Would Brian Gutekunst Breaks His Own Rules To Draft D'Angelo Ponds?

We’ll be hearing a lot about the Green Bay Packers’ need for a cornerback this offseason, and rightfully so. Regardless of who's available when the Packers pick in the second round, many fans want general manager Brian Gutekunst to go cornerback.

One name that could be available right around pick No. 52 when Green Bay is on the clock is Indiana's D'Angelo Ponds. Would Gutekunst go outside his comfort zone to draft Ponds?

Since Gutekunst took over as general manager in 2018, the Packers have never drafted a cornerback shorter than 5’10”. In fact, it's pretty well known at this point that Green Bay doesn't dabble with shorter cornerbacks. Jaire Alexander was listed at 5’10” when he became Gutekunst’s first pick in his inaugural draft as general manager of the Packers. One inch in height may not sound like much, but it is, and Ponds is really on the smaller side when factoring in weight.

D'Angelo Ponds is listed at 5’9”, 170 lbs. He'll get official measurements during the NFL Combine at the end of the month. One look at Ponds' measurables and it'd be a safe assumption to suggest Green Bay will look away. However, could Ponds' other traits and his top-line speed get Gutekunst to pay a little more attention?

Ponds became a star at Indiana with elite speed, incredible ball skills, and top-notch play recognition. The major blemish on his résumé is his size, coupled with his shorter arms.

There are legitimate questions about how Ponds will fare at the next level if he's on the outside against bigger wide receivers like Puka Nacua or Drake London. As a result, pundits wonder if the team that drafts Ponds will move him to the slot.

Mock draft analysts have pegged Ponds as a second-round pick, and it just so happens the Packers don't pick until the second round and have a pressing need at cornerback. Because of that, some mocks have Ponds landing in Green Bay. Perhaps they don't know how Gutekunst and Co. typically operate when it comes to corner.

Earlier in February, Gutekunst

Addressing that depth with Ponds feels unlikely.

As stated by NFLDraftBuzz.com, Ponds will probably test well at the combine. He'll have that working in his favor.

The one looming question for anyone interested, including Green Bay, is the frame.

If the Packers use a second-round pick on a cornerback this year, it'd be pretty risky to do so on someone who doesn't fit their archetype. If it were a sixth- or seventh-round pick, perhaps it's a different story. As of now, Green Bay's second-round pick will be their first in the draft. Gutekunst doesn’t have a reputation for making risky moves, and this doesn't seem like a spot where he'd be keen to do so.

Ponds is a super-fun prospect and had an incredible two-year stretch at Indiana that culminated in a National Championship win over Miami, in Miami. Ponds pops on the tape, and you can see the instincts on full display, like when he intercepted Oregon quarterback Dante Moore on the very first play of the College Football Playoff Semifinal and took it back to the house.

There are so many boxes D'Angelo Ponds checks, and whoever drafts him will have a fun prospect to mold. Still, it'd be pretty shocking to see Gutekunst go that route in the draft in the second round, given Ponds’ size and how the Packers have historically drafted at the position, even before Gutey’s time in the big chair.