- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,152,448
- Reaction score
- 59
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2026 NFL draft.
As the Green Bay Packers head into the offseason, they'll need to fortify their linebacker room. Quay Walker is a free agent and the Packers likely won't match what the former first-round pick could get on the open market, nor should they.
Edgerrin Cooper is a cornerstone piece. Isaiah McDuffie has turned into a solid player, while there is hope that Ty'Ron Hopper, a former third-round pick, can breakout during his third year in the league and replace Walker's production.
As the Packers look for depth behind those three, a potential target on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft is Bryce Boettcher. The Oregon linebacker checks in at No. 93 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A former three-sport athlete at Eugene South High School, Boettcher started his athletic career at Oregon playing strictly baseball during his first year on campus. He joined the football team in 2022 as a walk-on, while continuing to play baseball with the Ducks. He was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
"Boettcher is a very good baseball player, who primarily played center field for the Ducks," Zachary Neel, the Oregon Ducks beat reporter for Ducks Wire, said. "That should speak to his athleticism and ability to get out and run when needed."
During Boettcher's first season with the football team in 2022, he played safety and played primarily special teams. The following season he moved to linebacker and recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack. He enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2024, recording 94 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and four pass deflections.
During his final season with the Ducks, Boettcher recorded 136 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and six pass deflections.
"You can talk about Bryce Boettcher as the defensive player, and then you can talk about him as the teammate and the Oregon Duck. Let’s start with the teammate. As a Eugene kid who walked onto the team, Boettcher was one of the most impactful Oregon players we have seen in the last decade, acting as a true hometown legend, and by all accounts, one of the hardest-working players on the team. As a defender, he was someone who provided some stability at the linebacker spot, which Oregon sorely needed over the last two years. He steadily improved each season after walking on as a safety, and grew himself into a future NFL player with his physicality and tackling abilities."
Controlled chaos. That's what it's like to watch Boettcher play linebacker. He plays with his foot stomped down on the accelerator and he's never out of control.
The Oregon linebacker has sideline-to-sideline range and can mirror running backs to the hole. He trusts his eyes and has outstanding anticipation. His closing burst allows him to always be in on the action. He's fearless working downhill and has the lateral quickness to sift through the trash. During the past two seasons, Boettcher recorded 81 run stops. He has strong hands to finish tackles.
"I think Boettcher’s physicality is his main trait against the run, but there’s more to talk about there than the stats show," Neel said. "Yes, he had 136 tackles this year, which is 8th all-time in Oregon history, but there was some frustration from fans this year with Boettcher and the linebacker group as a whole at times. Boettcher improved greatly over the back-half of the season, but he had a tendency to get moved off of his spot in the hole, and misdiagnose some inside gap runs early in the year. I think he can be a very good run defender, but he still needs to improve here."
Boettcher is a fluid athlete with easy movement skills to turn and run with tight ends in coverage. He shows natural feel when dropping into zone coverage. He has a quick drigger and usually arrives when the ball does to limit any YAC. Over the past two seasons, he recorded 10 pass deflections. He does a good job of reading the quarterback's eyes and getting his hands on the ball.
"As a former safety, Boettcher is a solid coverage linebacker and has shown the ability to get out and space and cover smaller offensive players," Neel said. "He had a 78.3 coverage grade this year, according to PFF, with one interception and no touchdowns given up. While coverage may not be his strongest suit, he is definitely capable there."
Boettcher finished his career at Eugene with 584 special teams snaps to his name and recorded nine tackles. With his motor and athleticism, he has a chance to be a core-four special teams player as soon as he arrives to an NFL locker room.
The Packers need bodies in the linebacker route and they could just opt to bring veteran castoffs who have made a living playing on special teams. However, it would be shocking if the Packers didn't add at least one linebacker to the mix via the draft.
With his athleticism, motor and special teams experience, Boettcher is an ideal target on Day 3 of the draft. He could challenge for snaps on the defensive side of the ball as a rookie, while providing an immediate impact on special teams.
"When it comes to the part of the draft where Boettcher is expected to go, in the late rounds, you’re almost drafting as much for person as you are player — someone who has high upside when it comes to talent, but can also be an elite locker room presence," Neel said. "That’s Boettcher. He is a hard worker and has steadily improved every season at Oregon. I think he can be an eventual contributor on defense and a high-octane special teams player to start."
The jury is still out on Hopper and whether or not the former third-round pick could be an impact player playing alongside Cooper. McDuffie is a solid player and somebody who the Packers clearly like.
Adding Boettcher to that room would help Green Bay's special teams, while providing quality depth behind those three, with the potential to be Cooper's long-term running mate. In terms of a Day 3 pick, Boettcher would be a home run selection for the Packers.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Unpacking Future Packers: No. 93, Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher
Continue reading...
