Packers: Ranking the top 10 options in first round of draft

Ranking the top 10 realistic options for the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

There are a variety of directions the Packers could go in with the 30th pick.

Here are their best realistic options ranked:

10. Yetur Gross Matos, DE, Penn State

The Packers need to add to their pass rush in this year’s draft. The defense is just one injury to either Smith brother away from having the totally unproven Rashan Gary, and nobody else. Yetur Gross-Matos is incredibly raw, but has remarkable potential at defensive end. He’s a very traditional edge rusher, which is something the Packers quietly need.

Preston Smith is largely rooted in outside linebacker territory, while Za’Darius Smith is more capable of moving around the defensive front. Gary played a number of different positions across the line over the course of the season. But another anchor on the edge could give the Packers any look they want along the defensive line.

Gross-Matos had 9.5 sacks last season without much of a scheme developed for him. Brian Gutekunst has shown a willingness to swing on raw players with tremendous upside. Jaire Alexander and Darnell Savage look like keepers, while Gary has lots to prove.

9. Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan

The Packers are going to have themselves a difficult offseason next year. David Bakhtiari, Corey Linsley, Kenny Clark, and Aaron Jones are only some of the players with their contracts expiring at the end of next year. It wouldn’t hurt too much to get out ahead of the problem and save the money in the future while replacing Linsley. Ideally, the Packers can re-sign Linsley and keep the interior of their offensive line intact.

But it is no doubt going to be extremely difficult. Bakhtiari is the most important player on the team other than the quarterback, and re-signing him will be a priority. On top of things, the Packers have very limited cap space already and will have to decide whether or not to bring back new signings Ricky Wagner and Christian Kirksey, both of whom are essentially on one-year deals with a second-year team option.

Drafting Ruiz could also make matters slightly awkward with the writing on the wall for Linsley, but thinking long term isn’t a bad idea now or ever.