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Although the Green Bay Packers drafted seven players last weekend in the 2016 NFL Draft and have reportedly agreed to contracts with 21 additional undrafted free agents to fill up the 90-man roster, the team is going to host numerous players at rookie minicamp this weekend who are coming in to Green Bay on a tryout basis.
Two years ago, the Packers ended up signing one notable name to a contract out of minicamp: tight end Colt Lyerla. Last year, offensive lineman Andy Phillips got a contract out of his tryout, and lasted through much of training camp.
Who, if anyone, will get a contract after attending this weekend's camp on a tryout? Here are a few possibilities.
RB Broderick Snoddy, Georgia Tech
Like the Packers' two undrafted running back signings, Snoddy is on the smaller side, at a shade under 5'9" and 192 pounds. However, his speed and quickness could earn him some consideration - he ran the 40 in 4.46 seconds at the Yellow Jackets' Pro Day, and put up good agility numbers as well (4.22 shuttle, 7.08 3-cone). Snoddy also brings some kick return ability to the table.
WR Patrick Donahue, Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns
Yes, we're back to Moritz Boehringer's teammate. Donahue is certainly the more accomplished of the two Unicorns receivers, having played NAIA football for Southern Oregon before making the move to Germany. His 100+ catch season there and his 3.98 shuttle time make for an interesting player to come in and compete with the four undrafted rookies and Trevor Davis, the Packers' 5th-round pick.
G Lucas Patrick, Duke
Patrick has the size (6' 3-1/2", 313) and strength (29 bench press reps) to make an impression this weekend. If the Packers are truly looking for intelligence this season, Patrick's attendance at Duke cannot hurt him. More importantly, however, he was a starter for a Power-Five conference team this season, something few of the other players coming in on a tryout basis can say.
C/G Kyle Steuck, Northern Michigan
Steuck came to Green Bay for an official pre-draft visit, so his name should come as no surprise to Packers fans who have been keeping track of such things. He even mentioned that he has been mistaken for Packers guard Josh Sitton, and would like to meet him this weekend. Like undrafted signing Peter Mortell, Steuck is a local boy, growing up in De Pere.
DL Derrick Luetjen, Tulsa
Luetjen is a bit lean for a spot the Packers' base 3-4 line (6'3", 288), but he could flash as an interior pass-rusher and a gap-shooter in the run game. He had an impressive 17.5 tackles for loss in his last two years at Tulsa, suggesting that he can find a way to shed blocks and get into the backfield.
OLB Dale Pierson, Iowa State
Pierson's numbers as a Senior jump off the page - 41 tackles, 8 sacks, and 13 tackles for loss, plus an interception, all as a defensive end. Those sacks landed him second in the entire Big XII behind Emmanuel Ogbah of Oklahoma State. However, as a 4-3 end converting to linebacker, he'll need to show some coverage ability and a better burst than his 4.98-second 40 suggests.
Prediction
Given the depth on the Packers' roster - or the lack thereof on the defensive line, my bet is that Luetjen has the best odds of finding his way onto the 90-man roster with a good performance in rookie camp, at least among the names we currently know. The team can always use more situational pass-rushers on the defensive line, and Luetjen's decent athleticism and knack for making big plays at Tulsa suggest that he could stand out at the Don Hutson Center over the weekend.