Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst is doing his homework on this year’s running back class.
After earlier reports that the Packers were bringing in Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr. for a top-30 visit, reports have emerged mid-week that Indiana Hoosiers RB Kaelon Black will also be coming in prior to the 2026 NFL Draft.
Black was one of multiple players who transferred from James Madison to Indiana in 2024 to join head coach Curt Cignetti in Bloomington, and he finished his college
career with his best season by far. He finished 2025 with 1,040 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
At 5-foot-9 and 208 pounds, Black brings a ton of juice in a compact frame. He shows legitimate explosiveness once he sees the hole, and he has the contact balance and leg drive to consistently generate yards after contact, averaging 3.47 yards after contact per rushing attempt this past season.
On top of that rushing ability, Black shows legitimate willingness in pass protection, throwing his face into danger to keep his quarterback clean in the pocket. He’s not a fluid runner, and he was rarely used as a pass catcher out of the backfield, but he’s an extremely decisive and aggressive runner between the tackles.
The best comparison for Black I can think of is an early-career Isiah Pacheco, with a similar running style that makes it look like they’re both mad at the grass with how they slam their feet onto the field.
Black would be an intriguing Day 3 addition to Green Bay’s backfield, but the visit itself is another indication that Gutekunst and the Packers aren’t satisfied with the current depth at running back behind Josh Jacobs. Chris Brooks is likely to remain a third-down back for pass protection purposes, while MarShawn Lloyd has never been able to stay healthy enough to stay on the field, logging just 10 snaps over his first two NFL seasons.
A visit doesn’t guarantee a player will be drafted by a team, but it’s becoming clearer that the Packers might add another running back in this year’s draft.
