After two picks each on offense and defense, the Packers turned to special teams with pick number 172 in the 2018 NFL Draft, taking Alabama punter JK Scott.

What we know about JK Scott

Just from his physical profile, you might think Scott was a low-end wide receiver or tight end. Listed at 6-6 and 208 pounds, Scott ran a blistering (for a punter) 4.83 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, adding a 30.5-inch vertical leap and a 114-inch broad jump for good measure. The days of pudgy punters with single bar facemasks is clearly over.

From a pure production standpoint, Scott was nearly peerless in the college ranks. He posted an excellent 45.6 career average and handled kickoff duties while at Alabama.

How Scott Helps the Packers

Almost without exception, it’s a bad idea to spend a draft pick on a punter. The difference between an okay punter and a good punter is not that significant, especially with a wide range of undrafted options entering the potential punter pool every year. The Packers have generally followed this idea as well, having drafted just 12 punters prior to Scott in the history of the franchise. They haven’t picked a punter since 2004, when they made the ill-fated and poorly conceived decision to trade up for B.J. Sander.

If Scott is to be the exception to that idea, he’ll probably have to be the punting equivalent of Mason Crosby, who’s held down his job for more than a decade after the Packers took him in the sixth round in 2007. In may be a high bar, but that's really the only way this pick makes sense.

Complicating this pick is that the Packers have a punter already. Justin Vogel had one of the bests seasons ever by a Packers punter last year, and for all intents and purposes, it seems like the Packers were set at the position for the foreseeable future. Vogel will have to win his job again this year.