Latest news with #UnpackingFuturePackers
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Unpacking Future Packers: No. 12, California CB Nohl Williams
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft. The Green Bay Packers have had a lot of moving parts at the cornerback position this offseason. They've lost Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell in free agency and inked Nate Hobbs to a four-year deal. Advertisement The biggest domino that has yet to fall is the status of Jaire Alexander. Brian Gutekunst continues to comb the trade market for a potential deal and if they can't find a dance partner, the Packers could release him, or maybe there's a universe in which he's still on the roster when the Packers open the 2025 season. The mini remodel of the cornerback room inside 1265 Lombardi Avenue will continue during the 2025 NFL Draft, where it's likely that Gutekunst uses a pair of picks on the position. A potential target on Day 2 of the draft is Nohl Williams. The California Golden Bear cornerback checks in at No. 12 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown. A three-star recruit out of California, Williams started his collegiate career at UNLV. During his three seasons at UNLV, Williams recorded five interceptions and 10 pass deflections. Advertisement Williams transferred to California for the 2023 season and recorded 53 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions and six pass deflections. This past season Williams recorded 52 tackles, one tackle for loss, nine pass deflections and an FBS-leading seven interceptions. "Nohl was the anchor of the Cal defense," Jim McGill, the editor for Bear Insider, said. "He had a solid junior season but took it to a different level last season." Williams is solidly built for the position. A high school wide receiver, Williams has natural ball skills and is opportunistic in coverage. His instincts and outstanding field vision put him in a position to make plays on the ball. He has disciplined eyes and processes route concepts quickly. Combine his instincts with his explosive trigger and you get a player who led the FBS in interceptions this past season and finished his career with 14 interceptions. The UNLV transfer does a nice job of using his length to play through the hands of the receiver. Advertisement "HIs confidence in his ability to be both physical and fast enough to stay with his man had Nohl in position to make plays all season," McGill said. "It was very difficult for receivers to get past him, and he played the ball like a receiver when it was in the air." William is smooth in his pedal and has good foot agility. While he's not an explosive athlete, he has good change-of-direction skills and is able to run routes for wide receivers. He's subtle in using his hands and is able to redirect receivers. Williams is a willing downfield tackler and doesn't shy away from contact. Missed tacklers were a rare sight in 2024. He does a nice job of tackling in the open field and getting his man to the ground to limit YAC. After missing 14 tackles during his first season as a Golden Bear, Williams missed just three tackles in 2024. During his time at UNLV he was tagged with 17 missed tackles in three seasons. "Nohl was fourth on the team in tackles, which is fairly unusual for a cornerback, especially in Cal's system, where middle linebackers and safeties tend to make the most tackles,," McGill said. "He's towards the upper end of physical corners with good ball skills." Advertisement Williams brings special teams value as a return specialist. He returned 27 kickoffs and returned one for a touchdown and averaged 24.1 yards per return. He also returned 11 punts during his career and averaged 6.7 yards per return. On top of that, he logged 617 snaps on special teams and recorded four tackles. Fit with the Packers The Packers have a lot of cornerbacks and that can play on the boundary and in the slot. Williams only logged 101 snaps in the slot during his collegiate career and would give the Packers a bonafide boundary cornerback who could challenge for reps as a rookie. Gutekunst spoke at the NFL Scouting Combine about how Jeff Hafley's defense may require cornerbacks who are instincitive and have good field vision. From Gutekunst: 'I do think with what Jeff's trying to do, there's a lot more vision and awareness and instincts out there than maybe we've played with in the past." Advertisement Williams is an instinctive cornerback with a knack for making splash plays. He's always in the right place at the right time and gives up little separation in coverage. He checks the boxes for what Gutekunst described in the aforementioned quote. Hafley emphasizes taking the ball away and only one cornerback in this draft class (Quincy Riley) took the ball away more than Williams. With his frame, instincts and ball skills, Williams could be high on Green Bay's board when Day 2 of the draft kicks off on April 25. This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Unpacking Future Packers: No. 12, California CB Nohl Williams
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Unpacking Future Packers: No. 2, Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins
