The 2020 NFL Draft is looming and the Green Bay Packers will have plenty of time to decide what to do with the No. 30 pick. While they contemplate what to do with the selection, the Packers would be wise to select Patrick Queen if given the chance.
As the free-agency period of the offseason nears, Green Bay has to decide on whether or not to re-sign Blake Martinez. Back in 2016, the Packers selected Martinez in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Stanford.
After having an inconsistent role with the team in his rookie season, Martinez became a mainstay on the defense in 2017. For the last three seasons, Martinez has led the Packers in tackles, combining for 443 tackles in that span.
In addition, Martinez has contributed 25 tackles for loss and nine sacks for the Packers since 2017. When it comes to being a stout run defender, there aren't many linebackers as good as Martinez.
At the same time, Martinez doesn't excel in coverage and can be a weak-link on the defense in passing situations. Despite his flaws in coverage, the Stanford product is slated to receive a lucrative contract in free agency. Instead of giving him a long-term contract, the Packers can find his replacement in the draft.
By falling short in the NFC Championship Game, the Packers possess the 30th overall pick in the first round. Therefore, there's a chance that Green Bay won't be able to grab the guy they want.
Leading up to the draft, many mock drafts have the Packers taking a linebacker in the first round. While Kenneth Murray is a more realistic candidate, Queen would be the perfect choice for Green Bay.
As the draft gets closer, it's likely that Queen's stock continues to rise. Ahead of the Packers, teams like the Baltimore Ravens or Las Vegas Raiders could have Queen on their radar.
Over the past two years, Queen has manned the inside linebacker position at LSU. In his two seasons as a starter, Queen has combined for 125 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and four sacks.
Above all, Queen displayed an uncanny ability to understand coverages during his collegiate career. Even though he had just one interception at LSU, Queen is more than capable of being an every-down linebacker in the NFL.
As previously mentioned with Martinez, the Packers have been missing a linebacker that doesn't struggle against the pass. Seeing that the league is pass-oriented, teams can ill afford to have a linebacker that isn't able to make plays in coverage.
Some fans in Green Bay are clamoring for the team to select a receiver in the first round. But with the depth of this year's class of receivers, the Packers can wait until the second round to draft one. On the other hand, the ideal scenario for the Packers with the No. 30 pick is landing Queen out of LSU.
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