Former Concord Star Spriggs Headed To Green Bay
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Packers have added heft up front in the NFL draft.
They beefed up offensive line depth by trading up in the second round Friday night to take Jason Spriggs, a 6-foot-7, 305-pound tackle out of Indiana.
Spriggs is a former standout at Concord High School.
Green Bay moved up nine spots to the 48th overall pick in the draft by dealing three picks to Indianapolis. The Colts received the Packers’ second-rounder, the 57th pick overall, along with selections in the fourth and seventh rounds.
“We thought we had an opportunity to get someone that (we) wouldn’t have if we sat still,” Packers director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst said.
Spriggs made 47 starts at left tackle for Indiana. He allowed just two sacks in 475 pass attempts in his senior year last season for the Hoosiers.
Spriggs will probably have a year to sit and learn from a seasoned offensive line.
“I think that’s huge. I think that’s something that will make me that much better to be behind those guys and learn … the tricks of the trade,” Spriggs said.
The selection also gives Green Bay insurance at a position that could see turnover after the season, when the contracts of guards Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang, as well as left tackle David Bakhtiari, expire.
“I don’t know if we look that far ahead all the time,” Gutekunst said.
When healthy, the Packers have one of the best front fives in the league. But the team’s depth was tested last season because of injuries. The results were mixed, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers sacked 13 times the last games of the regular season.