GREEN BAY, Wisconsin — With the trade of All-Pro receiver Davante Adams, the Green Bay Packers are looking to add some passing weapons to this week’s NFL draft.
“Ted (Thompson) always said, ‘You’ve got to have some passing catchers,” general manager Brian Guterkunst said of his ex on Monday.”Whether it’s a tight end, a running back, a catcher, you have to have players who can catch the ball.”
Aaron Nagler of Cheesehead TV, citing two league sources, said the Packers are “targeting” Waller.According to reports, the two teams have been in trade talks, hoping to complete a deal in this weekend’s draft.
Late Monday night, another source said word in the league was that the Raiders were buying Waller.
If there were trade talks, perhaps only between Gutekunst and his Las Vegas counterpart Dave Ziegler, our sources would be out of the loop.
Green Bay’s interest in Waller is obvious.He’s one of the best tight ends in the NFL at an affordable price.
Picked by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2015 draft and the Raiders from their practice class in 2018, Waller caught 90 passes for 1,145 yards and three touchdowns in 2019, and Received 107 passes for 1,196 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2020.Knee and back injuries and a bout with COVID kept him out for six games, and he had 55 catches for 665 yards and two touchdowns.
Even a sluggish year at the Raiders tight end was significant for the Packers.Jermichael Finley (61 games in 2012) and Richard Rodgers (58 games in 2015) are the only two tight ends in franchise history to have more catches in a season than Waller did in 11 games last year. Number of catches.
When the Packers defeated the Oakland Raiders 42-24 on October 20, 2019, Waller dominated 7-of-8 for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
“He’s one of the greatest stories in football,” Gruden said on a conference call with the Packers beat reporters.”I just want people in the league, young people, to take a good look at this guy. It’s just his credit. I mean, he didn’t play football, something bad happened in his life. He’s a The makeover wide receiver, when we played against the Ravens, we saw Waller working out before the game.
“I can’t believe how big and strong he looks. We took him out of their training class and he’s not only a catcher but a great blocker. He’s always been a great The inside tight end, you can line him up in the slot, perimeter. Great kid, he overcame the problems he had off the court. He could be a real resource for those struggling with substance abuse It’s a positive resource. Look at Darren Waller, meet Darren Waller, start cheering for this kid. It’s really good.”
Waller has a manageable contract for the next two seasons, $6.84 million in 2022 and $7 million in 2023.
The Packers received an additional second-round pick after trading Adams to the Raiders in March.They also have one pick in the third round, two in the fourth, one in the fifth and three in the seventh.
Green Bay has Robert Tonian, Marcedes Lewis and Josiah de Guara under contract.Toyan, however, has a torn ACL and may not be ready for Week 1.Toyan and Lewis will become free agents next offseason.
The Raiders’ No. 2 tight end is Foster Morrow, who started 11 games last season with 30 catches.The Adams trade sent their No. 1 pick to Green Bay, and their No. 1 pick was No. 86 in the third round.
Tonian and Lewis will be free agents next offseason.If Tonian doesn’t play well, the Packers probably don’t want him back.If he plays like he does in 2020, he might be too expensive to bring back.Lewis turns 38 next month and (probably) can’t play forever.
Since the 6-foot-2 Deguara is a ‘mobile’ tight end — he’s more capable at fullback and in position than traditional tight ends — our prospect list will only focus on players who can fill Tonian and Lewis’ character.
Based on Green Bay’s draft history, Texas A&M’s Jalen Wydermyer may not be on the board.
Stats: McBride had an incredible senior season with 90 passes for 1,121 yards (12.5 yards average).For some reason, he only made one touchdown.Still, he was unanimously named to the All-American First Team and earned a McGee Award as the nation’s top tight end.In three seasons, he caught 164 times for 2,100 yards and 10 touchdowns.
More in-depth stats: According to Pro Football Focus, McBride has 3 drops (3.2 percent), 9 catches on 20-yard passes, and an average of 5.0 YAC per catch.He was No. 2 in the popular draft class.According to Sports Info Solutions and its view of the top 25 tight end prospects, he ranks third with 2.8 yards per passing lane and eighth with 8.6 yards per target and runs 0.3 percent 5th in block percentage.In its overall score metric, he ranks 22nd in every neighborhood.
Personal style: His older brother Toby is Colorado State’s sixth-highest defensive end in 2021 and has started three games.Twin brother Dylan wrestled in Western Colorado.
