Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Colby Wood knew he had to get bigger and stronger to survive in the NFL, so the 2023 fourth-round draft pick entered the offseason and ultimately added 15 pounds.
Weighing 273 pounds at the combine and 278 pounds as a freshman, Wood is now over 290 pounds and weighing in at a whopping 293. He hopes the added weight and strength will result in a jump in year two.
“It will be bright there, they will definitely surround you and highlight you” – Wooden he told SI.com’s Bill Huber. “I definitely had to get stronger. It’s a grown man’s world down there. I just had to get stronger.”
At Auburn, Wood played both edge and center. The Packers moved him almost exclusively to the interior as a rookie, and the results were mixed. He produced 11 tackles and 12 stops on over 250 defensive snaps per PFF, but struggled to sustain the run and ran out of steam when rushing the pass delayed. Late in the season, Wooden was passed and outplayed by Karl Brooks, who was drafted in the sixth round.
While the Packers believe Wooden can play on the edge in the up-to-date 4-3 defense under Jeff Hafley, most of his work is expected to be in the middle of the field again.
Attacking the weight room allowed Wood to grow and become bigger and stronger heading into Year 2.
“He put on a few pounds,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “I think it will be good for him, especially with some of the things we will ask him to do. But he looked great up to that point.”
Wood will rotate alongside Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton, Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks on Hafley and the Packers’ defensive tackle in 2024. This is a potentially loaded position in the lineup. And now, with Wooden’s weight gain, a little heavier.
