Official 2016 NFL Draft Thread

"It's at a bar where everyone will need to of legal age? Okay, invite Chmura."

Packers are bringing in Middle Tennessee State safety Kevin Byard and BYU receiver Mitch Mathews in for visits.

Byard (5-11 5/8, 212 pounds) was a four year starter at Middle Tennessee State.  Finished career with 312 tackles, 19 interceptions and 36 passes defensed.  Was considered to be more of a football player than athlete but had a pretty solid pro day workout.  4.46 and 4.51 in his two attempts at the 40-yard dash, 38 inch vertical, 10 foot broad jump, 4.20 short shuttle, 6.73 3-cone.   Thompson usually likes to use most of these visits in an attempt to lure undrafted free agents to Green Bay, but Byard is pretty likely to be drafted.  I'd put a fifth or sixth round grade on him.

Mathews (6-5 5/8, 222 pounds) finished his BYU career with 152 catches for 2083 yards (13.7 average) and 24 touchdowns.  Didn't find his age but he did do mission work so I'm assuming he's probably 25 or 26 (used his redshirt year at BYU in 2009).  Suffered a shoulder injury in 2013 that required surgery.  Had a good pro day workout.  4.47 and 4.49 in the 40, 36 inch vertical, 10'9" broad jump, 12 reps of 225, 4.25 short shuttle, 6.99 seconds.  I'm guessing he won't be drafted.  

Another white WR?  

Natural camouflage.

If "Janis needs more playing time" is replaced with "Mathews needs more playing time", then 2016 has already won. 

ChilliJon posted:

If "Janis needs more playing time" are replaced with "Mathews needs more playing time", then 2016 has already won. 

What about Abbrederis? He has to be in the conversation too.

We're already potentially in a situation when Cobb needs a rest where Nelson, Janis, and Abbrederis line up as the three wides at the same time.

The 3 whites formation?

Do they all run straight into a DB?

Do they all know the PI play?

El-Ka-Bong posted:

Do they all run straight into a DB?

I think that's Adams' pattern preference.

GBFanForLife posted:

The 3 whites formation?

Call it the "Blue Collar" formation.  A few other options: "Deceptively Athletic", "Lunch Pail" and "High Motor" formations.  

Draft Hunter Henry, put Ripkowski in the backfield for protection and call it the Rice Bowl Offense. 

kuhn and rip; the blizzard I.

would that make Janis the "rice rocket"?

since we're like the slowest O in the league, it would be known as the glacier formation.

or just the white out.

aka, "the Minnesota census".

It would be entertaining to hear the first tv commentator notice it and try to say something about it.

"I'm not sure Troy but I think we're seeing something the league hasn't seen in maybe 60 years.  The entire offense out there right now is whi........um not bla....uhhhhh TT draft picks".

I realize I may be way too excited about this topic.

You could call it "at least we're faster than Richard Rodgers, James Jones, & Eddie Lacy" 

Trader Ted Mock Draft

Dallas gets #27 (1st), #88 (3rd)...Green Bay gets #34 (2nd), #67 (3rd), #189 (6th)

#27 comes up and OLB-Emmanuel Ogbah, DT-Vernon Butler, OLB-Noah Spence, OG-Cody Whitehair, DT-Austin Johnson, DT-Kenny Clark and DE-Chris Jones are all left on the board.  Thompson could live with taking any of those players with the Packer's first pick in the draft.  This scenario also has QB-Paxton Lynch making it to #27.  If that happens or not probably depends on the Rams.  If the Rams pass on him at #15 then he's in for the long slide and is a pretty decent bet to make it to #27, where it would make sense for the Cowboys to move up and get the QB after having secured a defensive back with their first pick.  If Lynch is gone I think there would be several other players that teams would be looking to move into round one to obtain such as CB-Eli Apple or OT-Jason Spriggs.  A trading partner should be available if Thompson elects to move down.

