https://www.jsonline.com/story...ft-option/386361002/
Hungry5 posted:With the rookie cap, the margin of error with draft picks changed since you aren't straddled with a 1st round bust cap hit.
The other side of that is that draft picks (more expectations for higher rounds) are expected to contribute immediately more now than ever. Some teams count on their first contract players producing enough for the team to win before they are cap casualties or get big bucks, resulting in other cap casualties.
A couple of interesting results so far today. Two backs I like, Rashaad Penny and Kalen Ballage, ran clean sub-4.5 40s and looked good in agility drills, better IMO and faster than the slightly smaller Sony Michel.
Troy Fumagalli giving his pitch to Brian Gutekunst: “I love the #Packers. Love what they do on offense. I’d love to stay around in Wisconsin.”
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) March 2, 2018
How many TEs do they draft? I'm guessing even in DikPlod is brought back relatively cheap he'll have competition.
My guess is two, with an undrafted guy or two who are priority guys.
I saw a little bit of Penny (why has no one given him the knickname Lucky?) at the senior bowl (or was it shrine?). Looked good, thought he could be a sleeper. Tenacious runner.
YATittle posted:
When the mock drafts were getting going about a month or two, ago, I was all in for GB grabbing a WR, CB or a pass rusher. Now that I have had a chance to watch and to listen to what others have had to say about Quentin Nelson, I am all in for the Packers to cut a deal to move up to get him. He is a stud OG who is also a mean SOB--just what the packers need on the O Line. Our O line would be solid for years to come! We have to protect Rodgers and block for our RBs. Nelson gets that done for us.
I'm not for trading up, but if he's there at 14 take him. Think given the NFL's disdain for drafting guards high up in the first round, there's a good chance he will be there.
DJ Chark looking just smooth with real QBs throwing to him. How does LSU keep producing good receivers with such lousy QBs?
Now now, the Packers made one of those "lousy QBs" tens of millions of dollars. 
Wow, Maurice Hurst leaves combine due to a heart condition found in medicals.
Former Wisconsin LB Leon Jacobs told me he expects to run a 4.5 40-yard dash at the combine tomorrow. He bench pressed 225lbs 26 times earlier today. He has met informally with the #Packers.
— Danny Cunningham (@RealDCunningham) March 3, 2018
I like Jacobs as a late-round flyer/developmental guy but if he runs a 4.5, oy vay...
as of today, I am 80% sure GB will pick Calvin Ridley
It doesn't seem consistent, quality teams value wideouts in the first round, though. Maybe that's because they have franchise QBs already. 
Shaquem Griffin - LB - just ran a 4.38 at 227 pounds
he was right
Feelin the need for speed.
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) March 4, 2018
Leon Jacobs: 4.49 (#2 among edge rushers)
Garret Dooley: 4.81#OnWisconsin || #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/Lr7TmvSgnh
Jacobs is a huge winner with that speed. Wonder what 14 rebs on the bench will do to Fum
Did Gesicki make himself an early Day 2 guy? Day 1?
TE still looks pretty deep,and I'm guessing Day 2. Vander Esch and Evans looked really fluid and I'd guess they could be under consideration at 14 also.
Here's a weird scenario: Cleveland wants to load up on top-end talent. They take Barkley #1, a QB #4 and Josh Jackson, Calvin Ridley or another super prospect is there at 14. They offer Green Bay all three second-rounders (33, 35 and 64) in a trade. Do you take it?
You have already read what I think about DJ Chark. That Alabama game has made that guy a lot of money; he has withering speed and I can't imagine how much Rodgers would enjoying throwing to a guy who is "open enough" that it doesn't take a miracle for him to catch it!! Of course, the last guy I was soo hyped about because he could get open was Corey Bradford- who couldn't catch a cold in a snow storm!!
Corey Bradford made 1 play. :08 left & he catches a TD from Favre. To beat the Vikings.
He'll always have a place in my heart for that win alone.
I think I just take Josh Jackson instead of that trade. We don't need 2 extra picks. We already have 12.
Man, this draft is loaded with athletic talent. DL, LB's, OL, you name it.
Teams will need to do good homework in finding the "football players" that combine that athleticism.
Brainwashed Boris posted:
I think I just take Josh Jackson instead of that trade. We don't need 2 extra picks. We already have 12.
That's kind of my thought also, though they can trade compensatory picks this year and could move some later picks for some higher slots also, kind of owning the second and 4th or 5th round. This would also let them accumulate a good amount of talent and athleticism as well as having room to spend a fairly premium pick on a good QB prospect like Mike White, Mason Rudolph or Kurt Benkert.
Bradley Chubb at 2018 Combine:
- Stronger than Trent Williams
- Faster than Jarvis Landry
- Jumps higher than A.J. Green
@PackFootball https://t.co/SD1qaCdgbQ
Maybe Gute should try a Ditka-move 😎
Fingers crossed that Jackson runs a 4.6 on Monday. Better chance he is still there when we hit the clock.
Another slow cornerback? Yup, that’s exactly what we need
Brainwashed Boris posted:Corey Bradford made 1 play. :08 left & he catches a TD from Favre. To beat the Vikings.
He'll always have a place in my heart for that win alone.
I think I just take Josh Jackson instead of that trade. We don't need 2 extra picks. We already have 12.
