Packers hosting an exciting hometown NFL Draft prospect

The Packers are doing their due diligence along with the other 31 NFL teams, meeting with prospective draftees. One hometown hostee is intriguing.

One of the objectives the Green Bay Packers should have going into the NFL Draft is cobbling together a more threatening pass rush.

The Packers pass rush has left a lot to be desired over the last two years, sitting right in the middle of the road in sack rate in both seasons, with the seventh-fewest total sacks in 2022.

Freddie Boston IV at Lombardi Ave pointed out that the team’s pass pressure will be strengthened to some degree by the return of Rashan Gary who missed the final eight games of 2022 with an ACL tear. He’s slated to ease back into things during training camp.

Still, Boston thinks it’s important that the team takes advantage of a relatively deep edge rusher class. One of the targets on the board is a hometown kid, and he’s officially visited with the Pack.

Will McDonald IV visits with Packers ahead of NFL Draft

Will McDonald IV, who spent his college years at Iowa State, went to high school in Milwaukee at Waukesha North.

McDonald spent five years at Iowa, totaling 10.5 sacks in 2020 (most in the NCAA) and 11.5 in 2021 (most in the Big 12). His 34 career sacks are the most all-time in the Big 12 and sixth in the entire NCAA.

He has officially made his visit to Green Bay, posting an Instagram story from Lambeau Field on Wednesday:

McDonald had an impressive showing at the draft combine. His results graded out at a 6.41 which projects him as a good starter within two years (fifth among participating edge rushers at the combine). The NextGenStats model rated him at 73, 14th among edge rushers.

But don’t put a ton of stock into his combine results. One perspective suggests you should inflate them a little bit, considering he performed with a fever of 104 degrees. Doing anything with that high of a fever is challenging, much less physical combine tasks.

McDonald could be a great addition for the Packers. The fact that he’s a hometown prospect makes the idea of adding him even sweeter.