GREEN BAY – The Packers focused on depth for the defensive front in the fifth and sixth rounds of the NFL Draft on Saturday.
First, they took a speedy edge rusher and versatile defender in Oklahoma State's Collin Oliver in the fifth round (No. 159 overall), and then added to the interior of the D-line with Georgia's Warren Brinson in the sixth (No. 198).
Oliver isn't the biggest pass rusher at 6-2, 240, so he relies on speed, but adding his different skill set to the mix was somewhat intentional on the Packers' part.
"The game has evolved, especially in the last 5-10 years, where the ball gets out so quickly that you have to have guys that can win in different ways," director of football operations Milt Hendrickson said. "And you need guys that are more than power rushers."
Hendrickson said Oliver could be considered a situational pass rusher as of now, but he's capable of a lot more. Lining up as an off-ball linebacker and playing on special teams are in his wheelhouse, too.
Oliver may have fallen in the draft a bit due to a foot injury that shortened his 2024 season to just two games, but in focusing on his 2023 game tape, the Packers see a player who can work his way onto the field in some fashion at this level.
"He's one of those guys that makes an impact when you watch on tape and it initially doesn't always come through on the stat sheet," Hendrickson said.
Oliver's impact at Oklahoma State was immediate, as he garnered Freshman All-America honors and was named the Big 12 Conference's defensive freshman of the year with 11½ sacks.
"Sometimes you just put your hand on the ground and go," Hendrickson said. "I think that's a little bit of what he did, being a young kid, just saying, 'OK, I gotta go try to make my mark.'"
He added 11 more sacks over the next two seasons to earn second-team All-Big 12 honors for the second and third time, and in 2023 he tied his career high set as a freshman with 15½ tackles for loss.
Oliver wasn't able to build on that in his final season, injuring his foot in early September, having surgery that same week, and missing the rest of the year.
He was healthy by December and did participate in Senior Bowl practices, though he was limited by a different, and minor, upper leg injury that was healed by the scouting combine, where he clocked a 4.56-second time in the 40-yard dash.
"Being able to do everything, and being willing to do everything for the team … it's what I pride myself on and it's honestly what I'm best at," Oliver said. "Whatever the defensive coordinator wants me to play. It does not matter where I fit in."
It's clear where Brinson fits, in the trenches as a potential replacement for departed run-stuffer T.J. Slaton. At 6-5, 315, he's not as big as the 330-pound Slaton, but he may bring more to the pass rush.
As a rotational player back in 2022, Brinson helped Georgia's national championship defense to the tune of 14 QB hits, and then followed that up as a part-time starter the last two years with four sacks among nine tackles for loss.
"Just interior juice," Brinson said regarding what he offers. "When a big play is needed, I'm going to bring a big play … getting some pocket push."
Brinson is the fifth Georgia defender drafted by the Packers over the last five years, and he's well aware of that track record. Three of the previous four – Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt and Javon Bullard – are still in Green Bay and prominent pieces in coordinator Jeff Hafley's defense.
"It feels good being able to walk into a place and just have the same camaraderie that I had back in the Georgia locker room," Brinson said. "I'm just ready to swap out one G for another and be around the guys that I already know."