Herschel posted:Brainwashed Boris posted:
I think I just take Josh Jackson instead of that trade. We don't need 2 extra picks. We already have 12.
That's kind of my thought also, though they can trade compensatory picks this year and could move some later picks for some higher slots also, kind of owning the second and 4th or 5th round. This would also let them accumulate a good amount of talent and athleticism as well as having room to spend a fairly premium pick on a good QB prospect like Mike White, Mason Rudolph or Kurt Benkert.
I like Josh Jackson also. I feel most of the other players I'd like to see Gute grab will be gone by the 14th pick. Jackson could be the guy at 14. I can see a star in Jackson as he makes his presence known by burying the dagger due to his intercepting passes from Cousins, if Cousins goes to the vikes. I'd have to buy a Jackson jersey on that alone.
Herschel posted:Besides the fact hand play is much more important at the pro level, he's also a hobbit as a linebacker. He's built like a defensive back. I absolutely love his story and he's been a great college-level guy but I'm not sure he translates to much higher than a special teams guy at the pro level.
He's 6'2"/227...that's a hobbit? Thomas Davis is 6'1"/235. His athleticism and instincts are off the charts and there's been no signs that his disability has actually disabled him in any way on the field. Compare his size and stats to Roquan Smith:
Roquan Smith (2015-2017)
6'1"/236
Tackles: 252
TFL: 20.5
Sacks: 6.5
INT: 0
PDef: 3
FF: 3
Shaquem Griffin (2015-2017)
6'1"/227
Tackles: 195
TFL: 33.5
Sacks: 18.5
INT: 3
PDef: 16
FF: 4
All he does is make plays, he will find a way to work in the NFL. Round 5 at the absolute latest, probably round 3.
Brainwashed Boris posted:Shaquem Griffin - LB - just ran a 4.38 at 227 pounds
He could replace Janis on special teams. If I'm the Pack, I use one of my late third round picks on the guy.
Grave Digger posted:Herschel posted:Besides the fact hand play is much more important at the pro level, he's also a hobbit as a linebacker. He's built like a defensive back. I absolutely love his story and he's been a great college-level guy but I'm not sure he translates to much higher than a special teams guy at the pro level.
He's 6'2"/227...that's a hobbit? Thomas Davis is 6'1"/235. His athleticism and instincts are off the charts and there's been no signs that his disability has actually disabled him in any way on the field. Compare his size and stats to Roquan Smith:
Roquan Smith (2015-2017)
6'1"/236
Tackles: 252
TFL: 20.5
Sacks: 6.5
INT: 0
PDef: 3
FF: 3
Shaquem Griffin (2015-2017)
6'1"/227
Tackles: 195
TFL: 33.5
Sacks: 18.5
INT: 3
PDef: 16
FF: 4
All he does is make plays, he will find a way to work in the NFL. Round 5 at the absolute latest, probably round 3.
Even rounding, he's not 6'1" (measured 6 3/8). He's a good half inch and 10 pounds lighter than Smith, and that's after bulking for the combine. For contrast, a number of stories were out that if Smith had Griffen's measurables (closer to 6', under 230#), his stock could take a major hit and where he's at now there are still questions about his size.
I doubt he goes before Round 4.
BrainDed posted:Fingers crossed that Jackson runs a 4.6 on Monday. Better chance he is still there when we hit the clock.
While it's only one drill, he looked absolutely terrible in the W. If I'm an offensive coordinator I mark that tape and don't even look at posts and standard ins/outs, I run come-backs, combos and curls against him until he proves he can play them.
I can't believe we're still having the h/w discussion after seeing players like Russell Wilson, Chris Borland, London Fletcher, Steve Smith, etc. succeed after being deemed too small or not fitting h/w "prototypes". Josh Jones measured 6'1" and 220 at the combine last year, everyone seemed to agree he's a good fit as a LB/S hybrid, so what's the difference with Griffin? If you can play, you can play.
Herschel posted:TE still looks pretty deep,and I'm guessing Day 2. Vander Esch and Evans looked really fluid and I'd guess they could be under consideration at 14 also.
The more I read about Leighton Vander Esch, the more I'm intrigued by the option. Someone noted that he's in the same mold as Urlacher. That caught my attention, in part because I went school with Urlacher in New Mexico.
After comparing the draft profiles for the two, it appears that Urlacher only had a significant advantage in the bench press (27 vs. 20) and 60 yd. shuttle (11.1 vs. 11.57). Vander Esch out-performed Urlacher in a number of categories (e.g., 3-cone, 20-yd shuttle, vert jump, broad jump, etc.).
The thing that I always appreciated about Urlacher was that he was not only an athletic freak, but a true football player. Vander Esch has the same look.
Grave Digger posted:I can't believe we're still having the h/w discussion after seeing players like Russell Wilson, Chris Borland, London Fletcher, Steve Smith, etc. succeed after being deemed too small or not fitting h/w "prototypes".
Aaron Donald, Mike Daniels.
I was wondering about Griffin in the hybrid role too. Minimizes opportunities for blockers to get their hands on him, which he may or may not struggle with. I'm sure every fan base in the league has a thread talking about him.
Griffin will probably go late round 3 / early round 4. The guy is a football player. The tape doesn't lie.