There may not be a team in the NFL that is as good at unearthing and developing unrecognized talent as the Green Bay Packers. Every season they seem to have an unheralded Day 3 pick or undrafted free agent making an impact and helping the team win games. Could Donovan Jennings be the next guy for the team?
In fact, the Packers have a very interesting streak going. For 19 years running, Green Bay has had at least one undrafted free agent make their 53-man roster when they break training camp and preseason for the regular season.
That is a streak that could be in jeopardy this season. For three straight years, the Packers have had double-digit draft picks, helping them restock the roster after chasing veterans near the end of the Aaron Rodgers era.
As a result, Green Bay has been limited when it comes to the number of undrafted free agents they can sign. This year, they had eight, but one of them, Trente Jones out of Michigan, retired shortly after signing.
Who could help keep their streak alive? In the opinion of Garrison Anderson of Zone Coverage, Donovan Jennings is a name to keep an eye on. The South Florida product could be the man to help the streak win 20, as detailed by Anderson.
“Offensive lineman Donovan Jennings from the University of South Florida is a prototypical sixth offensive lineman with the positional versatility to play guard or tackle. Green Bay loved him enough to give him a $10,000 signing bonus and $100,000 in guaranteed salary, which is more than it gave any other UDFA in 2023. They also hosted Jennings for a pre-draft 30 visit. The Packers have done their work on him, and it’s evident why they’d be interested,” Anderson wrote.
That is a good amount of commitment to an undrafted free agent. The offensive line is one area the Packers have thrived when it comes to developing players. Only four offensive linemen on the roster right now were selected ahead of Day 3 of were undrafted in their respective class, including 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan.
Despite that, the Packers are projected to have a strong offensive line this season. They have anchors in Elgton Jenkins and Zach Tom, but nothing is set in stone beyond them. Jenkins is the only player locked into a spot at left guard.
That should provide Donovan Jennings to make some waves during the offseason program. His versatility could shine through, as he can provide depth and insurance across the board.
