Who will the Packers pick at No. 52 overall? Think edge | Dougherty

GREEN BAY − It’s been 40 years since the Green Bay Packers went into an NFL draft without a first-round pick. 

In the summer of 1985, the Packers traded their first-round pick to San Diego for disgruntled safety Mossy Cade and thus in 1986 didn’t have the No. 14 pick overall that their 8-8 record had earned them. 

There have been a couple of drafts since then in which the Packers traded out of the first round on draft day. In 2008, they went from No. 30 to No. 38 overall and landed Jordy Nelson; in 2017, they dropped from No. 29 to No. 33 and selected Kevin King. 

So general manager Brian Gutekunst and his scouting staff are in new territory in their draft preparations with their first pick not coming until later in the second round, No. 52 overall. 

If he stays in that spot, Gutekunst almost surely will at least get a player in the top 50 on his draft board, and perhaps one from his top 30. 

But moving all the way up into the first round is a nonstarter for a team that doesn’t have a first-rounder in 2027 as well. If Gutekunst moves, it won’t be far. 

But one of the biggest challenges for him and his staff is narrowing the candidates who will be available for his first selection. 

“The process is the same, you still go over everybody,” said a high-ranking front-office executive who at least once in his career worked for a team that didn’t have a first-rounder. 

“But this draft is tough to predict, there are probably only 15 legit first-rounders. It’s a lot harder to predict who’s gonna be there (at 52).” 

The list of possibilities for Gutekunst at No. 52 is long. He has his share of needs, but his history suggests he’ll lean more toward best player available than any position early in this draft. 

Still, with the way this draft lines up, it’s more likely Gutekunst’s top pick will be on defense rather than offense. The guess here is the draft’s depth in second-round edge defenders makes that the most likely position for Gutekunst to select with his top pick, but plenty of players and positions are in play. 

There’s also the possibility he’ll trade up or down a few spots. If it’s a trade up, it’s hard not to think he’ll use a pick from among the 11 he’s expected to have in ‘27 rather than one of the eight picks he has going into this draft. 

Whether he’d be willing to wait even longer to pick by trading down is another matter.  

“If we end up waiting 51 picks before we pick, that will be a long time,” Gutekunst said at his pre-draft press conference this week. “Hopefully I have the patience and discipline to do that.” 

The following list is not exhaustive of candidates at No. 52 but consists of nine players who make sense and have at least an OK chance of being on the board when the Packers pick or within range of a short trade up. 

Among the players eliminated are a few who earlier in the offseason appeared to be possibilities but now look like strong bets to go late in the first round or early second. Among them are San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson, Central Florida edge rusher Malachi Lawrence and Georgia Tech guard Keylen Rutledge. 

This list is in order of least likely to most likely to be the Packers’ pick, with the final player my prediction. The comments are from three high-ranking NFL executives. 

9. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson 

He’s not the physical prototype Gutekunst prefers, and chances are less than 50-50 he’ll be available at No. 52.  

The 5-foot-10¾ Terrell barely hits the Packers’ 5-10½ height minimum, and his slow 40 time (4.64 seconds) on a tight hamstring worries some teams. But he shows natural cover skills and had eight forced fumbles in his final two seasons at Clemson. 

“Everybody understood he was hurt (running the 40),” said the scout who predicted Terrell won’t make it to 52. “I’m guessing he’s right around 4.45, 4.48. He plays fast enough.” 

His cover skills probably are suited to new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s zone system. 

“I may be wrong, but I don’t like guys like that,” a second executive said. “He’s a cover guy that relies on instincts, doesn’t have the physical gears to consistently cover downfield in man. It all depends on the team he plays for.”

8. Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame 

In a weak running back draft, Price is as close as you’ll get to the consensus second-best prospect at that position, behind his Notre Dame teammate Jeremiyah Love. 

The Packers have a big hole at No. 2 running back, and their starter, Josh Jacobs, is getting up there in age (28) for the position and has a lot of miles on his body. The timing is right for the Packers to add a quality prospect at that position. 

