The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL draft.
David Bakhtiari is penciled in as Green Bay’s starting left tackle. At right tackle, it figures to be Yosh Nijman, Zach Tom, or a potential draft pick.
An offensive tackle that the Packers could target in the 2023 NFL Draft is John Ojukwu. The Boise State offensive tackle checks in at No. 32 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
I'll be curious if John Ojukwu (Boise State LT 70) ends up during the 2023 NFL Draft. Experienced player with over 3400 career snaps at LT and RT. Hasn't given up a sack this season either. Plays with good patience and technically sound. High school wrestler & track & field kid. pic.twitter.com/Wk8jtjGS8R
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) December 6, 2022
A three-star recruit, Ojukwu started 18 games at right tackle during his first two seasons on campus. The Boise native then transitioned to left tackle, where he started 33 games.
“Along with his physical traits and football IQ, he has been incredibly durable throughout his Boise State career,” Brady Frederick, a sports anchor for KTVB.com in Boise said. “He was the only player on the Boise State offense to start in all 14 games this season.”
At 6-6, with good length, Ojukwu looks like an NFL offensive tackle. He has a strong core and bends well at the knees to stymie bull rushers. He extends his long arms to stop edge rushers in their tracks. He has quick feet to mirror edge rushers on an island. He has a high football IQ and is able to recognize how defenders are trying to beat him. According to Pro Football Focus, Ojukwu gave up zero sacks and 14 pressures this past season.
“Ojukwu has a great mix of strength, size, and arm length to be an effective pass blocker,” Frederick said. “He also is athletic enough to burst off the line and square up with opposing rushers.”
Ojukwu’s athleticism shines as a run blocker. He has good short-area quickness to gain positioning and seal outside run lanes. He easily climbs to the second level and stays square to hit his marks in space.
That athleticism was on full display at the NFL Scouting Combine when he posted the second fasted 20-yard shuttle among offensive linemen with a time of 4.52. Ojukwu also had the fifth-fastest three-cone time (7.52).
This play is so impressive and kind of sums up #BoiseState's night.
• LT John Ojukwu pancakes a 3-time All-MW defensive end.
• TE Tyneil Hopper dominates arguably the best linebacker in the MW.
• RB Ashton Jeanty puts one of the best safeties on the West Coast on skates. pic.twitter.com/NFB2P2U4XF
— Jay Tust (@KTVBSportsGuy) October 1, 2022
“Ojukwu’s athleticism and physicality shine in his run blocking,” Frederick said. “He is very quick and aggressive and effective at clearing defenders away from the ball and creating big holes for both running backs and mobile quarterbacks. Boise State’s rushing numbers on the season speak to his ability with George Holani posting 1,157 rushing yards on the season and Ashton Jeanty notching 821 rushing yards.”
Fit with the Packers
The Packers don’t need a rookie offensive tackle to step in from day one and start. As it stands right now the Packers have their two starters at offensive tackle on the roster.
By this time next year, the Packers may no longer have Bakhtiari and Nijman on the roster and it’s possible that they don’t view Tom as a long-term answer at tackle.
With his experience playing both left and right tackle along with his athleticism, and NFL frame, Ojukwu could be a potential target for the Packers on day three.
“Ojukwu has a great mix of athleticism, football IQ, and leadership,” Frederick said. “He had the respect of his teammates to be voted a captain of this year’s team. He also was able to adapt to varying situations, offensive schemes, and protecting three very different quarterbacks during his BSU career. Most notably the seamless transition from pocket passing quarterbacks like Brett Rypien and Hank Bachmeier to the mobile Taylen Green. Another interesting note of this season was that when Dirk Koetter took over as offensive coordinator and Green was named starter four games into the season, they made an offensive change so that blocking formations were decided by the line rather than the quarterback so as to simplify the offense, and the leadership on the line was very effective to read the defense and make the right decisions.”
The Packers have a rich history of drafting offensive linemen on day three of the draft. With no pressing need up front, the Packers could opt to once again to wait until day three of the 2023 NFL Draft to address the offensive line.
Ojukwu checks all the boxes and could take a redshirt during his rookie season before stepping in at left or right tackle in 2024, while serving as a swing tackle his rookie season.
