Edge rusher was thought to be a big need for the Packers heading into the 2018 NFL Draft, but the Packers waited until their final selection of the weekend to address the position. It wasn’t until pick number 248, acquired in the first round trade with the Seattle Seahawks, that the Packers took Kendall Donnerson, a 6-2, 250-pound pass rusher.

What we know about Kendall Donnerson

Seventh round picks are little more than lottery tickets. Very few of them make any kind of real impact, but if any of them do, the payoff can be big.

Donnerson is one of those potentially big payoffs. He posted absolutely ridiculous workout numbers at his pro day, including a 4.45 40-yard dash, a 40-inch vertical leap, and a nearly 11-foot broad jump.

But like so many of the Packers’ athletic draft picks this year, his production didn’t match his testing numbers. He managed just six sacks in his three years of playing time at Southeast Missouri, and his tackle numbers weren’t what you’d expect from someone whose athleticism clearly outranks his competition.

Is he a good player? Possibly someday, but not right now. Is he a good athlete? Yes, and then some.

How does Donnerson help the Packers?

Donnerson doesn’t really help the Packers much at all on defense, at least not right now. But as with any seventh round pick, his path to the roster likely runs through special teams, and that’s good news for the extremely athletic Donnerson. If he shows any kind of pass rush potential, Donnerson has all the hallmarks of a guy who could be a devastating special teams contributor while he grows in other ways.