Green Bay Packers seven-round mock draft: Improving the roster
By Dan Dahlke
3. 93rd pick — Kareem Hunt, RB, Toledo
Hunt is a guy currently receiving a lot of buzz in draft media, and for good measure. Not only was he one of the most impressive players down at the Senior Bowl, people are now just getting into his 2016 game tape.
At 5-foot-11 and 208 pounds, Hunt is a compact runner with tremendous lower body strength and power. He runs through arm tackles and shows excellent balance in staying on his feet after contact.
While he may not be the fastest or strongest halfback coming out of college, the former Rocket has an uncanny ability to get small and slip through holes in the line or stop on a dime and change direction to cutback and burst upfield. He possesses good short area explosion.
Throughout his four years starting in college, Hunt has averaged around 6-yards per carry, and in 2016, he rushed for 1475 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also catching 41 passes for 403 yards and a touchdown.
Impressively, Hunt only fumbled once in his 782 carries at Toledo–a feat almost unheard of with college tailbacks. Knowing Coach McCarthy’s affinity for ball security, selecting a guy like Hunt ball security may be an added bonus.
Hunt was suspended for the season opener in 2015 for violating team rules, so he’ll have to answer to that in interviews with teams this spring. He’s also had a few hamstring and ankle injuries in college, which could also cause him to drop a bit in the draft.
On talent alone, Hunt would probably be selected in the second or early third round. However, a few off-field and minor injury concerns could cause him to drop to the end of the third round.
Even if the Packers bring back Eddie Lacy for another season and plan to utilize Ty Montgomery more in the backfield, selecting a guy like Hunt would be a good idea. He’d give them another early-down bruising runner who could also serve as an insurance policy if Lacy or Montgomery deal with injuries during the season.
He would also give the Packers a guy who could develop into a future starter if things don’t work out with Lacy.