Green Bay Packers: Pre-combine seven-round mock draft
Fifth round (5-28): RB Kareem Hunt, Toledo
In a typical year, a player of Hunt’s caliber would probably go no later than the third round. But in a draft in which the supply of running backs is like picking from 25 different brands of toothpaste at your local chain pharmacy, the Toledo product could tumble way down past the depths of the fourth round.
Over the past three seasons, Hunt has dazzled followers of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) with his combination of power and start-and-stop short-area quickness to elude oncoming tacklers.
Along with those running skills, the all-time Rockets’ leader in average yards per carry (6.3) has soft hands that allow him to adjust to poorly-thrown balls, as evidenced by the fact that Hunt progressively improved in that area by recording a career-high 41 receptions as a senior.
The sturdy 225-pound back’s decision to show up at the Senior Bowl at a remarkably lighter weight (208) raised some eye brows, but those concerns almost immediately evaporated once evaluators saw Hunt showcase his ability against the very best talent in college football.
In addition to making plays inside, outside and as a pass catcher out of the backfield during weekday practices, the former three-star high-school recruit was arguably the best player on the field during the actual Saturday-afternoon game by leading all backs in rushing with 118 yards on 15 carries.
But what stood out the most in his performance was his balance that allowed him to withstand backfield blows on the part of penetrating linemen that outweighed him by 50 or more pounds.
Hunt’s thick lower body and low center of gravity could present nightmarish scenarios for defensive backs once he builds a head of steam and works his way into the second and third levels.
Moreover, he also flashed patience and some major burst once he found an open crease on a 43-yard scamper.
The most common knock on the electrifying ball carrier is his lack of elite speed, which has yet to prevent him from making big plays.
The one more legitimate critique one may have regarding Hunt’s skill set is the fact that he struggles picking up blitzers in pass protection, which is a common deficiency among rookie players at the position.
And though Hunt may never develop into Emmitt Smith or Matt Forte as a pure blocker, his robust lower half should allow him to be at least be serviceable in that area once he refines his technique under the guidance of NFL coaching.
As for how he fits in with the Packers, the team currently has only two running backs signed beyond the 2016-17 season on the roster (Ty Montgomery and Aaron Ripkowski) and even if impending free agent Eddie Lacy is brought back on a one-year deal, his struggles with injuries and weight more than justify the selection of a player like Hunt in the later rounds.