CBS Sports and SI.com grades Pack Draft an A

I would like to point out Seattle received several grades ranging from C and lower 2 years ago when they drafted Russell Wilson.

Kiper gave them a C- then tried to up it to an A following the season. He's such a putz. 

 

I give the Packers a B+

B. 

 

-HaHa seems like such a good fit. 

-The two 3rd rounders seem like reaches.  One or both will probably prove why Ted is a smooth operator.

-Abacab on KR/PR would be nice. 

NFL Draft grades 2014: Green Bay Packers come out on top

 

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mo...nziel-browns-packers

 

Grade: A

This has the makings of another great class for Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers. Starting off with Ha'sean Clinton-Dix and Davante Adams was as strong a first two rounds as any NFL team had. Richard Rodgers is an athletic tight end with impressive body control who could help ease the loss of Jermichael Finley. They then added Carl Bradford to play inside linebacker and two value picks at wide receiver in Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis. Not bad for Green Bay.

Toward the end of NFL Networks draft coverage, Charles Davis and another host started going division by division handing out draft grades. Mike Mayock thinks it's stupid (smart man) and never participates. Around the time they get to the third division Mayock finally snapped, "let me guess, more A's and B's and maybe a plus and minus. Lots of kids wish you two were school teachers. This is a waste of time"

Great TV moment.

Whatever. We will know in 3 years time. We do know one thing. TT is a good drafter. I will take comfort in that.

Mayock counters it's one thing grading a kid. It's another trying to grade a team taking that kid. Who is he playing with? How will he be used? What kind of coaching is he going to get?

Maybe Mayock was shot after 7 hours on day 3. Personally I think grading kids is also a crapshoot.

Agree.  Let's take a look at the 2011 draft.

 

Sherrod - Injuries...Bust so far none the less.

Cobb - Superstar

Green - Meh.. no longer on the team.

House - A decent backup.

DJ Williams - Nothing... he's gone.

Schlauderaff - Bum... gone too.

DJ Smith - Gone as well.

Elmore - Nope.

Ryan Taylor - Just a guy.  Kudo's for still being on the roster.

Lawrence Guy - Ancient history.

 

What grade are we giving this draft?

C minus, Pakrz. Not one of TTs better efforts. I think it was really highly graded too.

 

the problem with the post draft graders is they base everything on the ability of each team to fill needs. Great, but did they fill these needs with the right players? How can you tell?

If Sherrod can stick, 40% of the picks are still on the roster. That's not bad. Extra points for Cobb. Have to deduct because the average hit in the NFL is just under 60% for 1st rounders and Sherrod has provided virtually nothing. 

 

I don't think it's better than a C today but if Sherrod can bounce back and be a serviceable T for a few years its a solid B. 

2011 draft grade would be a C by virtue of Cobb.

Context is your friend

 

Here’s Ozzie Smith’s 2011 draft, they picked at 27, 5 spots ahead of GB

Jimmy Smith... DB... Colorado

Torrey Smith... WR...  Maryland

Jah Reid... OT...  Central Florida

Tandon Doss... WR... Florida

Chykie Brown.. .DB ...Texas

Pernell McPhee... DE...  Miss State

Tyrod Taylor...  QB...  Va Tech

 

And here is Belichicks' draft, he picked at 17, 15 spots ahead of GB

And his pick Ras Dowling came 1 after Sherrod and Dowling is already a Jet which

we all know is one step from being in the Canadian Football League

 

Nate Solder  ...    T ...          Colorado

Ras-I Dowling ...   DB  ...        Virginia

Shane Vereen...   RB   ...       California

Stevan Ridley  ...  RB...           Louisiana State

Ryan Mallett...    QB...         Arkansas

Marcus Cannon...   T ...         Texas Christian

Lee Smith ...      TE...           Marshall

Markell Carter...   LB ...       Central Arkansas

Malcolm Williams...DB ...      Texas Christian

 

 

Good stuff.

Anyone catch MM in his presser following the draft last night? He was asked if he felt GBs draft addressed the defenses 2013 performance. I think MM was smart enough to read between the lines that they didn't draft an ILB early. He's said (paraphrasing) "We will be better on defense this year. You can print that in big letters. We will be better on defense.