The Denver Post tells their story.Caption: “Two Moms, One Heartbeat: Why CSU Rams Trey and Toby McBride Put Family First.” Subtitle: “McBrides Raised Scholars and Gentlemen, Gladiators by a Lesbian Couple Embracing Fort Morgan and fools – and vice versa.”
They don’t know their father and have no interest in getting to know them.”Every once in a while, people talk shit to you,” Trey said.”I don’t understand why. Sometimes, you know, you have to stand up for yourself. You don’t let people make fun of you for something like that. Since I’ve been here (in Fort Collins), I haven’t really come across any Question. So it’s really not a big deal. It’s 2019, you know what I’m talking about?”
NFL Draft Bible Scouting Report: Thick, muscular, tight, above average athleticism.McBride is a very good in-line blocker, opening lanes and finishing.He has strong hands, route running skills and enough athleticism to consistently impact the passing game.Project McBride is a really good backup who could be an early starter early on.His ceiling is a solid starter because he’s already technically perfect, as he doesn’t have the charisma.
Stats: The former bench made career highs as a senior with 42 catches for 725 yards and 5 touchdowns to earn an All-Pac-12 first team.He is averaging 17.3 and 19.9 yards per catch in 2021 and 2020.
More in-depth stats: According to Pro Football Focus, Dulcich has 4 drops (8.7 percent), 5 catches beyond 20 yards, and an average of 7.0 YAC per catch.According to Sports Info Solutions and its view of the top 25 tight end prospects, he ranks 10th with 2.0 yards per passing lane, fourth with 10.8 yards per target and seventh with a 0.6 percent run-block percentage.In its overall score indicator, he ranks 16th on a per-block basis.
Personal style: The diminutive Dulcic came to UCLA as an extra.His high school coach Jim Bonds, a former UCLA quarterback, provided some persuasion.Two years later, on his 20th birthday, he was awarded a scholarship.
“Fantastic; the best call I’ve ever had,” Dulcich said at the time.”Coach Kelly called me and when he said I was going to get a scholarship, I thought he was just checking something out with me. When the call happened, I was able to be with my family and we were able to celebrate.”
NFL Draft Bible Scouting Report: Dulcich brings good athleticism and size to the position while playing like a catcher.Dulcich isn’t afraid to use his length to protect his chest from media coverage when spreading out to the flanks.To that end, his route runs and route stems have some intricacies.Knows how to take advantage of a different rhythm on his line and use it to lure a different reaction from a defensive back.Great at catch point, rarely loses focus when having to frame defenders.
Stats: Rackett caught 28 passes in his first three seasons, but completed 26 for 309 yards (11.9 average) and 3 touchdowns.He received an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2021.Of his 54 career catches, he had 12 touchdowns.
Deeper stats: According to Pro Football Focus, Ruckert had 1 drop (3.7 percent), had a 20-yard pass catch, and averaged 5.7 YAC per catch.According to Sports Info Solutions and its look at the top 25 tight end prospects, he ranks 21st with 1.0 yards per passing lane, 12th with 8.1 yards per target, and has a 1.5 percent run-block percentage. 19th.In its overall score metric, Ruckert ranks third on a per-block basis.
Personal style: Rackett doesn’t have much passing history.Then again, neither did George Kittle.
“I like the way he plays, his mentality, all the work he does,” Rackett told Newsday.”He’s a well-rounded tight end, he can do anything, he’s good at anything. But when you look at him, what stands out is his mentality and mentality. He’s not just trying to stop what he’s trying to get him out of. I respect people.”
He went to Ohio State knowing he wasn’t going to catch the pass, but he was rushed to the field test against defensive ends Joey Bosa and Chase Young.
“That was the biggest [part of] my decision to go to Ohio State, I wanted to be that whole person, and I wanted to fit in with that grit and their culture,” he said.”I know going into Ohio State, maybe there won’t be a production, but what am I going to get from that program, what kind of person I’m going to be, what kind of player I’m going to be, the versatility I’m able to be.” Adapt, I No regrets at all.I’ve learned how to compete, win championships, play games in a really competitive environment with the week-to-week crusade.”
NFL Draft Bible Scouting Report: Jeremy Ruckert is a seasoned tight end for the Ohio State Buckeyes.Over the past few seasons, he’s earned his watch more than anything else due to his ability as a blocker.He shows good strength in all aspects of blocking runs and can be a leading blocker in the second tier.However, there are still some technical flaws and his body position blocks in the clearance concept.He’s still fairly raw as a catcher and underused during his time at Ohio State.He lacks the dynamic athleticism to be an elite target, but he has the ability to be a solid target for quarterbacks.
