This year’s draft was exciting for all the wrong reasons for Packer fans, as it was reported before the first round that Aaron Rodgers was disgruntled with the front office and wanted to be traded if General Manager Brian Gutekunst wasn’t fired. Nevertheless, here’s a rundown of the nine players selected by the Packers in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Round 1, Pick 29: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
Many analysts viewed Stokes as a second round player, but the Packers grabbed Stokes at the end of the first with hopes that he can fill the Packers’ large need at cornerback immediately. Stokes has great size for the position and possesses elite speed, which he displayed at Georgia’s pro day when he ran a 4.29 second 40 yard dash. Reports out of Georgia paint him as a highly intelligent and coachable player. He could tone down the aggressiveness at times, as he struggled with penalties at the collegiate level, and he also needs to clean up his tackling, but Stokes has promising athletic traits that could allow him to make an immediate impact if given proper coaching and put in the right position.
Grade: B
Round 2, Pick 62: Josh Myers, C, Ohio State
Myers was the first center taken in the draft, which was a surprise to many given that Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey and Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Quinn Meinerz were both still on the board, but the Packers liked him because of his experience in a zone blocking scheme at Ohio State similar to the scheme the Packers run. Myers is a smart, aggressive and tough blocker, especially in the running game, and was voted a team captain for his redshirt junior year. However, he tends to try and lean into his blocks, opening him up to get beaten by quicker athletes. Myers should be in contention to start right away at either the center or guard position as a rookie.
Grade: C+
Round 3, Pick 85: Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson
The pick of the draft for the Packers. Son of former NFL quarterback and current Ravens wide receivers coach Tee Martin, Rodgers is exactly the type of receiver the Packers need to take their offense to even greater heights. He’s not the biggest, standing only 5’9”, and he isn’t a contested jump ball catch type of receiver, but Rodgers is a smart, refined route runner that excels with the ball in his hands after the catch. He will line up primarily in the slot and will bring a dimension to the Packers’ offense that they haven’t had since Randall Cobb was still around.
Grade: A
Round 4, Pick 142: Royce Newman, OG, Ole Miss
Newman was a tight end in high school but bulked up and played both guard and tackle in his time at Ole Miss. Newman is quick off the ball and has consistent technique, but he has average length and athleticism. Newman also only made 22 starts in college. He will need to develop a little bit more, but if he does, his ability to play both guard and tackle positions could make him a valuable depth piece that could start if necessary
Grade: B-
Round 5, pick 173: Tedarrell Slaton, DT, Florida
The first of the Packers’ two fifth round draft selections, Slaton is a large human being, weighing anywhere from 330 to 380 pounds in his time at Florida. He possesses great natural strength and moves very well for a player his size, but struggled to produce in his one year starting at Florida. There are also concerns about his maturity, as he struggled with conditioning in his time at Florida and was also suspended for the Gators’ 2019 season opener for violating team rules. Slaton is similar to Royce Newman in that he still needs to develop more, both as a player and as an individual, but could be a solid contributor next to Kenny Clark and Kingsley Keke if he can figure it out.
Grade: C+
Round 5, pick 178: Shemar Jean-Charles, CB, Appalachian State
Another cornerback! Jean-Charles allowed only five receptions in single coverage last season, and forced an FBS leading 17 incompletions, despite possessing unimpressive size, strength and speed measurements. Overall, Jean-Charles is a smart and tenacious player that plays bigger than he is listed and is brimming with confidence, but his athletic traits could hold him back at the next level. He will compete with guys like Ka’Dar Hollman and Josh Jackson for a depth spot.
Grade: C+
Round 6, Pick 214: Cole Van Lanen, OT, Wisconsin
Van Lanen played tackle at Wisconsin, earning all-Big Ten honors as a junior and a senior at the position. He’s smart and physical as both a run blocker and a pass blocker, but he’s a limited athlete and possesses below average length for an NFL tackle, which will necessitate a move to guard at the next level. The Packers could have gotten Van Lanen in free agency. He will likely be a backup at best at the next level.
Grade: D-
Round 6, pick 220: Isaiah McDuffie, LB, Boston College
Opinions are a bit split on McDuffie; some viewed him as a potential third or fourth round player, while others saw him as more of a fifth to seventh round player. McDuffie is a fast, high motor linebacker that plays sideline to sideline and is serviceable in pass protection, but he lacks ideal size for the position and his endless motor can sometimes be a hindrance, causing him to become undisciplined in coverage and as a tackler. McDuffie will be a solid depth linebacker, but his true value could be as a high impact special teams player.
Grade: C
Round 7, pick 256: Kylin Hill, RB, Mississippi State
The Packers might’ve been able to find their replacement to Jamaal Williams with this selection. Hill possesses average speed, but he is a tough runner who is agile enough to make defenders miss tackles while also being a threat out of the backfield as a pass catcher. However, Hill is an inconsistent pass blocker and has some concerns regarding his emotional maturity, as he was suspended for a game as a senior and was at odds with new Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach, which led to Hill opting out before the end of the year. Like with Tedarrell Slaton, if Hill can mature, he will be a welcome addition to the Packers’ running back room.
Grade: B
My Favorite Pick: If you read my draft guide, you might remember that I wanted the Packers to add another player to the wide receiver room to help take the pressure off of Davante Adams and open up the field for deep threat Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Amari Rodgers should do exactly that and make the Packers top ranked offense even more deadly.
My Least Favorite Pick: It hurts to say as a Badger fan, but Cole Van Lanen is the weakest member of this draft class. He won’t be able to fill the need at offensive tackle and the Packers probably could have been able to get him as a priority free agent.
Final Thoughts: The Aaron Rodgers drama overshadowed what turned out to be a solid draft for the Packers. Most of the major needs of the team were met, and Brian Gutekunst hit a home run by snagging Amari Rodgers in the third round, but the success of many players in this class is going to be dependent on how well they fit into and develop in the offensive and defensive schemes of Matt LaFleur and new defensive coordinator Joe Barry. It will be exciting to see if these rookies can contribute as the Packers make a push for the Super Bowl this upcoming season!