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The Green Bay Packers made eight picks in three days in the NFL draft in 2019. General Manager Brian Gutekunst gave priority to defense with his top two picks, but also responded to offensive needs days 2 and 3.
Here is an overview of the packers' work in the 2019 project:
FIRST CHOICE: OLB Rashan Gary
The Packers stayed in 12th place and surprised a lot of people by taking Gary, an incredibly athletic athlete who never really maximized his talents in Michigan. It was hard to see T.J. Hockenson, Ed Oliver, Devin Bush and Jonah Williams lined up back to back before number 12, but the Packers think they found a versatile difference maker for the defensive front. If Gary releases his tremendous potential and maximizes his outstanding athleticism in Mike Pettine's defense, he will be an annual All-Pro candidate. Otherwise, he risks giving in. His combination of size, athleticism and level of effort should provide him a high floor, but the Packers do not need a good player. They need a big one.
BEST CHOICE: S Darnell Savage Jr.
The Packers had to climb nine places and drop the two fourth-round picks, but no player is more likely to create an instant impact than Savage, which combines blazing speed, playability and versatility. positioning in a revolutionary game skill set at the security post. The Packers have safely ranked him as the best security category and he should be a starter of Day 1 alongside Adrian Amos. Savage is fortunate to be the best security in Green Bay since Nick Collins.
QUICK PICK: OLB Rashan Gary
The Packers wanted to dive into a deep draft, and they believe that Gary will be a player who will make the difference, but it will be impossible not to compare the arc of his career to other rushers picked up after number 12, like Brian Burns. and ride Sweat. The Packers did this better. One thing is right for Gary: he has landed with the right coordinator. Pettine will find ways to involve him in favorable one-on-one confrontations. The Packers just need him to win them systematically.
SLEEPING BED: RB Dexter Williams
The Packers will play football a lot in Matt LaFleur's new zone system. They found an ideal complement to Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams in Dexter Williams, a 212-pound back that only froze big runs at Notre Dame in the form of a one-cut slasher. He improves as a receiver but needs to be a blocker. If he can put everything together, Williams has some starting characteristics. He has the vision of finding folds and acceleration to explode through them. The Packers are expected to enter 2019 with a group of young, but deep and talented runners.
MOST INTRIGENT PICK: Jace Sternberger / Kingsley Keke
The two choices of the Texas A & M Packers come with the NFL with a lot of intrigue. Sternberger was considered one of the top scorers in college football last season, while Keke lost weight, changed position and became a difference maker. Do these guys have wonders of a year or do they go at the right time? The Packers are convinced that this is the last. Sternberger and Keke could both play an important role by 2020. They could be big players in their respective posts as they continue to progress.
BIGGEST WINNER: Defensive Coordinator Mike Pettine
For the second consecutive project, Pettine is a big winner. Gutekunst keeps sending more and more talent. Gary, Savage, Keke, Ka'dar Hollman and Ty Summers are expected to add more size, speed and versatility to a defense that has already won three major free-form plays. There is no major gap in the defense and everything is consistent with what Pettine wants to do. But that does not mean any more excuses. The Packers should be among the top 10 defensemen in 2019. That's a reasonable expectation now.
THE BIGGEST LOSER: G Lane Taylor
For the first time since he took Josh Sitton's post in 2016, Taylor will likely attend the training camp with a legitimate competition for the starting post at the left guard. The Packers hired Elgton Jenkins, the second Mississippi player with experience in the guard, tackle and center. He has been announced as a goalkeeper and will likely start as a goalkeeper. Jenkins is tall, athletic and experienced against talented indoor runners in the SEC, and is likely to present a serious challenge to Taylor. The rookie could be the best solution in the new offense.
One thing we learned: Packers give priority to big
Four of the Packers' top five picks will play in the line of scrimmage. It's not by accident. Gutekunst has targeted big people on both sides of the ball in this project. Gary completes a large multi-purpose group, Jenkins provides a future runner inside the offensive line, Sternberger could be Jimmy Graham's successor in 2020 and Keke will help replace Mike Daniels if the Packers can not afford it. after 2019. This preliminary class represents a significant investment to win the line of scrimmage, now and in the future. Clever.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE STRATEGY: meeting the needs
Of the nine main needs identified by Packers Wire in the project, eight were treated with at least one choice by Gutekunst. The Packers preach the best player available at each selection station, but concerted efforts have been made to consolidate the list at key locations. Many choices will be answers to what could have been future needs. It's just the smart construction of the list The most egregious absence was the absence of a new receiver, but it's clear that the Packers love far more than their younger receivers behind Davante Adams far more than most foreigners . It would be difficult to say that any other need has not been solved.
ALL ABOUT RAS: Athletics puts the class in the spotlight
An important note for future projects led by Gutekunst: The Packers place great value on athletics. Of the Packers' eight picks, seven scored 8.0 or higher in the Relative Athletic Relative Score (RAS). Four were 9.0 or more. Sternberger was the only special case, and he looked much more athletic on tape than his tests suggested. This draft is very sporty. Probably even more than last year. Gutekunst is rebuilding the list with elite athletes.
BOOM OR BUST: The first players hold the key
The eight choices are important for building a list of healthy people in the long run, but the overall class will be defined by the first two participants. Gutekunst takes a big risk on Gary, who has still not exploited his potential, and he has made two high-value fourth round picks (just ask David Bakhtiari) to ride and get Savage in 21st place, which was too high for some. . A risk and a scope? We will see. Gary and Savage both have potential in Pro Bowl, and they have athleticism to reshape the look of the defense. It will be a rough patch of franchise if both hit. But if they go bankrupt? Well, do not think about that.
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