Unpacking Future Packers: No. 2, Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft. The Green Bay Packers haven't drafted a wide receiver in the first round since 2002, when they selected Javon Walker with the 20th overall pick. The highest the Packers have drafted a wide receiver since 2002 was when Brian Gutekunst traded up in the second round to select Christian Watson with the 34th overall pick in the 2022 draft. Jayden Higgins is a wide receiver that Gutekunst could target in another trade-up during the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Iowa State wide receiver checks in at No. 2 on the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown. A two-star recruit out of Florida, Higgins started his collegiate career at Eastern Kentucky. During his two seasons at Eastern Kentucky, Higgins hauled in 13 receiving touchdowns. Higgins transferred to Iowa State for the 2023 season and recorded 53 receptions for 983 yards and six touchdowns. This past season, Higgins led the Cyclones in receptions (87) and touchdowns (nine). He also eclipsed the 1,000 yard receiving mark (1,183). 'Jayden meant a lot to the success we had this past season,' Noah Pauley, the Iowa State wide receiver coach, said. 'The way he works on and off the field is unmatched. No moment was ever too big for him. When we needed someone to make a big play, we knew we could count on him.' Before we dive into the on-field traits, let's talk about the work ethic that Higgins possesses. Talk to anybody who is around the Iowa State program and you'll hear nothing but glowing reviews about the way Higgins goes about his business. 'His greatest strength is his work ethic and preparation,' Pauley said. 'He has worked for everything he has and I truly believe it's what has separated him to be one of the best receivers in all of college football. His daily process caught the attention of a lot of his teammates and many of them have followed his daily routine.' At 6-4, 214 pounds, with 33 ⅛" arms, Higgins is a big-bodied wide receiver with a large catch radius. Pair that frame with his explosive leaping ability and he has a go-go catch radius. He turns 50-50 balls into 90-10 balls. He has outstanding body control and is able to contort his body to adjust to throws. Put the ball in his zip code and he's probably going to catch it. The Eastern Kentucky transfer has maybe the strongest hands in the class and he has excellent hand-eye coordination. He spears the ball away from his frame and tracks the ball well downfield. He finished this past season with two drops and had just three drops during his time in Ames. 'Jayden has some of the most reliable hands because it's something he works on daily,' Pauley said. 'He would be in there working on catches from all different angles and body positions at all times of the day. He's a true pro and there's no fluke as to why his drop rate is so low.' Higgins ran a 4.47 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. An excellent time for a wide receiver who weighs 214 pounds. He has a good release package and good foot quickness to win off the line of scrimmage. He's urgent into his routes. He's crisp and clean out of his breaks to create separation. 'He can run every route asked of him,' Pauley said. 'He's a big body receiver who runs routes like a slot. We were able to line him up all over the field to create mismatches, knowing he could run any route from any position.' Nobody is going to confuse Jayden Higgins for Luther Burden III. The Missouri wide receiver is the most dangerous YAC threat in this draft class. However, Higgins has some wiggle and is capable of making the first defender miss. He runs hard after the catch and uses his long strides to quickly chew up yards like Pac-Man. 'Yards after the catch was a big point of emphasis for our position group heading into the 2024 season,' Pauley said. 'Jayden took a big jump from his junior to senior year in yards after the catch. He did an unbelievable job making the first guy miss and continuing to move the chains for us.' No block, no rock. That might as well be plastered above the wide receiver room at 1265 Lombardi Avenue. With his frame, Higgins can stalk block with the best of them and his willingness to get after it as a blocker is just another box checked for the Iowa State wide receiver. 'Jayden was challenged about mid-way through his junior year to become a better blocker,' Pauley said. 'He has become extremely reliable since that challenge was issued. There's no job on the field that he's not willing to do.' Fit with the Packers The Green Bay Packers have a short-term and a long-term need at wide receiver. Watson, arguably the team's most dynamic weapon, will miss a large chunk of the upcoming season as he recovers from a torn ACL that he suffered during the team's final regular-season game. In the long-term, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks are the only receivers under contract beyond the upcoming season. In the short and long term they need an alpha in that room and Higgins has all the tools to develop into a team's No. 1 wide receiver. 'I would draft Higgins for the person that he is,' Pauley said. 'His character is through the roof. He's an unbelievable teammate and he makes everyone around him better. You will get a player that will put himself in a position to not only be the most prepared on Sunday's, but for every meeting and practice as well. A team would be getting one of the most productive wide receivers in the country that can win from any position on the field and instantly make your locker room and team better.' Higgins checks all the boxes for the Packers. With his frame, strong hands, route running, and athleticism, he'd have a chance to lead the team in every receiving category as a rookie. Another feather in his cap is that Higgins was in Mobile for Senior Bowl week. A few years ago, Gutekunst traded up in the second round to draft a wide receiver (Watson) who was coached by Noah Pauley. Fast forward to 2025 and Gutekunst could once again trade up for a Pauley-coached wide receiver in Higgins to give Jordan Love a big-bodied wide receiver with the strongest hands in the 2025 NFL Draft.
