The Green Bay Packers Must Find Help At Outside Linebacker

This is the seventh in a nine-part series previewing the NFL Draft and examining the Green Bay Packers’ needs at each position.

Today: Linebackers

Part 1: Quarterbacks

Part 2: Wide receivers

Part 3: Tight ends

Part 4: Running backs

Part 5: Offensive line

Part 6: Defensive line

For a 14-month stretch, it could be argued Rashan Gary rivaled almost any outside linebacker in the NFL.

From the start of 2021 through Nov. 6, 2022, the Green Bay Packers’ standout notched 17.5 sacks in a 26-game stretch. Gary had 43 quarterback hits, 18 tackles for loss and was emerging as one of the top defenders in football.

Then, the ultimate nightmare hit when Gary tore his right ACL against the Detroit Lions in Week 9 last season.

“What he means to this team, what he means to our locker room, he is the true definition of grit and I mean that in the absolute most positive way possible,” Green Bay defensive coordinator Joe Barry said after losing Gary. “The mindset, the demeanor, the play that he brings every single day will be missed. There’s no doubt about it.”

Unfortunately for the Packers, they might not have their best defender on the field when the 2023 campaign begins.

While all indications are Gary’s recovery is going well, many players don’t return to the field for a year after suffering ACL injuries. So as the Packers prepare for the 2023 draft, adding another outside linebacker to the mix has to be a top priority.

“Yeah, all the reports are good,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “Obviously, we get to see him here every once in a while when he’s back in town. As you guys know Rashan, he’s going to attack this thing like he plays. He feels really good.”

In a perfect world, Gary will line up opposite Preston Smith when Green Bay takes the field in Week 1. After watching left tackle David Bakhtiari need nearly two years to recover from his ACL injury, though, the Packers know anything can happen.

So they must prepare for the worst by adding help early in the draft to the critical outside linebacker spot.

When Gary was on the field, Green Bay fielded one of the better outside linebacker duos in football in 2022.

From Weeks 1-9 last year, Gary ranked in the top 10 among NFL linebackers in quarterback hits (12, tied for sixth), sacks (six, tied for eighth) and pressures (27, ninth). That followed a breakout 2021 season in which Gary ranked seventh among linebackers in quarterback hits (28) and second in pressures (81).

“He’s not making steps, he’s making big leaps each year,” Smith said of Gary. “You don’t see younger guys improve that fast and in that way.”

Smith, meanwhile, was resurrecting his own career.

After a lackluster 2020 season, Smith had 9.0 sacks and 30.5 pressures in 2021. Then in 2022, Smith had 8.5 sacks and 20 quarterback hits.

As a duo, few rival Gary and Smith when they’re both healthy. When Gary was sidelined, though, the dropoff was precipitous.

Rookie Kingsley Enagbare had his moments. And Justin Hollins gave the Packers a boost after he was claimed on waivers in November.

Enagbare had three sacks, five tackles for loss and tied for fifth on the team with eight quarterback hits. Hollins played in just six games and had 2.5 sacks, three tackles for losses and four quarterback hits.

Both Enagbare and Hollins provide solid depth. Neither are front line starters, though,

So when Gutekunst is on the clock with pick No. 15, don’t be shocked if he takes an outside linebacker/edge rusher. If that happens, it would mark the 11^th time in 12 years Green Bay’s top pick is on the defensive side of the ball.

The Packers tied for 28^th in the league last season with just 34 sacks. That was Green Bay’s fewest sacks since 2011 (29) and less than half the sacks that NFC champion Philadelphia rang up (70).

Green Bay seems to be in better shape at inside linebacker. The Packers hope De’Vondre Campbell can continue to play near a Pro Bowl level, and that second-year man Quay Walker’s maturity can come close to matching his talent level.

Campbell, a street free agent turned Pro Bowler in 2021, came down to Earth a bit in 2022. Still, Campbell finished third on the team in tackles (96), had two interceptions and returned one for a touchdown despite missing four games with a knee injury.

It’s imperative Walker takes a major jump in 2023.

