Fansided

5 players Packers should draft in the first round

By Rucker Haringey

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 17: Elijah Moore #8 of the Mississippi Rebels runs past Greg Brooks Jr. #9 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on October 17, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Rebels 33-21. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 17: Elijah Moore #8 of the Mississippi Rebels runs past Greg Brooks Jr. #9 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on October 17, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Rebels 33-21. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Packers mock draft, Zaven Collins
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 23: Zaven Collins #23 of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

2. Zaven Collins

The Packers will almost certainly cut Preston Smith to save salary cap space this offseason. His departure leaves the team with a void to fill out outside linebacker. Finding a guy to rush the passer from that spot will be a consideration for Green Bay in the early rounds.

It would be a mistake to simply classify Collins as an edge rusher. He projects to be a legitimate three-down linebacker who can help his team in all facets of the game. Collins’ potential as a coverage linebacker will also interest the Packers’ defensive coaching staff.

Obviously, the calculus here changes if Green Bay successfully lands a free agent to fill their need on the outside. The Packers don’t need to add quantity to the group to be contenders in 2021. They simply need to add one, high-impact guy to their pass-rushing corps.

It might take Collins a little time to make the jump from college ball at Tulsa to the rigors of the NFL, but the Packers can afford to be patient with his development. Landing him won’t be as sexy as nabbing a wideout in Round 1, but it might be just as beneficial to Green Bay’s win total.

Home/Green Bay Packers