The Green Bay Packers and general manager Brian Gutekunst have had an interesting NFL offseason thus far.
After looking the part of a Super Bowl contender throughout the first half of last season, the Packers saw injuries derail their second half of the year. Heading into the offseason, they were expected to be aggressive in pursuit of bringing a Lombardi Trophy back to Lambeau Field.
Gutekunst and the front office have watched a lot of players leave town. Among those players are wide receiver Romeo Doubs, pass rusher Rashan Gary, center Elgton Jenkins, cornerback Nate Hobbs, linebacker Quay Walker, offensive tackle Rasheed Walker, and quarterback Malik Willis.
At this point in time, Green Bay has brought in just four new players. Those four players are defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, return man Skyy Moore, cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, and linebacker Zaire Franklin.
With that being said, the Packers still have options to consider in free agency. They will also have the 2026 NFL Draft to improve the roster.
Green Bay Packers Connected to “Physical Thumper” in NFL Draft
ESPN’s Matt Miller has released a new seven-round mock draft. He had Green Bay using the No. 120 overall pick in the fourth round on Arizona State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott.
The move to trade for Franklin has left the Packers in decent position at linebacker. However, another addition wouldn’t be a bad idea for depth.
Elliott is coming off of a 2025 college season with the Sun Devils that saw him rack up 98 total tackles to go along with seven sacks and two defended passes.
He played in four total seasons in college, two coming with New Mexico State and two at Arizona State. He totaled 301 tackles, 11.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception, and nine defended passes.
What Are NFL Analysts Saying About Keyshaun Elliott?
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein has weighed in with his thoughts on Elliott’s game. He provided an overview of what fans can expect from the linebacker.
“Big, productive inside linebacker lacking the athletic traits to make enough plays on the next level. Elliott has earned praise for his exceptional work ethic and football character. His instincts and reaction time are average, though,” Zierlein wrote.
“He can be heavy-handed when taking on blocks and his execution is inconsistent. His pursuit speed to the sideline is too heavy-footed in pass coverage and as an open-field tackler. His pathway will need to be as a physical thumper who can star on special teams.”
Green Bay has focused on speed and athleticism in recent drafts. Elliott would buck that trend, but would bring grit and toughness to the defense.
It’s an interesting idea, although Elliott wouldn’t fit what the Packers have recently looked for in a linebacker.
Packers Predicted to Land ‘Physical Thumper’ to Improve Defense