Packers Select Cole Van Lanen, Offensive Lineman in 2021 NFL Draft - Round 6

Green Bay continues to add depth to their offensive line with the versatile tackle from Wisconsin.

With the 214th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft the Green Bay Packers select . . .

Cole Van Lanen, Wisconsin, Offensive Tackle

 

MEASURABLES/PRO DAY:

6'4'' 305, 5.11, 22 bench reps, 30" vertical, 107" broad, 4.64 shuttle, 7.34 three cone
 

CAREER NOTES:

Wisconsin usually loads its offensive line with homegrown talent like Van Lanen, who was a two-time first-team all-state pick at Bay Port High School. He also won state titles in the shot put and discus as a junior, something his father accomplished 20 years earlier. It took the Green Bay product three years to find a starting role in the Badgers' deep line, redshirting in 2016, playing as a reserve in 14 games the following fall and then getting one start at left tackle during his 13 appearances in 2018. Big Ten coaches named him honorable mention all-conference during his redshirt junior year, as he started 13 games on the blind side. Although Van Lanen missed the final two games of the 2020 season due to injury, he was voted first-team All-Big Ten for his efforts in five starts at left tackle. -- by Chad Reuter

SCOUTING REPORTS:

“College tackle with debilitating length and a lack of athleticism in pass protection that will force a move to guard. Van Lanen is more angular and upright than wide and balanced in his play. When he's allowed to come off the ball as a drive blocker, he shows some potential to generate push. And he already has the hand placement to help make a transition to guard a little easier. He's made for power schemes where he can pull, locate and land to help spring the running game. The short arms and narrow power zone will make both block sustains in the run game and mirroring in pass protection a difficult task in the pros, but he has enough working for him to compete for a backup guard spot.” – NFL.com

"Van Lanen is an absolute load coming off the snap. He's got natural power for days thanks to his foot drive and mass. Once he's able to create any level of forward push, he's consistent in his efforst to continue to balloon the point of attack. Really enjoyable to watch him in gap/power concepts to continue pushing pace and collapsing defenders off of the football -- he's going to be a natural in the run game at the next level. His frame has enveloped defenders completely and he pairs that push and power with good tenacity as a blocker to stay sticky . . . Reach and wingspan aren't something that flashes as a great asset of his -- but it's compounded by his foot speed in his pass sets. He's much more nimble when he's working forward versus when he's tasked with taking vertical sets." - Kyle Crabbs from The Draft Network

“College left tackle who is best in a small area. Stays square, keeps his feet moving, and shows strength at the point. Correctly places his hands into opponents and steers them from the action. Stays square and out-positions defenders. Strong run blocker with the ability to turn defenders off the line . . . Doesn’t sink his butt at the line of scrimmage. Heavy-footed and minimally effective blocking in motion. Lacks footwork, agility, and lateral blocking range . . . Van Lanen is a strong, wide-bodied blocker with possibilities at right tackle or guard. He lacks starting potential at the next level but could be an inexpensive utility blocker.” – Tony Pauline from the Pro Football Network

 

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Van Lanen is an athletic tackle with an impressive 8.49 RAS score, who also plays with a nasty streak. The Green Bay native offers position versatility as well, which seems to be the theme among the Packers offensive line selections in the draft. The former Wisconsin Badger can line up at tackle or guard, giving Matt LaFlauer and his offense a valuable depth player who can plug in at multiple spots if the offensive line is hit with injuries this season.
 
With Josh Myers and Royce Newman, Van Lanen rounds out a strong 2021 rookie group at the offensive line that could develop into the future at the position. All three players give the Packers flexibility to move pieces around and truly find the best five to field on Sundays. The three linemen selections also allow the Packers to keep Elgton Jenkins, Lucas Patrick, and Billy Turner at their best spots on the line.
 
Despite losing Corey Linsley and Lane Taylor this offseason, the Packers offensive line now looks like a real strength of the team. They have plenty of young depth and versatilty. The future is bright at this position.
 
 
COMMENTARY: 

Van Lanen performed well in agility drills, demonstrating good athleticism and quick footwork. However, in college he did struggle at times in pass protection against speed rushers. While he's a strong and stout lineman with good lateral movement, he can be a step slow coming into his pass set, which may hurt him a bit at the next level. He also has shorter arms than most teams prefer (33"), which may be a big reason he dropped to the sixth round in the draft.

The Wisconsin product might be better suited at guard in the NFL, who can play tackle in a pinch. He's physical and drives off the ball well, and he isn't afraid to finish. On paper, he looks like a Packers guy. He could develop behind Patrick and Turner and eventually compete with Jon Runyan for playing time.

 

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2 points
 

Comments (35)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
marpag1's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:11 pm

So if you're wondering what people mean by the term "carpet bombing" .....

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Lphill's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:17 pm

Yet no depth at inside linebacker or D line , no big deal i guess .

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HankScorpio's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:29 pm

It's a weak DL class. Drafting a slug that lines up at DT is not solving a problem. It is wasting a pick,

They drafted ILB after Van Lanen.

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jannes bjornson's picture

May 01, 2021 at 06:35 pm

They will pick up a veteran D-lineman from what's left of the bone pile or a cut-down candidate.

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Coldworld's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:57 pm

Anthony Rush plus our DL pick today. We have plenty of ILB depth. 6 now. Maybe lacking on top of that admittedly

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stockholder's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:19 pm

Another OL? Please stop.

