Since the Green Bay Packers hired him in 2018, Brian Gutekunst has focused on defensive players in the draft, trying to revamp a unit that was one of the NFL’s worst for most of the 2010s. Gutekunst has drafted high-end talent in the first round, like Jaire Alexander in 2018, Rashan Gary in 2019, Quay Walker in 2022, and Lucas Van Ness last year.
After some off-season free-agency moves and coordinator changes, Green Bay’s defense has been a brighter spot over the last few years, last year notwithstanding. With all of this talent on the defensive roster, many fans believe that the Packers’ defense will be a strength this year. Before the draft, though, it’s important to look at the unit and see if any positions need depth or improvement.
By adding Xavier McKinney, Green Bay built some depth in the secondary that it lost during last year’s offseason. Kenny Clark and Preston Smith are All-Pro edge rushers. The Packers also have Devonte Wyatt, Gary, and Van Ness, who are all younger and can fill in for Smith and Clark.
The Packers have significant talent and depth on the front four. However, their linebacking corps doesn’t have many impact players outside of Walker. Isaiah McDuffie and Kingsley Enagbare are the only other guys in that position group with meaningful game reps.
So, if the Packers will draft defensively in the first round, they should look at middle linebackers who can spy on mobile quarterbacks and play coverage in the middle of the field. A few guys would be good picks, so long as the Packers don’t reach too early.
Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper is probably Green Bay’s best option. Cooper has SEC experience and is the highest-ranked middle linebacker on most draft boards. However, teams could overestimate his value, resulting in another team reaching for and snagging him before Green Bay does.
NC State’s Payton Wilson is another option. Wilson’s speed is his strength. He can chase down running backs and receivers in the open field and navigate the field on running plays away from him.
But Wilson has an injury history. He tore his ACL twice in the same knee and has had surgery on both of his shoulders. Given Green Bay’s history with player injuries, they may choose to look elsewhere.
Therefore, Michigan’s Junior Colson may be the best fit for Green Bay.
Colson is 6’2”, 238 lbs., and plays middle linebacker. He has a lot of experience at Michigan plugging up running holes and dropping back into coverage. Colson’s size and frame allow him to make open-field tackles when players try to juke past him. He also can read the quarterback as a spy and come through on blitz packages.
However, Colson’s mental quickness in diagnosing where the ball is and which gap to close is a significant shortcoming. Sometimes, he can incorrectly diagnose where the ball is going or diagnose it too late once the ball carrier has gotten to or passed him. Therefore, he needs to speed up his ability to read offenses. But he was a crucial part of Michigan’s stout defense that won the National Championship.
There are not a lot of middle linebacker prospects entering the draft compared to outside linebackers and pass rushers. Gutekunst likely will have to wait until the second or third rounds to go for that position, allowing him to aim offensively for the first round. Two of the three guys listed above should be available by the middle of the second round. If the Packers get another offensive weapon in the first round and then draft a linebacker later on, it would be a successful draft for Gutekunst.
