Green Bay Packers: Biggest remaining needs following 2019 NFL Draft
By Joe Kipp
The Green Bay Packers welcomed eight new players during the 2019 NFL Draft. What are their biggest remaining needs following the draft?
The Green Bay Packers came away with a successful haul during the 2019 NFL Draft. Boasting two first-rounders, along with two more selections in the top-75, Green Bay appears to have drafted some serious difference-makers at several positions of need.
Although the Packers entered the draft with 10 selections, a first-round trade-up saw them give away both their fourth-rounders. The player they traded up for, of course, was Maryland safety Darnell Savage Jr.
Here’s a quick recap of every Packers’ selection:
Round 1, Pick 12: Rashan Gary, EDGE, Michigan
Round 1, Pick 21: Darnell Savage Jr., S, Maryland
Round 2, Pick 44: Elgton Jenkins, OL, Mississippi State
Round 3, Pick 75: Jace Sternberger, TE, Texas A&M
Round 5, Pick 150: Kingsley Keke, DL, Texas A&M
Round 6, Pick 185: Ka’dar Hollman, CB, Toledo
Round 6, Pick 194: Dexter Williams, RB, Notre Dame
Round 7, Pick 226: Ty Summers, ILB, TCU
Looking at this year’s draft class shows Green Bay valued many different positions. Safety was unarguably the team’s biggest need heading into the offseason, and the Packers plugged both holes by signing Adrian Amos and drafting Savage. It’s no surprise the Packers used one of their first-rounders on a safety.
Tight end was another clear need with Marcedes Lewis only being signed to a one-year deal and Jimmy Graham likely to be released next offseason as a cap casualty. That leaves second-year undrafted free agent Robert Tonyan and Jace Sternberger as the other tight ends likely to make the final roster.
Another significant talking point surrounding Green Bay’s 2019 draft class is the versatility and athleticism of each prospect. Savage, Rashan Gary, Elgton Jenkins and Kingsley Keke all played multiple positions in college. The Packers also drafted the third-most athletic class based on Kent Lee Platte’s RAS (relative athletic score) system.
Even though the Packers came away with one of the more impressive draft classes from this year, there appears to be a few more holes to fill. Whether that happens via trade, free agency or simply current players on the roster stepping up remains to be seen.