Grave Digger??
If GB hasn't addressed ILB (draft or FA) and take a TE in first with Nelson and Montgomery returning. Something has gone horribly wrong. Again.
I think it depends on the player. If Henry is a legit first round talent then he will take him. Ted took Jeramy Stevens while he was in Seattle, it's not unprecedented. I look at Henry as a Heath Miller-type talent...not a flashy athlete, but a big, reliable target. If Thompson believes he is that guy and the interviews check out then I wouldn't be surprised if he's the pick.
Here's a compilation of mocks for GB:
Packers mock drafts: Post-Senior Bowl edition
Our first roundup of who the prognosticators think the Green Bay Packers will select in the NFL Draft.
The Green Bay Packers own all seven of their picks, and that's it. At least for now. The website overthecap.com predicts the Packers will gain two fourth-round picks for losing cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Davon House to free agency.
But until that time when the NFL awards compensation picks, it is seven draft choices for Green Bay. Most mock drafts, as you'll see, list only the first round but a few tackle multiple rounds.
We'll continue to provide updates leading up to the start of the draft, April 28.
Here's the first look at who the prognosticators think the Packers will select:
Hunter Stewart of TheNewNFLDraft.com (Feb. 4): Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA.
Todd McShay of ESPN.com Insider (Feb. 3): Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas. "This is not a deep TE class, so the top prospects could come off the board earlier than expected. Henry is an underrated talent, partly due to playing in Arkansas' run-heavy offense. At 6-foot-5 and 253 pounds, he has the body type to make plays down the seam, and he has shown the intelligence to find holes in zone coverage. Aaron Rodgers needs an upgrade at TE, and Henry would give him another weapon in the passing game.
Walter Cherepinsky of WalterFootball.com (Feb. 3): Round 1 -- Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech. "Will the Packers re-sign B.J. Raji to another 1-year deal? Raji didn't play well in 2015, so Ted Thompson may opt to find a better run-stuffer."; Round 2 -- Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford; Round 3 -- C.J. Prosise, RB, Notre Dame; Round 4 -- Joe Haeg, OT, North Dakota State.
Eddie Brown of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Feb. 3): Round 1 -- Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA "B.J. Raji isn't getting any younger. Clark steps right in as the best run defender at the collegiate level."; Round 2 -- Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina; Round 3 -- Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State
Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com (Feb. 2): Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA. "Veterans Julius Peppers and B.J. Raji remained effective for the Packers in 2015 but they aren't getting any younger. General manager Ted Thompson is always on the lookout for pro-ready tough guys like Clark."
Ourlads (Feb. 2): Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas. "Perhaps the smoothest pass catcher at the position in this class. Henry has all the size and movement ability to pose as a major threat to opposing defenses. The Green Bay offense knows how to use multiple tight end sets very well.
Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus (Feb. 2): Sheldon Rankins, DL, Louisville. "He may seem redundant to current DE/DT, Mike Daniels, but Rankins is good enough to play all along the line, either head up on offensive linemen (where he may quietly perform better) or shooting a gap."
Bryan Perez of DraftBreakdown.com (Feb. 1): Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor. "Baylor's Corey Coleman would provide another explosive option for Aaron Rodgers and strengthen the wide receiver group to scary levels. It's yet to be seen if Nelson will return to pre-injury form, so adding Coleman at No. 27 is a great insurance policy. If Nelson does make a complete recovery, then the addition of Coleman will make the Packers' passing game that much more devastating."
Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com (Feb. 1): Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama. "Even with Mike Daniels locked up long-term, Reed is worthy of this pick with his versatility that fits Green Bay's odd front."
Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com (Feb. 1): Round 1 -- Scooby Wright, ILB/OLB, Arizona. "The Packers have to improve their middle linebackers, and Wright would also give them an edge rusher to help fill the void when Julius Peppers is done."; Round 2 -- Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State; Round 3 -- Josh Ferguson, RB, Illinois
Dan Kadan of SBNation/Mocking the Draft (Feb. 1): Shilique Calhoun, DE/OLB, Michigan State. "Before he had to pull out of the Senior Bowl with an injury, Calhoun was listed on the roster as an outside linebacker. That may be a big need for the Packers this offseason with Nick Perry entering free agency and the career of Julius Peppers winding down."
Alex Khvatov of NFLDraftBlitz.com (Feb. 1): Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
Jon Ledyard of USA Today's DraftWire.com (Feb. 1): Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama. "The rich get richer on the back end of the first round, as Jarran Reed is a legitimately dominant nose tackle with the athleticism to play multiple techniques along the defensive front. He's straight-up immovable at the point of attack, and is probably a top 15 talent in this year's draft. Not a sexy pick, but the perfect replacement for B.J. Raji in the Green Bay defense."