USA Today
21-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Unpacking Future Packers: No. 4, Ole Miss CB Trey Amos
Unpacking Future Packers: No. 4, Ole Miss CB Trey Amos The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft. There will be some new faces inside the cornerback room at 1265 Lombardi Avenue this season. There will be holdovers like Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine, but the rest of the room will be made up of newcomers like Nate Hobbs, whom Brian Gutekunst signed to a four-year deal. The Green Bay Packers let Eric Stokes, Robert Rochell and Corey Ballentine walk in free agency and Gutekunst will look to the draft to replace them. A potential target in the Top 100 is Trey Amos. The Ole Miss cornerback checks in at No. 4 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown. A three-star recruit, Amos started his collegiate career at Louisiana before transferring to Alabama for the 2023 season. During his three seasons at Louisiana, Amos recorded one interception and 13 pass deflections. During his lone season with the Crimson Tide, Amos recorded five pass deflections. Following the 2023 season, Amos transferred to Ole Miss. During his lone season with the Rebels, Amos recorded 50 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and 13 pass deflections. "Trey Amos' greatest strength, in my opinion, is his schematic and situational versatility," Ian Cummings, an NFL Draft analyst for Pro Football Network, said. "He's one of the few cornerback prospects in the class who can truly play whichever depth and coverage type you need him to: Press-man, off-man, or zone." At 6-0, 195 pounds and 31 1/4 arms, Amos is a tall, lanky cornerback. He uses that length to get feisty at the catch point. He's got quick feet and good body control with the recovery speed to make up for any missteps. He doesn't give up much separation in coverage. A former track athlete, Amos has the speed (4.43) to get sticky on vertical routes. The Ole Miss cornerback comfortably turns his head to locate the ball and doesn't panic when the ball is in the air. "Amos' athletic foundation certainly helps insulate that versatility," Cummings said. "He also has tremendous explosiveness, foot speed, lateral agility, corrective twitch, hip sink, and fluidity, as well as the long speed to hedge for vertical threats and stick to hip pockets up seams." To pair with all the physical tools, Amos sees the field extremely well. He processes things at a lightning rate and trusts his eyes, showcasing good route recognition. He's very alert in zone coverage. With his reactionary quickness, Amos arrives when the ball does and uses his length to his advantage to dislodge passes. "He's also a high-end processor with excellent reaction-to-stimulus in man coverage and keen field vision, route recognition, and anticipation skills in zone," Cummings said. "The term "scheme-proof" has been used for Amos, and it's essentially accurate." In run support, Amos is a willing participant. He arrives with physicality and has the functional strength to get off the receiver's blocks with ease. According to Pro Football Focus, Amos recorded 16 run stops, an impressive number for a boundary cornerback. Amos logged 562 snaps on special teams during his collegiate career and recorded three tackles. He also blocked an extra point attempt in 2022. "Amos is solid but unspectacular in run support -- but solid is almost all you can ask for in that phase," Cummings said. "The same football IQ that helps him in coverage makes him a reliable operator closer to the line. Amos can process run directions and engage quickly, and he also has the vision to sniff out screens and respond downhill. He's not the absolute maniac flying downhill that a player like Jahdae Barron is, but he's appropriately physical. He can use his length to encumber blocks on the boundary, and he can pry through extensions and make plays. As his four tackles for loss in 2024 