It’s the penultimate chapter of the Perfect Packers series, identifying the prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft who are fits for Green Bay based on their athletic testing. Off-ball linebackers go under inspection this time.
Previous Drafted Packers Linebacks
Brian Gutekunst has drafted quite a few linebackers since his first Draft in 2018: Quay Walker, Oren Burks, Kamal Martin, Isaiah McDuffie, and Ty Summers.
It’s up for debate whether Tariq Carpenter is a linebacker or a safety, but he’s listed as a linebacker on his Relative Athletic Score (RAS) card, which is where the testing information for these articles has been sourced, so he’ll be considered a linebacker for this exercise.
The ‘backers drafted by Gutekunst have all registered at minimum, the following results in pre-Draft testing (note: there is no athletic testing information for Kamal Martin):
- Height: 6’1.2”
- Weight: 227lbs
- 40 time: 4.61s
- 10-yard split: 1.62s
- Vertical jump: 32”
- Broad jump: 10’1”
- Shuttle: 4.46s
- 3-cone: 7.50s
The 40-yard dash and broad jump measurements respectively are pretty high marks for the position. A 40-time of 4.61s would put a linebacker in the 86th percentile for the position, while a 10’1” broad would fall in the 83rd percentile.
2023 NFL Draft: Perfect Packers
It’s a good thing the Packers don’t need an off-ball linebacker because only two players in the 2023 class hit every mark set by the ones Green Bay has previously drafted.
Trevor Nowaske of Saginaw Valley State and Zaire Barnes of Western Michigan passed every test and could be day three options for the Packers.
Nowaske has a 9.86 RAS on a 0-10 scale compared to previously drafted linebackers, while Barnes scored a 9.12.
2023 NFL Draft: Probable Packers
Jack Campbell (Iowa)
Campbell put up incredible pre-2023 NFL Draft testing, registering a 9.98 RAS, making him one of the most athletic linebackers ever to enter the NFL.
The only problem for the Packers could be that he ran a 4.65s 40-yard dash, which falls 0.04 seconds short of the slowest linebacker Gutekunst has drafted. Although, it’s possible Kamal Martin would have run slower than a 4.61.
Additionally, Campbell’s testing was top-shelf and ranked in the 90th percentile for his 10-yard split. It’s hard to believe he’d be off Green Bay’s board due to a 0.04-second discrepancy.
Campbell is likely to be gone well before the Packers would be prepared to take another off-ball linebacker after selecting Walker last year, but if he somehow fell later into day two, Gutekunst would have to consider it.
Trenton Simpson (Clemson)
Simpson’s broad jump was three inches shorter than the linebackers Gutekunst had previously drafted, but as previously mentioned, a 10’1” broad is a high bar, and the rest of Simpson’s testing was excellent.
His overall explosion score was still ‘great’ due to an impressive 40.5” vertical jump, and Simpson’s overall RAS is 9.84.
If they’re so inclined, Simpson could be another day-two option for the Packers in the 2023 NFL Draft.
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DeMarvion Overshown (Texas)
Overshown, who, by the way, is one of the absolute best names in the 2023 NFL Draft, ran a slower shuttle than any linebacker Gutekunst has drafted, but his 3-cone time was above average, giving him an overall ‘OK’ agility score.
Given that McDuffie was drafted with just an ‘OK’ agility score as well, while Carpenter’s was ‘poor,’ this may not be a significant issue.
Overshown’s RAS is 8.18, and he could be a fringe day two/day three target for Green Bay.
Jeremy Banks (Tennessee)
Jeremy Banks hit the marks set by Green Bay’s previously drafted linebackers in every athletic test, but he’s 0.6 inches shorter than any ‘backer Gutekunst has selected.
This may not be enough to take him off the Packers’ radar, but it’s worth saying 6’0.6” is quite short for the position, ranking in the 38th percentile.
If Green Bay isn’t dissuaded, Banks could be in play on day three.
Nathan East of Samford is athletic enough for the Packers but is 0.2 inches shorter than they have recently preferred, while Florida’s Amari Burney falls just one inch below the broad jump mark at 10’ flat.
East and Burney had a 9.36 and 9.19 RAS, respectively, and are both possibilities for the Packers later on day three.
Other 2023 NFL Draft Perfect Packers articles:
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