The main question about Price’s game is whether he’ll be any good on third downs, because he caught only 15 passes in 31 games at Notre Dame. It’s worth noting there were the same questions about Jacobs in free agency, and about A.J. Dillon when the Packers drafted him in the second round in 2020. Gutekunst will let his scouting eyes, not the receiving stats, determine whether Price can function as a receiver in the Packers’ offense. 

The bigger question is whether Price will be available at No. 52. Two of the aforementioned executives think Price will be drafted early in the second round, but another said there’s a chance he’ll still be on the board at 52. 

“It’s a bad draft at running back,” the scout said. “That could push him up the board. But I could see him being there.” 

Said another scout: “I don’t give him much chance to be there, but if he’s there take him.” 

7. R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma 

Two of the three executives gave Thomas a better than 50-50 shot at being available at 52. The question is whether Gutekunst will go outside his usual edge-defender parameters to take a swing at a pass rusher. 

The Packers GM historically prefers edges in the 6-5 and 270-pound range so they’re big enough to stop the run when winter hits Green Bay. Thomas, who had 15½ sacks in 23 games the last two seasons, was only 6-2½ and 242 at his pro day. 

Gutekunst also has one small edge rusher on his roster, 2025 fifth-round pick Collin Oliver. If he thinks Oliver has a chance to be good, he’ll probably consider Thomas redundant. 

But Oliver is a designated pass rusher whose early-down position is off-ball linebacker, whereas Thomas is a true edge defender. In the end, it will come down to whether Gutekunst thinks Thomas can at least rotate in on early downs or is only a third-down player. 

“You don’t want him out there every first and second down,” said a high-ranking scout for one NFL team. “But he’s not a zero against the run. And he’s got something special on third down.” 

Said another scouting executive: “He’s got a legitimate pass rush skill set, but if you look back at the history of those guys, when they’re drafted, they’re niche players, they’re luxuries, they’re not three-down players. Yes, I do think he goes in Round 2, I’d be surprised if he didn’t. But what he becomes in the NFL, history tells you it’s more of a luxury, DPR [designated pass rusher] thing than a three-down player.” 

Said the third scout: “I love him. He’s a specialized situational pass rusher, but holy (crap) can he get off the ball. He doesn’t have the ideal length, but the guy’s a good player.” 

6. Caleb Banks, DT, Florida 

Maybe the hardest player in the first two days of the draft for scouts to predict a draft slot. 

Banks has a prototypical build (6-6¼ 327) and eye-catching talent, but he’s had multiple foot injuries, and scouts question his grit. Could go from early second round to third round. 

“I don’t think anybody will take him in Round 1,” one of the scouts said. “I imagine at some point in Round 2 because of the immense talent somebody will take a shot. Too many athletic gifts. But he’s got a foot, got some football character stuff. Hard to say. That one’s tough, because it only takes one team to get mesmerized by the talent and upside. But he has some things working against him. That’s a wide range.” 

Banks had two surgeries on his foot in the last eight months – once last season, the other after the scouting combine. The surgeries were for different injuries. His doctor this week released a statement saying he’s on track to practice in June. All three scouts said they were fine with his medical. 

“If you go by his flashes, he’s the best one,” one scout said of Banks relative to the other defensive tackles in this draft. “It’s one of those things where the doctors say he should be fine, but you don’t know why it happened. Second, third round.” 

If Gutekunst wants to swing big on upside and talent that usually requires a first-round pick, Banks would be the biggest swing he’s likely to get at No. 52. 

“They’re in the right spot,” the third executive said. “If you really want a big interior, long defensive lineman, you take him. What he gives you is you have to teach him how to be consistent. He’s got athletic skills of an interior pass rusher. … He’s boom or bust.” 

5. Zion Young, Edge, Missouri 

Very much fits the mold of a Gutekunst edge defender because of his size and strength, and will bring a nasty edge to his side of the ball. But it’s iffy at best that he’s on the board at 52. 