Love that quote if for no other reason he just put Capers and his staff on notice. He didn't bite on the question and sent a message.

MM may play the X's and O's locker room throwback but he's a smart coach.

Looking back the 2011 draft was a very weak draft aside from the top, which 12 of the first 16 picks are pro bowlers, from pick 17 to the bottom only 8 have made one of which being Richard Sherman

IMO, you have to give the '11 draft an incomplete.  I don't get how you grade a guy who suffered a horrific injury & is basically returning to compete this upcoming season.  And I don't think you call the guy a bust just because he suffered said injury.

I always considered a draft pick "bust" as someone who did not play up to his draft position based on ability....not injury.  How can someone who has a horrible injury or series of injuries be considered a bust??  Two players come to mind - Kijana Carter and Curtis Enis.  Multiple horrible injuries, I never really considered either a bust, just unlucky.

I think we get too caught up on the word "bust."  Justin Harrell is referred to as "Bustin" frequently.  Wasn't a significant part of his problem injuries?

 

Regardless of the circumstances, Sherrod has been worthless to the Packers to date.  Bust or no bust.

How about someone that surpassed their ability AND had it cut short by injury?

 

Bo Jackson. One of the best RBs ever. 

how about a pair of pink sidewinders and a bright orange pair of pants

Should I try to be a strait A student? If you are then get you're ass out of Iowa. 

I think the difference is that Harrell had some injury issues in college, and they ended up being what came back to bite the team. His laziness also became the worst kept secret in GB.

 

Sherrod on the other hand suffered one of the most gruesome on-field injuries I've ever seen in his first real action, then had his emergency surgery botched in Kansas City. The team may never get a valuable snap out of the guy, but I hate to see his name anywhere near Harrell's.

Sherrod appeared in 7 games last season, mostly (if not all) on special teams - FG & XP team.

 

I agree with Satori's comment that they believe he'll be a contributor this season.

What is interesting is what Thompson is saying about the WR position. You have Jordy and Cobb both looking at big raises soon. You already let James Jones go. Thompson's MO is that he won't pay a premium for WRs when he doesn't have to. 3 draft picks- a 2nd rounder, a diamond guy, and a developmental guy. Give them to McCarthy and staff and see who sticks, that way you increase your leverage when two highly productive players are looking for big raises.

It seems that this was a good year to have a WR need, too. Abbrederis goes way earlier in shallower drafts.

Don't know about Cobb but Jordy isn't a greedy person. When he signed his last deal he said "How much money do you need?"

Jordy will re-sign. Cobb will too. Watch.

I agree with Boris. TT, however, is just being prudent--remembers Wolf complaining that he never gave Brett enough weapons. TT has watched and learned. No Bill Shroeders here now...

 

I wonder what grade this guy would give the draft:

 

 

Jebus.  Dude is turning into Howard Hughes.

 Abbrederis and Janis were projected to go much higher and both strike me as nothing more than value picks by TT. Whatever impact they may have on either Jordy or Cobb wasn't by design.

If nothing else, the addition of Abbrederis and Janis help to boost special teams.  It would be nice if one of them could become an effective kick or punt returner so that Cobb doesn't have to do it.

Or Hyde.

Abby and Hyde will be fine as returners. They will be able to keep Cobb out of the crossfire.

My only concern with Abbrederis as a kick returner is that he has already had four concussions.  But he does have experience as a returner and has excellent hands, so I expect him to be in the mix, at least on kickoffs, along with Franklin.  I think Hyde will be the first choice as the punt returner.

Sports Illustrated: "2014 NFL draft grades: Vikings, Packers and Raiders receive highest marks"

"Green Bay Packers
Few teams addressed obvious needs as aggressively and intelligently in this draft as the Packers, starting with first-round safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. The Alabama product can cover deep, and he’s a great hitter from linebacker depth up. Three underrated receivers — Fresno State’s Davante Adams in the second round, Wisconsin slot man Jared Abbrederis in the fifth and Saginaw Valley State’s Jeff Janis in the seventh — should make Aaron Rodgers very happy. Cal tight end Richard Rodgers is the Jermichael Finley replacement — a receiver who can flare wide and make plays. And Southern Miss defensive tackle Khyri Thornton will help a line in great need of young, tough talent."

