Like it or not, Jonathan Gannon is the new Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator. Gannon has said he doesn’t have a set scheme. Instead, he will game plan based on personnel and opponents. However, when considering who the Packers could potentially take in this year’s draft, their decision to hire Gannon may play a factor.
In his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Gannon took advantage of his big guys in the middle, with defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and an aging Fletcher Cox having outstanding years in 2022. A great defense always starts with winning in the trenches, and Gannon likely will want the Packers to prioritize the defensive line in the draft.
Green Bay struggled at defensive tackle this past year after Devonte Wyatt went down with an ankle injury midseason. Green Bay’s earliest pick is 52nd overall after trading for Micah Parsons. Still, there’s a plethora of defensive difference makers available after the first round.
Georgia’s Christen Miller could be an excellent pairing with Wyatt. Of course, any Georgia defender is an attractive pick for Brian Gutekunst and the Packers.
Miller is a raw, extremely athletic prospect with a quick get-off and surprisingly fast lateral movement. If he falls to the second round, which is still uncertain this early into the offseason, Miller could prove to be a great project for Jonathan Gannon to develop into an interior run-defending star.
Rushing the passer is a bit of a concern for Miller, who saw limited production with just four sacks in his time at Georgia. That shouldn’t be a huge concern, though. Physicality and stopping the run are of utmost importance for someone at his position.
Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter is another defensive tackle prospect Green Bay may target. Hunter spent most of his college career at UCF before transferring to Texas Tech in his final year, where he was a key component in their college football playoffs run.
Hunter clearly uses his size to his advantage, boasting a 6’4”, 325 lb. frame. He takes up space and can hold his own against double teams. Hunter’s probability of falling to the second round may be slimmer than Miller’s. Still, he’s an elite prospect to keep in mind.
Picking either in the second round would provide much-needed help in the middle of the field and would make Gannon’s job that much easier. And, of course, a Packers draft article wouldn’t be complete without a cornerback prospect.
Chris Johnson, an electric prospect out of San Diego State, could be Green Bay’s guy. Johnson played all four of his years with the Aztecs, racking up six interceptions, five forced fumbles, and eight passes defended.
Although not the classic freaky-athletic prospect the Packers typically target, Johnson makes up for it with his technique and intelligence. He can play well within any type of coverage thrown at him and could even make an impact on special teams early on.
Targeting a corner early is near the top of most Packers fans’ wishlists, and the versatility displayed on Johnson’s tape would fit like a glove under Gannon’s flexible “schemeless” system.
One last position of interest on defense is an edge rusher. With Rashan Gary likely out the door this offseason, Micah Parsons and Lukas Van Ness may need some help.
Enter R. Mason Thomas, who racked up 17 sacks in his four years at Oklahoma and has proven to be a consistent pass rusher. Thomas is missing the Senior Bowl, which could potentially affect his draft position and potentially help Green Bay.
Thomas is undersized, yet has extreme strength and speed. His Parsons-esque archetype could prove valuable as a counterpart across the line from Green Bay’s All-Pro. After watching Rashan Gary struggle to catch up to scrambling QBs, Thomas can make an immediate difference by rushing and containing the passer.
Whether or not the Packers tweak their drafting strategy around Jonathan Gannon, the defensive side of the ball needs attention at DL and CB despite their immense talent at other positions.