UTEP DE-Roy Robertson-Harris was in Green Bay yesterday. At 6-6, 255 pounds he'd project as an OLB in the Packer's defense. Pretty mediocre college player, totaled 87 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 6 sacks over his last two seasons at UTEP. Earned Conference USA honorable mention honors after the 2014 season. Posted impressive workout numbers. Ran a 4.80 40-time, 23 reps of 225 pounds, 4.27 seconds in the short shuttle and 7.0 seconds in the 3-cone drill. The short shuttle and 3-cone drill numbers are probably what caught Thompson's attention. Currently grading out as an early-to-mid sixth rounder, it's doubtful that Thompson is looking at this player as a priority free agent. He'll likely have to spend a draft pick to obtain this player.
Mediocre production maybe but I wouldn't consider him a mediocre player. He's a player that hasn't scratched the surface of his talent. His size and athleticism are extremely intriguing.
They also have had a private interview and a private workout with Middle TN St FS Kevin Byard. He's not an elite athlete, but he has elite instincts, football IQ and ball skills. If he was faster I would compare him to Nick Collins.
It's hard not to be impressed by how much time you must've spent watching UTEP and MTSU games.
considering he hardly even pays attention to college football anymore, it sure is
Maybe he listens to Jimmy Buffet?
Round One:
1. Los Angeles Rams (from Tennessee) - Jared Goff/QB/California (*)
2. Cleveland Browns - Carson Wentz/QB/North Dakota State
3. San Diego Chargers - DeForest Buckner/DE/Oregon
4. Dallas Cowboys - Jalen Ramsey/CB/Florida State (*)
Jacksonville Jaguars trade 1st (#5) and 5th (#146) to Tennessee Titans for 1st (#15), 2nd (#43) and 3rd (#64)
5. Tennessee Titans (from Jacksonville) - Laremy Tunsil/OT/Mississippi (*)
6. Baltimore Ravens - Ronnie Stanley/OT/Notre Dame (*)
7. San Francisco 49ers - Myles Jack/ILB/UCLA (*)
8. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami) - Jack Conklin/OT/Michigan State (*)
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Vernon Hargreaves III/CB/Florida (*)
10. New York Giants - Darron Lee/OLB/Ohio State (*)
11. Chicago Bears - Joey Bosa/OLB/Ohio State (*)
New Orleans Saints trade 1st (#12) to Indianapolis Colts for 1st (#18) and 3rd (#82)
12. Indianapolis Colts (from New Orleans) - Taylor Decker/OT/Ohio State
13. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia) - Ezekiel Elliott/RB/Ohio State (*)
14. Oakland Raiders - Eli Apple/CB/Ohio State (*)
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams through Tennessee) - Sheldon Rankins/DT/Louisville
16. Detroit Lions - William Jackson III/CB/Houston
17. Atlanta Falcons - Kevin Dodd/DE/Clemson (*)
18. New Orleans Saints (from Indianapolis) - Shaq Lawson/DE/Clemson (*)
19. Buffalo Bills - Laquon Treadwell/WR/Mississippi (*)
20. New York Jets - Leonard Floyd/OLB/Georgia (*)
21. Washington Redskins - Jarran Reed/DT/Alabama
22. Houston Texans - Will Fuller/WR/Notre Dame (*)
23. Minnesota Vikings - Josh Doctson/WR/Texas Christian
Cincinnati Bengals trade 1st (#24) and 7th (#245) to Dallas Cowboys for 2nd (#34) and 3rd (#67)
24. Dallas Cowboys (from Cincinnati) - Paxton Lynch/QB/Memphis (*)
25. Pittsburgh Steelers - Mackenzie Alexander/CB/Clemson (*)
26. Seattle Seahawks - Jason Spriggs/OT/Indiana
27. Green Bay Packers - A’Shawn Robinson/DT/Alabama
28. Kansas City Chiefs - Corey Coleman/WR/Baylor (*)
29. Arizona Cardinals - Ryan Kelly/C/Alabama
30. Carolina Panthers - Germaine Ifedi/OT/Texas A&M (*)
31. Denver Broncos - Connor Cook/QB/Michigan State
Round Two:
32. Cleveland Browns - Tyler Boyd/WR/Pittsburgh (*)
33. Tennessee Titans - Cody Whitehair/OG/Kansas State
34. Cincinnati Bengals (from Dallas) - Vernon Butler/DT/Louisiana Tech
35. San Diego Chargers - Hunter Henry/TE/Arkansas (*)
36. Baltimore Ravens - Kendall Fuller/CB/Virginia Tech (*)