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gkarl's picture

May 01, 2021 at 06:38 pm

The most important thing is to keep the franchise upright and healthy, without AR we go nowhere. Oh wait, he doesn't want to play in GB anymore. :)

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Fabio's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:21 pm

I want to be argumentative.
Tampa Bay:
WR:
A. Brown - M. Evans - C. Godwin
YOU:
R. Gronkovski
C. Brate
OJ Howard
RB:
L. Fournette
R. Jones II

In my humble opinion only D. Adams Tonyan and one between Jones and Williams can match this list ..... but then what could have made the offense really good? I say it: AAron Rodgers
I'm really curious to see the team's performance when (without Rodgers) the defense will be constantly forced to stay on the pitch for a long time ...

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Irish_Cheesehead's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:28 pm

My guess is you will see more of MLF's offense and less of a hybrid. Could end up working out even better. Wait and see.

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Fabio's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:29 pm

I think we'll wait another twenty years

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HankScorpio's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:36 pm

I remember this time last year that people were all freaked out about how the Packers could possibly compete against SF.

Chasing a team is silly. Improving your roster is not.

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Fabio's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:46 pm

You should simply answer the question and whether you believe the offensive talent is identical or not ...
Anyway you are right if nothing happens this season you have to deal with SF too (hope to never have SF injuries otherwise we go to 1 - 15)
I'll tell you more ....
SF is to be taken as an example as a good team because without more than half the team it was in the race until the last for a place in the OP .... think if it happens to us (TERROR)

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Coldworld's picture

May 01, 2021 at 05:00 pm

I think you are in love with last years winner. Their O wasn’t that great. Move on.

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13TimeChamps's picture

May 01, 2021 at 06:35 pm

"I'll tell you more ...."

Not really necessary, but thanks anyway.

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PhantomII's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:57 pm

I don't call it chasing a team. We had a revelation in our weaknesses on our OL and DL and OLB's. We seem to have improved at setting the edge but DL not fixed and ILB still a question mark. Hopefully year 2 improves LB's and DL is still pretty iffy. TB exposed the secondary . Overall things are trending up as long as everything improves year over year. Next question mark is Rodgers????? Looks like Gute and ML are reworking the OL for an increase in the run game and road grading the opponent instead of finesse pass protection. That's how we will beat both of these teams. Keep the ball out of their hands and resting our "D" so they can get us the ball back when it's their turn on the field.

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Fabio's picture

May 01, 2021 at 05:01 pm

Remove Rodgers (now it is a certainty given the draft) and the defense will be on the field for a long time ... exactly the opposite of what you claim

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Fabio's picture

May 01, 2021 at 05:04 pm

However, for several years (at least 7) ​​we have had revelations of our weaknesses ... and every year is a different one ..... and we still haven't solved them.

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Leatherhead's picture

May 01, 2021 at 06:44 pm

So how do you explain how we scored so many more points than Tampa during the season?

A lot of those guys you mentioned were really good in their day, Adams, Tonyan, Jones, MVS are better players today.

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HankScorpio's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:27 pm

I think we have insight into the Packers opinion of Simon Stepaniak and Yosh Nijman.

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Fabio's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:31 pm

Ask Gute he chose them

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HankScorpio's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:34 pm

In the 6th and as a UDFA. Are you aware of the odds of success for those two categories? Hint: They ain't good.

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frankthefork's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:51 pm

Tell that to Driver, A Jones, Lindsey Runyan, Patrick, and even Tom the goat Brady.
Gems pan out in the spin cycle of preseason. RELAX and enjoy the show.

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HankScorpio's picture

May 01, 2021 at 05:06 pm

Jones and Linsley were 5ths, Driver and Brady were example that are 15 and 20 years old. I think you helped make the case that the odds are not good. Thanks for the support!

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PeteK's picture

May 01, 2021 at 07:15 pm

Tonyon, Lazard, Sullivan, and Lancaster

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marpag1's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:33 pm

C'mon now, stop jumping to conclusions. Maybe they're just planning to line up two extra tackles as tight ends.

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LeotisHarris's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:43 pm

Sweet baby Jesus, yes! It's the return of the Jumbo Package on steroids.

After reading the scouting reports from the 2-3 sources included in these draft summaries, I'm left wondering which guy we drafted.

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marpag1's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:59 pm

U-71 forever!!!!

Actually, I'm pretty bummed right now because long snapper Camaron Cheeseman just went off the board to WFT.

A Cheeseman has to play for the Packers. Those bastards are stealing our Cheeseman.

8 points
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HankScorpio's picture

May 01, 2021 at 05:07 pm

I'd love it. I'm a huge fan of making use of everyone that is active on gameday!

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Coldworld's picture

May 01, 2021 at 05:02 pm

As others have pointed out, Jenkins may have just become a T.

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HankScorpio's picture

May 01, 2021 at 05:10 pm

No doubt the Packers value OL versatility. Both Van Lanen and Newman played OT in college but project inside. Maybe they will beat the projections. Maybe they will move Jenkins outside.

After seeing what Stenavich and Butkus did with the 2020 OL, I think they earned some new talent to work into the mix to maintain, or even improve, the overall performance.

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PhantomII's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:59 pm

22 reps is not great, needs to get a lot stronger there. Does seem to move the pile in the run game. Not sure how that will go against NFL players. I have never seen so many OL drafted in back to back drafts. Still need more depth at DL. I hope Gute plans to get Adams contract done so we have some money for FA DL or at least 2022 draft picks for another teams depth there, maybe OL player swap for DL.?????

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stockholder's picture

May 01, 2021 at 04:52 pm

Collusion.

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PhantomII's picture

May 01, 2021 at 05:06 pm

Whatever it takes.....

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Lphill's picture

May 01, 2021 at 05:42 pm

Billy Turner’s replacement ,another overpaid player.

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LayingTheLawe's picture

May 01, 2021 at 06:28 pm

Packers draft a kid from Bay Port High. He must be pumped. Good on you dude and good luck.

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