Packers: Ranking the top 10 options in first round of draft
By Evan Siegel
6. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
Cornerback is another need for the Packers (again), that needs to be addressed in 2020. Kevin King’s play bounces up and down better than Byron Jones, and will be a free agent for good measure at the end of the season. Tramon Williams is older than the hills and unsigned. Josh Jackson is flailing, and Chandon Sullivan is primarily a slot player. The only other outside corner on the roster is Ka’Dar Hollman, which is, you know, cool.
Kristian Fulton started the season scorching hot for the national champion Tigers, but his play tailed off a hair towards the end of the season. With that said, Fulton still took the toughest receiver assignment all the way through to the championship game against Clemson, and still played at a first-round level. One negative on Fulton is the presence of fellow future pros Grant Delpit and Derek Stingley Jr., who undoubtedly took pressure off Fulton. But his ability to cover is something Green Bay will need, and fast.
5. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
J.K. Dobbins went from a relative unknown to an all-time great running back at Ohio State, which is saying something. This is a program that has handed the ball off to Archie Griffin, Eddie George, and others. Dobbins set the single-season rushing record at Ohio State with 2,003 yards in 2019. He is also second all-time in Ohio State history in rushing yards with 4,459. Dobbins and Jonathan Taylor are the two best backs in this year’s draft, both of whom are coming off historic seasons. The only difference is, Dobbins is the far better fit for the Packers.
Taylor is a very prototypical back who checks off the traditional boxes of finding the hole patiently, fighting through contact and then pulling away from defensive backs.
Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams will both be free agents after next season. The Packers will not let both of them go, but seeing as they already need running back help, they should draft one.
With a quarterback whose arm strength and athleticism is going to wane further in the coming years, having capable receivers out of the backfield will be important. Rodgers used his running backs as receivers more this past season than in any other in his career. Dobbins is the far better receiver than Taylor, who might be the more natural runner.