Having two first-round picks following the trade with the Saints on draft day, the Packers stand a good chance to add talent on both sides of the ball. And with Aaron Rodgers officially under contract (a massive one, at that), the club will need to do a better job at protecting the face of their franchise.
Luckily, the in-state Wisconsin Badgers have plenty of offensive line talent to go around, meaning guard Michael Dieter could see himself in a Green Bay uniform.
Deiter (6-foot-6, 328 pounds) started last season for the Badgers at left tackle, but has moved inside to left guard, which is likely his future position in the NFL. He also has experience at center, and that versatility is sure to be a key benefit in determining his draft stock. He’s not the most agile lineman, but his length and power give him the ability to open up plenty of holes in the run game.
For a team that is going to have to face both the Minnesota and Chicago pass rush attacks four times per year, the Packers need to come away with at least one impact offensive lineman in the first round next April.
Joey Bosa may get most of the headlines, but the Ohio State Buckeyes have another first-round talent on the defensive line in Dre’Mont Jones. As disruptive as Bosa is from the edge, Jones is able to make his impact on the interior.
At 6-foot-3, 286 pounds, Jones plays with excellent quickness and power that allow him to wreak havoc in both the pass and run games. He earned his spot as a starter as a redshirt freshman and has slowly improved from year to year. The lack of production, particularly in the sack category, may raise some eyebrows, but Jones has already eclipsed last year’s total through just two games this season.
The Vikings made one of the best additions of the offseason with the signing of Sheldon Richardson, but he’s still on only a one-year deal and could leave in free agency if the Vikings divert money towards an extension for Anthony Barr, among others.