Walker led the Packers and ranked No. 2 among NFL rookies with 119 total tackles in 2022, the fifth most by a Green Bay rookie since 1975. He also led the Packers with three forced fumbles.

But Walker also became the first player in NFL history to be ejected from two games in the same season.

First, Walker pushed Buffalo practice squad tight end Zach Davidson on the Bills’ sideline when it appeared Davidson was trying to keep Walker from falling in a Week 8 matchup. Then in the regular season finale, Walker shoved a Lions’ trainer who was trying to attend to injured running D’Andre Swift.

“Just a selfish act of me,” Walker said after the Lions’ game. “Very, just very stupid and dumb. I’ll say immature of me. Once again, made the same mistake twice. I just always seem to overreact at times and I did it again.”

Isaiah McDuffie is the Packers’ only experienced backup after Krys Barnes signed with Arizona in the offseason. But the Packers have far greater needs than another inside linebacker.

In fact, outside linebacker is near the top of the list. And it could be just where Gutekunst goes with one of his early picks.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS RANKINGS

1. Nolan Smith, Georgia

6-2, 238

The lowdown: One of the stars of the 2023 NFL Combine, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds and had a 41.5” vertical jump. … Top overall prospect in the 2019 recruiting class. … Excels setting the edge in the run game due to superior technique and leverage. … Falls beneath the size thresholds many teams have for their 3-4 outside linebackers. … Outstanding toughness, but might have trouble maintaining speed if teams ask him to gain weight.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper on Smith: “You’ve got a fast rising player in Nolan Smith. He’s 6-foot-2, 238 pounds, he ran 4.39 at the Combine, he had a 41.5-inch vertical. Those are incredible numbers. Then you say, ‘What does he do on the field?’ Well he impacts the game in a variety of ways. That’s what’s impressive to me. He’s a good tackler in the open field in space. He gets after the quarterback, and like I said, he’s so smart.”

Projection: First round

2. B.J. Ojulari, LSU

6-2, 248

The lowdown: High-level pass rusher who’s struggled against the run. … Two-year starter who posted 12.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss in that time. … Already has an impressive array of rush moves. … Spends too much time watching when the play doesn’t come his way.

Ojulari says: “The message has been the same from almost everywhere regarding character. Especially wearing No. 18 here and what that means at LSU. On the field, they love my play-making ability and ability to rush the passer.”

Projection: Second round

3. Trenton Simpson, Clemson

6-3, 240

The lowdown: Terrific speed (4.43) allows him to run down plays from all angles. … Struggled as an inside linebacker in 2021, then moved outside in 2022 to a position that better fits his skill set. … Premium athlete who can attack the pocket as a blitzing linebacker. … Has struggled in coverage situations.

Simpson, describing his own game: “You’re going to get a player who plays relentless. I’m going to give it all I got. I feel like I’m a great leader in the locker room. I’m one of those guys that you can depend on. I’m very disciplined about my business, I’m going to give it all I got and I’m a team player, for sure.”

Projection: Second round

4. Derick Hall, Auburn

6-3, 254

The lowdown: Big, strong and long player with a rugged demeanor. … Has the strength to challenge much bigger players. … Team captain at Auburn with extremely high character. … Pass rush lacks imagination. … Struggles when he drops into coverage.

Hall says: “I am just a guy who will come in and work hard every day. I have always stayed out of trouble and wanted to be a leader from Day 1 and commit to the locker room. I am going to put my best foot forward and work to get better.”

Projection: Second round

5. Will McDonald, Iowa State

6-4, 241

The lowdown: McDonald didn’t begin playing football until his junior year, but became an all-state player at Waukesha North. … Started Iowa State career at linebacker, then moved to defensive end in 2019. … Extremely productive player who had 34 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and seven passes defensed at ISU. … Explosive athlete with extremely long arms (34 7/8”). … Good strength, but holding his own in the run game could be an issue. … Has an outstanding spin move. … Pass rush ability could make him a terror on passing downs. …

McDonald says: “I improved in a lot of areas. I was able to show people what I can do, not just playing a three-down. I’m able to be versatile in a lot of defenses because at Iowa State, we were in a lot of defense. So I was able to adapt to it and I was able to suck into my talent.”

