Packers rookie review: OL Royce Newman
The Green Bay Packers made nine picks during the 2021 NFL draft and signed a few others during college free agency, adding an influx of first-year talent to the roster. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through and reviewing the 2021 season for all of the Packers’ rookies.
Next up: wide receiver Royce Newman, the 142nd overall pick and the Packers’ fourth-round draft pick in 2021:
Snap counts
(AP Photo/Peter Aiken)
Newman, a preseason star, won the starting job at right guard to open the season. He went on to play a team-high 1,084 offensive snaps (all at right guard) over 17 regular-season games, including 16 starts. He was on the field for 97 percent of the Packers’ offensive snaps overall and 100 percent of snaps during the first 16 games. In Week 18, he was replaced as the starter at right guard by Lucas Patrick, but he still played 36 snaps in the finale. He played nothing more than three special teams snaps in the divisional round against the 49ers.
Season stats
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Newman allowed 32 total pressures, including six sacks and five quarterback hits, per Pro Football Focus. He gave up multiple pressures in nine games. Officials penalized him five times (three holding, two false starts).
Among guards, Newman gave up the 22nd most pressures overall and ranked 33rd in pass efficiency.
Per Sports Info Solutions, Newman had 26 “blown blocks,” including 17 in pass protection.
PFF grade
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
55.7. Among the 63 guards with at least 600 snaps played, Newman’s overall grade ranked 52nd overall. He finished 58th in run-blocking and 39th in pass-blocking.
Best game
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Week 10 vs. Seahawks. Newman allowed only one pressure and earned his second-best run-blocking grade of the season. It was his only game with grades over 70.0 in both the run game and passing game. The performance kicked off a strong stretch. Over a six-game span between Week 10 and 16, Newman produced four games with an overall grade of at least 70.0.
Season recap, future outlook
(AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Newman’s rookie season was a little bit of a rollercoaster experience. He was terrific during the preseason, earning himself a starting job at right guard, but his first two months on the job were rocky at best. He struggled in pass protection, especially picking up stunts and twists inside, and his run-blocking – a standout part of his game during the three preseason games – wasn’t consistent enough. His overall game lacked some polish, but all rookies along the offensive line take some lumps early on. Once Newman gained experienced and settled in, he started playing with more confidence and consistency and the positive results followed. The Packers didn’t stick with him at right guard to finish the season, but he’s certainly in the team’s long-term plans at the position. In fact, he’s the likely starter there to open 2022, especially with Lucas Patrick entering free agency next month.
Season grade
(Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)
Not many fourth-round picks are on the field for over 1,000 snaps as rookies. In fact, Newman ranked sixth among all rookie offensive linemen in snaps played, and the four of the five above him were picked in the first or second rounds. Newman was a liability at times during his first season, but he steadily improved over the second half of the year and was a capable player for a decent stretch between November and December. The Packers probably didn’t envision him as a Year 1 starter, but injuries forced their hand, and Newman helped hold things together. He needs to get stronger overall and more comfortable with everything he’s asked to do in the run game. With more improvement entering Year 2, he could set himself up to be a multi-year starter along the Packers offensive line. Grade: C-
1
1
