The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could possibly be chosen by the Inexperienced Bay Packers within the 2023 NFL draft.
Because it stands proper now there are a number of shifting elements and query marks surrounding Inexperienced Bay’s secondary. Adrian Amos is ready to be a free agent, leaving Darnell Savage Jr as their solely security below contract with any significant snaps below his belt.
At cornerback, Jaire Alexander is recent off an All-Professional season. Proper now, he’s the one positive factor in Joe Barry’s secondary.
Rasul Douglas, like the remainder of the protection, struggled with consistency. Douglas struggled enjoying within the slot, however even after shifting again on the boundary he failed to duplicate the success he had the yr prior. There have been talks about Inexperienced Bay presumably shifting Douglas to security. That’s one shifting half.
Previous to struggling a season-ending damage, Eric Stokes was going by a sophomore droop. How will he look coming off that damage in coaching camp? Throughout his rookie season, Stokes appeared like a lockdown cornerback. Will he have the ability to get again to that stage of play in yr three?
The place will the Packers play Savage? Will they’ve him within the slot? If the Packers can get something for him would they be open to buying and selling the previous first-round choose after he acquired benched final season?
The items are there, it’s only a matter of the place they may match. With how proficient the cornerback class is within the 2023 NFL Draft it’s a secure guess that Brian Gutekunst will add a minimum of one, presumably even two cornerbacks within the upcoming draft.
A participant that Inexperienced Bay’s normal supervisor might goal in April is Julius Brents. The Kansas State cornerback checks in at No. 52 within the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
A recruit out of Indiana, Brents began his collegiate profession at Iowa earlier than transferring to Kansas State. Throughout his first season as a Wildcat, he recorded 49 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one interception.
This previous season Brents recorded 45 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, and 4 move deflections.
“Julius had a very good season for Kansas State,” Drew Galloway, the Kansas State reporter for On3Sports stated. “He basically took away a aspect of the sector in each recreation. Okay-State by no means does matchups so he simply was on one aspect of the sector the entire season and did a very good job. He was good in his first season as nicely however did so much higher when the ball was within the air. He was sufferer to a number of actually good catches a yr in the past as a result of he couldn’t end the play however this season he completed the play nicely and did a superb job. His enchancment is likely one of the the reason why Okay-State gained the Large 12.”
Standing at 6-3, with 34-inch arms, his size goes on for days. Together with his size, he chokes passing home windows and offers the quarterback a small window to throw into. He’s disruptive on the catch level and does a superb job of enjoying by the arms of the huge receiver. To go together with that size, Brents can leap out of the stadium. A former monitor athlete, Brents showcased his leaping potential on the scouting mix with a 41.5-inch vertical and an 11-06 mark within the broad bounce.
Julius Brents
Broad Soar 11’6 https://t.co/Rc8d3w5YMf pic.twitter.com/MlDWggTUfr— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 3, 2023
“The factor that makes him so efficient in protection is his size,” Galloway stated. “If he will get beat deep he can at all times make up for it along with his size. He had a rep in a single on ones on the senior bowl the place the quarterback didn’t even throw the ball due to Brents’ size bothering the receiver in protection.”
Brents has a twitchy decrease half and swivel hips. In zone protection, Brents has disciplined eyes and showcases good route recognition. Brents makes use of his size and physicality to reroute huge receivers.
Julius Brents on his mentality on the surface:
“I like enjoying up in folks’s faces… folks suppose larger guys are stiff and might’t flip [hips] and run, I’ve all these intangibles.” pic.twitter.com/sA1LO5kchB
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) March 2, 2023
“His greatest power is being sticky in protection,” Galloway stated. “He hardly ever will get beat deep and is at all times tremendous sticky. He makes use of his measurement very well and is at all times in the fitting spot in the case of protection.”
Brents is a bodily developing in run help. He appears to be like like a security with the best way he throws his physique round. Together with his size, he has a big deal with radius. He has a excessive batting common as a tackler. In keeping with Professional Soccer Focus, Brents had simply 4 missed tackles this previous season with three coming in Kansas State’s matchup in opposition to Oklahoma. Brents didn’t miss a deal with all season after that week 4 matchup in opposition to the Sooners.
“Brents is actually, actually good in run help,” Galloway stated. “He made a number of performs in run help this season. Within the Oklahoma recreation, he made some huge performs in run help. It’s type of attention-grabbing when speaking a few nook however one place the place Okay-State missed him within the Texas recreation the place he was ejected for focusing on within the second play of the sport was in run help.”
Brents performed totally on the boundary throughout his time as a Wildcat. He has the short-area quickness and agility to line up within the slot and he has the scale, size, and physicality to match up with tight ends. Some groups could even view him as a security. Galloway stated his finest match is on the boundary the place he has the power to take half the sector away.
“I feel he’s finest suited to be a boundary nook on the subsequent stage,” Galloway stated. “He doesn’t blow you away with pace however he’s so dependable and might take away a complete aspect of the sector.”
Match with the Packers
When the Packers take the sector to open the season what’s going to their secondary appear like? Who can be enjoying within the slot? Who would be the two beginning safeties? Who can be beginning reverse Alexander on the boundary? There are a number of balls up within the air.
With so many shifting elements, the one factor that’s sure is that Gutekunst will add a participant to the combo.
Brents has uncommon size for the place and he has the power to play anyplace within the secondary. Together with his athleticism, measurement, and physicality, Brents could possibly be a day-two goal for the Packers as they give the impression of being so as to add extra expertise to the secondary.
The size of cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. (@PennStateFball) and Julius Brents (@KStateFB) was on show on the 2023 NFL Mix.
Each cornerbacks measured in with 34″ arms, tied for the Fifth-longest arm size by any cornerback since 2003. pic.twitter.com/1pj9oCke11
— Subsequent Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 4, 2023
The place Brents would slot in that puzzle could be a query mark. What isn’t a query is the uncommon traits that the Kansas State defensive again would convey to Inexperienced Bay’s secondary.
“Brents has so many issues that may’t be taught,” Galloway stated. “He has loopy measurement, size, and athleticism for a nook. He’s extraordinarily dependable in protection and Quienten Johnston referred to as him the perfect nook he’s gone up in opposition to in each seasons. His greatest weak spot might be his ball abilities which is one thing that may be taught over his different attributes. He has every little thing you possibly can presumably need from a nook. He’s an amazing chief as nicely.”