The Green Bay Packers showing interest in some of the top offensive line prospects? Not surprising.
Depth is a major concern at all five positions, not to mention that Jordan Morgan and Anthony Belton haven’t yet established themselves as permanent fixtures in the starting lineup.
Green Bay meeting with Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor ahead of the draft? Also not surprising.
History tells us that Green Bay’s pre-draft visits matter under Brian Gutekunst, so an interest in Iheanachor makes sense. He is one of the best tackles in this year’s class.
Here’s where it gets interesting: The Packers don’t own a first-round pick, and the chances of Iheanachor falling to No. 52 are seemingly close to zero. Could Gutekunst consider trading up?
Packers’ visit with Max Iheanachor stands out and leaves fans wondering about a potential trade-up
Over the past four years, the Packers have drafted or later signed around a fifth of their pre-draft visitors. They’ve met with 117 prospects in that time, and 25 have ended up on the roster.
So we should take them seriously.
The vast majority of the Packers’ 30 visitors ahead of this year’s draft are projected to go on Day 2 or later. Iheanachor, though, is likely a first-rounder. He sits 30th on the consensus board, while many expert mock drafts have him going earlier than that. Mel Kiper’s final mock draft has Iheanachor at No. 27 to the San Francisco 49ers.
So, why did the Packers show enough interest to meet with Iheanachor before the draft? Is it simply to do their homework just in case he slips to them in Round 2? Or would they consider trading up if he fell far enough?
The Packers own six Day 3 selections, including an extra fifth-rounder after the Dontayvion Wicks trade. They have the draft capital to package together should they wish to move up in Round 2.
What if Iheanachor falls to No. 35? Or No. 40? At what point would the Packers consider making an offer to jump up?
Perhaps the answer is “never.” Only Gutekunst knows that.
But Gutekunst’s track record teaches us to pay close attention to his pre-draft visits. This year is particularly fascinating as the Packers don’t own a first-round pick. It makes sense that almost every pre-draft visitor has a good chance of being available in Round 2.
Not Iheanachor, though. So the question is, why?
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