Green Bay Packers: 5 Surprise first-round picks in play for 2020 NFL Draft
By Joe Kipp
4. A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Packers may need a cornerback ready to step in for Kevin King after the 2020 season. King’s contract expires next offseason and it’s no guarantee that Green Bay will re-sign him. Meanwhile, the depth currently behind him is largely unproven. Cornerbacks Chandon Sullivan and Josh Jackson are both backup-caliber options at this point.
Drafting a corner with the 30th overall pick may be a surprise to some, but when looking at the grand scheme of things the Packers may have other ideas. Clemson’s A.J. Terrell may be considered a reach at pick 30, but his upside shouldn’t be ignored.
Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say about Terrell:
"“Played in high-leverage matchups in the postseason…Has ability to grind on receivers from press…Punches inside shoulder and leverages release outside…Backpedal is low and steady…Maintains feel in early stages of the route and is quick to crowd the receiver…Springy jump-ball challenger with plus body control and soft hands”"
If the Packers address the cornerback position early in the 2020 NFL Draft, they could be set up for success in the future. Terrell has experience playing in press-man coverage, which bodes well in defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s scheme. In 2019, he finished with 34 tackles and two interceptions. He was exposed against LSU in the National Championship game, but who wasn’t?