Packers to Host Ohio State’s Michael Hall Jr. on Top-30 Visit

The Packers' search for impact players on their defense continues. Despite having a presumably full defensive line room, the Packers will be hosting a penetrating specialist from the Big Ten.

The Green Bay Packers are bringing a defensive lineman in for a predraft visit.

According to Zac Jackson of The Athletic, Ohio State's Michael Hall Jr. will be visiting the Packers on a top-30 visit.

Ohio State DT and native Clevelander Michael Hall Jr. will visit the Browns early next month. Hall also has pre-draft visits set with the Vikings, Texans, Packers and Chiefs.

— Zac Jackson (@AkronJackson) March 20, 2024

That is the third confirmed visit of the offseason, with the other two being Michigan offensive lineman Zak Zinter, and Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. 

A running list of top-30 visits can be found here. 

Who Is Michael Hall?

Despite limited sack production, Hall was a pass-rushing savant for a stingy Ohio State defense that was one of the best in the country.

According to Pro Football Focus, Hall had 29 pressures last year. That was an improvement from the 16 pressures he had in 2022, though his sack count fell from five to two. However, among interior defensive linemen with at least 150 pass-rushing opportunities in this draft class, Hall ranked second in pass-rush win rate.

Hall won't turn 21 until June. He did not work out at the Scouting Combine but did participate in Ohio State's Pro Day that took place on Wednesday. He "crushed" that workout, according to Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy.

PRO-DAY UPDATE: Ohio State DT Michael Hall Jr. did not test at Combine but absolutely 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 his pro-day yesterday. He ran insane 4.76-4.78 (multiple NFL scouts ⏱️) at 299 pounds, which puts him with FSU's Braden Fiske as fastest IDL in this year's draft class.

Also… pic.twitter.com/Hjfc7SJ8GC

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) March 21, 2024

Hall could have returned to Ohio State for another season, but partially credited becoming a father for his decision to turn pro.

Former OSU DT and Streetsboro native Mike Hall Jr. did his post-Pro Day interview with his son, Michael Hall III.

He told me he has visits with his home team the #Browns in April. Along with the Packers, Texans, Chiefs, and Vikings. #Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/LKrAo1toZt

— Kellyanne Stitts (@KellyanneStitts) March 20, 2024

How He Fits

This is where things get interesting.

The old 3-4 scheme required three defensive linemen to be on the field in their base defense. New coordinator Jeff Hafley’s 4-3 scheme will require only two. Last year, the Packers carried five defensive tackles; all of those players are slated to return for the upcoming season.

The thought here would be if the Packers were in the market for a defensive lineman, it'd be someone bigger than Hall to potentially position himself as a replacement for TJ Slaton, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the 2024 season.

Hall is not that.

Hall measured in at 6-foot-3, 299 pounds at the Buckeyes' pro day. He's comparable in size to Karl Brooks, who the Packers took in the sixth round a year ago for his reputation as a penetrator more so than a run-stuffer.

Perhaps the Packers want to add some competition to the back of the defensive line room, or they're thinking ahead. Colby Wooden didn’t make much of an impact as a rookie, and Slaton and Kenny Clark are set to have their contracts expire.

The other possibility is that the Packers simply want to carry more defensive linemen with the ability to play tackle or end. Hall has that type of inside-outside versatility.

Hall is a good pass rusher. His regular numbers were pedestrian, but his pass-rush win rate was second only to Texas' Byron Murphy, who could find himself picked in the first round.

There is no such thing as too many pass rushers. The Packers may want to add another talented pass rusher to their potentially devastating front.

Round Projection

Hall was ranked 79th by Dane Brugler in his version of Top-100 prospects for The Athletic. At NFL.com, he was outside of Daniel Jeremiah's top-50, which puts him in the discussion for a second- or third-round pick.

The Packers waited until the fourth round to take a defensive lineman last year. The last time they took a true defensive lineman in the top-100 picks was Devonte Wyatt, who was picked 28th overall in 2022.

That's a little rich for Hall.

A Day 2 selection has not been used on a defensive lineman since they spent a third-round pick on Montravius Adams in 2017. Adams was a bust in Green Bay, but he recently signed a contract for Year 4 with the Steelers.

If the Packers want to select Hall, it's likely they'd need to break that trend and pick him on the second day of the draft. With two selections in the second round and two more in the third, they’ve got the picks to make it happen.

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