The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The position of strength in the 2021 NFL Draft was wide receiver. The position of strength for the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft is edge rusher.
It’s a position that will likely see two edge rushers go in the top-five picks and could have up to six go in the top 20.
While teams will be lining up to get their hands on the cream of the crop from this group, there will be plenty of impactful edge rushers on the board later in the draft.
A player that the Green Bay Packers could target from this deep pool of edge rushers is Ali Fayad. The Western Michigan edge rusher checks in at No. 75 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
A Michigan native, Fayad recorded 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks as a reserve in 2017. In 2018, Fayad recorded 12 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and forced four fumbles.
Fayad recorded 53 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks in 2019. In six games in 2020, Fayad recorded five tackles for loss and three sacks.
This past season Fayad earned MAC Defensive Player of the Year after recording 18 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.
Fayad continued his dominance from his 2021 season with an impressive showing during Shrine Bowl week. During practice, Fayad dominated during one-on-ones with his polished skill set.
“Ali has a knack for making highlight plays giving the scouts in attendance as well as our virtual attendees plenty to talk about,” Shane Coughlin, the Director of College Scouting for the Shrine Bowl, said. “His performances during 1 on 1s were consistent with what we had seen at Western Michigan as one of the MAC’s best and most productive players over his career. Ali also has a really bright personality. He was humble, hungry, respectful, and professional in handling his business on and off the field all week.”
Fayad had outstanding production during his time at Western Michigan. In his last two full seasons (2019 and 2021) Fayad recorded 33 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks, while consistently putting pressure on the quarterback.
“His pass-rushing plan is refined and complex,” Coughlin said. “You can see he’s determined to create pressure even if his initial move is stalled. He’s always ready for second levels of contact and is ready to swim or rip around back blocks to hit home. His pass-rushing instincts paired with the motor and flexibility make him dangerous from all alignments.”
Fayad doesn’t have the most explosive first step, but he has juice getting upfield. He has a wide array of pass rush moves. If he doesn’t win with his first move he has a backup plan. His trump card is a spin move that would make Dwight Freeney proud.
Yesterday in our interview session, @AFAYAD3 told me that he was going to bust out the spin move today in one on ones.
He was true to his word. First rep in, he hit the smoothest spin move you'll see all week at the @ShrineBowl. pic.twitter.com/tcHrR3ClpO
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) January 30, 2022
“The move that continues to stand out is the spin,” Coughlin said. “There’s the explosiveness and agility to execute the actual movement but then you see the upper body strength to bring his outside arm through contact to clear the line of scrimmage along with the balance to stay on the path and pursue the quarterback. His get-off and pad level will force tackles to occasionally overset or extend and the spin allows him to beat those bigger offensive linemen.”
As a run defender, Fayad plays with consistent effort. He won’t back down at the point of attack. He sets a strong edge and understands how to create leverage. He has a knack for poking the ball out, with eight forced fumbles during his career.
“We had Ali on the East squad running a 3-4 scheme and giving him that 7-9tech outside linebacker role really let him thrive,” Coughlin said. “He has natural leverage and stoutness to set the edge against tight ends and you love his slipperiness to counter inside and disrupt wider run concepts.”
Fit with the Packers
With a cloud of uncertainty hovering over the future of both Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith following the 2021 season, the Packers will likely be looking to address the edge rusher position early and often in the 2022 NFL draft.
Even if the Packers snag an edge rusher in the first three rounds, Fayad would provide the Packers with quality depth at a premium position.
Fayad creates pressure with his diverse bag of tracks as a pass rusher and he’s strong at the point of attack against the run.
“The motor and production are the first two things that really stand out about Ali,” Coughlin said. He’s been dominant in the MAC with 37.5 TFL and 19.5 sacks along with eight forced fumbles. Watching him work against a really talented Shrine Bowl offensive line solidified him as someone who will consistently work and succeed creating pressure and rushing the passer.”
A team can never have enough pass rushers. If Green Bay loses the Smith Bros., they’ll need to reload at the position to get Rashan Gary new running mates.
With the edge class being a deep and talented group, it would not be surprising to see Brian Gutekunst using multiple picks on the edge position in the upcoming draft. Don’t be surprised if Fayad, with his variety of moves, is a target for Gutekunst on day three of the draft.
