NFL Draft 2018: Packers pre-draft prospect visit tracker

Once Pro Days are complete for prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft class, the next phase of the draft process becomes visiting teams in an official capacity. NFL teams are allowed to bring up to 30 prospects in for formal, private visits with the front office and football staff, in addition to a “local Pro Day” in which players =who played at college and high school programs in areas close to the team’s facilities may also attend and meet with the team.

The Green Bay Packers have typically used their official visits to invite players fitting one of two categories to Lambeau Field. The first group are players who are likely to be third-day draft picks or undrafted free agents, and the Packers often draft or sign several of these individuals. Most of the players visiting Green Bay tend to fall into this category.

The second batch of players are higher-rated prospects who have some sort of off-the-field concern or lingering questions about their fit on the team. For example, the Packers brought edge rusher Noah Spence in for a visit prior to the 2016 draft. Spence appeared to be a fit for the Packers in terms of his athleticism and position, but he had significant concerns regarding multiple failed drug tests at Ohio State that led to him finishing his college football career at Eastern Kentucky.

Of course, that was how the Packers tended to use these visits under general manager Ted Thompson, so we will see over the next month or so if that strategy will change with Brian Gutekunst in that role.

The first reported visit was with Wisconsin Badgers fullback Austin Ramesh; however, as a Wisconsin native, Ramesh would likely be attending the Packers’ local Pro Day rather than coming in on a formal one-on-one visit. The second is potential first-round cornerback Mike Hughes, who does not appear to have any significant off-the-field problems, but who does not meet the Packers’ typical height requirements at that position. Hughes measured in at 5-foot-10 1/8, about a half-inch short of the Packers’ typical 5-foot-10 ¹⁄₂ cutoff.

Keep this page handy, as it will update frequently as reports of more visits come in.