exemplified, he's able to convert in that phase of the game, too." Fit with the Packers Amos is a dark-horse candidate to be Green Bay's first pick. He checks the boxes with his fluidity, ball skills, scheme versatilty and length. He also just turned 23 in March, so while he may not be on the "younger" side, he's in no way, shape, or form geriatric. "I would draft Amos because he's a top-20 talent on my board, and one of the safest cornerback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft on the surface," Cummings said. "In coverage, he's versatile, well-versed, and a natural playmaker, and in run support, he's assignment-sound, workmanlike, and always keyed in. Amos' mobility profile is one of the most exciting elements of his game, because he already has so much beyond that. But with his blend of explosiveness, speed, length, agility, and fluidity, he bears some similarity to A.J. Terrell as an athlete." The cornerback foundation of Hobbs, Nixon and Valentine is solid. That cornerback room needs bodies and they could stand to add top-end talent, especially with Jaire Alexander's days in Green Bay numbered. Amos has the tools to develop into a team's top cornerback. He enjoyed a breakout campaign this past season and one could argue that growth will continue at the next level. With his length, recovery speed, ball skills, physicality and special teams experience, Amos would be a great value pick in the second round. If he landed in Green Bay, Amos would challenge for starting reps on the boundary as a rookie and could quickly become a fixture in the starting lineup in Jeff Hafley's secondary.
USA Today
21-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Unpacking Future Packers: No. 5, Nebraska CB Tommi Hill
Unpacking Future Packers: No. 5, Nebraska CB Tommi Hill The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft. The Green Bay Packers have had a lot of movement at the cornerback position this offseason. They lost Eric Stokes, Robert Rochell and Corey Ballentine, while Brian Gutekunst inked Nate Hobbs to a four-year deal. The biggest puzzle piece will be Jaire Alexander. Gutekunst's first-ever pick as general manager seems to be on his way out of Green Bay, either via a trade or a straight-up release. There figures to be more additions coming to the cornerback room via the 2025 NFL Draft, and a potential Day 3 target is Tommi Hill. The Nebraska cornerback checks in at No. 5 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown. A four-star recruit out of Florida, Hill started his collegiate career at Arizona State. After one season with the Sun Devils, Hill transferred to Nebraska in 2022. Hill started the 2022 campagin playing cornerback before switching to wide receiver after five games. During his five games at cornerback, Hill recorded four pass deflections. In 2023, Hill once again split time as a two-way player. He finished the season with four interceptions and nine pass deflections. This past season, Hill played in just seven games due to an ankle injury. In seven games, he recorded one tackle for loss, one interception, which was a pick-six against Colorado. "His 2024 tape doesn't advertise his coverage mobility as well, but he was dealing with plantar fasciitis in his foot for most of the season, and was eventually shut down by Matt Rhule as a result," Ian Cummings, an NFL Draft analyst for Pro Football Network, said. "Assuming he can get back to 100% in the NFL, he has the size, explosion, twitch, and bend to weaponize his eyes and off-coverage feel." At 6-0, 213 pounds with nearly 33-inch arms, Hill looks great off the bus. He uses that length to reroute wide receivers and tighten passing windows. He uses those long arms to play through the hands of wide receivers and smothers them at the catch point. Despite being a two-way player for the majority of his career, Hill's background as a wide receiver helps him understand route concepts. He's got an explosive downhill trigger and he's