Packers Defensive Line Preview: Christian Ringo headlines new additions

Over the next few weeks, we will break down each position on the Green Bay Packers' 2015 roster in detail, discussing each player and making our predictions for the final 53-man roster.

After discussing the numerous defensive linemen who return to the Green Bay Packers' roster from last year, we now shift our focus to the two players who were new additions to the unit this spring. A draft pick and an undrafted free agent are looking to make an impact early on in training camp, as the team continues to search for a player who can complement Mike Daniels' ability to affect a game.

One of these players draws significant comparisons to Daniels, the unit's leader, and will hope to follow a similar career trajectory as he begins his life in professional football.

Christian Ringo

How acquired: sixth-round draft pick (#210 overall)
Age: 23
H/W: 6'1", 298 pounds
College: Louisiana-Lafayette
College Stats: 45 total tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks (2014 only); 109 total tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss, 21.0 sacks (career)

Contract Details: first year of four-year rookie deal worth $2.37 million; signing bonus of $90,484; 2015 cap hit of $457,621

Coming into his rookie year, Daniels stood six feet and about 290 pounds, similar in size and stature to Ringo. Like Daniels, this year's draft pick also possesses a quick twitch off the line of scrimmage, a knack for big plays, and a relentless motor, and as a result he will have a chance to contribute immediately on passing downs as an interior pass-rusher. Ringo's college production was even better than Daniels (though admittedly it came against Sun Belt competition rather than Big Ten offensive lines).

The best-case scenario for Ringo is probably a similar rookie year to Daniels' 2012, when he played around 250 snaps in a heavy rotation. Daniels then exploded with a great second year before becoming the full-time starter in 2014 and ranking as a top-ten 3-4 defensive end. If Ringo can provide even half of that impact, he will have been well worth the draft choice used on him.

Lavon Hooks

How acquired: undrafted free agent signing
Age: 23
H/W: 6'3", 312 pounds
College: Mississippi
College Stats: 17 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks (2014 only); 27 total tackles, 9.0 tacklers for loss, 3.0 sacks (career)

Contract Details: first year of three-year league-minimum contract; 2015 cap hit of $435,000

After spending two years in junior college, Hooks transferred to Ole Miss for his junior season and was the top JUCO recruit in the country, according to at least one recruiting service. Hooks only started two games for the Rebels, but he did play a rotational role in every game of his two years there and even played some tight end during his first year of high-level college ball. Hooks was one of the more impressive undrafted rookies during OTAs, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky, as he earned some snaps with the second-string defensive line.