Checking in on Green Bay Packers' Biggest Project Players
Though established veterans tend to be fan favorites, the players that Green Bay Packers fans will really be following closely this offseason are the "projects."
What defines a project player? Certainly, a player transitioning from one position to another, such as from outside linebacker to inside linebacker or safety to cornerback, can be considered a project.
But even players who will play the same position for the Packers that they played in college (and, for second- or third-year players, on the practice squad or on the 53-man roster) can be considered projects if they have yet to become big contributors. Will they take that next step? Will they excel at their positions? These are the questions which OTAs and training camp can help answer.
Let's take a look at five of the Packers' projects and check in with their progress so far this offseason.
TE Kennard Backman
1 of 5
It was somewhat unexpected when the Packers called Kennard Backman's name in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL draft. Though Green Bay was expected to draft a tight end this year, few had heard of UAB's Backman, who was expected to go undrafted, per NFL.com.
Backman is an agile pass-catcher with solid hands, and he could definitely carve out a role for himself within Green Bay's tight end group of him, Andrew Quarless and Richard Rodgers if he can improve in blocking.
That's a big "if"—but early indications are positive for the rookie.
During rookie minicamp, Backman impressed when he was able to evade Adrian Hubbard down the right seam and connect with Brett Hundley on a ball thrown high, per Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It was a large gain.
Tight ends coach Jerry Fontenot was "ecstatic," according to Dunne.
During Tuesday's OTA practice, Backman was at it again. Working with Aaron Rodgers this time, he was able to catch a quick pass from the slot and run it upfield for a touchdown, per Dunne.
Offense is demanding a high percentage of consideration on the 53-man roster, especially if the Packers want to keep six wide receivers. Tight end may be a position that takes a hit as a result. Still, Backman's chances of making the final roster as a rookie are good, and his options playing in a two-tight end set with Rodgers or Quarless are varied as well.
CB Quinten Rollins
2 of 5
It may seem strange to consider a second-round NFL draft pick a project. However, Quinten Rollins can qualify as such for the Packers.
Though Rollins did play one year of cornerback—and started—at Miami of Ohio in 2014, he was a four-year basketball star in college and must still nail down the fundamentals and technique necessary to play corner in the NFL.
His raw athleticism is obvious, and it translates on the field. Rollins had 72 tackles, four tackles for loss, 16 passes defended and a conference-best seven interceptions last season, which was good for the third most in the nation.
But closing on tackles, backpedaling and press coverage are some technical aspects of the position which Rollins will work at this offseason.
So far during OTAs, Rollins has played perimeter and slot corner, per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. There will almost certainly be a spot for him in nickel and dime sub-packages this fall, but how much time (if any) he gets on the outside will depend on how quickly he learns the playbook and improves his technique.
QB Brett Hundley
3 of 5
Head coach Mike McCarthy is one of the best in the league at developing young quarterback talent, which he does via his offseason quarterbacks school every year.
He made it clear this offseason that after helping refine Aaron Rodgers into the elite passer he is today, a process that included modifying Rodgers' throwing motion, he's ready for another developmental project.
"I think we definitely need four," McCarthy had said at the combine, per ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky. "So I'm hopeful that we can get a young guy in the draft."
Green Bay did just that, trading up in the fifth round to grab UCLA's Brett Hundley and giving McCarthy his developmental prospect to work with this offseason.
Hundley took part in his first open OTAs on Tuesday after attending the NFLPA Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles last week. McCarthy worked closely with him Tuesday, per Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Scott Tolzien was re-signed this offseason to become Rodgers' primary backup. However, he's only on a one-year deal. If Hundley performs well during OTAs and training camp and absorbs the playbook quickly, the Packers may have a decision to make should they need to insert a backup quarterback into the lineup this fall.
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LB Carl Bradford
4 of 5
A true project, 2014 fourth-round draft pick Carl Bradford was moved from outside linebacker to inside linebacker before the end of his first training camp and then spent his entire rookie season waiting for snaps that never came.
He now joins a group of players—including fellow outside-linebacker convert Nate Palmer, 2014 undrafted free agent Joe Thomas, 2015 offseason addition Josh Francis and rookie Jake Ryan—competing for a starting spot at inside linebacker next to Sam Barrington or, at the very least, to share snaps with Clay Matthews.
This offseason, which will be Bradford's first full one at inside linebacker, will be incredibly important for him in terms of showing the Packers that he has learned how to do all the things inside linebacker requires—things that he didn't know how to do this time last year.
As a "Devil 'Backer" at Arizona State, Bradford basically just focused on rushing the passer off the edge. He didn't drop back into coverage. As an inside linebacker in Green Bay, he'll need to be able to call plays for the defense and to cover.
While the switch may have been off-putting to the pass-rusher last offseason, it sounds as though he's fully embraced it now.
"The inside linebackers make the play," Bradford said this offseason, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "They try to get the whole defense hyped up. With my attitude and how I play on the field, it fits in perfect with getting the defense together and going to get three-and-outs. ... And that position allows me to be in charge basically of the defense and have those guys feed off my energy."
Bradford was taking second-team snaps alongside the rookie Ryan in OTAs, behind Barrington and Matthews on the first team. It's a good start to what needs to be a strong offseason for him.
LB Adrian Hubbard
5 of 5
After spending the 2014 season, his rookie year, on the practice squad, outside linebacker Adrian Hubbard has a chance to make the 53-man roster at a position that is in desperate need of young talent.
Clay Matthews will be spending part of his time at inside linebacker in 2015. Julius Peppers only has two years left on his contract and may be cut after this season, given his cap hit of $10.5 million in 2016. The Packers declined to pick up Nick Perry's fifth-year option. Mike Neal will become a free agent next March.
The big stage is primed for Hubbard; now he needs to step up onto it. This offseason, he made strides in that direction when he remained in Green Bay to work out.
"You don't want to be too far from your job," Hubbard said, per Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "So I came back here, and I was able to be in front of the coach's face every day, so they see I'm in here working, in here putting in the effort."
Just as Hubbard had hoped, that diligence paid off in the form of acknowledgement from head coach Mike McCarthy.
"He's really taken a huge step like you see from every player that's been here from Year 1 going into Year 2," McCarthy said, per Dunne. "I'm impressed with what Hubbard has done so far."
At the start of OTAs, Perry, Peppers and Neal were sidelined, giving Hubbard the opportunity to put in lots of work at first-team outside linebacker, per Jason Wilde of ESPN Wisconsin. Look for him to continue to push for No. 1 reps in OTAs and training camp as he attempts to become a part of the pass-rush rotation this fall.
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