37. San Francisco 49ers - Michael Thomas/WR/Ohio State (*)
38. Jacksonville Jaguars - Von Bell/S/Ohio State (*)
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Emmanuel Ogbah/DE/Oklahoma State (*)
40. New York Giants - Le’Raven Clark/OT/Texas Tech
41. Chicago Bears - Robert Nkemdiche/DE/Mississippi (*)
42. Miami Dolphins - Artie Burns/CB/Miami, Fl (*)
43. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Philadelphia through Los Angeles through Tennessee) - Su’a Cravens/OLB/Southern California (*)
44. Oakland Raiders - Reggie Ragland/ILB/Alabama
45. Tennessee Titans (from Los Angeles) - Sterling Shepard/WR/Oklahoma
46. Detroit Lions - Chris Jones/DT/Mississippi State (*)
47. New Orleans Saints - Joshua Garnett/OG/Stanford
48. Indianapolis Colts - Christian Westerman/OG/Arizona State
49. Buffalo Bills - Jonathan Bullard/DE/Florida
50. Atlanta Falcons - Austin Hooper/TE/Stanford
51. New York Jets - Shon Coleman/OT/Auburn
52. Houston Texans - Braxton Miller/WR/Ohio State
53. Washington Redskins - Joshua Perry/ILB/Ohio State
54. Minnesota Vikings - Jaylon Smith/OLB/Notre Dame (*)
55. Cincinnati Bengals - Pharoh Cooper/WR/South Carolina (*)
56. Seattle Seahawks - Kenny Clark/DT/UCLA (*)
57. Green Bay Packers - Kamalei Correa/OLB/Boise State (*)
58. Pittsburgh Steelers - Andrew Billings/DT/Baylor (*)
59. Kansas City Chiefs - Keanu Neal/S/Florida (*)
60. New England Patriots - Nick Martin/OG/Notre Dame
61. New England Patriots (from Arizona) - Zack Sanchez/CB/Oklahoma (*)
62. Carolina Panthers - Jerald Hawkins/OT/Louisiana State (*)
63. Denver Broncos - Vadal Alexander/OG/Louisiana State
Round Three:
64. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Tennessee) - John Theus/OT/Georgia
65. Cleveland Browns - Austin Johnson/DE/Penn State (*)
66. San Diego Chargers - Kyle Murphy/OT/Stanford
67. Cincinnati Bengals (from Dallas) - Carl Nassib/DE/Penn State
68. San Francisco 49ers - Dak Prescott/QB/Mississippi State
69. Jacksonville Jaguars - Landon Turner/OG/North Carolina
70. Baltimore Ravens - Derrick Henry/RB/Alabama (*)
71. New York Giants - Karl Joseph/S/West Virginia
72. Chicago Bears - Charone Peake/WR/Clemson
73. Miami Dolphins - Connor McGovern/OG/Missouri
74. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - T.J. Green/S/Clemson (*)
75. Oakland Raiders - Miles Killebrew/S/Southern Utah
76. Tennessee Titans (from St. Louis Rams) - Xavien Howard/CB/Baylor (*)
77. Philadelphia Eagles (from Detroit) - Jordan Howard/RB/Indiana (*)
78. New Orleans Saints - Maliek Collins/DT/Nebraska (*)
79. Philadelphia Eagles - Spencer Drango/OG/Baylor
80. Buffalo Bills - Alex Lewis/OT/Nebraska
81. Atlanta Falcons - Kentrell Brothers/ILB/Missouri
82. New Orleans Saints (from Indianapolis) - Kyler Fackrell/OLB/Utah State
83. New York Jets - Will Redmond/CB/Mississippi State
84. Washington Redskins - Cyrus Jones/CB/Alabama
85. Houston Texans - Bronson Kaufusi/DE/Brigham Young
86. Minnesota Vikings - Leonte Carroo/WR/Rutgers
87. Cincinnati Bengals - Jack Allen/C/Michigan State
88. Green Bay Packers - Willie Beavers/OT/Western Michigan
89. Pittsburgh Steelers - Noah Spence/OLB/Eastern Kentucky (*)
90. Seattle Seahawks - Rees Odhiambo/OG/Boise State
91. New England Patriots - Max Tuerk/C/Southern California
92. Arizona Cardinals - KeiVarae Russell/CB/Notre Dame
93. Carolina Panthers - Jeremy Cash/S/Duke
94. Denver Broncos - Hassan Ridgeway/DE/Texas (*)
95. Detroit Lions (compensatory selection) - Rashard Higgins/WR/Colorado State (*)
96. New England Patriots (compensatory selection) - Malcolm Mitchell/WR/Georgia
97. Seattle Seahawks (compensatory selection) - Harlan Miller/CB/Southeastern Louisiana
98. Denver Broncos (compensatory selection) - Nick Vigil/ILB/Utah State (*)
I can't wait to see you work once you get your passion for the NFL back
Lack of passion is why it's only 3 rounds.