Measured 6-5⅝ and 267 at his pro day. He’s not an elite tester – his 4.75 40 and 31-inch vertical aren’t as good as former Packers first-rounders Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness. Gary at 277 pounds ran 4.58 and jumped 38 inches; Van Ness at 272 pounds ran 4.58 and jumped 31 inches. 

But Young (6½ sacks last season) has all the look of being in Gutekunst’s wheelhouse, plus the temperament the Packers’ defense could use. If Gutekunst really wants him, he’ll probably have to trade up a few spots, and that’s if Young makes it to the mid-to-late 40s. 

“He won’t be around long,” one of the scouts said. “I would be surprised if he hung around that long (i.e., to 52).” 

4. Christen Miller, DT, Georgia 

Figures to be high on Gutekunst’s wish list, but very shaky whether he’ll be available at 52. More likely, just as with Young, Gutekunst would have to trade up a few spots for him, if he makes it that far. The guess here is Gutekunst would prefer making a move for Miller over Young. 

Miller (6-3¾, 321) is just a well-regarded, second-round talent who plays a role that’s not conducive to putting up big stats (three sacks and 7½ tackles for loss the last two seasons combined) but that impacts game by making it tough to run inside. 

He can play anywhere on the interior of the defensive line, including nose tackle, which is a huge Packers need. And he flashes talent as at least an OK rusher. 

“I don’t think he’ll get there,” one of the scouts said of Miller making it to 52. “Less than 50-50.” 

3. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina 

Probably the only player at the Packers’ position of greatest need who makes sense at pick No. 52. 

Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds probably will go in the mid-to-late second round, but he’s surely off the Packers board anyway because of his height (5-8⅝). Miami’s Keionte Scott is an impactful player and might be available, but his position of value is the slot, and the Packers have an ascending player at that spot in third-year pro Javon Bullard. 

Cisse has the tangibles for NFL cornerback. He’s nearly 6-foot (5-11¾), ran 4.41 at his pro day and jumped 41 inches. Two of three scouts said there’s a better than 50 percent chance he’s on the board at 52. 

“He’s talented, for sure,” one of the scouts said. “But to me there’s a little something missing, just the consistency, confidence. He’s big and fast. His highs are high, but then he gives up completions that he shouldn’t.” 

2. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State 

Has the size and athletic testing Gutekunst has favored in edge defenders, though he also was a productive player at a college football power. 

Dennis-Sutton was 6-5½ and 261 at his pro day, and weighed 5 pounds less at the combine when he ran 4.63 and jumped 39½ inches. His height, vertical, broad jump and three-cone drill ranked in the top 93rd percentile or better at the combine among edge defenders going back to 1999, according to MockDraftable. His 40 time was in the 85th percentile. 

Had 17 sacks and 25 tackles for loss in 29 games as a starter the last two seasons. 

“I think he’ll be there (at 52),” one of the scouts said. “I thought he had a down year, even though his numbers were the same he was more up and down. But he’s big and athletic. That’s right about where he’s going to go.” 

1. Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois 

Fits Gutekunst’s profile and has a much better chance than Young of being on the board at pick No. 52. That makes him the prediction for the Packers’ pick. 

Jacas has good but not great size at 6-3⅝ and 260, and ran a 4.69 40 at his pro day. Gutekunst probably would prefer he were a better edge setter, but Jacas had 11 sacks last season, and the Packers need to add juice to their rush to get the most out of Micah Parsons in the next few years. 

“He’ll be there,” one of the scout said of pick 52. “Love the effort, love the toughness, love his ability to run to the ball. Needs to be more consistent. He’s all right. He’s competitive as (heck), he runs to the ball, I love how he plays. There’s a but. Let’s win a rush one-on-one. It’s probably more instinctive than anything else, he doesn’t know how to set up his moves.” 

This article originally appeared on Packers News: Who will the Packers pick at No. 52 overall? Think edge | Dougherty

Reporting by Pete Dougherty, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Packers News

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