Packers: 2021 draft class deep at many positions of need

The Green Bay Packers have needs at cornerback and wide receiver and linebacker and along the offensive line.

Turns out it’s a great year to need players at those positions.

It’s close to impossible to “fix” every need on the roster in one offseason, even by being aggressive in free agency and the draft. It’s also wrong to expect your rookie class to all contribute right away. It takes time.

That said, the Packers should be excited with the depth of this year’s draft class at many positions they could look to address.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote a great article ranking each position group in the 2021 draft class.

Many of the Packers’ biggest needs are inside the top six.

Wide receiver, for example, tops Zierlein’s rankings. Much like last year, this looks set to be a great and deep class at the position, which means the Packers should be able to add pass-catching talent even if they wait beyond the first round. Brian Gutekunst didn’t draft a receiver in 2020 but will get another opportunity in a deep class this month.

Cornerback is fifth in the rankings, perhaps the Packers’ biggest need. They will still need to go relatively early as Zierlein writes that the “well could dry up somewhat beyond the fourth round”, but he adds this year’s class is deeper than last year’s.

So what does this mean?

Well, with good depth in the class at positions like receiver, cornerback, and across the offensive line, GM Brian Gutekunst can make the most of the team’s 10 picks, potentially using them to move up or down the board to target prospects at positions of need.

And with good depth at various positions, the Packers should be able to address many positions of need through the early rounds should they choose to.