The Packers are making headway on their rookie class by starting from the bottom. On Monday afternoon, the Packers announced the signing of sixth-round guard Simon Stepaniak.
Stepaniak started 31 games for the Hoosiers across four years, including the last two years in which he served as the team’s first-string right guard. In accordance with his slot, he’ll get a four-year deal worth just under $3.5MM.
At 6’4″ and 315 pounds, evaluators are high on his raw natural strength. He’ll still have to shake some rust from his December ACL tear, but his future looks bright, especially since he can offer support at right guard, left guard, and center.
Stepaniak’s deal comes on the heels of completed contracts with seventh-round safety Vernon Scott and seventh-round edge rusher Jonathan Garvin. As shown in PFR’s 2020 NFL Draft Pick Signing Tracker, the Packers now have three of their nine selections under contract:
1-26: Jordan Love, QB (Utah State)
2-62: A.J. Dillon, RB (Boston College)
3-94: Josiah Deguara, TE (Cincinnati)
5-175: Kamal Martin, LB (Minnesota)
6-192: Jon Runyan, G (Michigan)
6-208: Jake Hanson, C (Oregon)
6-209: Simon Stepaniak, T (Indiana): Signed
7-236: Vernon Scott, S (TCU): Signed
7-242: Jonathan Garvin, DE (Miami): Signed
I do like our late round picks on the OL. If 2 of 3 are successful, that’s much needed depth and possible future starters.
Now that disaster first 3 picks we had….ughhh….
You don’t have a clue how this turns out. The WR need is a media and fan myth.
Absolutely. Who needs to draft a wr when everyone knows they all make a huge leap in year 3. I can’t even list all the success stories we’ve had since davante Adams.
I can’t list them because there aren’t any.
And..we won’t need any in the future when Jordan love takes over because..um..the NFL is going to ban the forward pass by then so we can load up on more edge rushers and special teams depth!
Who needs receiving talent when you have such great weapons as drop-artist Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jace Sternberger, and glass-bones Devin Funchess
“Myth” eh?! There is a reason Rodgers’ #’s are dropping. It obvious he needs more than 1 WR. I do like what Lazard did towards the end of the year but we need some kind of slot and not 7 guys that are 6’4+ with below average speed. Complete lack of any proven talent outside of Adams and Jones at RB
Jones/Williams/AJ is probably the best stable of RB in the league. Funchess had two solid years before injuries and is a clear upgrade over Allison. They get St. Brown back, still have Lazard. MVS (if he can even take a minor step forward).
I just love how all the packers haters 3 years ago were saying “packers have no defense, Rodgers needs help on that side of the ball”. Then we have one of the best defenses in the league last year and people start saying “Rodgers doesn’t have enough weapons”. Our offensive weapons are better than last year and that’s clear as day.
“Our offensive weapons are better than last year and that’s clear as day.”
By default maybe. It made no sense to forego drafting a receiver in one of the most stacked classes in recent memory. Like you mentioned, they already have Jones and Williams. Was Dillon really necessary? Lazard and Funchess are fine as depth options, but they still lack a reliable weapon across from Adams. Not to mention, tight end is still a huge question mark. Sternberger did nothing last season and Deguera was a massive reach. According to PFR, GB should’ve won between 9-10 games last season, so expect some regression
Except as a whole our defense wasn’t that good. We had individuals who had good statistical seasons. As a unit they struggled terribly against the run all year. And we couldn’t cover a TE to save our lives.
To me Funchess is barely an upgrade over Allison. But of course it’ll take time to really get on the same page with Rodgers.
They drafted a QB too early AND traded up to get a project that shouldn’t see the field for at least 3 years. They ignored the 4 most needed areas on the team (wr ilb idl and OT) completely in the draft. The only improvement I see was addition by subtraction in finally parting ways with Jimmy Graham.
Is there a deal where we don’t sign Jordan Love and we could get a compensation pick for him… Like Baseball… LOL We couldn’t be that lucky.. Still a Garbage Pick!!!