highly instinctive in zone coverage. Due to his ankle injury, Hill didn't test leading up to the draft. However, he's a former track athlete and has the long speed to stay in lock step with wide receivers on vertical routes. "The best aspect of Hill's coverage profile is his physical makeup, which gives him some inbuilt schematic versatility with additional development," Cummings said. "He's long, strong, and rangy, but also relatively low-to-the-ground, with fairly solid hip sink and transitioning ability for his size. Hill is still built a bit high-cut, and doesn't have elite fluidity, but he compensates with searing corrective twitch overtop breaks, and he has the bend to manage zones between overlapping routes when tracking vertical." Hill's background as a wide receiver is evident by the way he attacks the ball. He's comfortable with the ball in the air and has the natural ball skills to make quarterbacks pay for throwing in his area code. "Hill assuredly has a degree of natural playmaking ability," Cummings said. "His long wingspan and disruption radius magnifies that presence at the catch point. He's ultimately better as a playmaker when he's able to work downfield from his pedal in off-man and zone, as opposed to trailing WRs vertically. In the vertical phase, he can have trouble getting his head around. But when he can work with routes in front of him, he's an aggressive competitor with the length to pry through the wide receiver's cage, and with his route recognition and closing speed from depth, he's a definite turnover-generating threat." Hill is a physical downhill cornerback who doesn't shy away from coming up in run support. With his wingspan, he has a wide tackle radius. In seven games this past season, Hill recorded 11 run stops and three missed tackles. "Hill isn't as productive in run support as other prospects, but his frame translates well in contact situations," Cummings said. "He's shown he can anchor against wide receiver blocks on the boundary, as well as use his length to wrap up in the tackling phase. Moreover, when managing short zones, he can recognize drag and swing routes underneath and flip his hips to respond and pursue. The biggest issue for Hill in support may ultimately be his angles. There are times when he needs to correct his tracking angle before breaking down to engage at contact, and his non-elite hip fluidity sometimes renders him a step behind on correction. He'll need to iron out inconsistencies at the NFL level, but he has the build, temperament, and fast-flowing motion required for support play." Fit with the Packers The Packers have a lot of cornerbacks who can play on the boundary and in the slot. There is a lot of versatilty in that room. With his length, Hill would provide that room with a different flavor. The Nebraska cornerback checks the boxes with his frame, ball skills and athleticism. "He's best in zone and off-man, with some projectability in press-man on account of his quick twitch, length, and play strength, Hill has the tools to be a savvy off-coverage bandit," Cummings said. "Though his game is still a bit too volatile in some areas, such as press-man reaction and blind spot IQ, he's a worthwhile investment with his size, athleticism, and playmaking ability." Keisean Nixon and Hobbs figure to be the leaders in that room and both could start on the boundary with Javon Bullard in the slot. There's also a scenario where Hobbs or Nixon is in the slot with Bullard playing deep, which would open the door for a player like Hill to challenge Carrington Valentine for reps on the boundary. The Packers need to add depth to the cornerback position, and adding a player like Hill with his NFL-ready frame and playmaking ability would be great value in the fifth round. Since he hasn't tested and missed the end of last season, Hill seems to be flying a bit under the radar. He has all the physical tools, natural instincts and ball skills to develop into a difference-maker.