Grade: A
http://nfl.si.com/2014/05/10/2014-nfl-draft-grades/2/
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Bleacher Report: Green Bay Packers: Ted Thompson, A

"Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson's philosophy is to draft and develop players rather than spend big money in free agency. Here is how he did this year.

The Packers needed a safety in a bad way. Fortunately for them, the best one in the draft fell right into their lap.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix out of Alabama became one of the steals of the first round when he fell out of the top 20, and Thompson was glad to oblige.

Losing receiver James Jones in free agency won't hurt one bit with Davante Adams in town. He is a bigger, more talented version of Jones, who fared quite well in the Packers offense in recent years.

If head coach Mike McCarthy can develop Adams quickly, he will be a boon to the offense right away.

It will be interesting to see if California tight end Richard Rodgers can contribute as a rookie—Thompson may have found the long-term replacement for Jermichael Finley if the latter doesn't come back in free agency.

Green Bay needed some help at linebacker, too, and Carl Bradford was an excellent fourth-round find."

Grade: A
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2048464-2014-nfl-draft-grades-report-cards-for-all-32-gms/page/13

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Sporting News: Green Bay Packers: A

"Although the big immediate impact from this group will be how well Clinton-Dix and Thornton address their defensive issues, it shouldn't be lost how they stockpiled some more weapons for Aaron Rodgers. Wisconsin's own Abbrederis and Janis had the talent to be taken earlier."

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2014-05-11/2014-nfl-draft-grades-are-in-from-easy-a-to-odious-d/slide/6
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Yahoo Sports:

"GREEN BAY PACKERS: It is tougher to find players who will stick on a roster as talented as the Packers', but general manager Ted Thompson may have pulled it off with yet another very solid crop. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix certainly made sense as the rangy centerfielder to help Green Bay's lack of ideal speed and fluidity in the deep patrol. The Packers also added high motor front seven defenders in defensive tackle Khyri Thornton and Carl Bradford. The addition of wideout Davante Adams and tight end Richard Rodgers give the Packers potential replacements for James Jones and Jermichael Finley and Thompson didn't stop there, adding arguably the draft's best route-runner in Jared Abbrederis in the fifth and developmental prospect Jeff Janis in the seventh to protect against another injury-shortened season from either Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb. The Packers added athleticism, physicality and intensity each day of the draft, making it one of the NFL's clear winners in this year's draft."

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/2014-nfl-draft-grading-32-174122160--nfl.html
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SB Nation: "NFL Draft grades 2014: Green Bay Packers come out on top"

"Grade: A

This has the makings of another great class for Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers. Starting off with Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix and Davante Adams was as strong a first two rounds as any NFL team had. Richard Rodgers is an athletic tight end with impressive body control who could help ease the loss of Jermichael Finley. They then added Carl Bradford to play inside linebacker and two value picks at wide receiver in Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis. Not bad for Green Bay."

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2014/5/10/5705040/2014-nfl-draft-team-needs-johnny-manziel-browns-packers

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FOX Sports: Grade A "Ted Thompson nailed this draft"

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/p...-draft-051214#img_12

what Boris said above...I do believe as long as AR is the QB, those two will take a Packer discount...they will look at what Jennings went through....and maybe they'll look at it like Derek Jeter did...once it becomes a job instead of a game, they'll quit....meaning...playing for a little less cash but having fun playing a kid's game and still making good coin might be the best path to take...

 

Am I the only one noticing Favre packing the big guns now? He never had bulging veinous arms before... What the hell is he doing? Bodybuilding? Good Lord...

These guys make me laugh...Rodgers "an athletic TE"....he had the 5th slowest 40 and second lowest bench rep total of all TE's at the combine....since when does slow + weak = athletic??? 

 

Testosterone replacement treatments.

 

 

Cryogenics

His right arm seems larger...