The 6-foot-4 Wilson is extremely fluid for his size in both coverage and as a pass rusher. North Carolina State’s Payton Wilson could be another intriguing option in Round 2. All those little things that can be used in all types of ways.” “Guarding fast tight ends, bringing pressure to the QBs. “Just speed, being able to react,” Cooper said of his greatest strengths. 41 - their first selection in the second round. He could be a terrific option for the Packers at pick No. Cooper is extremely physical, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds and had the second-best testing score among all linebackers at the NFL Combine. Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper (6-2, 230) is one of the most explosive linebackers in the draft. But the Packers could go heavy on linebackers on Day 2 of the draft, when they have two picks in both the second and third rounds. It’s not a great year for linebackers, meaning Green Bay is unlikely to use its first round pick (No. The Packers have 11 total draft picks - including five in the first three rounds - and will have a chance to rebuild their linebacker group. Perhaps that’s because he expects Gutekunst to provide him with far more options this weekend. Hafley hasn’t tipped his hand where he believes Walker and McDuffie might fit best. The weakside linebacker - or “Will” - is typically the smallest, the most athletic and lines up away from the defensive strength. The middle linebacker - or “Mike” - roams sideline to sideline and must be able to stop the run and play the pass. Traditionally in a 4-3 defense, the strongside linebacker - or “Sam” - is the biggest of the three and aligns to the strength. I view him as a starter, whether he’s starting or not.” “I think just his ability to step in there and play at a really high level - obviously he’s been contributing for some years now on special teams, but every time we ask him to go in there and take on a larger role, he seems to excel at it. “Isaiah’s been huge,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of McDuffie last season. McDuffie, who played under Hafley at Boston College, had a career-best 82 tackles last season along with five tackles for loss. McDuffie, a 2021 sixth round pick, is a high-effort, no-nonsense player who has grown from a special teams standout to a potential starter. Isaiah McDuffie, who started nine games last season, will also have an expanded role. So whatever we feel, as we piece this together, where that is, that’s where we’ll put him.” “As we build this thing, we’re going to make sure he’s in position to make a lot of plays.

Go packers go