As the Green Bay Packers head into the offseason, they'll need to fortify their linebacker room. Quay Walker is a free agent and the Packers likely won't match what the former first-round pick could get on the open market, nor should they.
Edgerrin Cooper is a cornerstone piece. Isaiah McDuffie has turned into a solid player, while there is hope that Ty'Ron Hopper, a former third-round pick, can breakout during his third year in the league and replace Walker's production.
As the Packers look for depth behind those three, a potential target on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft is Bryce Boettcher. The Oregon linebacker checks in at No. 93 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A former three-sport athlete at Eugene South High School, Boettcher started his athletic career at Oregon playing strictly baseball during his first year on campus. He joined the football team in 2022 as a walk-on, while continuing to play baseball with the Ducks. He was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
"Boettcher is a very good baseball player, who primarily played center field for the Ducks," Zachary Neel, the Oregon Ducks beat reporter for Ducks Wire, said. "That should speak to his athleticism and ability to get out and run when needed."
During Boettcher's first season with the football team in 2022, he played safety and played primarily special teams. The following season he moved to linebacker and recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack. He enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2024, recording 94 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and four pass deflections.
During his final season with the Ducks, Boettcher recorded 136 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and six pass deflections.
"You can talk about Bryce Boettcher as the defensive player, and then you can talk about him as the teammate and the Oregon Duck. Let’s start with the teammate. As a Eugene kid who walked onto the team, Boettcher was one of the most impactful Oregon players we have seen in the last decade, acting as a true hometown legend, and by all accounts, one of the hardest-working players on the team. As a defender, he was someone who provided some stability at the linebacker spot, which Oregon sorely needed over the last two years. He steadily improved each season after walking on as a safety, and grew himself into a future NFL player with his physicality and tackling abilities."
Controlled chaos. That's what it's like to watch Boettcher play linebacker. He plays with his foot stomped down on the accelerator and he's never out of control.
The Oregon linebacker has sideline-to-sideline range and can mirror running backs to the hole. He trusts his eyes and has outstanding anticipation. His closing burst allows him to always be in on the action. He's fearless working downhill and has the lateral quickness to sift through the trash. During the past two seasons, Boettcher recorded 81 run stops. He has strong hands to finish tackles.
"I think Boettcher’s physicality is his main trait against the run, but there’s more to talk about there than the stats show," Neel said. "Yes, he had 136 tackles this year, which is 8th all-time in Oregon history, but there was some frustration from fans this year with Boettcher and the linebacker group as a whole at times. Boettcher improved greatly over the back-half of the season, but he had a tendency to get moved off of his spot in the hole, and misdiagnose some inside gap runs early in the year. I think he can be a very good run defender, but he still needs to improve here."
Boettcher is a fluid athlete with easy movement skills to turn and run with tight ends in coverage. He shows natural feel when dropping into zone coverage. He has a quick drigger and usually arrives when the ball does to limit any YAC. Over the past two seasons, he recorded 10 pass deflections. He does a good job of reading the quarterback's eyes and getting his hands on the ball.
"As a former safety, Boettcher is a solid coverage linebacker and has shown the ability to get out and space and cover smaller offensive players," Neel said. "He had a 78.3 coverage grade this year, according to PFF, with one interception and no touchdowns given up. While coverage may not be his strongest suit, he is definitely capable there."
Boettcher finished his career at Eugene with 584 special teams snaps to his name and recorded nine tackles. With his motor and athleticism, he has a chance to be a core-four special teams player as soon as he arrives to an NFL locker room.
Fit with the Packers
The Packers need bodies in the linebacker route and they could just opt to bring veteran castoffs who have made a living playing on special teams. However, it would be shocking if the Packers didn't add at least one linebacker to the mix via the draft.
With his athleticism, motor and special teams experience, Boettcher is an ideal target on Day 3 of the draft. He could challenge for snaps on the defensive side of the ball as a rookie, while providing an immediate impact on special teams.
"When it comes to the part of the draft where Boettcher is expected to go, in the late rounds, you’re almost drafting as much for person as you are player — someone who has high upside when it comes to talent, but can also be an elite locker room presence," Neel said. "That’s Boettcher. He is a hard worker and has steadily improved every season at Oregon. I think he can be an eventual contributor on defense and a high-octane special teams player to start."
The jury is still out on Hopper and whether or not the former third-round pick could be an impact player playing alongside Cooper. McDuffie is a solid player and somebody who the Packers clearly like.
Adding Boettcher to that room would help Green Bay's special teams, while providing quality depth behind those three, with the potential to be Cooper's long-term running mate. In terms of a Day 3 pick, Boettcher would be a home run selection for the Packers.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Unpacking Future Packers: No. 93, Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher
Continue reading...
