The Green Bay Packers attacked defense again on Day 3 of the NFL Draft by taking edge defender/off-ball linebacker hybrid Collin Oliver, from Oklahoma State, with the 159th overall pick, in the fifth round of the process.
He barely played in 2024 because a foot injury ended his final college season. But in the 80 snaps he did play, Oliver had a crazy 31.8% pass rush win rate. A designated pass rusher, he doesn't have the same efficiency against the run.
Earlier in his college career, Collin Oliver played split snaps. In 2023, he had 480 snaps as an off-ball linebacker and 435 snaps as an edge rusher. He was projected to be an edge-only piece in 2024, but the injury precluded him from playing.
Oliver was the 208th player on the consensus big board.
Draft report by Dane Brugler, from The Athletic
A three-year starter at Oklahoma State, Oliver was a hybrid weakside linebacker in former defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo’s 3-3-5 base scheme, standing up as a wide edge and off-the-ball ‘backer. A defensive end his first two seasons in Stillwater, he moved to linebacker in the spring of 2023, although he was at his best when allowed to rush the pocket. He led the team in sacks his first three seasons — and likely would have again in 2024, were it not for his season-ending foot injury.
With his short-area burst and high energy, Oliver makes himself a fast, small target for blockers, and he plays with better force than expected for his size. Though it is easy to love his football-playing temperament, his sawed-off body can leave him tied up and overwhelmed, especially in tight quarters. Overall, Oliver is an explosive, leverage-based rusher, but he lacks the measurables for full-time edge work and is unproven dropping or playing from depth. He projects best as a nickel rusher with long-term potential as a developmental off-ball linebacker. — Dane Brugler.
Why the Packers picked him
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley loves versatile players. Last year, he had already shown willingness to adapt his gameplan logics to fit his pieces and what he wants to attack on the opposing offense.
The addition of an edge rusher wouldn't be a surprise for the Packers, even though the selection of Barryn Sorrell in the fourth round lessened the need. But Collins also offers the ability to play off-ball.
The Packers were still looking at options at the linebacker position on the veteran market, and Isaiah Simmons visited Green Bay weeks before the draft. This offseason, Green Bay extended Isaiah McDuffie to a two-year deal and brought Kristian Welch back in free agency.
General manager Brian Gutekunst also has to make a decision on Quay Walker's fifth-year option. It's more likely that the Packers don't pick it up based on value, which would make this year the last one of Walker's rookie deal. Despite that, Gutekunst has mentioned the desire to keep Walker around.
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