Round Two, Pick 34 = Kenny Clark/DT/UCLA (6-2 5/8, 314)

A couple months ago it seemed like many were projecting Clark to Green Bay but that seems to have died down.  Clark's stock has dipped a bit but not dramatically (#35 on consensus board in mid February, #45 on current consensus board).  I'm really not that big of a fan but would guess that Thompson likes him because he will play nose guard in the NFL and has some pass-rush ability.  Clark got some starting assignments as a true freshman and finished his 3 year UCLA career with 29 starts.  Posted 75 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 6 sacks and knocked down five passes in his final year at UCLA.  Born on October 4, 1995, so will enter his first training camp as a 20 year old rookie.  Combine numbers were very impressive for a 314 pound defensive lineman.  40-yard dash = 5.06 seconds.  10-yard dash average time = 1.73 seconds (4th best at Indy among 300+ pound defensive linemen).  29 reps of 225.  Short shuttle = 4.62 seconds (tied for 4th best among 300+ pound defensive linemen).  Did the 3-cone drill at the UCLA pro day and posted a time of 7.73 seconds, which would have been 4th best for 300+ pound defensive linemen at Indy.  Big knocks on the combine numbers are a 28.5 inch vertical (below average for a man of his size) and a 8'6" broad jump (5th worst among defensive linemen).  Also only has 32 1/8 inch arm length.  In summary I see Clark as an all-around good enough looking prospect who has a chance to be a decent starter but will never be a plus-plus type player in any aspect of the game.  I think Thompson will see him as a really young player with great quickness and agility for the position who could be molded into a special player.

Green Bay gets #47 (2nd), #78 (3rd)...New Orleans gets #57 (2nd), #67 (3rd), #125 (4th)

One of the players that Thompson was considering with the first pick is still left on the board at #47.  Entering the draft with 9 picks and already having traded down and gaining an extra pick, it makes sense for Thompson to move up here to secure another top talent.  The Saints enter this draft with only six picks, and could use more young players considering the cap problems they've had the last couple of years.

Round Two, Pick 47 = Chris Jones/DE/Mississippi State (6-5 3/4, 310).

Tendency breaker pick for Thompson.  I wouldn't even project Jones to Green Bay except that the Packer's met with Jones at the combine and apparently are very interested.  No surprise since Thompson loves athletes on defense and Jones is all of that and then some.  But Jones is different from most of the defensive ends that Thompson has picked because he is a natural 5-technique, not one of those 6-2, 300 pounders that the Packers have picked over and over and over.  By far the biggest knock on Jones is that he's been a career underachiever, a guy that will flash a few great plays per game but not stand out most of the time.  Thompson has a pretty good track record of picking players like this, see Mike Neal and Jerel Worthy.  As a physical specimen Jones is just how they'd draw 'em up.  Big, long, quick and agile with brute strength.  As a player, well sometimes and sometimes not.  Played for 3 seasons at Mississippi State and totaled 16 starts in 39 games played with 102 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.  Best season was this past one, where Jones totaled 44 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.  34 1/2 inch arms and 10 3/4 inch hands.  5.03 seconds in the 40-yard dash.  10 yard average was 1.715 seconds which would tie for the best time among 300+ pound defensive linemen.  Short shuttle = 4.62 seconds (tied for 4th best among 300+ pound defensive linemen).  3-cone drill = 7.44 seconds (best time for 300+ pound defensive linemen).  On the flip side, Jones' vertical jump was 24.5 inches which is a pathetic number but the broad jump was a more respectable 8'10".  Re-did the vertical at the Mississippi State pro day and improved it to 29.5 inches.  Some people think Jones is versatile enough to play at any spot along the line, but I think his best fit by far in the Packer's defense is as a 5-technique.  Looks to be the prototypical boom-or-bust pick.

Round Three, Pick 78 = C.J. Prosise/RB/Notre Dame (6-0 1/2, 220)

Prosise began his Notre Dame career at wide receiver before moving to running back prior to the 2015 season.  Finished the 2015 season with 156 carries, 1032 rushing yards (6.6 average), 11 rushing touchdowns, 26 catches, 308 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown.  Was known for excellent special teams play earlier in his career and was named Notre Dame's special teams player of the year in 2014.  Still very much a work in progress at running back, Prosise has the "big back" and "can catch the ball" traits that Thompson seems to look for in running backs.  He did pretty solid work at the combine where he posted a 4.48 second 40-yard dash, a 35.5 inch vertical jump and a 10'1" broad jump.  Another back that would be a possibility here would be UCLA's Paul Perkins.  I had Thompson going with Prosise because of his size (Perkins weighted in at 208 at the combine) and his ability to be an immediate contributor on special teams.  And the earlier swapping of picks helped the Packers here as in this scenario I would not have had Prosise available with the Packer's original third round pick (#88).

Round Four, Pick 131 = Willie Beavers/OT/Western Michigan (6-4 5/8, 324)

I projected him to the Packers in the last one of these I did, to see the write-up go to page 10 in this thread.  Another offensive lineman that I think would really interest Thompson with this pick is Missouri OG-Connor McGovern. 

