The latest mockery of Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com helped the Green Bay Packers get late in the first round for the offensive line.
Jeremiah’s mockery sent Teven Jenkins offensive tackles from Oklahoma State at No. 29 overall to the Packers.
The choice of Jenkins will give the Packers valuable depth in attack and a potential long-term starter against the right onslaught against David Bakhtiari. Jeremiah believes Jenkins can play both tackle and defense, providing another player with valuable versatility for the Packers offense.
Matt LaFleur’s offense mostly uses Rick Wagner and Billy Turner in the right tackle in 2020. Turner could play several positions and may have to play left to start in 2021, while Wagner – despite a strong 2020 season – a victim of this off-season. The Packers could also lose All-Pro center Corey Linsley as a free agent, likely to involve the requirement of guard Elgton Jenkins or Lucas Patrick.
Here’s Jenkins’ blurb from Jeremiah’s big board:
Jenkins is a big, powerful right-hander. He is very quick of his attitude in the passing game and he can cover ground in a hurry. He has no trouble rushing out to disguise speeders. However, he has some issues when he has to lead inward quickly, which leads to some pressure being allowed. He has strong, violent hands, but he will sometimes become too aggressive, affecting his balance. However, he absorbs power storms very easily. He’s nice to see in the running game. He can pull torque and throw line members over his nose. He collects a lot of knockout blows. He has the speed to cut off at the back and he is very efficient at climbing to the second level. Overall, Jenkins has some balance issues to fix, but I like his size, speed and nasty. I consider him an NFL starter of good quality.
Jenkins is the 26th overall player on the big board at Pro Football Focus. According to the website, he allowed only four total pressures last season while playing the right suit.
Protecting Aaron Rodgers should remain a long-term priority for the Packers. The 37-year-old quarterback took only 20 total sacks over 16 regular-season games during his 2020 MVP season.
The Packers have not set up a true offensive tackle since Jason Spriggs in the second round of 2016. The need for the position will drop when Wagner returns in 2021, but he is only one season under contract and has injuries in the past.
In the first mockery of Jeremiah during the off-season, the Packers received the Tutu Atwell from Louisville.