Earlier in the fall, I doled out initial grades for the Packers' crop of 2021 rookies. With most of them now having a full season under their belt, it's time to re-grade their performance in Year 1 with the Packers. The assessment of rookie performance was not done on an absolute basis. Grades are handicapped against the expectations associated with the round in which the player was selected and the playing opportunities each rookie has received, given roster depth at their respective position.
Round 1 - CB Eric Stokes: B+ (midseason: B)
In 16 starts, Stokes delivered on his first round selection in 2021, stepping in immediately when veteran Kevin King went down and graduating to an increased role when Jaire Alexander suffered a sustained collarbone injury in Week 4. From his first start against San Francisco, he supplied air-tight coverage on opposing receivers while leaning on raw speed and loads of physicality to contest passes thrown his way.
In short order, the former Georgia Bulldog was regularly asked to line up across from the opponent's WR1: Ja'Marr Chase, Allen Robinson, Terry McLaurin, DeAndre Hopkins and Justin Jefferson, to name a few. With these tough assignments came rookie miscues: the youthful Stokes was occasionally guilty of missed tackles on short range throws, shoddy footwork on lateral routes and several momentum-shifting completions deep downfield.
Many analysts have been quick to apply a handicap to Stokes' shortcomings and grant the 2021 29th overall pick an A or A- for his performance this season. While he's been largely dependable in coverage, we're yet to see the ball skills he showed off during his final year in Athens. Additionally, Stokes still needs to develop a better sense of ball location when tracking receivers downfield, having been consistently slow to turn his head on deep balls this season.
Round 2 - C Josh Myers: B+ (midseason: A-) Despite being drafted a round later than Eric Stokes, former Buckeye Josh Myers have been the most NFL ready of the Packers' 2021 draft class. He won the starting center job outright in training camp and instantly integrated himself in the Packers' starting offense. Myers drew some tough luck with injuries, though, missing games on two separate occasions, the latter of which kept him sidelined for 12 weeks.
One underrated aspect of Myers' rookie season was the quick chemistry developed with Aaron Rodgers under center. I can recall only a few snap miscues between the two all season, which is a testament to the rookie center's focus and maturity. While the second round felt early to go after a center last April, the Packers found one fully capable of filling Corey Linsley's shoes in Year 1.
Round 3 - WR Amari Rodgers: D (midseason: C) Having moved on from Tyler Ervin and Tavon Austin after the 2020 season, the Packers had their eye on Clemson's Amari Rodgers, who had expressed mutually interest in playing with Aaron Rodgers prior to the draft. Brian Gutekunst jumped at the opportunity when Rodgers was still around in Round 3, giving up an extra pick in the process.
While Rodgers seemed to look the part in camp and preseason, he couldn't even spell "gadget" when being groomed for that role in September. Rodgers was used frequently on pre-snap motion but didn't play nearly as fast as his Clemson tape indicated, making him a stodgier, much less explosive version of Randall Cobb. Ironically, Cobb's return to Green Bay also dampered Rodgers' snaps and contributions on offense.
That carried over to special teams, where Rodgers was not only sluggish but also unreliable as a return specialist. Several muffed punts and poor communication with the return unit temporarily lost him the job, one that he only regained only due to a major deficit in qualified personnel on the roster. On offense, Rodgers finished the season with 45 yards receiving on just four catches, making for one of the most disappointing seasons the Packers have witnessed for a highly-routed rookie in some time.
Round 4 - OL Royce Newman: B (midseason: B-) With David Bakhtiari unavailable during training camp, the versatile Newman was vaulted into the starting lineup to begin the season. His blocking as an interior o-lineman was inconsistent to start, allowing five sacks through 10 weeks and failing to create adequate running lanes in between the tackles. With the help of O-line coach Adam Stenavich, however, he began gelling down the stretch.
But that wasn't enough to keep "Wild Man 70" - as Rodgers referred to him during camp - from getting bounced from the lineup by the time the playoffs rolled around. Lucas Patrick was chosen over Newman at right guard for the Packers' divisional round game.
While he lost his starting spot ahead of the Packers' biggest game of the season, Newman deserves plenty of credit for quickly adapting to a non-native position and helping keep the line afloat for most of the season.
Round 5 (first pick) - NT T.J. Slaton: B- (midseason: C) One of the largest members of the Packers spent most of the first half of the 2021 season on the sideline while a healthy Kenny Clark gobbled up defensive snaps and opposing backs in the same breath. However, Slaton got his chances down the stretch, occasionally subbing in for Tyler Lancaster and the recently released Kingsley Keke.
On a 3-4 defense that has traditionally welcomed heavyweights up front (recall B.J. Raji and and Ryan Pickett playing side by side), Slaton became a greater contributor late in the season, even tallying a big-time tackle during the divisional round of the playoffs. With Green Bay so thin on the defensive line, Slaton figures to be in the mix for starting reps next season.
Round 5 (second pick) - CB Shermar Jean-Charles: F (midseason: D+) Brian Gutekunst's selection of "SJC" in the fifth round last April was a deliberate attempt to add help in the slot. And, when, starter Jaire Alexander went down in Week 4, it seemingly paved the way to regular playing time for the former Appalachian State product.
However, D-coordinator Joe Barry instead leaned on known commodity Chandon Sullivan, veteran Isaac Yiadom and, eventually, street free agent Rasul Douglas, who ultimately ran with the opportunity. Jean-Charles was rarely active and, in his limited live action, primarily played on special teams. Having been selected early on Day 3, significantly more was expected from SJC.
Round 6 (first pick) - OL Cole Van Lanen: No Grade (midseason: D-)
Green Bay native Cole Van Lanen had to put his dreams of playing in green and gold on hold when he was among the final preseason cuts last August. While he was elevated several times during the regular season, Van Lanen only saw live action in Week 17 versus Minnesota. But, with Elgton Jenkins unlikely to fully recover from a torn ACL injury by the beginning of the 2022 season, the door remains open for Van Lanen to lock up an interior O-line spot on the roster this time around.
Round 6 (second pick) - ILB Isaiah McDuffie: No Grade (midseason: D+)
After injuries boxed him out of playing time to begin the season, McDuffie gradually saw more opportunity in the second half, almost exclusively on special teams. His 2021 tape doesn't definitively point to progress or lack thereof, but, given the disastrous year for the special teams overall, one can infer that McDuffie isn't yet much of a difference maker.
Round 7 - RB Kylin Hill: No Grade (midseason: B+) Hill's promising rookie year was cut short in Week 8 after he suffered a torn ACL on a vicious kick return collision. Had the seventh rounder managed to stay healthy, he would have been afforded a number of last-season opportunities to validate his role as the Packers' third-string running back, snaps that instead went to Patrick Taylor.
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