Prospects for Packers to Avoid in 2024 NFL Draft
The Green Bay Packers are in a good overall position heading into the 2024 NFL draft. There was a lot more uncertainty around their roster and quarterback situation going into last year's proceedings.
Now, they can really start to focus on building out a contender around Jordan Love.
The Packers have done a good job of drafting and developing. Their successful drafting and development of their young players were key in transitioning from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love and remaining a playoff-caliber team.
Now they can take the next step if they continue to hit on their draft picks.
In order to do that, they'll need to avoid some of the potential bad fits or risky picks. Based on their draft profile, injury history or potential fit, here are three prospects that the Packers should avoid selecting when the draft kicks off on April 25.
CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
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There's a good case to be made for the Packers taking a cornerback with their first-round selection.
The Packers have a clear pattern of drafting defensive players with their first-round picks. Jaire Alexander has dealt with injuries and was suspended for a game last season due, in part to decisions he made that rubbed the coaching staff the wrong way.
Add in the fact that Eric Stokes is in the final year of his contract and Green Bay could definitely be looking to add a corner. However, teams shouldn't get suckered in to taking a prospect too high because of needs.
Taking Nate Wiggins with their selection in the first would be a prime example.
There are some promising elements to Wiggins' game. His length as a 6'1", corner with 30" arms is ideal. However, he also weighs in at 173 pounds. So there are concerns that come with his frame.
B/R scout Cory Giddings noted that Wiggins, "lacks physicality taking on blocks and tackling. Can seem uninterested in tackling at times." in his scouting report.
Wiggins has a similar build to Emmanuel Forbes. The Washington Commanders used a first-round pick on the Mississippi State cornerback last season only for him to give up a passer rating of 103.0 and miss 15.6 percent of his tackle attempts.
It's too risky to take Wiggins in the first. If he's the best corner available, it's time to address another need.
LB Payton Wilson, NC State
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It's probably not going to happen in the first round, but at some point, the Packers will likely draft an off-ball linebacker. The Packers released De'Vondre Campbell in a cap-saving measure, but haven't done anything to replace him yet.
That makes the Packers need at linebacker beside Quay Walker a significant need.
Fortunately, the Packers have a lot of draft capital to make sure they land a starter at the position. With five picks in the top 100, they can move up or down the board and target a player who makes sense for them.
It shouldn't be Payton Wilson, though. Wilson has the athletic profile that the Packers seem to like. He scored an impressive 9.81 relative athletic score with his pre-draft testing that included a 4.43 40-yard dash.
Wilson is the 90th overall player on our big board and the fourth-ranked off-ball linebacker, though. The primary concern is an extensive injury history that goes all the way back to 2018. Matt Holder summed it up in his scouting report:
Injuries: 2018 (knee, missed first season at NC State rehabbing from surgery in high school), 2021 (shoulder, missed all but 2 games, had surgery and missed spring practices), 2022 (upper body, missed 1 game; shoulder, missed 1 game)
Wilson's athleticism is tantalizing. However, the Packers already have an excellent athlete in Quay Walker who covers a lot of range. It would be fine to sacrifice some of the athleticism to get a linebacker who carries less injury baggage and can be more of a downhill player.
S Calen Bullock, USC
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The Packers took a big step toward fixing their secondary when they signed Xavier McKinney in free agency. The safety position has been a thorn in the side of the Packers defense for the last few seasons and McKinney is a rising star at the position.
However, the Packers really do need to find another starter who can play next to McKinney. The 6'0", 201-pound safety has the versatility to play multiple alignments, but he does his best work when lined up as a deep free safety.
The Packers can accentuate that skill set by making sure they pair him with a safety who is more suited to the box.
That should rule out USC safety Calen Bullock.
One of the 6'2", 188-pound Bullock's biggest areas of concern is his play strength. B/R scout Cory Giddings noted it in his scouting report:
Bullock's lack of strength shows up at times when he takes on blockers. He often uses his quickness to beat blockers in the open field, but he has been pushed around at times when taking on bigger blockers. There are also times where ball-carriers can fight him off for extra yards.
If the Packers go with Bullock in the second or third round, they would be forcing McKinney to play more snaps in the box. The former Giant can do it, but they'd be forcing their new investment to utilize a secondary skill.
They need to find a bigger, more physical safety who can allow McKinney to do what he does best.
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