Round Four, Pick 137 = Nick Vigil/ILB/Utah State (6-2 3/8, 239)

Another player I had projected to Green Bay in the last mock, see write-up on page 10.  Last time Vigil was projected to Green Bay in round five, but with his stock rising Thompson would need to pick him in round four.

Green Bay gets #148 (5th)...Tampa Bay gets #163 (5th), #200 (6th)

Thompson still hasn't gotten the pass-rushing OLB he needs to complete the front-seven additions to this draft class, so he moves up to grab a solid speed-rusher candidate.

Round Five, Pick 148 = Dadi Lhomme Nicolas/OLB/Virginia Tech (6-2 7/8, 235)

Redshirted in 2011, was a backup in 2012 and 2013 and a starter in 2014 and 2015.  Best season was in 2014 when he totaled 72 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 9 sacks.  Suffered through hand injuries as a senior and his production really slipped: 45 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks.  Played defensive end at Virginia Tech but would fill a speed-rushing OLB role for the Packers.  Excellent athlete with top-notch bend and burst qualities.  Mass and strength are issues with Nicolas.  34 3/4 inch arm length and 10 3/8 inch hands.  Ran the 40 in 4.74 seconds, posted a 41 inch vertical leap, 4.38 second short shuttle and 7.04 second 3-cone drill at the combine.  Only did 14 reps of 225.  Ran into trouble in 2012 for stealing a bicycle, but it sounds like he's cleaned up his act since then.  A pure speed rush prospect that has a chance to contribute in defensive sub-packages immediately.

Round Six, Pick 189 = James Bradberry/S/Samford (6-0 3/4, 211)

I really thought Bradberry's stock would rise significantly after the Senior Bowl and combine but surprisingly he still seems stuck in the later part of the draft.  Well, if that's the way it shakes out, I'm sure Thompson would love to land this player this late in the draft.  Bradberry played cornerback in college, and opinion is split if he will be a cornerback or safety in the NFL.  I'd guess if Thompson picks him it will be neither, but rather the hybrid role that Micah Hyde currently fills.  Bradberry is big and fast, just the way Thompson likes his defensive backs.  Smart player with good cover skills and isn't afraid to tackle.  Biggest knock is the level of competition that he performed at.  Finished the 2015 season with 45 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions and 11 pass breakups.  Numbers at Indianapolis: 40-yard dash = 4.50 seconds, 36 inch vertical jump, 4.21 short shuttle, 6.91 3-cone drill.  Not eye-popping numbers, but pretty good for a 6-0 3/4, 211 pounder. 

Round Seven, Pick 248 = Ken Crawley/CB/Colorado (6-0 3/8, 187)

I really wanted to go wide receiver with this pick, but there are a few candidates left at the position and with Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Montgomery, Janis, Abbrederis already on the roster...it just seems that Thompson may decide to take his chances with a couple undrafted free agent receivers rather than invest another draft pick into the position.  Offensive line is another possibility but with the Lane Taylor 2-year deal I think the Packers only really need to draft one.  The roster is also pretty full there with Bakhtiari, Sitton, Linsley, Lang, Bulaga, Tretter, Taylor, the previously drafted rookie (Beavers in this scenario) and Rotheram still in the mix.  Cornerback is in good shape as well but they did lose Heyward and now with the Goodson suspension, it looks more and more reasonable to add another defensive back to the mix.  Crawley was a four-year starter at Colorado.  Fluid athlete with height.  Good natural cover skills.  However, he's a poor technique player and will definitely need to be "coached-up" at the next level.  Takes too many penalties and is responsible for too many big plays against.  And despite his height, he's a smallish player with short arms (30 1/2 inch) and little hands (9 inch).  Finished his Colorado career with 201 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions and 36 pass breakups.  Ran a 4.43 second 40-yard dash, posted a 36.5 inch vertical jump and a 9'11" broad jump at Indianapolis.  Pure height/speed developmental cornerback prospect.

Re: Trader Ted.

I'm predicting a trade with the Patriots. #27 for Round 2 - 29 & 30. Giving the Packers...

#57 | #60 | #61 overall

While the Patriots flip off Goodell on their way to the podium & draft a first rounder.

PackerJoe posted:

Packers are bringing in ....... and BYU receiver Mitch Mathews in for visits.

.................

