Every draft class has its own personality, and some groups are more likely to see the field as rookies than others. Previous Packers draft classes have had varying impacts as rookies, but this year’s crop of new players has a chance to see the field in year one.
Here are seven Green Bay rookies who could carve out a role early in their NFL careers:
Matthew Golden
It goes without saying the first-round pick has a good chance to see the field as a rookie. By taking Golden in the first round, he is by definition the best receiver prospect Green Bay has drafted in 22 years.
Due to the depth the Packers have at receiver, he does not need to be thrust into the lineup if he is not ready (which is a consistent theme of this class, and how teams should operate) but there is a world where Golden is the best receiver on the team as a rookie.
Even if that scenario does not materialize, and Golden takes time to adjust to the NFL level, he will still have a role as a deep threat, with Christian Watson set to miss significant time as he recovers from his knee injury.
Anthony Belton
We will see how it shakes out in camp and what the coaches want to do with him, but the Packers scouting staff seem to think Belton can play left tackle in the league, as he did in college.
In reality he is probably a better guard, at least in the short term, where some of his problems with hand usage can be hidden, and the interior may end up being his long term home as well.
Competing for playing time at left tackle with both Rasheed Walker and Jordan Morgan could be tough, but Belton should have a chance to battle with Sean Rhyan for the starting job at right guard.
Rhyan has become a solid, reliable player there, so Belton may not win the competition, and if he does not, he may be looking at a redshirt season if everyone stays relatively healthy, but the opportunity is there if Belton can adjust quickly enough to a new position.
Savion Williams
It is easy to see why it has happened, but branding Williams just a gadget player is doing him a disservice.
The real wide receiver stuff is there in flashes on tape, and he was almost a victim of his own incredible ability after the catch at TCU, as they tried to supplement their substandard running game by putting the ball in Williams’ hands as often as they could.
He is a raw player though, and learning the intricacies of being an NFL wide receiver could take some time, limiting his snap count in that sense.
Even if that does happen, Williams should still get touches of the ball every week because of his unique skill set, giving him the opportunity to have an impact as a rookie.
Barryn Sorrell
Sorrell may not have the highest ceiling, but he is an ideal number three pass rusher due to already having a very mature game.
Kingsley Enagbare has been rock solid in that role during his time in Green Bay, and could be a barrier to Sorrell getting on the field regularly as a rookie.
He should still get a few snaps each game as a rotational rusher early in the season though, and could potentially surpass Enagbare by the end of the year if he develops how the Packers hope.
Collin Oliver
Oliver has a very niche skill set, which will make it hard for him to ever be a full time player, but should also allow him to have an impact as a sub rusher as a rookie.
His electric speed and explosive first step gives the Packers something they did not previously have in a pass rusher, and while his game is unlikely to evolve in a major way, he should be ready to cause disruption on obvious passing downs right away.
Warren Brinson
Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden are more pass rushers than run defenders, so Brinson is one of few backup options for Kenny Clark.
He is a responsible, reliable player who did a lot of dirty work at Georgia and could do the same again in Green Bay as a rookie, spelling Clark for a modicum of snaps each game.
Nazir Stackhouse
Stackhouse is in a similar boat to Brinson and has a more defined role as the only real nose tackle body on the roster. He may be an undrafted free agent, but if Stackhouse makes the team – and he has a good shot – he could get snaps every game as an early down run plugger.