Green Bay Packers defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery likes the look of his position group, especially after adding Jarran Reed in free agency, but there’s a certain type of player he’d like to get from the 2022 NFL draft.
“You’d love to add a high-level third-down pass rusher,” Montgomery said Tuesday. “A little bit more twitchy of a guy that can add to the rush from the inside standpoint.”
Montgomery and the Packers thought they had a twitchy interior pass-rusher in Kingsley Keke, but he was released last year after a falling out with the team. Za’Darius Smith was another valuable inside rusher who departed Green Bay after being released in March.
There’s now a void on the inside.
With Reed, Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry and TJ Slaton, the Packers have big-bodied linemen who can be on the field against the run and pass. But outside of Clark, a Pro Bowler, the group lacks a quick, explosive pass-rusher who can move inside and rush the quarterback on obvious passing downs.
Could the 2022 draft class provide the answer?
Among the top options are Georgia’s Devonte Wyatt, Houston’s Logan Hall, UConn’s Travis Jones, Oklahoma’s Perrion Winfrey, Texas A&M’s DeMarvin Leal, Tennessee’s Matthew Butler and Stanford’s Thomas Booker. Edge rushers Georgia Karlaftis, Josh Paschal and Cameron Thomas could be among the possibilities for a dual edge-interior rusher role.
The Packers have a strong rotation of four players along the defensive line entering the 2022 season, and Reed has flashed some interior pass-rushing ability in his past. Will adding a twitchy rusher be among Brian Gutekunst’s top priorities? This draft class has options if the Packers want to complete the look and functionality of Montgomery’s defensive line room.