Jeff Risdon of RealGM.com (Feb. 1): Round 1 -- Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech "Butler is a perfect guy to fill in B.J. Raji's (an impending free agent) role in the middle of the defensive line. He's got quickness and strength for a big man and is very good at splitting the gaps before the OL can close him off. There are inconsistencies to his game but he's a definite draft riser after a great week in Mobile."; Round 2 -- Kentrell Brothers, LB, Missouri; Round 3 -- De'Runnya Wilson, WR, Mississippi State.
Keet Bailey of BreakingFootball.com (Jan. 31): Noah Spence, DE/OLB, Eastern Kentucky. "The Packers need to secure B.J. Raji or NT may be on the draft list, but additional pass rush assistance is a must."
Chad Reuter of NFL.com (Jan. 29): Round 1 --Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama "It's unclear whether the Packers will re-sign either of their free-agent nose tackles, B.J. Raji and Letroy Guion. Jarran Reed's power up front will be needed, and he's able to test guards with more quickness than you'd expect."; Round 2 -- Antonio Morrison, ILB, Florida; Round 3 -- Thomas Duarte, TE, UCLA; Round 4 -- Spencer Drago, OL, Baylor.
DraftTek (Jan. 29): Round 1 -- Jonathan Bullard, DE, Florida; Round 2 -- Kentrell Brothers, ILB, Missouri; Round 3 -- Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford; Round 4 -- Sheldon Rankins, DE, Louisville; Round 5 -- Le'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech; Round 6 -- Vincent Valentine, DT, Nebraska; Round 7 -- Thomas Duarte, WR, UCLA.
Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Jan. 29): Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas.
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Great compilation, really all over the place. TE, DE/DT/LB. The WR pick is interesting, can't see that happening, unless they change the rules to allow 6+ WR sets.
I concur on the WR pick--he reserves that for second round anyway.
I don't know if Hunter Henry's numbers at Indy will mean anything to Ted. Ted loves athletes on defense, but he seems to favor production on offense. The guy sure looks quick and fluid on the field. Great hands. Had 739 receiving yards last year, the NCAA's website has that as the second highest totals among tight ends (UCLA's Thomas Duarte was #1 with 872). Jermichael Finley ran a 4.82 at Indy and that didn't scare Ted away. Now if someone wants to make the argument that Ted just won't value any tight end in round one because he won't see the value in taking a tight end over a pass rusher who can generate sacks, or a defensive back that can generate interceptions, or a quarterback who can put 4000 yards and 40 TDs on the board...that could be a very legitimate point of view.
Jarren Reed's name come up a lot and that's one guy I just don't see Ted taking. Definitely worth a late first round pick and to be honest I wouldn't mind seeing the Packers pick him. But I think Ted really puts the emphasis on pass rush in this draft and Reed doesn't bring that.
I really like Sheldon Rankins a lot...that's a defensive lineman that looks to be a pretty good pass-rusher in the NFL. But there's a good chance that he only fits as a three-technique and that is Mike Daniels spot on this team. Could Ted take Rankins and play him as a five? It would be risky but Rankins might be worth that gamble.
If Ted took "players" on defense then there is a chance he would take Scooby Wright. But Ted favors athletes on defense and I don't see any way Wright runs anywhere close to the ballpark that Ted would require for a first round inside backer.
Finley was a third round pick, much different than first round. My point is that the biggest common variable with most of the top TEs in the past decade has been speed.
Ted will take football players, so if Jarran Reed is there and Ted thinks he's the guy then a lack of pass rush skill won't hold him back. I think his philosophy is find the guy who can just play football and worry about the scheme later. Where did Mike Daniels fit in the 34? On paper nowhere, but Ted knew he was a guy could just flat out play and it's worked out. Same with Julius Peppers, Randall, Perry, etc. On paper how could Julius Peppers, at 33, possibly make the switch to 34 OLB...how could Nick Perry possibly make the switch to OLB, he's a pure 43 DE...is Randall a CB or a Safety? How can guys like Rollins and Shields possibly play CB in the NFL after only playing the position 1 year in college? They're all football players, if Ted finds a guy that is a stud then he will make it work.
**** anything other than a true inside linebacker. Move Clay back outside. Every play. GB needs a true inside linebacker. I don't give one half a **** what they do otherwise this offseason. Get a guy with speed in the middle in front of Ha Ha and Morgan. Get a guy that can play the middle. Relentlessly. **** TE. **** WR. Get a damn middle linebacker.
If they find that guy he'll get his importance in the big picture. That matters.
3rd round, at the earliest
I don't see Ted picking an inside backer in the first two round either.
-Reggie Ragland/Alabama - Long gone by the time the Packers pick unless he tanks it in workouts. And if he tanks it in workouts then Ted won't pick him.
