Unpacking Future Packers: No. 42, Georgia Tech TE Jackson Hawes

USA Today

19-03-2025

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 42, Georgia Tech TE Jackson Hawes
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft.
Tucker Kraft has emerged as a budding star at tight end for the Green Bay Packers. Kraft's counterpart, Luke Musgrave has battled the injury bug during his first two seasons in the league and if Musgrave can stay on the field, they could form a dynamic one-two punch for Jordan Love and Matt LaFleur.
Given Musgrave's durability concerns, Brian Gutekunst will likely look to add a tight end on Day 3 of the draft as an insurance policy.
A potential target is Jackson Hawes. The Georgia Tech tight end checks in at No. 42 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A native of Utah, Hawes started his collegiate career at Yale. During his lone season at Georgia Tech, Hawes caught 16 receptions for 195 yards.
'Hawes was one of the offense's MVPs, without question,' Chad Bishop, the Georgia Tech beat writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, said. 'Tech did not rely on Hawes as a pass catcher or playmaker from a statistical standpoint, but his ability to block in Tech's run-heavy offense was invaluable - especially after the offense lost key tight ends from the 2023 roster and were short a few more due to injury throughout the '24 season. Tech's attack uses a lot of pre-snap shifts and motions, then often deploys the quarterback in the ground game, and Hawes' ability to master those two aspects of the offense from Day 1 helped Tech's offense succeed week-in and week-out.'
Hawes is wired like a throwback tight end. He works his tail off as a blocker. He's the kid who ran the playground during recess. He's a physical in-line blocker and eliminates defenders when he gets out in space. He looks to bury anybody that gets in his path. He has the upper body strength to stay engaged and keeps his legs churning at contact to create movement. There is no doubt that he could step in on Day 1 and help a team's rushing attacks.
"I think first there is an intelligence factor there," Bishop said. "Hawes, after all, has a degree from Yale and it was clear his mind was able to pick up Tech's offense fairly easily. So, his ability to be in the right place, understand why he was in that place and execute his assignment was crucial. I recall one day in practice this season and I asked a Tech staff member who on the current roster has the best chance to make an NFL roster and without hesitation, the answer was, 'Jackson, because he can block'."
During his three seasons at Yale, Hawes caught 35 receptions for 371 yards and six touchdowns. This past season he caught a career-high 16 receptions. The numbers won't jump off the page, but Hawes made his living as an in-line sledgehammer. Anything he did in the passing game was gravy.
That doesn't mean Hawes doesn't have the frame, movement skills, or hands to develop into a reliable target. He gets into his routes with urgency and has good size (6-4, 253 pounds) to work the middle of the field. He has reliable hands. When his number was called, which wasn't often, he answered the phone.
"I think Jackson is probably a bit underrated in this category," Bishop said. "He has certainly shown the ability to make the catch. There is tape of a one-handed grab in Senior Bowl practice that was impressive. That part of his game just wasn't necessary at Tech, and if he does happen to make an NFL roster, I wouldn't expect him to ever lead the league in receptions by a tight end. But I also believe when his number is called he'll make the play."
Saying Hawes likes to do the dirty work is like saying the sky is blue. Turn on the tape and it will become painfully obvious that he likes the physical side of the game. He's a grab-your-hard-hat type of player. He finished his career with 454 snaps on special teams and recorded nine tackles.
Fit with the Packers
The Packers proved that they could be a smash-mouth football team last season with Josh Jacobs rushing for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Hawes would fit in seamlessly at 1265 Lombardi Avenue. He'd provide an immediate impact on special teams and he's NFL-ready with his ability to do the dirty work in the trenches as an in-line blocker.
Kraft and Musgrave would handle all the targets in the passing game for the tight end room. While they are catching passes from Love, Hawes could be taking names in the run game to help open up running lanes for Jacobs.
"You would have a professional football player already," Bishop said. "His aptitude for learning and commitment to the team, scheme and game plan would, I think, be ahead of the learning curve for most rookies. I think he also understands what he does well and what makes him successful and could seamlessly slide into a locker room and fit right in."
Hawes is a pound-the-table-for-type player. He's intelligent, willing to do the dirty work and would provide an immediate impact on special teams. Don't be surprised if the Packers use one of their Day 3 picks on the best blocking tight end in this class.