pick 127 – EDGE Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State (148th)
Kamara was the 122nd player on the Consensus Big Board from the NFL Mock Draft Database when we first made this exercise, and now he fell to 148th. He's been as high as 73rd.
The fact that he is falling is strange, especially after a strong performance at the NFL Combine.
Kamara is a strong edge defender who uses his hands with effectiveness. He's not a bendy kind of defensive end, but he has a good motor and seems to fit well in the Packers' new defensive scheme.
He is slightly undersized (250lb) for the Packers preferred thresholds, but he plays bigger. Kamara has good moves off the line of scrimmage and gets several coverage sacks because his motor never stops.
The player might not be a huge difference-maker right away, but he’s a solid rotational and developmental edge defender — exactly what you can hope for on day 3.
Plan B: WR Javon Baker, UCF (120th)
Packers seven-round mock draft 1.0, post-Super Bowl edition
Green Bay is slated to have 11 picks in this year’s draft
