Green Bay Packers: Ten first-round options in 2017 NFL Draft

2. Carl Lawson, Edge, Auburn

If the Packers decided not to go cornerback in round one, then another position on defense they could address is outside linebacker.

Heading into the 2016 season, outside linebacker seemed like one of the deepest positions on the roster. However, as the season has worn on, it’s apparent Green Bay needs some new ascending talent at the position.

Matthews continues to battle injuries, and at age 30, he doesn’t quite seem like the same impact player we’ve come accustomed to seeing on Sundays. It would also be good to find a replacement for Julius Peppers, even if the 36-year-old veteran returns for one more season.

Perry may very well be the future at outside linebacker, but he’s going to be expensive to re-sign in the offseason and he may eventual seek a big contract elsewhere. Datone Jones could also be gone after this year. He may have not shown enough in his first four seasons for the Packers to bring him back. Kyler Fackrell and Jayrone Elliott just seem like rotational guys.

If Green Bay gets a chance to select a talent like Carl Lawson in the first round, they may pull the trigger. Lawson is built to be a stand-up pass rusher in a 3-4 defense. He’s athletic on a 6-foot-2, 258-pound frame, and he shows the explosiveness and bend to beat tackles with both power and speed on the edge. He recorded nine sacks and a whopping 24 quarterback hurries in 2016.

Lawson is one of the more complete edge players in the upcoming draft, but a significant injury history in college could cause him to drop in the latter half of the first round, where Green Bay could take a shot at him.