-Kentrell Brothers/Missouri - Mediocre athlete. Good all around player in college but he'll probably run into coverage issues in the NFL and could end up being a 2-down backer in the NFL. Kind of a shorter, stubby guy and that's not in fashion in today's NFL. Not a round one player, and Brothers would need to have much better than expected combine numbers for Ted to pick him at the end of round two.
-Scooby Wright III/Arizona - Superb football player, not an athlete at all. The type of player that Mike Ditka would take in the top half of round one, but Ted probably wouldn't start considering until the end of round three.
-Joshua Perry/Ohio State - Listed by most of the draft websites as an OLB, I think he probably ends up at ILB in the NFL. Plays way bigger than his size and his game has a lot of "tough and ruggedness" to it. But he's has a fairly limited range and while he could be a solid and steady NFL player, it's not likely that he'll be a flashy, impact type. If there is an sleeper ILB pick that Ted could go for at the end of round two I would guess it would be this guy, but I would still say that would be a long shot.
-Tyler Matakevich/Temple - Great player but isn't very big and isn't very fast. Not in the discussion for the first two round.
-Dominique Alexander/Oklahoma - Shows range and good short-area burst but is little (Oklahoma's website lists him at 6-0, 220) and his size probably limits him to nickel and dime packages in Capers defense. Looks to be the type that Ted might like though, wouldn't be shocked to see the Packers pick him at the end of round three and try to pack 10-15 more pounds on his frame.
-Antonio Morrison/Florida - Actually of all the linebackers listed so far, I think Morrison probably has the best combination of size, speed and overall athletic ability that Ted would find attractive. However, he has already suffered one major knee injury and has some character concerns. Ted's probably interested at the end of round three if the knee checks out OK.
-Terrance Smith/Florida State - Another plus athlete with some length but isn't very physical and isn't a that great of a player. Until I wrote this I never considered Smith as being second round pick but if there is any projected fifth rounder who could light it up at the combine and be way overdrafted in round two...this is probably the best candidate for that. Today this looks like the longest of longshots for a Ted pick at the end of round two, but depending on what happens at Indy it might not be so crazy.
-Blake Martinez/Stanford - Complete opposite of the last player discussed. Tough, strong physical old-school middle linebacker with average play speed. Probably a fifth rounder at best, could go higher if he surprises in workout like Jake Ryan did last year.
Can't wait to see the workouts on most of these guys. Last year at this time Stephone Anthony was thought to be a fourth or fifth rounder by most out there. After stellar workouts he moved up into the first round. Workouts make or break linebackers perhaps more than any other position. The linebacker board will probably look completely different 30 days from now.
I need El-Ka-Bong's consensus list. I think he publishes it after the combine
Mine's better. Got 26 first round picks on the head last year. 20 Second round picks.
Jaylon Smith can play ILBer, but he too, Like Ragland is likely gone by our pick. IMHO, those 2 are the only ILBERs that are first round talents
Ted's gonna take a left tackle who was a TE his first two years of college and covert him to a right tackle
ChilliJon posted:**** anything other than a true inside linebacker. Move Clay back outside. Every play. GB needs a true inside linebacker. I don't give one half a **** what they do otherwise this offseason. Get a guy with speed in the middle in front of Ha Ha and Morgan. Get a guy that can play the middle. Relentlessly. **** TE. **** WR. Get a damn middle linebacker.
If they find that guy he'll get his importance in the big picture. That matters.
Setting yourself up for a draft day funk...Ted don't take requests.
the Packers getting Myles Jack would probably be one of the greatest steals in NFL Draft history.
Ted knows how to steal
I like Jack, I think he's easily the most dominant coverage LB in the draft as well as probably the top athlete at LB. I don't see him as a dominant MLB though, he's good definitely, but I don't see him in the category of Luke Keuchly or Pat Willis as a MLB. My concern would be, if he's available for the Packeds pick, is whether his medical is checking out! That's a hard fall for an elite athlete, so I would be suspicious that teams in the top half of the draft saw something they didn't like on his medical check. That's concerning, even for a top athlete like Jack.
Im not a fan of Notre Dame ILB Jaylon Smith really. I don't see him as a first round caliber player. Good athlete, good size, not a headhunter at all. Very much a read/react type LB. Also big time medical red flag with him.
I'd take Jack, Smith, or Raggland in .05 seconds and be so damned stoked about it.
Like the past few years. The LB GB needs will be long gone by the time the bottom of round 1 rolls around.
Its starting to look more and more like a DT in round 1. That ain't bad. There will be some good ones to pick from. Kenny Clark or Jarran Reed would do just fine.
And you'll get Jack Smith.
And you'll like it.
