Unpacking Future Packers: No. 95, Wisconsin DL Keeanu Benton

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that might be chosen by the Inexperienced Bay Packers within the 2023 NFL draft.

Inexperienced Bay’s run protection yielded 2,372 yards on the bottom, which ranked twenty sixth general. They gave up 5 yards per carry, which was tied for twenty ninth within the league. 

The Packers want to enhance in opposition to the run subsequent season and if previous historical past is any indicator, Brian Gutekunst will pour assets into fixing the leaky run protection.

Final season the Packers wanted to vastly enhance on particular groups. Gutekunst attacked the problem with nice vigor. The Packers went out and employed probably the greatest particular groups coordinators within the league. They signed gamers like Keisean Nixon and Dallin Leavitt. They drafted gamers with loads of particular groups expertise like Tariq Carpenter.

It’s affordable to anticipate that Gutekunst will add a participant or two up entrance to assist shore up the run protection.

A participant that Gutekunst might goal within the 2023 NFL Draft is Keeanu Benton. The Wisconsin defensive sort out checks in at No. 95 within the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.

A 3-star recruit, Benton completed his first season at Wisconsin with 4 tackles for loss and two sacks. Throughout the 2020 season, Benton began 5 video games and compelled two fumbles. The next season the Badger nostril sort out recorded 5 tackles for loss and a couple of.5 sacks. This previous season, Benton recorded 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

Benton’s calling card is his potential to two-gap. He’s a stout run defender that may clog up operating lanes. He’s obtained a strong body with lengthy arms to stack blocks. His motor is all the time operating and provides nice effort with the lateral quickness to chase down ball carriers. 

The Badger defensive sort out is not only a roadblock, he’s a disruptive power that blows performs up behind the road of scrimmage. That was on full show over the ultimate month of the season, when he recorded seven tackles for loss over the ultimate 4 video games. 

“In opposition to the run, Benton is among the higher gamers within the draft,” Rohan Chakravarthi, the location supervisor for Bucky’s fifth Quarter stated. “His energy makes him an everyday disruptor within the backfield. Benton commonly required double groups, creating alternatives for his teammates in each aspects of the sport, which can even be his greatest energy. Benton’s size does him effectively within the run recreation in opposition to opposing offensive linemen as effectively.”

A part of what makes Benton such a power in opposition to the run is his uncooked energy. He’s obtained highly effective arms to rag-doll offensive linemen. When he performs with correct pad leverage he may be an unstoppable power within the inside.

“Benton’s biggest energy is his energy,” Chakravarthi stated. “With stable athleticism for his measurement, Benton’s energy as a 6’4-315 defensive sort out operates as a big-time disrupter within the run recreation, whereas additionally exhibiting the flexibility to hurry the passer as effectively. When taking part in with good stability, Benton has the facility to overwhelm opposing linemen, and sheds blocks pretty effectively.”

Benton’s energy interprets as a cross rusher. As soon as he will get beneath the pads of the offensive lineman he can stroll them again into the quarterback’s lap along with his bull rush. He has good preliminary quickness off the snap and has nice closing burst to the quarterback. He completed this previous season with 4.5 sacks and based on Professional Soccer Focus completed second on the group with 25 pressures.

“Benton is comparatively uncooked as a pass-rusher as he reveals the traits, however not the pass-rushing strikes as a lot,” Chakravarthi stated. “Nevertheless, the potential is definitely there for him to be a three-down participant. If Benton stays constant along with his pad stage, his energy will support him as a pass-rusher as he develops extra strikes. Benton’s energy is certainly as a run-defender, however there’s upside as a pass-rusher as effectively.”

Match with the Packers

With Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, and TJ Slaton, the Packers have a stable basis in place up entrance. Now, Gutekunst wants so as to add items round that trio. 

Benton might step in from day one and assist shore up Inexperienced Bay’s run protection that yielded 5 yards per carry. He’d eat up double groups and assist release the linebackers to make performs. Along with his athleticism, he has the pass-rush potential to develop right into a three-down lineman down the road. 

“Whereas the worth for purely run-stuffing nostril tackles has diminished, Benton offers worth in that position on a two-down foundation in the mean time with the upside to develop into a three-down participant,” Chakravarthi stated. “His measurement, energy, and size mix to type a stable day two participant, and his potential to eat double groups provides a bonus for gap-filling linebackers. Whereas he isn’t essentially the most athletic or explosive inside defensive lineman, his energy offers vital worth for defenses seeking to get higher in opposition to the bottom.”

Gutekunst must be bored with watching his group get gashed on the bottom. Including Benton on day two would assist Inexperienced Bay to start out successful among the battles within the trenches. Inexperienced Bay’s basic supervisor addressed the particular groups points final offseason. Anticipate him so as to add gamers to assist Inexperienced Bay enhance in opposition to the run this low season.