Mathews (6-5 5/8, 222 pounds) finished his BYU career with 152 catches for 2083 yards (13.7 average) and 24 touchdowns.  Didn't find his age but he did do mission work so I'm assuming he's probably 25 or 26 (used his redshirt year at BYU in 2009).  Suffered a shoulder injury in 2013 that required surgery.  Had a good pro day workout.  4.47 and 4.49 in the 40, 36 inch vertical, 10'9" broad jump, 12 reps of 225, 4.25 short shuttle, 6.99 seconds.  I'm guessing he won't be drafted.  

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=272&sid=38325775

This site seems to think he can be knocked off routes and runs 4.70.  And they don't think he can become a TE either.  They don't project him to be effective in the NFL.

Not sure I agree.  There are things I don't think they know - but I don't know either.  If he really can run a 40 in 4.48 and he can bulk up a bit and add strength, I think being a TE type is a possibility.  He can develop on the PS where he will be off other teams radar.  We need a red zone guy that scares someone.   

Also guessing that he won't be drafted & we are already recruiting him as a free agent. 

Boris posted:

Re: Trader Ted.

I'm predicting a trade with the Patriots. #27 for Round 2 - 29 & 30. Giving the Packers...

#57 | #60 | #61 overall

While the Patriots flip off Goodell on their way to the podium & draft a first rounder.

I like this idea. And BB has been willing to trade with Ted in the past. But I don't expect it to happen because its too good of a trade to be true.

That's a terrible trade unless New England also sends their third w/ Green Bay tossing in their fourth.

Too good of a trade to be true from the Patriots end of it.  Packers would be getting robbed blind in a deal like that.

Robbed blind? Hardly.

TT usually takes less "perceived value' (from the fans POV) in these deals.

I think this draft is very weak

Today's LA Times has Ragland going to the Redskins, us taking OLB Darron Lee from Ohio State with Hunter Henry not going at all in the first round.

Darron Lee will definitely be in the mix for Green Bay if he's available.  I still think chances are better than 50/50 that he's off the board when the Packers pick.

Hunter Henry still carries the late first/early second grade, but teams picking at the end of round one aren't looking for tight ends so it's very likely he winds up in round two.  Chargers at #35 is probably the highest Henry can expect to go.

There still seems to be some pretty decent possibilities for Ragland in round one.  The Raiders big need is offensive tackle but there is a good chance the top three (Tunsil, Stanley, Conklin) are off the board and IMO #14 is too high for the next tier of OTs.  Ragland could be a good fallback option for them.  The Lions, Falcons or the Bengals could take him.  A team like the Bengals have a linebacker need...not necessarily a big need at ILB...but they tend to like the aggressive, physical linebackers over the "athletes" so Ragland is a guy that they might really like.  If he does make it to the Packers I tend to think that Thompson will pass.  

@TomSilverstein: #Temple WR Robby Anderson (6-3, 190) is visiting #Packers. At pro day, ran 4.3 in 40, had 36.5 vertical. Led team in catches, yards, TDs.

Anderson once left Temple, then came back, then flunked out, then came back again.  No questioning his talent but hard to tell where his head is at.

Undrafted free agent?

7th round pick?

TT will take him in the 4th & everyone will be crying about the "reach"

And then he'll send Janis! to the street, and ultimately to the Vikings. 

YATittle posted:

Undrafted free agent?

7th round pick?

Thompson is probably looking at Anderson as a free agent.

Janis will be the Vikings next great signing. Bad aim throwing to a bad route. 

PackerJoe posted:

Darron Lee will definitely be in the mix for Green Bay if he's available.  I still think chances are better than 50/50 that he's off the board when the Packers pick.

Like 45/55? 40/60? 48/52? Don't leave us hanging.

Are there better chances than 50/50? If chances are better than 50/50 are they really 50/50?

78% of all statistics are 43% inaccurate

I'm not a big Darron Lee fan.  He had that 4.4 forty but nothing else really jumps out as first rounder.  And he's undersized 220 lbs.  I'd really prefer a DL - I think TT could get a damn good one at #27.  

17.4% of all statistics are made on the spot. 

IMO, Darron Lee will be taken prior to #27. 

CUPackFan posted:

I'm not a big Darron Lee fan.  He had that 4.4 forty but nothing else really jumps out as first rounder.  And he's undersized 220 lbs.  I'd really prefer a DL - I think TT could get a damn good one at #27.  

I took by O$U loving wife to a local autograph show with former O$U players in attendance and Darron Lee was there.  I am not sure how he is listed at 220 and he is definitely the smallest 220lb guy I have ever seen.  I honestly thought he was a safety until I saw his name.

