Two Georgia defenders could be key to Jeff Hafley's success as Packers count on familiar skillsets to boost his scheme
The Green Bay Packers have a significant recent history of investing in Georgia defenders. Eric Stokes, Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt. It happened again this offseason, for players from the same position, and who can end up having important roles in a unit that needs to perform better.Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley showed he can maximize the […]
The Green Bay Packers have a significant recent history of investing in Georgia defenders. Eric Stokes, Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt. It happened again this offseason, for players from the same position, and who can end up having important roles in a unit that needs to perform better.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley showed he can maximize the available talent, improving the Packers’ defense to seventh in DVOA in his first season with the organization. And a big part of his style is prioritizing players upfront. After losing TJ Slaton in free agency, the Packers will count on the development of players like Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, and Colby Wooden. But two new additions will certainly be in the mix—and both come from Georgia, defensive tackles Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse.
Why Brinson and Stackhouse can be so impactful
The Packers prioritized offense on Days 1 and 2 of the draft, but did invest in the defensive side on Saturday. The team selected Warren Brinson in the sixth round and signed Nazir Stackhouse as a priority undrafted free agent. They have different styles, but both fit what Green Bay needs to the defensive line rotation—it’s always important to manage expectations with late Day 3 picks and undrafted players, but they are reasonably promising.
We talked to Kelsey Kramer, who covers Georgia for A to Z Sports, to understand her perspective about the players.
Warren Brinson
Kelsey’s perspective: The Packers should be thrilled about Warren Brinson, who brings a wealth of experience to Green Bay as a well-seasoned rookie on the defensive line after having played five seasons for the Georgia Bulldogs. It's apparent the Packers see him as a potential rotational piece who can create interior pressure, and Brinson fits that mold. Back in 2022, he racked up 14 quarterback hits, and over the past two seasons, he notched four sacks, including a standout showing in Georgia's SEC Championship win over Texas with a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. In his final season with the Bulldogs, Brinson posted 26 tackles, six tackles for loss, and two sacks. With his strong mix of size, strength, and quickness, Brinson has the tools to become a valuable part of the Packers' defensive line rotation.
Wendell’s perspective: Hafley’s scheme prioritizes interior disruption, and Brinson can be a useful piece to generate pressure. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler mentioned that “Brinson is fairly stout against the run,” and the Packers need a more all-around defensive lineman, which they don’t have beyond Kenny Clark. Wyatt and Brooks are more designated pass rushers, so having a player who can play well both against the pass and run would be huge.
Nazir Stackhouse
Kelsey’s perspective: The same goes for Nazir Stackhouse, who also played five seasons on Georgia's defensive line and is now bringing that experience to the Packers. Helping anchor the best defense in Georgia history, Stackhouse racked up 96 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and three sacks during his career, along with a blocked field goal. Stackhouse is known for his mammoth size and ability to clog up running lanes, and the Packers will have another reliable rotational piece on the interior defensive line in him.
Wendell’s perspective: The Packers lost TJ Slaton in free agency, and they don’t have a real nose tackle on the roster at this point beyond Kenny Clark, who’s now expected to play more as a 1-tech. During the offseason program, Green Bay even used Colby Wooden there, but he doesn’t have the usual physical profile to play nose. Stackhouse offers exactly that, which makes him the undrafted rookie with the highest chances of making the 53-man roster.
Packers quietly find replacement for key free agent loss late in the draft in a move that could pay off bigger than expected
Warren Brinson was the 254th prospect on the consensus board
