Green Bay Packers: Shemar Jean-Charles could get reps at STAR position
There was “much ado about something” regarding the corner position this offseason for the Green Bay Packers. After the debacle that occurred in the NFC Championship game before halftime, it became clear that upgrades were necessary at the position.
The Packers did bring Kevin King back on a one-year deal, which was smart given the circumstances. Having a veteran presence with a new defensive coordinator coming in made sense. But, it was good that it didn’t stop there.
The Packers were aggressive in the 2021 NFL Draft regarding corner, first selecting Eric Stokes in the first round. Stokes brings great speed and technique in press, and will likely find some reps on the outside in year one. General manager Brian Gutekunst didn’t stop there, selecting Appalachian State corner Shemar Jean-Charles in the fifth round.
Jean-Charles is always around the football and has the instincts to be a playmaker and force turnovers. He’s physical and has the speed to close quickly to make tackles or plays on the ball.
There’s a chance Jean-Charles gets reps at the STAR position for the Green Bay Packers early on.
The STAR position will be very important in Joe Barry’s defense, and that comes from a Rams team that put a lot of defensive backs on the field when necessary. It’s like that STAR is filled by numerous defenders in Green Bay, from Darnell Savage to even Jaire Alexander at times. Chandon Sullivan is likely the favorite though to get the majority of snaps there.
As much as Sullivan makes sense there, his play hasn’t been to par recently, and with a new coordinator, he could fall out of favor.
This is where Jean-Charles comes in. It’s clear the front office and scouts liked him, and his physical style fits well in the slot, which is becoming an area for quick separators. Instincts and quickness will be the name of the game at the position, and Jean-Charles has those traits. Having a reliable tackler in space also helps, and he brings that to the table as well.
If Jean-Charles puts together a camp where he competes with the wide receivers well (especially fellow rookie Amari Rodgers), and has a good few weeks in preseason, there’s no reason to believe he can’t earn some STAR reps this season. That would go a long way to give the 2021 NFL Draft class an early boost.