The 2021 Green Bay Packers draft is in the books. General Manager Brian Gutekunst orchestrated his fourth NFL draft this weekend. He went in with 10 picks, made one trade and wound up with nine selections, covering nearly all of the bases to add depth and competition to his roster.
So let’s meet the class of ’21.
Round 1 Pick 29 Eric Stokes CB Georgia
Stokes is a 6-1, 190 pound, extremely fast defensive back who more than held his own in the competitive Southeastern Conference. He went up against top flight receivers from LSU’s Justin Jefferson who lit up a rookie season with the Vikings to his LSU counterpart Ja’Mar Chase, the first receiver off the board this weekend. Throw in Alabama’s tandem of Heisman winner DeVontae Smith and Jaylen Waddle, also top 10 picks, and Stokes is ready for what the NFL has to offer. He has a very good chance to be on the field a lot this fall for the Packers by either supplanting the injury prone and inconsistent Kevin King or finding a full time spot in nickel and dime sub-packages.
Round 2 Pick 62 Josh Myers C Ohio State
From one Buckeye snapper to another. Myers (6-5, 310) will be given every opportunity to succeed the departed Corey Linsley for the starting job. Linsley was a 5th round pick out of Ohio State in 2014 and became the NFL’s first team All Pro center in 2020. Myers would be unusually tall for the center spot and he has the ability to play all three interior positions on the offensive line. He was the Buckeye’s captain and showed his toughness by playing through a bad toe injury through last year’s national title game before undergoing surgery in Green Bay at a clinic just across the street from Lambeau Field. He thought at the time how neat it would be to return, and now he will.
Round 3 Pick 85 Amari Rodgers WR Clemson
Gutekunst had both Rodgers and Myers on his board for the 2nd round pick, went with the linemen first and then started scrambling to find ways to trade up in the third round to get the 5-9 1/2, 205 pound slot and jet sweep specialist. After making a lot of calls, the GM finally found a partner in the Tennessee Titans, giving up the 92nd overall pick plus a 4th round choice to move up 7 spots and take him. Rodgers was a key component to the Tiger offense led by overall number one pick Trevor Lawrence. While he fell just under height thresholds for the Packers, his production was too good to ignore. Rodgers is close with Randall Cobb, the last 5-10 slot receiver drafted by the Pack, Amari’s father, former University of Tennessee and NFL quarterback Tee Martin, was Randall’s position coach at Kentucky. If he turns out anything like Cobb, the Packers will have a player.
Round 4 Pick 142 Royce Newman G Mississippi
Newman is another versatile lineman who played both guard positions during his career at Ole Miss before moving to RT for his final season. At 6-5 and 305 pounds, he might best be suited to move inside at the next level and he joins an ever crowded offensive line room with a lot of young prospects.
Round 5 Pick 173 Tederral (T.J.) Slaton DT Florida
A massive plugger in the middle of the Gator’s defensive line, Slaton (6-4, 340) also showed agility required to make an impact as an interior pass rusher. In 45 games in Gainsville, Slaton had 98 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three and a half sacks. He proved hard to move inside and quick to battle through double teams. He admits he’ll have to drop some weight and wants to hit training camp at a still beefy 320 pounds and hopefully give Kenny Clark some help along the defensive front.
Round 5 Pick 178 Shemar Jean-Charles CB Appalachian State
The first player selected that didn’t come from a Power 5 Conference school, Jean-Charles put up tape and statistics that rivaled any big school defensive back on the board. The 5th year senior has adequate size at 5-11 and 190 pounds and completely controlled the secondary nearly every weekend. He was first team all Sunbelt Conference and led the entire nation in pass breakups with 16. He was also a Thorpe Award semifinalist given to the top defensive back in the country.
Round 6 Pick 214 Cole Van Lanen OT Wisconsin
Easily the feel good story of the weekend. The former Bay Port Pirate high school star and University of Wisconsin two year starter at left tackle was at his home in Suamico, about 10 mintues north of Lambeau Field when his phone rang Saturday afternoon. The Green Bay number had a scam alert on his cell but he answered it anyway. It was Gutekunst and Head Coach Matt LaFleur asking him how he’d like to become a member of the Packers. Van Lanen said it was an unbelievable moment. Sentimentalities aside, Van Lanen is an accomplished blocker in the run game and is eager to get to work and try and land a job on his hometown NFL team. He’s the first Green Bay area product drafted by the Packers since West High and Wisconsin quarterback Bud Keyes was taken in the 10th round in 1988. He’s also the sixth offensive linemen drafted by the Packers in the last two years so the competition is going to be fierce.
Round 6 Pick 220 Isaiah McDuffie LB Boston College
A fluid outside backer for the Eagles stands 6-2 and weighs in at 227 pounds. He was a second team All ACC performer last year when he racked up 107 tackles, a season after languishing with a back injury. McDuffie showed ability to chase down quarterbacks too with 8.5 career sacks.
Round 7 Pick 256 Kylin Hill RB Mississippi State
A bit surprising he slid all the way to the final round but Hill could be an excellent fit in the running back room. He led the SEC in rushing in 2019 with 1350 yards and he proved adept in the passing game with 67 receptions over his career. He decided to opt out for the final six games of the season in Starkville. Hill already has ties to the Packers playing with former Bulldog Elgton Jenkins and his one time offensive coordinator was current Packer passing game coordinator and quarterback coach Luke Getsy.
