The Packers brought in a potential late-round linebacker."The Green Bay Packers have acquired a number of former Northwestern Wildcats over
the past few seasons. Defensive lineman Dean Lowry was a fourth-round pick in
2016
Womens
Josh Jackson Jersey , and in 2018 the team acquired three more players who
suited up in Evanston: defensive tackle Tyler Lancaster, fullback Danny Vitale,
and safety Ibraheim Campbell.This week, the team reportedly brought in a player
from Northwestern on a pre-draft visit: linebacker Nate Hall. Zach Kruse of The
Packers Wire first reported the news.Hall is listed at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds,
which would make him a fit at inside linebacker in Green Bay. He had a
productive career, starting at least four games in each of his four years and
being a full-time starter for his final three. As a junior in 2017, Hall posted
particularly gaudy numbers, as he recorded 79 total tackles, including a
whopping 16.5 tackles for loss. He also recorded five sacks, two interceptions,
and eight pass breakups while playing every game at the strong-side linebacker
position.
However
Womens
Clay Matthews Jersey , he tore his ACL late in the season, missing
Northwestern’s bowl game. He recovered in time to start in the Wildcats’ 2018
season opener, however, and he totaled 51 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and three picks in
nine games.Hall was invited to the 2019 NFL Combine, but he did not work out due
to a shoulder injury that he suffered late last fall. However, he did work out
at Northwestern’s Pro Day, posting solid agility times of 6.85 seconds (3-cone)
and 4.21 seconds (short shuttle) along with a 33-inch vertical.Note:
Northwestern is apparently included as one of the Packers’ “local” schools,
which means that workouts for their players do not count against the Packers’
limit of 30 official visits. The University of Wisconsin is also included in
this program, as is Northern
Illinois
Marcedes
Lewis Jersey White , according to Olivia Reiner of the Green Bay
Press-Gazette. Almost all of the Packers’ resources this spring have been spent
on the defense. Brian Gutekunst now must work on the offense in day two of the
2019 NFL Draft."Mike Pettine must be grinning on this Friday morning. Last
night, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst provided him with two
exceptional athletes in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, one for the front
and one for the back of the defense. Gutekunst was aggressive on Thursday night,
identifying the players that the Packers wanted early — months early in the case
of 12th overall pick Rashan Gary — and making a big move upward to grab safety
Darnell Savage at 21.New head coach Matt LaFleur, however, could be excused for
thinking “what about me?”APC reactsSubscribe to the Acme Packing Company
podcast!After all, the new head man in Green Bay is an offensive guy who will
call the team’s plays and is installing a new scheme this spring (or at least a
significantly different version of the West Coast offense). And so far, of all
the Packers’ significant additions this offseason, only one — offensive lineman
Billy Turner — has come on that side of the football.Za’Darius Smith, Preston
Smith, and Adrian Amos in free
agency
Mike
Daniels Jersey , and now Rashan Gary and Darnell Savage in the draft ...
that’s a lot of capital, both in terms of the draft and future salary cap money,
invested to give Pettine every tool possible to improve the Packers’ defense.
Now, with picks 44 and 75 on day two of the draft in his pocket, Gutekunst must
look to the other side of the football.He even alluded to this in his press
conference late Thursday night. “This obviously was a focus of ours,” he said
about the overall investment in the defense. “We’ve added a number of bodies to
that and guys we’re really excited about.” But he joked that LaFleur might like
to see some more athletes as well: “I’d like to think we’re gonna still stay
true to allowing the best player available to come to us (but) I do have an
offensive coach sitting to my left in the room.”All told, the board set up for a
strong draft on defense to start, but it was still a bit of a surprise that
Gutekunst did not draft an offensive lineman on Thursday. Perhaps the biggest
shock was the Savage pick coming — that trade up felt at the time like a spot
where the Packers were moving up for a falling tackle like Washington State’s
Andre Dillard. Either the team views Turner as a long-term answer at tackle, a
real possibility, or they feel that they can find contributors on days two and
three this weekend, because there are still major question marks at guard and
right tackle.Heading into day
two
Jason
Spriggs Jersey White , Dalton Risner and Jawaan Taylor look like the most
plausible Packers linemen with that 44th pick, if they fall all the way there.
Gutekunst’s one prior offensive line draft pick, Cole Madison, had a
less-than-stellar workout; Risner’s athletic testing was better than Madison’s,
plus he can play multiple positions. Taylor is a tackle only, but he did not
work out this spring and has a knee injury that reportedly caused his fall out
of round one. Adding Oklahoma’s Cody Ford to the mix and you see a group of
linemen who should be in the mix at least the next time the Packers are on the
clock.Then there are questions about pass-catchers, particularly tight ends. The
two Iowa players, Hockenson and Fant, both went in the top 20 picks. That leaves
Alabama’s Irv Smith as a possibility if he falls to 44, though his overall
athleticism does not match the kind of level that Gutekunst has tended to draft
so far in his brief career. Instead, a player like San Diego State’s Kahale
Warring (who visited the Packers before the draft) or LSU’s Foster Moreau are
much better athletic fits for the Packers and will likely be available on day
three.Gutekunst could also grab a free-falling wide receiver. DK Metcalf’s fall
out of round one probably should not be a
shock
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Bryan Bulaga Jersey , but between him, teammate A.J. Brown, South
Carolina’s Deebo Samuel, and Ohio State’s Parris Campbell, there should probably
be one exciting receiver available when we reach 44. There are a number of
players who could slip all the way to 75 as well — keep an eye on Missouri’s
Emanuel Hall as a sleeper there.Regardless of what specific position they
target, however, after all the investment in the defense it’s now time for
Gutekunst to turn his attention back to providing protection and options for
Aaron Rodgers. The defense has its impact players now; the offense can use some
help on day two.
