Could Green Bay aim for the fences with its second first-round pick during upcoming NFL draft?

Green Bay Packers

Thanks to the Davante Adams trade, Green Bay is playing with house money in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft, as the Packers now own the Nos. 22 and 28 overall picks.

It’s no secret what position Green Bay will focus on with one of those picks: receiver.

But, without a lot of holes on its roster, the team can go in any number of directions with its next pick.

Need another pass rusher to pair with Preston Smith and Rashan Gary? This is a great year to draft one, with six ranked among the top 32 prospects in the Fanspeak-Jake Rigdon big board. How about an interior lineman? Both guard prospects are expected to be selected in the 20-to-35 range, so at least one of those guards could still be there. What about taking a second receiver in the first-round? Six are ranked among the top 32, so it’s conceivable that one of them is still available at pick No. 28.

But those are all singles and doubles.

Why not aim for the fences?

Here are three wildcard prospects for the Packers’ late first-round pick:

Edge David Ojabo, Michigan

As Matt Hendershott of Zone Coverage says, “there are few prospects in this draft class as ‘Packers’ as Michigan (outside) linebacker David Ojabo.”

He’s not wrong.

Ojabo wowed at the Combine, checking in at 6-foot-4, 255-pounds and running an impressive 4.55-second 40-yard dash, which ranks him in the 95th percentile for his position, according to MockDraftable.

Then disaster struck: Ojabo tore his Achilles during his Pro Day workout. Now? Ojabo went from a certain-first rounder to a likely Day 2 selection, as his availability next season is in doubt. Prior to the injury, Ojabo was ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the Rigdon big board after picking up 11 sacks in his lone season as a starter. He’s now ranked as the No. 44 overall prospect.

From Hendershott: “Ojabo checks all of the Packers’ boxes: He’s an athletic freak with an impressive 9.37 Relative Athletic Score. He comes from a respected program that regularly produces NFL-level prospects, and he plays a premium position (edge). Ojabo is the type of player Green Bay covets, and he should be within their grasp.”

If Ojabo can return to form next season? Then the team who drafts him is essentially redshirting a relatively high first-round draft pick at a premium position.

And don’t rule out a return to the field this year, either. Here’s what Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said during the league’s annual meetings, via the Detroit Free Press:

“He’ll be back. He’ll be playing this season and he’s a great player, he’s even a better human being. I kind of know him through Jim really well and felt bad for him, but it’s not going to affect him too much in the long run.”


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