Which prospects should the Packers draft or shaft?
By Evan Siegel
2. Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State
The Packers have a need at right tackle, because of course they do. Green Bay has gone into every offseason since the days of Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton needing reinforcements on their offensive line. 2020 will be no different. The Packers let Bryan Bulaga go, and replaced him by signing Ricky Wagner from the Lions. Wagner has had himself a nice career to this point, but the signing is completely puzzling in its entirety.
For starters, Wagner did not have a good year in 2019. The Packers could have spent that money elsewhere, perhaps securing a more lucrative linebacker than Christian Kirksey or helping in their rumored pursuit of Austin Hooper.
Even with Wagner in the picture, the Packers still clearly need help at the position, and Ezra Cleveland fits the bill as a zone scheme blocker. He ran the third-fastest 40-time at the combine among offensive linemen, and while Bulaga was a consistent anchor on the right side of the line, speed on the edge for a dynamic back like Aaron Jones could unlock a new dimension to the offense.
Verdict: Draft
3. Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
As has been outlined, Green Bay needs wide receiver help in the worst way. The prospect of adding multiple rookie receivers for a quarterback known to spar with younger pass catchers is unnerving enough, so the Packers must select the right one.
Jalen Reagor didn’t really build on his past success with the Horned Frogs last season, snaring 43 balls and five touchdowns. For a smaller guy, he does pack quite a punch. He is similar to San Fransisco’s Deebo Samuel, who Packer fans can still see blasting through Darnell Savage over and over again in the NFC Championship.
However, Reagor seems to be one of the bigger hit-or-miss prospects in this draft. His play was a bit erratic at TCU, and while the team famously had atrocious quarterback play, it noticeably affected his competitiveness on the field. That is not the sort of player the Packers want to put with a quarterback that has some diva qualities of his own. By no means would drafting Reagor be a disaster, but there are better directions for Green Bay to go in.
Verdict: Shaft