To be able to maximize the current roster’s talent, the Green Bay Packers have to be able to use their draft picks to continue to bring in talent that can help produce right away. And while last year’s draft saw GB take QB Jordan Love in the first round, this year should see the team use their picks to address more pressing needs in the 2021 NFL Draft.
While the normal first-round talent is there this year and the Packers, who are sitting at pick 29, will be able to address a hole in their roster early, how they utilize their Day 2 and 3 picks will be even more important.
Focusing on improving the offense, here are a few players that Green Bay should look into taking with their 2nd and 3rd round selections.
Liam Eichenberg
OT – Notre Dame
The former Notre Dame offensive lineman could potentially sneak into the back of the first round, but Liam Eichenberg projects to be a second-round prospect this year. While having starred for the Fighting Irish as their starting left tackle, Eichenberg projects to slide over to the right side, something that would be an immediate plug-and-play option for the Packers at right tackle.
Pro Football Network gives Eichenberg solid marks for his collegiate work, and his work certainly will translate into the NFL, coming out of the ND system. His 6’6, 302 lb. frame does a lot for his physical nature of play, and his ability to continuously move his feet and remain a factor in all plays speaks to his hard work.
Green Bay may potentially need to move up about 5-7 slots to grab Eichenberg, but the kind of impact he would have would make the price worth it – a potential impact starter on the OL is exactly what this team would be smart to go after in the 2nd round.
Elijah Moore
WR – Ole Miss
A fast riser due to his slot abilities, wide receiver Elijah Moore profiles as a solid offensive option for the Packers to add in the second round. With the glaring need to add another offensive playmaker, Moore’s stature certainly benefits his status as being a burner, but also can be a hindrance when matched up with bigger, more physical options.
Situating himself around the ranks of LSU’s Terrace Marshall Jr., USC’s Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Purdue’s Rondale Moore, Elijah Moore is one of the better slot options in this year’s draft, even with his 5’9, 185 lb. size.
Concerns about his ability to handle NFL physicality will follow him even when he enters the league, as he even had problems dealing with hand checking and press coverage at the collegiate level. With defenders being even more physical in the NFL, Moore will need to use his speed and shiftiness to prove his worth as a second-round selection.
Brevin Jordan
TE – Miami (FL)
Yes, tight end may not be a major position for the Packers to need to address – but with how much Matt LaFleur loves his TE usage, looking at a guy like Brevin Jordan from Miami makes a ton of sense.
Being tied to ND’s Tommy Tremble is a smart bet as well, but Jordan’s athleticism jumps off the charts, and Jordan is widely seen as the TE3 in this year’s draft behind Florida’s Kyle Pitts and Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth.
Jordan’s strong release off the line, both when split out in the slot and on the line, as well as his ability to make strong-handed catches helps make him stand out in a position that is very top-heavy with a ton of average options after.
A big sticking point with any TE option is their blocking, and Jordan has shown an ability to be a solid blocker, willing to get dirty and can follow through on 1-on-1 blocking assignments when called upon. While his route-running abilities leave a little left to be desired, his 6’3, 245 lb. stature helps present the offense with a tall target to utilize both in-line and outside.
With the potential to need to move up into the earlier stages of the 3rd round to select Jordan, GB needs to be extra sure that they want to use another early-ish selection on a TE, especially after the response they earned for taking Josiah Deguara in the 3rd round last year.
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Mike Johrendt has been an avid fan of the Packers ever since he can remember. He is now a writer at PackersTalk and you can follow him on Twitter at @MJohrendt23
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3 responses to “Day 2 offensive options for the Green Bay Packers”
I’d prefer Tommy Tremble over Jordan. I think he would fit into Matt’s system perfectly as a blocker and him and degura would be a great combo
Whatever the Front Office decides or eventually does this year in the draft, it will not be enough to makeup for the obviously ridiculous drafting of Jordon Love in the 2020 draft. Having done so when every fan who loves and believes in the GBP team knew that it was both WR’s and defensive secondary players that were what the team desperately needed to go all the way and win the Super Bowl last year and this year and next year.
IMHO as an Armchair Quarterback who has been a GBP fan since 1959, to me, it is as if there is someone with power in the Front Office who is pushing for Aaron Rodgers to hit the road and be gone from Green Bay as soon as poossible !!! I know, that makes no logical sense whatsoever, but it sure looks, feels, reads, and sounds that way to me.