Davante Adams‘s departure drew most of the headlines for the Green Bay Packers. But the team finds itself noticeably thinner along the offensive line, with Billy Turner heading to Denver and Lucas Patrick signing with the Chicago Bears. Green Bay’s fanbase will riot if the front office doesn’t select a wide receiver early on. Still, general manager Brian Gutekunst should jump on the opportunity to bring in tackle Bernhard Raimann if given the chance.
Raimann is an Austrian-born converted tight end. He played left tackle at Central Michigan in his final two seasons with the Chippewas. His profile is very divisive among draft analysts. Depending on what you read, the term “project” is thrown around in a derogatory sense. It is spun as “potential” by those singing his praise.
Here are the basics: Raimann is 6’7″ and checks in at just over 300 lbs., but the dude is an athlete at the tackle position. His metrics rate out incredibly favorably when it comes to speed, agility, and strength. However, they take a bit of a hit regarding size. He’s only played tackle for two years, so he could still put on weight and fill out his frame. But having served a year of mandated military service in his native Austria, his timeline has been set back, so he’ll be a 25-year-old rookie. He’s put on 60-plus lbs. throughout his college career (although the same could probably be said for many of us, if we’re being honest). Still, he has maintained a level of athleticism that would rank among the best at the position over the past 35 years.
Some of his tape leaves much to be desired, especially some clips from the Senior Bowl. But the Packers have a chance to hit a home run here if they can draft and develop in the true Ted Thompson fashion. His collegiate stats, albeit limited, are undoubtedly impressive. One sack allowed in 774 pass-blocking snaps isn’t a joke.
Why should the Packers bring him in? Well, the offensive line unit is in a unique position where there isn’t an emergency need to find a plug-and-play player for the five-man unit. David Bakhtiari is healthy on the left side. The trio across the middle of Jon Runyan Jr., Josh Myers, and Royce Newman seem to be in a good place to start the season. Green Bay will likely call upon Yosh Nijman to man the right tackle spot. Returning to action following an ACL injury can be tricky, as the Packers know well from the Bakhtiari saga. But Elgton Jenkins is looming as a Pro Bowl-caliber fill in at center, guard, or tackle when he comes healthy.
It feels like bringing in a prospect like Raimann could make a lot of sense. He could learn from one of the best in Bakhtiari and even someone who profiles similarly athletically like Nijman. Perhaps the biggest reason, though? Adam Stenavich. Gutekunst and the front offense had to basically pick between Stenavich and Luke Getsy to stay with the Packers. Stenavich was the one who ascended to offensive coordinator based largely on the work that he was able to do in cobbling together an injury-ravaged offensive line over the past two seasons. If Stenavich can envision a role for Raimann and help develop him to execute the vision, he could certainly be an asset for Green Bay over the next decade.
The Packers certainly have immediate needs to fill. Still, trading Adams has granted Gutekunst some flexibility that he hasn’t had in the early rounds of the draft in his tenure as decision-maker. Wideout, edge rusher, tight end, and even perhaps a safety all could be selections within the first couple of rounds. If Raimann is sitting there for the Packers, particularly with their second selection in the first round (and having already selected a wideout), Gutekunst could find himself with a future home run at an incredibly important position.