Chili
How far up in the draft would you be willing to trade to get one of those MLBs, assuming the price was fair? Early 20s? Late teens? Early teens? Not at all?
The Packers really, really need a serviceable MLB. And TT won't go free agency most likely. So will it be another year of Clay or some average to below average stop gap?
Grave Digger posted:
Im not a fan of Notre Dame ILB Jaylon Smith really. I don't see him as a first round caliber player. Good athlete, good size, not a headhunter at all. Very much a read/react type LB. Also big time medical red flag with him.
Surprising, every scouting report I've read on him touts him as the best all around LBer in this draft & perhaps in the past several. Looks pretty aggressive to me, with a high motor & high football IQ. Also well respected & liked by teammates, voted a captain this year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkmrGaeo15E
I don't think any of those three will get past 16 or 17. I think Smith will be the last guy chosen because of the injury. Can't imagine any way to move that far up from 27.
ILB I think is going to be really good on Sunday's is Tyler Matakevich. Incredible instincts for an ILB. Was hoping he'd last to end of round 3 until he tackled everything that moved at the senior bowl. If he does well at the combine I don't see him lasting past end of round 2 or top of round 3.
I also don't want to see Danny Trevathan make 16 tackles today with two picks and drive his FA price through the roof. I think he'd make a fine FA acquisition.
Jaylon Smith is a terrific player. If the knee checks out, he'll be long gone by 27.
FLPACKER posted:Grave Digger posted:
Im not a fan of Notre Dame ILB Jaylon Smith really. I don't see him as a first round caliber player. Good athlete, good size, not a headhunter at all. Very much a read/react type LB. Also big time medical red flag with him.
Surprising, every scouting report I've read on him touts him as the best all around LBer in this draft & perhaps in the past several. Looks pretty aggressive to me, with a high motor & high football IQ. Also well respected & liked by teammates, voted a captain this year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkmrGaeo15E
Sounds like this guy.
Herschel posted:What about Tedford QBs?
I never claimed my fear was rational . . .
El-Ka-Bong posted:Ted's gonna take a left tackle who was a TE his first two years of college and covert him to a ILB
There - fixed that for you. 
Jaylon Smith's knee injury was a complete ACL/MCL blowout and it did sound pretty serious. He should be in the top 15, which means if he makes it to 27 then it was a bad injury which makes picking him at 27 a risky move.
Myles Jack and Jaylon Smith are talented enough to be great players in a 4-3 or 3-4, but I think both of them fit best as a weak side linebacker in a 4-3. Jack plays inside in a 3-4. Smith probably could be inside or outside in a 3-4 defense, but I'd probably feel better projecting him inside just because he played in the middle for Notre Dame the last couple of seasons.
I guess another ideal 4-3 WLB that a 3-4 team could draft and try to stick inside is Ohio State's Darron Lee despite his lack of size. Ryan Shazier played at <225 pounds while at Ohio State and Ted was reportedly in love with him. But even though Lee is a good athlete, he's not in Shazier's class. Still it's one more name to throw in the hat as a possibility.
PackerJoe posted:one more name to throw in the hat as a possibility
gonna be a lot of these by draft weekend
ChilliJon posted:Its starting to look more and more like a DT in round 1. That ain't bad. There will be some good ones to pick from. Kenny Clark or Jarran Reed would do just fine.
I'd be surprised if Ted takes Jarran Reed. Zero pass-rush ability with him. I'm not a huge fan of Clark but Sam Seale seems to be Ted's favorite scout so if Seale give Clark the thumbs up....
A guy I really like and a guy I think Ted would really like too is Louisiana Tech's Vernon Butler. Big powerful guy that has surprising quickness and could be a pretty good all around player in the NFL. Not sure if he's a nose tackle or a five-technique in a 3-4, but the Packers need a young player at both of those spots so either way he'd be a nice addition. The end of round one is not too high for this player.
Just my opinion on Smith. I didn't say he wasn't a good player, I just don't think he's worth a first rounder right now. I think he's a good LB, he's not a top 15 LB even if he was healthy though ...true top 15 ILBs are guys like Kuechly and Pat Willis, Smith isn't in their class. Ragland and Jack are and theyre the only one in this draft that are. Throw in Smith's jacked up knee and there's no guarantee he returns to form. GB could get a better value from some good ILBs later in the draft. They should have their pick of good DL and pass rushers at 27.
Reed is a powerful player with a high motor, I think he could hone his game and improve as a pass rusher.
Butler is a solid player that I think is going to rise. If he's at 27 I don't see how he's not the pick. Austin Johnson is another 1st rounder I love. Same mold as Reed, raw power and a big frame.
Clark is up and down to me. He shouldn't be getting driven off the line as often as does considering his size, but he makes a lot of splash plays. Hard to tell what kind of player he is.