Projection: Second round

BEST OF THE REST

6. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State, 6-3, 255; 7. Nick Herbig, Wisconsin, 6-2, 228; 8. Byron Young, Tennessee, 6-2, 250; 9. Nick Hampton, Appalachian State, 6-2, 236; 10. Brenton Cox Jr., Florida, 6-4, 250.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS RANKINGS

1. Drew Sanders, Arkansas

6-4, 233

The lowdown: Played two years at Alabama, then transferred to Arkansas for the 2022 campaign. … Posted 103 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and three forced fumbles last year and was a finalist for the Dick Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker. … Terrific athlete who can anchor in the middle or be employed as a stand-up edge rusher. … Has good technique and excels in taking on blocks. … One year starter who allowed too many runners to slip away.

Sanders on playing inside at Arkansas: “Being able to experience playing that stacked position, middle linebacker, kind of helped me a lot obviously. It was very valuable time here and I’m thankful for all the experiences I’ve had here.”

Projection: First or second round

2. Jack Campbell, Iowa

6-5, 249

The lowdown: Highly productive player who had 271 tackles, including nine for loss the last two years. … Won the Dick Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker, captured first-team Associated Press All-American honors and won the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. … Box linebacker with terrific instincts and physicality. … Lacks the short area burst the league’s elite linebackers have. … Extremely consistent player who lacks big play ability.

Campbell saying he needs to be amphibious to play the linebacker position: “When I think of amphibious, I think of a frog. You can go in the water, you can go on the land. At linebacker you’ve got to play the run, take on blocks, you’ve got to be able to use your hands. You’ve got to be violent back there. But also you’ve got to drop back into coverage. That’s the context I’m talking about.

Projection: Second round

3. Noah Sewell, Oregon

6-2, 253

The lowdown: Brother, Penei, is an offensive tackle with Detroit. … Extremely physical and possesses the power to take on blocks. … Terrific size and strength to shed blockers. … Poor lack of range in coverage. … Instincts aren’t great, which prevents him from getting a jump on plays.

Sewell says: “I like to be unique with my weight. I can move around, I’m athletic, I’m dynamic, and I think I bring a lot to the table with my weight.”

Projection: Second round

4. Daiyan Henley, Washington State

6-1, 230

The lowdown: Terrific speed (4.54) and toughness allows him to wreak havoc inside. … Outstanding sideline to sideline range in the run game. … Times fast and plays fast thanks to a motor that doesn’t quit … Should help immediately on special teams. … Instincts, and ability to diagnose, are subpar.

Henley says: “I’m a versatile player that doesn’t come off the field. I’m there for every down. Beyond that, I’m a special-teams core player … from kickoff, to punt, to punt return and being a kickoff returner once upon a time. I’ve been kinda selling myself as a guy that doesn’t need to come off the field.”

Projection: Second round

5. Henry To’o To’o, Alabama

6-1, 227

The lowdown: Spent two years at Tennessee, then transferred to Alabama. … Had 205 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in two years with the Crimson Tide. … Steady, but far from spectacular player who’s undersized for the position. … Mediocre in coverage and lacks consistency as an open field tackler.

To’o To’o, on what he loves about playing linebacker: “You’re the quarterback of the defense. We have control of everything and everybody around us. My teammates feed off of my energy. Obviously, I love the running and hitting aspect of it as well. I love having control over the entire defense. Everybody turns to you for a response. That’s what I most love about it.”

Projection: Third round

BEST OF THE REST

6. Owen Pappoe, Auburn, 6-0, 225; 7. Dorian Williams, Tulane, 6-1, 228; 8. Mike Jones Jr., LSU, 6-1, 230; 9. DeMarvion Overshown, Texas, 6-2, 220; 10. Dee Winters, Texas Christian, 5-11, 223.