Packers trade up to top of Day 3 for Oregon S Evan Williams

The Aaron Rodgers trade continues to provide value for the Green Bay Packers.

The Green Bay Packers are now doubling up on positions in the 2024 NFL Draft. First, it was linebacker, were the team spent second- and third-round picks on linebackers Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper, respectively. Now, the team has added a second safety in the mix with their fourth-round pick.

Green Bay previously had spent their second second-round pick on Georgia safety Javon Bullard, who general manager Brian Gutekunst claimed would get his first look at safety — despite also having the versatility to play in the slot. In the fourth round, the Packers sent the 126th picks and the 190th pick to the New York Jets for the 111th pick for Oregon safety Evan Williams.

Funny enough, the 190th pick (along with the Cooper selection) were both pieces from Green Bay’s trade back from the 41st pick in the draft — the 2024 draft choice the team received from the Jets for the Aaron Rodgers trade. The Packers essentially sold back draft value back to New York in this move-up.

Williams originally began his college career at Fresno State, where he was a two-time All-Mountain West player before transferring to Oregon, where his older brother Bennett Williams had played from 2020 to 2022. Bennett signed as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins last offseason.

Despite playing a defensive back position as a one-year starter in Eugene, Williams led the Ducks in tackles last year and was known as a solid tackler, despite being under 6’0”.

Upon his selection, I received a pair of texts from an Oregon staffer. The first was: “Congrats on getting the best player on our defense.” I responded, “You think?” as defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus and cornerback Khyree Jackson had previously gone earlier in the fourth round. The source hit me back with, “He’s so good and everything you want a football player to be.”