10 Potential Green Bay Packers To Watch During Senior Bowl Week
Which 2022 NFL Draft prospects could the Green Bay Packers be eyeing down at the Senior Bowl this year?
It’s a big week for the NFL Draft world, as the analysts, scouts, and fans descend on Mobile, Alabama for Senior Bowl week. Practices get underway on Tuesday, which should yield plenty of winners and standout players throughout the week.
The Green Bay Packers will of course be down there like everyone else, getting a look at the top prospects for this coming draft. General manager Brian Gutekunst and company only drafted one Senior Bowl participant last year (Clemson’s Amari Rodgers, their third round pick), but there’s a good group of players the Packers could consider this time around. Let’s look at 10 players who the Packers could be (and Packers fans should be) keeping an eye on this week.
Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati
The Green Bay Packers will likely be back in the wide receiver market in the 2022 NFL Draft, and day two will feature some talented playmakers. One of those players is Bearcats receiver Alec Pierce. Pierce fits into the traditional “X” role on the outside, with a strong vertical route tree, impressive twitch at the line of scrimmage, route break efficiency, and phenomenal ball skills. He can separate late at the catch point and brings some juice in terms of straight line speed. Not to mention, Pierce is a good blocker too.
Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
If Marquez Valdes-Scantling doesn’t return for the Packers, Christian Watson would be a fabulous replacement. Watson’s build is quite similar to that of MVS, and he has the game-breaking speed. Watson also has a wide catch radius, is a plus tracker of the football, and is used in a variety of ways.
Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
If the Green Bay Packers move on from Billy Turner with their cap reconstruction, tackle could become a need in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Senior Bowl features an impressive crop of offensive linemen, headlined by Trevor Penning. Penning has a mean streak and looks to finish defenders on every rep. He’s got a big week ahead to potentially boost his stock.
Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State
Jermaine Johnson II transferred away from Georgia in the offseason, and made serious noise in his time with the Seminoles in 2021. Johnson had 12 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss, showing great prowess as a run defender. He’s got the athleticism and hand usage to unlock a ton as a pass rusher.
Cameron Thomas, EDGE, San Diego State
Cameron Thomas is another who was all about production this past season. For the Aztecs, Thomas had 20.5 tackles for loss while moving around the defensive line. He’s slimmed down from around 280 pounds to 264 pounds at the Senior Bowl, which likely means he’ll stick to the edge going forward. Watch for Thomas as a potential pick at 28 for the Green Bay Packers.
Travis Jones, DL, Connecticut
The defensive line class doesn’t necessarily have superstars for the second straight draft cycle, but there are talented players who can be found on day two. One of those guys is Connecticut’s Travis Jones, who has very good initial quicks, impressive power to displace blockers, and good quickness to get into the backfield and make plays. He’d be a fun running mate for Kenny Clark.
Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
The tight end position might look thin for the Green Bay Packers when the draft rolls around, and finding one earlier than expected is a possibility. Trey McBride does it all, from mauling defenders in the run game to using his hands and size to separate in the passing game.
Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina
Isaiah Likely is the dynamic tight end down a the Senior Bowl, who almost can be considered a “power slot” receiver type. His burst off the line of scrimmage is impressive, and he has the speed and explosion in short areas to turn any reception into a score.
Damone Clark, LB, LSU
Could De’Vondre Campbell return for the Green Bay Packers? Potentially, but the linebacker room could need reinforcements anyway. Damone Clark has impressive athleticism in space, but is willing to mix it up working downhill, often running through blockers to make plays. His closing speed flashes a ton on tape.
Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
The Packers love drafting athletes on the edge, and Boye Mafe is a very good one. Mafe rushes a lot as a standup guy, and has an impressive first step, violent hands at contact, and great change of direction skills. He could rise throughout the draft process and be a big time target for the Packers.