As Green Bay looks to fill out their roster for 2023, they have a significant hole at defensive tackle following the loss of Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed. However, they also have numerous other needs to address. Tight end, wide receiver, and edge rusher are all positions they could look to bolster. Given their other roster needs, it is possible that they could wait to add a defensive tackle or two until the later parts of the NFL Draft. If they do take this route, here are a few defensive lineman who could be available on Day 3 of the draft.
Devonnsha Maxwell
A sixth-year senior, Maxwell put up a great deal of production while playing at Chattanooga. He recorded 55.5 TFLs and 37.5 sacks, and notably set the school’s single-game sack record by racking up five quarterback takedowns against ETSU in 2021. Although he’s a small-school prospect, Maxwell possesses NFL size and length – he measured in at 6’1″ 299 lbs., with 33 inch arms at the Shrine Bowl.
Maxwell has excellent play strength and the twitchiness to get upfield and penetrate. The defensive tackle’s pass-rush game is well-developed and intriguing – he has quick hands and a variety of pass-rush moves and counters. He likes to pair a signature cross-chop with a potent inside spin counter. Maxwell may be a bit of a flyer as a small-school guy, but he could develop into a valuable 3t for a team like Green Bay.
Brodric Martin
Another older defensive tackle prospect, Martin is entering the draft as a redshirt senior. After transferring to Western Kentucky before the 2021 season, he recorded six TFLs and four sacks. Martin is a massive player who measured in at 6’4″ and 337 lbs. and recorded 34 inch arms at the Shrine Bowl.
He showed intriguing quickness and explosion in college. As a pass-rusher, he flashes violent hands. His length allows him to stack and shed – though inconsistent hand placement and pad level sometimes hurts him in the run game. Martin would be an intriguing developmental nose tackle. He needs refinement, but his physical tools could help him become a valuable player in the future.
Tyler Lacy
A 6’4″ 279 lbs. redshirt senior, Oklahoma State’s Tyler Lacy possesses good length with 33 inch arms. Over his college career, he posted 30 TFLs and 11.5 sacks.
Lacy routinely does an excellent job using his length and play strength to generate knockback and stack blocks in the run game. He’s an excellent – if not impressive – athlete with good balance. Lacy plays with good effort on a down-to-down basis and does an effective job hand-fighting through the rep to gain an advantage. He flashes quick hands in pass-rush but needs a lot of development before he can be effective in that phase. Lacy is a fun 3t/5t defensive tackle prospect who can offer an infusion of talent in the run game while his pass-rush game continues to mature.
Conclusion
While Green Bay has numerous roster needs in addition to defensive tackle, there are still ways to help improve the DL room. Even if they can’t find affordable options in free agency or decide not to spend a premium pick on the position, there are several names could make sense as Day 3 draft picks for the Packers. The defensive tackle room will be an important part of Green Bay’s defense in 2023, and developing quality depth could be critical.
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