USA Today
20-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Unpacking Future Packers: No. 6, Texas Tech OL Caleb Rogers
Unpacking Future Packers: No. 6, Texas Tech OL Caleb Rogers The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft. Since taking over as general manager of the Green Bay Packers in 2018, Brian Gutekunst has routinely invested in the offensive line. He's drafted at least one offensive lineman in every draft except one year (2023) and has drafted three offensive linemen in the same draft twice in the last three years. The Packers need to bolster the depth along the interior of the offensive line. Add in the fact that Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker and Sean Rhyan are entering contract years and Gutekunst will likely once again invest multiple picks along the offensive line during the 2025 NFL Draft. A potential target on Day 3 is Caleb Rogers. The Texas Tech offensive lineman checks in at No. 6 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown. A three-star recruit out of Texas, Rogers finished his career at Texas Tech with 35 starts at right tackle, 16 at left tackle, two at left guard and two at right guard. This past season, Rogers started nine games at right tackle, two at left guard and two at right guard. "Rogers' versatility will be one of his calling cards as a mid-round prospect and prospective depth piece," Ian Cummings, an NFL Draft analyst for Pro Football Network, said. "He took reps at four of the five possible spots in college, and that inbuilt experience raises his floor across the board. When a team drafts Rogers, it'll be because he's such an ideal security blanket, first and foremost." Rogers took over 2,000 snaps at right tackle and over 1,000 at left tackle. Due to his shorter arms (32 3/8) he's likely best suited to kick inside at the next level and offers five-position versatilty. "He projects better at guard," Cumming said. "His sub-33" arms impact his extension range, and he can be goaded into lurching beyond his center of gravity as a result. When he already doesn't have elite knee bend, the result can be volatility later in reps. At guard, his length profile would fit better, and he has the natural leverage at 6'4 1/2" to win pad level battles." Along with his versatilty, Rogers is an outstanding athlete. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he ran a 5.10 40-yard dash. He posted a 34-inch vertical and a 09-03 broad jump. He also clocked a 7.43 3-cone and a 4.49 20-yard shuttle. That athleticism is on display on the gridiron. He has outstanding movement ability and great range as a run blocker. He explodes out of his stance to quickly get into his blocks and on top of man across from him. Rogers is comfortable out of his space and hit his landmarks. Rogers works hard to turn run defenders and seal off running lanes. "There's a lot to like with Rogers in the run game, but his most marketable trait is his ability to reach landmarks -- and by extension, fulfill his assignments," Cummings said. "He has the explosiveness to traverse gaps quickly, and the second-level range to cover massive amounts of ground and clear space for runners. Rogers moves better than most in space, and as such, he can present as a mismatch for linebackers." Rogers doesn't have the longest arms, which is why he'll likely kick inside at the next level. Despite not having long arms, he has eager hands and an effective punch to stun oncoming defenders. He has outstanding foot speed to mirror and cut off rush lanes. Rogers finished his career with 55 starts. He's a seasoned player and alert in protection. "Rogers has a solid baseline of footwork, hand usage, and awareness in pass protection, which he no doubt built up over his four-and-a-half years as a starter in the Big 12," Cummings said. "There are still some areas where he can continue to improve, but he's not raw by any means. In particular, Rogers has a smooth kick and efficient matching footwork out of his set, and he's fairly balanced and synergetic when matching, staying square to rushers by adjusting his set angle. He's shown he can direct rushers by aligning farther inside or vertical, and there are advanced hand techniques on tape -- such as a circle punch to bait rushers into swiping and giving up their frame." Fit with the Packers David Bakhtiari, TJ Lang, Josh Sitton, Corey Linsley, JC Tretter, Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker are all recent Day 3 offensive linemen that the Packers drafted. Rogers has the tools to join that group if he lands with the Packers. After using a first-round pick on Jordan Morgan last year, the Packers may wait until Day 3 to address the offensive line and Rogers checks all the boxes. He offers position versatilty, he's athletic and he has 50-plus starts to his name. "I'd draft Rogers because he's an almost-five-year starter, a positionally diverse blocker, an elite athlete, and the perfect insurance plan for an offensive line in need of a "sixth man". While he doesn't quite grade as a quality starter on my board, Rogers still has qualities that make him a respectable spot-starter," Cummings said. "He's athletic, rangy and instinctive in the run game, and malleable and savvy in pass protection. In time, he could go on to carve out a solid career as an every-man on the offensive front." Rogers would provide much-needed depth along the interior of Green Bay's offensive line. With his experience playing tackle, he could kick outside in a pinch. As a rookie, Rogers would hopefully never see the field due to a bill of clean health for Green Bay's starting five. However, with Rhyan potentially entering his final year in Green Bay, Rogers could potentially earn a the starting right guard spot. Once he learns a starting spot, Rogers could cement himself as fixture along Green Bay's offensive line for the foreseeable future.
