Armed with two first-round and two second-round picks after the Davante Adams trade, the Green Bay Packers have a chance to dramatically improve their roster in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Here is a look at three possibilities for their first-round picks at No. 22 and No. 28.
George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
Why the Packers will draft him:
– After losing outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith in free agency, the Packers look thin along the edges. Rashan Gary and Preston Smith are entrenched as the starting outside linebackers, but Jonathan Garvin, Tipa Galeai and Randy Ramsey don’t inspire a ton of confidence as the cast of reserves. The Packers might also want to unload Smith’s backloaded contract before 2024, when his cap hit swells to $14.84 million
– Karlaftis meets the Packers’ athleticism thresholds, scoring a 9.18 on Relative Athletic Score
– At 6-4, 266 lbs., he fits Green Bay’s oversized outside linebacker mold
– He’s 21 years old, with plenty of room to grow
– He should provide an instant pass-rush boost off the bench with his devastating speed-to-power, touch of finesse, and relentless motor. His run defense is still a work-in-progress, but with Smith and Gary locked in as the starters in 2022, he won’t need to be more than a situational pass rusher as a rookie
Why they won’t:
– Karlaftis might not be an ideal three-down player in Year 1, potentially limiting his role. This could cause the Packers to look at other players or positions with their first-round picks instead — that is, if they’re hyperfocused on Year 1 impact
– With the high demand for pass rush around the league, Karlaftis could easily come off the board before pick No. 22
Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Why the Packers will draft him:
– The Packers need to replace Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Olave offers some aspects of each of their games. The former Buckeye is a deceptive route runner, who has shown an ability to separate from coverage at all three levels…
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