What is the significance of the asterisks, P'JOE?
I'm assuming (*) means that player is a Junior/Underclassman
I wonder if the above draft is consensus or actual personal opinion? Inquiring minds want to know.
Boris is right, (*) is a player that declared with college eligibility remaining.
For the most part, draft position is fairly close to the consensus opinion of a player as it currently stand (as compiled from top prospect lists of Nawrocki, Ourlads, CBSSports, NFL.com, ESPN, GBN). There are a few exceptions to that. After looking at team needs I projected many offensive linemen to go much higher than the board indicates. On the flip side, there weren't nearly as many teams looking at 3-4 OLBs so many of those edge rushers slid further than expected (note that Michigan State's Shilique Calhoun isn't even listed, and he carries a late round two grade). Running back is also a position where players slid. Derrick Henry grade out high in round two but ended up going early in round three. Several running backs that carry a solid third round grade (Devontae Booker, Kenneth Dixon, C.J. Prosise) aren't listed at all. Outside of those position groups, Penn State defensive lineman Austin Johnson fell to early round three...he really should go at least a half round earlier than that. Outside of that, players are pretty much being drafted in the area that the board shows.
So for the folks wondering why Thompson would bring Barclay back...Thompson may see the same scenario that I see in this mock. Be willing to draft an offensive lineman a round or two early, or go without picking one until late in the draft. IMO the Beavers pick at the end of round three is a reach, but at that spot it was offensive line or running back and with all the running backs slipping I feel Thompson would gamble that one would still be within reach in round four (if not all the way down to #125 then at least close enough where he could engineer a trade up to still get good value on a running back).
Consistent with earlier reporting.
@AdamSchefter: After medical rechecks, Notre Dame's Jaylon Smith is not expected to play in 2016 and teams are unsure when he will play again, per sources.
I'd still take him with a third round pick, but expect some team will take a flyer on him before then.
The Titans seem like the landing spot for him because they have picks to burn. Although they haven't been smert in the past
Drafting an injured player is smert? Ok
Some teams concerned about Myles Jack's knee.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/...nions-from-nfl-teams
He did the vertical at the UCLA pro day workout, but skipped the 40 and shuttle drills. At the time he said he'd do those at a workout scheduled for April 1. Then he cancelled that workout. His knee was scoped in September, and normally it shouldn't take 7 months for a full recovery. All media reports have indicated the actual medical report on Jack was OK, so it will be interesting to see if all this talk is smokescreen talk or if some impatient NFL teams are sick of him doing the "I'll run, now I'll do it later, now I won't do it later" stuff.
Agree?
#Packers are only team in NFL w/o any notable “needs” heading into draft. Thompson can take best available
Andy Benoit They have returning starters at every position, so they should be covered as far as immediate needs. Their needs are immediate depth and long term starters.
As for Jaylon Smith, I guess it just depends on if there's a team that thinks the knee will be okay long term...if there is then he could go in r1 (ala Willis McGahee) or if there isn't then I doubt he makes it out of r5 (ala Marcus Lattimore going in r4).
packerboi posted:Agree?
#Packers are only team in NFL w/o any notable “needs” heading into draft. Thompson can take best available
I'm not sure how ILB is not a notable need. Maybe Ryan and Barrington will surprise with massive jumps, but Barrington played one game last year and Ryan was adequate at best. The only other ILB roster (other than CM3 who they claim is going back to the outside) is Joe Thomas who is really a hybrid ILB/Safety. The former Broncos LB is more of an OLB, at least from what I've read.