The stats: After four years at Oklahoma State, Woods moved to Virginia for his final season and dominated.He completed 44 passes for 598 yards (13.6 yards average) and 8 touchdowns in 11 games to earn an All-ACC First Team.From 2018 to 2020, he had just 31 passes and four touchdowns.
More in-depth stats: According to Pro Football Focus, Woods has five drops (10.2 percent), two catch-and-passes over 20 yards in the frontcourt, and an average of 5.3 YACs per catch.With his power, he ranks first in the draft class with 11 missed tackles.According to Sports Info Solutions, he ranks 11th with 1.9 yards per pass, 10th with 8.5 yards per target and 16th with a 1.0% run-block percentage.In its overall score indicator, he ranks seventh on a per-block basis.
Personal style: Woods came to Oklahoma State as a quarterback.After spending a week imitating opposing tight ends, the Cowboys coach moved him to tight end.
“I ended up giving them a good look all week,” Woods told Richmond.com.”Literally, next week, my coach came to me and offered me this deal. I love it.”
Woods was the No. 1 tight end on the block at Oklahoma State.After moving to Virginia, he grew into an all-around star.After arriving in Virginia, he donned the No. 0 jersey.”Zero comes from me just being confident and saying no one can stop me, safety, linebacker, corner, no one can stop me, so I feel like I want to put it in my back,” he told NFL Network.
Woods has a strong bond with his developmentally disabled older brother Jay, though Jay can be a harsh critic at times.”It shows an improvement in his ability to see things and learn things,” Woods told Oklahoma City.”So, I’m glad he can do that.”
Sports Info Solutions Scouting Report: Even without speed and agility, Woods has shown good route running ability.He will use it with his body separated from the body at the top of the line.He doesn’t have a huge mismatch with most defenders, but at times there is a noticeable size mismatch.Overall, his hands are enough.He’s a good catch and shows offensive football, but at times he looks like he’s playing and catches too much.In the run game, Woods has shown inconsistencies in his ability to push defenders off the ball.Sometimes he’ll tee off and show good leg drive to play through the whistle, but other times he’ll stop at POA and try to move them with his upper body.
Stats: In this draft class, no tight end has been used as often as Kolar.He caught 51 passes as a sophomore, 44 as a junior and 62 as a senior.His four-year total: 168 catches for 2,181 yards (13.0 average) and 23 touchdowns.He earned All-American honors in each of his final three years and was an All-12 player on four teams.
More in-depth stats: According to Pro Football Focus, Kolar had two drops (3.3 percent), a catch-and-pass 20+ yards in the frontcourt, and an average of 3.8 YAC per catch.According to Sports Info Solutions, he ranks fifth with 2.3 yards per passing lane, 12th with 8.1 yards per target and 21st with 1.6 percent run-block percentage.In its overall score indicator, he ranks 15th on a per-block basis.
Personal Style: Kolar comes from a family full of athletes.His older brother John played quarterback at Oklahoma and Iowa.Sister Katie plays volleyball in West Virginia.His mom played volleyball at Notre Dame.John and Charlie played one season with the Cyclones.
Kolar ended his college career by winning the Williams V. Campbell Trophy as a top scholar-athlete in college football.Academic Heisman is known to offer $25,000 in graduate scholarships.
“It’s an incredible honor,” Coral said.”This year’s finalists have amazing resumes, and I’m so grateful to be recognized for this prestigious award alongside the other winners. When you go to college on an athletic scholarship, you have a responsibility to learn, and I don’t think you should waste the opportunity .My parents have played a huge role in instilling these values in me, and it was great to have the two of them with me tonight.”
“Charlie is on the high end of the competition I’ve ever seen,” Iowa coach Matt Campbell said.”Whatever Chali does, he’s successful. He wants to be the best. If it’s in school, he wants to be the best. If it’s on the football field, he wants to be the best. He won this Kudos, and I’m so excited for him for all his hard work that got him where he is today.”
NFL Draft Bible Scouting Report: Kolar is a tall, long tight end that provides size as a blocker on the scrimmage line and a catcher in the middle.He has a strong hand at the receiving point to pull contested passes.Also, he looks like a very natural pass-catcher, judging by how he uses his hands and grabs the ball from the air.He can physically impose on the smaller linebackers covering him and has the ability to win with sheer power on his line.
Post time: May-17-2022
