The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Brian Gutekunst has five first-round selections under his belt as the general manager of the Green Bay Packers. All five of them were under the age of 22 on draft day. Jaire Alexander (21), Rashan Gary (21), Darnell Savage (21), Jordan Love (21), and Eric Stokes (22).
A player that could raise the mean of that group is Bernhard Raimann. The Central Michigan offensive tackle is 24 years old and will turn 25 in September.
The Austrian native is a player that Gutekunst could target in the first round. The Central Michigan prospect checks in at No. 47 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
Raimann served six months in the military before leaving his homeland of Austria and arriving at Central Michigan in 2018. Raimann started 11 games at tight end during his first two seasons on campus before making the switch to left tackle in 2020. Over the past two seasons, Raimann started 18 games at left tackle.
“Bernhard began his career at CMU as a backup tight end in 2018,” Christian Booher, the sports editor at CM Life, said. “He was a raw prospect with a lot of athletic ability but needed a bit of polish. There were flashes over his first two seasons as a Chippewa as to what he could be, but after starter Tony Poljan entered the transfer portal after the 2019 season, it looked as though he was set to step into a starting role. However, head coach Jim McElwain moved him to offensive tackle with the intention of starting him right away in the 2020 season. The move turned out to be a great one, as he overcame some growing pains at left tackle to become a very good prospect heading into the 2022 Draft.”
The 2022 NFL Draft class is loaded with athletic offensive linemen. Raimann, a former tight end may be the cream of the crop. He ran a 5.05 40-yard dash, including a 1.73 10-yard split. He put up 30 reps on the bench and had an impressive shuttle and 3-cone times. Raimann testing well athletically should come as no surprise, the Central Michigan product was No. 26 on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks list.
Athleticism scores for the 2022 offensive line class are now official.
Among offensive tackles, three prospects finished with an athleticism score of 90-plus:
🥇 Zach Tom, @WakeFB (99)
🥈 Bernhard Raimann, @CMU_Football (96)
🥉 Trevor Penning, @UNIFootball (90)#NextGenScores pic.twitter.com/USlfjcDibG— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 5, 2022
Fit with the Packers
The Packers have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. However, they’ll likely be missing Elgton Jenkins when the 2022 season begins.
With Jenkins sidelined, there are questions on what the starting offensive line will look like for the Packers when the season kicks off in September.
It’s reasonable to project that the Packers will roll out a starting five of, David Bakhtiari (left tackle), Jon Runyan (left guard), Josh Myers (center), Royce Newman (right guard), and Billy Turner (right tackle).
However, what if the Packers opt to cut Turner? Even if Turner is still on the team, a team can never have enough quality offensive linemen, particularly at tackle.
Raimann checks a lot of boxes with his size and athleticism. With so much untapped potential surging through that 6-6 frame, Raimann could be the pick for the Packers in the first round.
“He’s already a solid player, but what’s exciting is what he can be with further coaching,” Booher said. “CMU’s now-former offensive line coach Mike Cummings is one of the best in the business and has had success moving players such as Joe Staley from tight end to tackle. Now an NFL team will get the chance to take this unique blend of skills and mold Raimann into a solid pro offensive lineman. The thought of what he can be is very exciting and the untapped potential looks very good. He’d make a good fit for any team that needs help upfront right away, but his down-the-line potential is what makes him worth taking early.”
True, Raimann doesn’t fit the “age profile” of past Gutekunst first-round pick. Raimann is a rarity. It’s not every draft cycle that there is a 24-year old (25 in September) with Raimann’s athletic profile and upside.
If Raimann is on the board when the Packers are on the clock with the 28th overall pick, don’t be shocked if you hear his name called. NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein recently mocked Raimann to the Packers in his latest mock draft.
The former tight end is a fluid athlete with above-average upside and the potential to play either guard or tackle, which is why he should be in consideration for the Packers.