Also, the DL has just Guion, Pennel, Josh Boyd, and Daniels right now? That would seem a notable need as well.
TT took care of TE, he's got some flexibility to add to the DL, LB, and OL.
No - I disagree.
ILB, is still an issue. Barrington will be an URFA next year and Joe Thomas and Bradford haven't shown they can be what we need there either. So who to pair with Ryan is a question.
TE - so we rented Cook for a year. He will be an URFA next year. I don't think Perillo is any answer or he would have shown more by now. Henry & Blackman need to show a lot more this year, so there is risk there. That leaves us with RR. Need to upgrade - badly.
OL - Sitton, Lang, Bakhtari, and Tretter will be URFA next year. If your happy with Rotheram and Taylor we are good - assuming the 2 guards leave. Will need a replacement for Bak at the very least. And if Tretter plays there, we need depth anyway. At the very least we need some dependable depth.
I think we have some notable weaknesses.
I'd say they need an OLB, ILB, NT and DE who can earn snaps early, a quality O-line prospect or two (unless they really think Rotheram is going to be a player and they keep Tretter as their swing guy), and probably a wave TE and maybe a RB.
I don't think it will be disastrous if they don't fill all of them right away, but getting a pass rusher, a couple of thumpers for the lines and the TE would be a priority.
I've all but given up hoping for a high-quality ILB pick.
The only way Sitton and Lang don't return in 2017 is because Sitton's back is a year worse and Lang wants to play in Michigan. If Sitton can play and Lang wants to stay they aren't going anywhere.
Isn't Lang a little old to be enrolling at Michigan?
Responses after p-boi's post of the Benoit tweet.
need depth, ILB, DL, DL, LB, OL, ILB, TE, OL, OLB, ILB, NT, DE. OL, ILB
Sounds like BPA to me.
I took that as the Packers don't have any starting spots that need to be filled with rookies, which they don't. Jake Ryan had a poor season, but he was just a rookie and plenty of successful players have gone on to strong careers despite a rough rookie year. I don't know if that is Ryan's trajectory or not, but I doubt he's being written off by the organization. Unless we draft a guy like Ragland in r1, I expect Ryan and either Barrington or Joe Thomas to be the opening day starters. So top to bottom, this roster has all 24 starting jobs pretty much locked in barring injury, so the only true need is depth (albeit critically needed in some areas).
GBFanForLife posted:Isn't Lang a little old to be enrolling at Michigan?
If you had a chance to play in Michigan wouldn't you choose to play for the best football team in Michigan?
ChilliJon posted:GBFanForLife posted:Isn't Lang a little old to be enrolling at Michigan?
If you had a chance to play in Michigan wouldn't you choose to play for the best football team in Michigan?
If I had a chance to play in Michigan, I'd decline and take my chances in WI.
Raji quit, Pennel is suspended, they are supposedly moving the underachieving Datone , and Benoit thinks they have no needs ? That's optimistic.
Clay Matthews and Barrington (on occasion) are their only proven ILB's.
They have needs.
Not to mention, it would seem Ted looks at "needs" in terms of the 19 game(playoffs!!??) schedule and beyond. Tough to think they will get through 19 games with Bahk and Bulaga .... and no solid back-up. One might say a back-up OT is a need too.
OT is always a need. Corner is always a need. DL is always a need.
Kicker that doesn't fold like like an assembly chair over a 12 yard FG is a need. - Rick Spielman.
I'm just glad we don't have a GM who is short sighted and doesn't plan for the future. TT is usually quite good at making sure a position doesn't "age out" and guys are continually developed and keeping this roster young. Sans a few positions like TE, ILB, etc he's pretty good at seeing past the trees and noticing the whole forest.
You can always improve your team, even if you don't have any perceived "needs"
TT isn't losing sleep this time of the year for nothing. He works harder than anyone else to make our favorite team as fully stocked as it can be. We're very lucky to have him as our GM.
P.S. My NFL Draft tickets showed up today. Looking forward to the 3-day experience in Chicago again.
