Green Bay Packers: 5 Targets in first round of 2019 NFL Draft

2. Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida State

Edge rusher was Green Bay’s top need coming into the offseason. But, after signing Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith, it’s no longer their top need. However, if Brian Burns slips to No. 12 overall, they would have to think long and hard about grabbing him. Burns had one major question mark coming into the combine: Could he add size but maintain the explosiveness that made him so tough to block? The answer was a resounding yes.

Burns didn’t put up the elite sack numbers that fellow first-round pick Josh Allen did, but he has great moves on the edge. His bend is also some of the best that we have seen in recent memory. Burns also does a good job of playing against the run, as evidenced by his 15.5 tackles for loss in his final season with the Seminoles.

The one issue with Burns is that, unless he severely outperforms one of the Smith’s, he’ll be playing as a rotational edge rusher for much of his rookie contract. The team can look to add players that will play more during that same time frame with their top pick. Burns does have the talent to get on the field in situations where Za’Darius lines up as a 3-technique player, but could Green Bay look to address more pressing needs with the 12th pick?