Miserable tight end class just got even worse:

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mo...draft-2016-tight-end

Now I'm even happier times two that Thompson signed Cook. 

Yeah I don't think Lee will make it to 27. A defensive coach, I'm guessing Dan Quinn, will fall in love with his athleticism and believe they can make him in to legit LB. 

One guy I think would be a really interesting fit in r2 is LSU ILB Deion Jones. Much like Lee he's only around a 220 lbs., but unlike Lee I think Jones has the instincts and mentality of a true ILB (I think Lee is a better fit as a WLB in a 43). He ran 4.59 at the combine and reportedly ran 4.39 at his pro day(1.52 10 yd split also!). Bulk him to 230/235 and I think he would be a really good ILB in GB...he has the instincts and attitude to be effective against the run and the athleticism to cover TEs. 

I like this mock.

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mo...n-wentz-paxton-lynch

I don't like  Day in the Third (I think better dlineman will still be available)

A lot of fans would be happy with those first two rounds.

PackerJoe posted:

Miserable tight end class just got even worse:

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mo...draft-2016-tight-end

Now I'm even happier times two that Thompson signed Cook. 

Wow just read the detailed report on this.  It's bad, really bad.  Sounds like he punched out a middle eastern student who was being "creepy".  He ran from the scene, hid from the cops, then denied even being at that bar.  The victim is unresponsive with brain bleeding and reports say that Higbee was saying some pretty racist and xenophobic stuff.  I'm sure more facts will come out but I don't see any way that this guy is draftable after this.  

CUPackFan posted:

PackerJoe posted:

Miserable tight end class just got even worse:

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mo...draft-2016-tight-end

Now I'm even happier times two that Thompson signed Cook. 

Wow just read the detailed report on this.  It's bad, really bad.  Sounds like he punched out a middle eastern student who was being "creepy".  He ran from the scene, hid from the cops, then denied even being at that bar.  The victim is unresponsive with brain bleeding and reports say that Higbee was saying some pretty racist and xenophobic stuff.  I'm sure more facts will come out but I don't see any way that this guy is draftable after this.  

Oh Christ...somebody gets in a fight and we start labeling him "xenophobic".

Now I know this whole story is bogus..wrapped in Social Justice Warrior bull****.

I hope you're kidding, Old School.   Link

"A second witness “observed Alsaleh on his phone and 2 white males were arguing with him.” The witness “said that one of the white males began saying racial slurs towards Alsaleh such as ‘(expletive) ISIS’ and ‘White Power’ and something like, ‘This isn’t your (Alsaleh’s) country.’ “ 

Yeah, nothing xenophobic about that.......

Boris posted:

Robbed blind? Hardly.

TT usually takes less "perceived value' (from the fans POV) in these deals.

I think this draft is very weak

Which would make the trade even worse. If talent is that thin to begin with why would you want to accumulate more garbage while passing on better talent? Only in an extremely deep draft would taking a much lesser value to trade down make sense. 

Ftr, I don't agree this draft is that thin, but it's light on flash. Tackles, offensive and defensive, appear very deep, there's a solid QB crop and some decent DBs. It's thin at receiver and somewhat at pass rusher, sure, but there are never enough good pass rushers. 

CUPackFan posted:

I hope you're kidding, Old School.   Li

CUPackFan posted:

I hope you're kidding, Old School.   Link

"A second witness “observed Alsaleh on his phone and 2 white males were arguing with him.” The witness “said that one of the white males began saying racial slurs towards Alsaleh such as ‘(expletive) ISIS’ and ‘White Power’ and something like, ‘This isn’t your (Alsaleh’s) country.’ “ 

Yeah, nothing xenophobic about that.......

nk

"A second witness “observed Alsaleh on his phone and 2 white males were arguing with him.” The witness “said that one of the white males began saying racial slurs towards Alsaleh such as ‘(expletive) ISIS’ and ‘White Power’ and something like, ‘This isn’t your (Alsaleh’s) country.’ “ 

Yeah, nothing xenophobic about that.......

xenophobia doesn't mean what you think it does...and I highly doubt you are a psychoanalyst of some kind.

Stop using these ridiculous terms and projecting them onto people EVERY time they deal with a person of color or different religion. Please. It must stop.

There are conflicting eye witness reports on what happened...but of course...our Social Justice Warrior wannabe's insist on taking the most over the top or racial angle,  or heaven forbid we punch a precious little snowflake foreign punk that might have been asking for it. 

"Higbee’s girlfriend told police that Alsaleh was being physical as well"