1. Defensive Line - either a nose tackle or 5-technique
Guion's ability to play nose tackle or the 5-technique gives Thompson the flexibility to draft a player to play either of those spots and Guion can fill whatever role is needed. Players like Vernon Butler and Austin Johnson could probably play either, would be really nice to grab one of those two and then figure out the best who-plays-where combination in training camp.
2. Linebacker
Not convinced that the organization has Matthews' role set in stone. If Thompson sees an inside linebacker that he likes early, he drafts him and if that guy can play right away then Matthews goes outside. If Thompson sees an outside linebacker that he likes early, he drafts him and then Matthews goes inside. Thompson will target linebacker early but once inside that positional group will just look at value, not get hung up over needing an inside guy versus an outside guy.
3. Running Back
Fans might get all excited about Lacy supposedly being in great shape, but I'd bet Thompson still isn't very happy with what he saw last year. Lacy didn't figure to be a 10-year player when he entered into the league due to his running style. Considering that and the fact that conditioning has already proven to be a major issue, would Thompson be willing to give Lacy a big contract if he has a big year? I'm not convinced. Starks is old. They really don't have anybody past those two. The coaches seemed to be fairly happy with Crockett at year's end but it would probably be best to view him as a camp body with a chance to win the #3 spot.
4. Offensive Line
Lots of talk about the four upcoming free agents but the Packer's won't lose all four. If they bring two back that's probably two starters + Bulaga + Linsley...only leaving one opening to fill. Use a middle round pick this year and an early to middle round pick next year and hopefully find a starter between those two players. I really think the priority in this draft for the offensive line went down when Thompson gave Lane Taylor that two year deal. It's pretty obvious that Thompson sees him as being on the 53-man roster next year. Bakhtiari, Sitton, Linsley, Lang, Bulaga, Tretter, Taylor...already up to seven and most of the time there are only 8 offensive linemen on the roster. Thompson only really needs one, could take a second one later and carry 9 but that isn't a necessity. Rotheram still figures into the mix.
5. Defensive line
Lots of factors go into the second defensive lineman they pick. Is Ringo a keeper? If he is then they are set at 3-technique with Daniels and Ringo and can focus on adding another big body. If Ringo is a camp body, then a backup 3-technique is in play. Does Pennel move to the nose and take over the backup role there? If so then they can focus on a 5-technique. This would be a second defensive lineman picked, what spot does the first one project too? It's essential that they start the year with 6 defensive linemen and right now they have Daniels, Guion, Boyd (coming off injury), Pennel (suspended), Ringo (practice squad). Thompson will have to take two players here, and not unreasonable to think that he might take three.
6. Linebacker
If an outside linebacker is picked first, then they go inside second and vice versa. They need to pick two linebackers but I don't think Thompson would be motivated to double-up on two inside linebackers unless he was dead-set on Matthews playing outside which I don't think he is.
7. Safety
They need to find a real safety for depth. Not a special teams guy like Banjo. Not a nickel back like Hyde. A real safety to get a little insurance if one of the two starters go down.
Don't really see Thompson being that motivated to go after pass-catchers. With Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Mongomery, Abbrederis, Janis...if he drafts a receiver and nobody gets hurt in training camp then you spent a pick on a player that has to pass through waivers where he is potentially lost, or cut Abbrederis who Thompson spent a fifth round pick on and probably won't want to cut. The Packers have already been connected to about a half dozen receivers that figure to be seventh round picks or undrafted, seems like Thompson would be perfectly content to sign a couple undrafted guys to the practice squad. Tight end has Rodgers, Cook, Perillo, Backman (who Thompson spent a draft pick on and won't want to cut) and Henry. There were some positive things said about Henry at the end of the year, we can sit here and speculate on how much of that was legitimate. But I will say this, if Henry did show anything last year then Thompson probably would favor him over most the tight ends that will be found late in this draft. Bottom line is the Packers already have three tight ends with a really good chance of making the 53-man roster...plus a fourth that Ted spent a draft pick on...plus a fifth if they legitimately like Henry. There just may not be a spot open to pick another one. Even with losing Heyward, cornerback seems pretty well stocked. Nine picks, seven positions where I feel pretty confident will take players, that leaves two picks where Thompson can take a second offensive lineman, another pass-catcher, a cornerback, a third quarterback...whatever players float his boat. But those seven positions listed above, I feel pretty confident that Thompson will fill all of those.