Green Bay Packers’ GM Brian Gutekunst was in attendance at the University of Wisconsin Pro Day on Friday, where two players in particular may have his interest.
Running back Braelon Allen is Wisconsin’s highest-rated draft prospect and plays a position that the Packers still need to address. Josh Jacobs will, of course, be the Packers’ new feature back, but Emanuel Wilson remains largely unproven, while AJ Dillon signing a one-year league minimum deal (from a salary cap perspective) shouldn’t alter whether or not Gutekunst addresses the position in the draft.
Allen rushed for over 1,000 yards during his first two years at Wisconsin and fell just 18 yards shy of hitting that mark again in 2023.
For his career, Allen averaged 5.8 yards per rush, including 5.4 this past year, and scored 35 touchdowns. Allen was also a bigger role in the passing game this past season, with 28 of his 49 career receptions coming in 2023.
“I bring a lot of physicality and a downhill running style,” said Allen at the NFL Combine. “A more old school style, but I can also catch the ball and run routes, pass protect, and I think I bring a lot of value in that way. Just being versatile.
“Of course, there’s a lot of things I want to work on and get better at, more consistent, at the end of the day, I’m young and have a long way to go until I’m fully developed. In the right system, at the right place, I can be a great player.”
Gutekunst has previously mentioned that he wanted a “bigger back” on the roster. At 6-2 and 245 pounds, Allen certainly checks that box. However, perhaps Gutekunst will go a different route in the draft with Dillon and the physical Jacobs already on the roster.
Interior offensive lineman Tanor Bortilini gave his draft stock a boost at the NFL Combine, posting a near-perfect Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.97 out of 10, which included a 4.94-second 40-yard dash, along with elite explosive and agility scores.
Bortolini played just shy of 2,000 career snaps at Wisconsin, the bulk of which came at center, although he may be better suited at guard in the NFL. This past season, Bortolini allowed only one sack and 11 pressures while ranking 28th in the country in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric.
Along the interior offensive line, the Packers could have their starters already on the roster in Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, and Sean Rhyan, but what they need is depth and competition with Royce Newman the only other interior lineman on the roster, and it’s still possible he could get released.
Also of note participating at the Badger Pro Day was linebacker Maema Njongmeta, a combine invitee. Njongmeta did not register a RAS at the combine but measured in at just under 6’0″ – 229 pounds and ran a 4.91 40-yard dash.
Njongmeta played over 1,000 snaps in the last two seasons, generating 48 pressures as a blitzer during that span. In 2023, he missed 14.1 percent of his 78 tackle attempts, which is slightly on the high side, and allowed 11.6 yards per catch on 7-of-12 targets with one pass breakup.
Not that the Packers won’t bring in young, developmental talent at the linebacker position, but what they really need right now is immediate Day 1 contributors.
A very under-the-radar name is edge rusher Justin Blazek from D-III UW-Platteville. Blazek made Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List back in August for his athletic abilities. He was the only D-III player to make Feldman’s list and has totaled 17.5 sacks and 29 tackles for loss the last two seasons.
Blazek, with his athleticism, is the type of late-round flier we’ve seen Gutekunst take in the past.
Other participants included quarterback Tanner Mordecai, outside linebacker CJ Goetz, safety Travian Blaylock, tight end Hayden Rucci and cornerback CJ Siegel.
