Green Bay Packers: Grades for every 2021 NFL Draft pick

Minds of Green Bay Packers fans were on Aaron Rodgers during the 2021 NFL Draft but they still ventured into trying to bolster the rest of the roster. 

There were two things that overshadowed whatever the Green Bay Packers were going to do in the 2021 NFL Draft. The first was their much-maligned performance in last year’s NFL Draft while the other — which was contributed to by the 2020 draft — was Aaron Rodgers reportedly not wanting to rejoin the team.

Naturally, that’s going to make things tough for the Packers moving forward, not having the reigning MVP at quarterback. The hope within the organization is that they can mend ties with Rodgers and they went into the 2021 NFL Draft to try and get him some help.

Did they do that and, more importantly, did they do it with the right pieces? We’re handing out a report card as we grade every pick the Packers made in this draft.

Grades for every pick in the Green Bay Packers 2021 NFL Draft class

Round 1, Pick 29: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia | Grade: B-

Entering the draft, it was obvious that the Packers needed to do something to address the cornerback room — being forced to re-sign punching bag Kevin King was evidence of that. They elected to go that route with their first-round pick, taking Eric Stokes.

Stokes is a freak athlete who tore up his Pro Day workouts and rose up draft boards quickly. Having said that, his tape doesn’t show a player who plays as fast as he runs in a straight line and there are some deficiencies in coverage. He can be quite good in the NFL but taking him in the first round is a bit rich for me.

Moreover, it’s hard not to think that the front office could’ve been more aggressive to get a wide receiver or lineman who could immediately help Rodgers and possibly garner favor with the disgruntled quarterback.

Round 2, Pick 62: Josh Myers, IOL, Ohio State | Grade: B

I’ve admittedly gone back-and-forth on the Josh Myers pick because, frankly, it’s not what I would’ve done. This was slightly early for the former Ohio State center but not egregiously. What’s more, Green Bay could theoretically slot him in at center right away and shuffle someone out to right tackle and move forward from there.

That’s not a bad option and, frankly, it could work. The Packers have done well with their offensive line construction over the years and deserve good faith there. However, I would’ve again liked to see a wide receiver here or perhaps a right tackle. But Myers is a solid player and I can see how this would fit into the team’s plans.

Round 3, Pick 85: Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson | Grade: A-

The only reason this grade is getting a “minus” tacked onto the end is that the Packers had to trade up to make the pick. Had they simply been more aggressive early on they could’ve avoided (possibly) giving up draft capital to get another weapon. But that being said, Amari Rodgers is a perfect fit for this offense and what Green Bay needed to add.

Though nothing about Rodgers’ game is overly impressive as he’s not an elite athlete nor does he have great speed. However, he’s extremely versatile and savvy with his route-running and with the ball in his hands. Putting him in the slot for this offense will give them a nice boost as it diversifies what they’re able to run.

Round 4, Pick 142: Royce Newman, OL, Ole Miss | Grade: C+

It’s pretty rare that I’m down on adding offensive line depth on Day 3 of the draft as there is always value in doing that for NFL teams. But the Royce Newman pick for the Packers just seems like wasted capital. Especially after using a second-rounder on Myers, this felt like time to address other needs on the roster, not to reach for a lineman.

Again, having depth the team likes isn’t a bad thing. But it does seem that there were better options with this pick.

Round 5, Pick 173: Tedarrell Slaton, IDL, Florida | Grade: B

Green Bay came into this draft with an obvious need on the defensive line as Kenny Clark has largely been a one-man show there when he’s been on the field. And the massive Tedarrell Slaton has the opportunity to provide depth as a gap-clogger with great power.

That said, Slaton is pretty one-dimensional as a player and doesn’t seem to pair all that well with Clark given where the incumbent star plays from more often than not. This is still a good pick but one that doesn’t totally make sense for the Packers.

Round 5, Pick 178: Shemar Jean-Charles, CB, Appalachian State | Grade: B+

Shemar Jean-Charles was a player who I had marked as a late-round sleeper, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that I’m a fan of this pick in the fifth round. Even after taking Stokes early, the depth at corner left a lot to be desired for Green Bay. Jean-Charles probably doesn’t have the frame to be a starter on the outside but, as a nickel or sub-package player, he definitely has a future in the league and will be worth some early playing time for the Packers.

Round 6, Pick 214: Cole Van Lanen, OL, Wisconsin | Grade: C

Revisiting this again, I’m not going to be overly harsh on taking late-round offensive linemen. But Van Lanen was a player who I did not believe would get drafted and was the third player in the offensive trenches the Packers took.

Taking a flier on a late-round wide receiver or defensive player would’ve made a lot more sense to me at this point. Thus, I can’t get on board. The process and player just seem a bit flawed.

Round 6, Pick 220: Isaiah McDuffie, LB, Boston College | Grade: C+

Though McDuffie played well at Boston College and was a tackling machine in the ACC, he didn’t have a favorable NFL projection coming into the draft. He just seems as if he’ll be limited, at best, playing at the pro level. He may play on special teams but the Packers could’ve possibly found a player with more upside at this spot.

Round 7, Pick 256: Kylin Hill, RB, Mississippi State | Grade: A-

Playing under Mike Leach in Starkville didn’t do Kylin Hill any favors in 2020 but he has the juice to be a role player in an NFL offense at this point.

After losing Jamaal Williams in free agency, Green Bay needed to bolster the running back room a bit behind Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Hill should allow them to do that as he develops a bit and gets a better grasp on the offense.