The Green Bay Packers lost Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry in free agency, leaving them thin along the defensive line.
Get Kenny Clark help. That should be atop Brian Gutekunst’s to-do list this offseason. Gutekunst started to get Clark help when he drafted Devonte Wyatt in the first round last year. With more snaps on the way, Wyatt figures to enjoy a breakout campaign during his second year in the league.
Clark and Wyatt could be a disruptive duo for Joe Barry up front. Now, Gutekunst needs to add another difference-maker to the mix. A potential target is Bryan Bresee. The Clemson defensive lineman checks in at No. 6 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
A five-star recruit, Bresee made an immediate impact for the Tigers, recording 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. The following season, Bresee played in just four games before suffering a torn ACL. In those four games, the Maryland native recorded three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
This past season, Bresee went through the wringer off the field. Bresee lost his younger sister to cancer. He missed time with a kidney infection. On the field, Bresee played in 10 games and recorded 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
The former five-star recruit was No. 14 on Bruce Feldman’s Annual Freaks list this past summer. Bresee showcased that athleticism at the scouting combine when he ran a 4.86 40-yard dash (1.71 10-yard split). Men of his size shouldn’t be able to move the way that he does.
“Bryan Bresee’s greatest strength is his outstanding athleticism, especially for a player at defensive tackle,” Alex Turri, the editor of Clemson Wire said. “He has elite strength, speed, and size, with an NFL team having the ability to throw him on the edge or at nose tackle if needed for a specific scheme. This guy is so athletic you can fill him into multiple spots on your defensive line and watch him go to work. Look across the landscape of college football this past season, stats aside, you’ll find it difficult to find a more naturally gifted pass rusher at his position. That is a premium in the NFL. Look at what Aaron Donald has done for the Rams and Chris Jones for the Chiefs. Bresee is as athletic as they come.”
Bresee is a twitched-up interior rusher. He’s got a quick first step and gets upfield quickly. He has the power to drive offensive linemen into the quarterback’s lap. According to Pro Football Focus, Bresee generated 24 pressures this past season to go along with his 3.5 sacks in 10 games.
“Bresee offers a genuinely elite upside as an interior rusher,” Turri said. “He has outstanding instincts as a pass rusher, and when you pair that with his elite size, speed, and overall athleticism, yeah, good luck stopping that dude when he’s on his game. Whichever NFL team takes their shot on, Bresee is drafting a player with an elite skill set that separates the good players from the great. He finds the ball well, explodes through the gaps, and has lateral movement that a man his size shouldn’t be capable of doing. Through and through, Bryan Bresee is the ideal pass-rushing prospect at the defensive tackle position.”
Bresee works well laterally. He has good change-of-direction skills, showcasing the ability to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage. While he’s not a space eater, he’s sturdy through contact. He has thunder in his hands and he’s powerful at the point of attack. He uses his length and powerful to help him get off blocks.
“Bresee is a solid run defender though this is part of his game I feel he needs to work on the most heading into the NFL,” Turri said. “As a defensive tackle, Bresee needs to work on his technique as a run defender, as we’ve seen him be prone to standing upright and losing leverage. He’s a fantastic athlete but doesn’t utilize it as well against the run as he does against the pass. Bresee must be more aggressive and translate his strength into the run game. He has all the tools to be an excellent run defender, and I think the right coaching will get him there. He’s solid but not exceptional here.”
Bresee’s draft stock will hinge on his medicals. Bresee is one of the Top 15 players in this draft, but due to medical concerns, Bresee could slide. If he’s there at 15, would the Packers be comfortable taking the athletic defensive tackle, despite injury concerns?
Medical concerns aside, Bresee checks all the boxes. He’s powerful, and athletic, and won’t turn 22 until October.
Yeah, #Clemson DT Bryan Bresee #11 looks healthy.
Stack, shed, finish. Hard dude to slow down. pic.twitter.com/myxrebj9HK
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) September 6, 2022
“While I understand people’s concerns about injuries, I feel this is a risk people have to take in certain situations,” Turri said. “Bresee has been dealt a bad hand in his collegiate career, and we’ve seen his draft stock take a hit because of it. We’ve seen some of the greatest players in NFL history recover from injuries and reach their former or even higher heights than they had before. Adrian Peterson won an MVP coming off a torn ACL as a running back! Bresee has immense talent and all the tools to be a star in the NFL. Injuries suck, but they are part of the game. I don’t like to hold it against a guy this talented.”
Fit with the Packers
After losing Reed and Lowry to free agency the Packers need to replace a lot of snaps along the defensive line. Wyatt, last year’s first-round pick, and TJ Slaton figure to eat up a lot of those snaps.
Bresee checks all the boxes. He’s athletic, he is 21 years old and he plays a position that the Packers need help at. On paper, a defensive line group of Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Bresee, and Slaton looks like a group that could cause a lot of havoc.
“I would draft Bresee because of his immense potential to be a truly game-changing defensive tackle in the league,” Torri said. “I know he has had his injury concerns, which may have completely taken him off some team’s draft boards. Still, the player himself, when healthy, will be an impact player at the next level. From a talent perspective, Bresee is a top-15 pick, but I could see him falling a bit further. Whoever lands this guy is getting a future star.”
Due to injuries and personal losses, Bresee never became the sum of all his parts during his time at Clemson. It was there in flashes, particularly during his freshman campaign when he was named the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. He has all the tools to develop into a disruptive force up front.
If Bresee is still on the board when the Packers are on the clock with the 15th pick and Green Bay is comfortable with his medical feedback, Bresee could be the pick for Gutekunst as he looks to get Clark help up front.
