The official offseason draft thread

I'm the first to chime in with "trading down is a reaction, not a predetermined strategy," but this sure looks like as likely of a draft as any for that to happen. ILB and S are the biggest needs, and most drafniks only list one player each - the Bama boys - as first-round talents. (Some are even debating if Haha is a true 1st rounder or if he'll just benefit from a very weak class.)

 

If neither is there at #21, Ted might not see enough difference between his 21st ranked player and his 40th and happily grab an extra pick to slide back.

 

Perhaps another reason to trade  is to take one of the top 3 TE in this draft one of which should be still there in the second round. A good TE would help with the Red zone offence.

I am not sure if the Packers think they need a inside linebacker upgrade.

They might even think Hyde is the answer at safety.  

If Ted runs true to form the first round pick will be a defensive line guy, a big guy with a high speed to size ratio (big and fast).

I hope Mosely is there at 21 and I like Skov. The Napster kid would make a good STer. 

I still hope the Packers can find a way to get Borland.  He may not be a full time starter, but he'd be a hell of a back up and a demon on special teams.  If the value is there grab a TE in round 2 and Borland in the 3rd.

I love th eguy but Borland's a hobbit and has issues in coverage, he'll be there later than the third, probably 5th though may be in the 4th. .

Big fan of Andrew Jackson from Western Kentucky. Plays the run extremely well. 

I prefer Andrew Jackson on green pieces of paper myself.

TT usually goes best available with the first pick but this year I think it might be best available defensive player of need.  I would guess a DT if a good one is available.  If not, then Beasley from Clemson might be a good fit.

 

Not a chance

I like Borland too, but if he projects as a back up and a ST player, why in the hell would you take him in R3?

 

I think there is more to be had in the third round.  If he is still sitting there in the 5th, sweep him up. 

Why is Borland projected to be a backup and ST player?  Because he's short? 

 

The guy does everything extremely well.  He tackles like a mother, he can rush off the edge, he forces turnovers like crazy, and he's a smart player.  I think he's also a much better athlete than people give him credit for.

 

Our team needs ILBs and I really think he can make it at the next level.  He reminds me of a LB version of Jim Leonhard and he did pretty well for a period of time.

This week is big for Borland as the practices are where he can really impress pro personel staff. He was supposedly off to a good start. The Combine will likely not be kind as he lacks measurables.

Borland and Abbrederis continuing to really impress at Senior Bowl practices despite measurables limitations.

Being from Wisconsin?

 

 

Dee Ford looks like an intriguing 3-4 OLB prospect, Aaron Donald looks like a more athletic Mike Daniels. Kyle Van Noy looks to be a versatile linebacker prospect also, playing outside in mobile. 

Alabama?

The problem I have with Donald is that his play is not consistent. It's boom or bust, TFL/Sack or gets totally moved out of the play. There's no middle ground where he can anchor and hold up against the run, his lack of size becomes obvious when attempts to do that. Mike Daniels showed consistency in college and he compensated for his lack of size by being ridiculously strong and using great technique. I don't necessarily see that with Donald. He's quicker/faster with a great knack for navigating through space, shedding blockers, and attacking the ball, but his game is not well rounded enough right now for what the NFL will ask of him. Reminds me of Amobi Okoye at Louisville actually. 

The number of underclassmen coming out early this year is 102. That is up from  the record high of 73 last year. That number of underclassmen coming out early probably reduce the talent at the top of the draft the following year. For the current year the number juniors in the draft  must make it very deep talent wise.
Last year Ted got some nice talent as late as the 5th round and hit big in the 4th. This might be a draft were a lot of mid round picks is better then pick a few early.  This draft fits Ted drafting style pretty well, I hope so anyways.

The biggest concern I'd have with Chris Borland isn't the measurables but he's had some problems staying healthy.  Through his entire career at Wisconsin he's been dinged and he's had chronic shoulder problems. 

 

Other than that I don't see a lot of holes in his game.  If he were a 2-3 inches taller he might be a first round pick. 

 

He's like the LB equivalent of Russell Wilson IMO.   All he does is make plays and is a great leader but some people are really going to get hung up on his height which is unfortunate. 

 

As for Abbrederis, I'll be interested to see how he ends up.   Sure, he's "only" 6'1" and everyone seems to want taller WRs but he rarely loses battles with DBs once the ball is in the air.   He also might be one of the best route running WRs in the entire draft and I think he's a lot quicker/faster than people think.  It would not surprise me at all to see him rise up the draft charts because he does everything very well.  He just happened to play for a college team that had a terrible QB this year which maybe helps his case even more because there were  no other legit WR targets at Wisconsin and he still put up big numbers.     

I used the Fanspeak online draft tool, and came up with this, after several iterations...

 

(1) Trent Murphy OLB/DE - Stanford

(2) Austin Sefarian-Jenkins TE - Washington

(3) Yawin Smallwood ILB - UConn

(4) Hakim Smith S - Louisville

(5) Chris Davis CB - Auburn

(6) T.J. Jones WR - Notre Dame

(7) Spencer Long G - Nebraska

Ted Thompsons Dream Draft courtesy of Fanspeak

 

1. OLB Kahlil Mack-Buffalo

2. S Calvin Pryor Louisville

3  TE CJ Fiedorowicz Iowa

4- QB David Fales San Jose St

5- DE Taylor Hart Oregon

 

The only thing we don't get is an inside backer. Maybe Barrington steps up because Hawk is not going anywhere.

 

Getting a 6-6 300 lb DE in hart in the 5th round would be great and Ted getting the guy he probably wants most in Calvin Pryor in the 2nd would be a steal.

One "what if" that keeps bugging me a bit is Datone Jones flashed more in the few plays at OLB last year than he did at DE and Perry likes to rush from Matthews' side. I wonder how much they've discussed having Jones drop 10-15# and have Perry put the bulk back on he gained pre-draft. I don't see Perry adding enough bulk to his frame to get to around 290# and Jones would likely be almost lanky dropping the weight and they're both very young yet. Still, with their history of flip-flopping guys I think they've probably discussed it a few times with the medical and training staff. Jones could probably be a pretty solid LOLB.

Van Noy from BYU seems to be moving up fast...loved the kid in college...wouldn't mind seeing him oppo CM3...then you have 2 high motor guys.

 

Mack will be gone by the time the Packers draft IMHO.

 

Also, David Fales = Brian Brohm.

 

His arm strength is suspect. IMHO, Brett Smith from Wyoming is a much better pro prospect...great arm, and great mobility...reminds me a lot of Jake Locker.

Van Noy would probably line up inside in Green Bay, and he'd be the guy they hoped Brad Jones would be.

I bet that Pryor leaps over HaHa as the first safety picked. Haha may end up going the way that Taylor Mays went a few years ago. All the dratniks said he would be a great player but did nothing after getting drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round by Seattle I think. 

i hope tt is laughing at all the mocks having us taking jace amaro.  i think he's a solid pass catcher and could help the offense, but hate the idea of using a 1st on a te.  this is a pos that you grab in rounds 2-4, and even a 2nd is pushing it. 

I know this isn't the right thread for this but screw it.

 

Packers reportedly sign free-agent FB Liaina

Futures contract. So'oto signed a futures deal with the Steelers today.

 

 

The more I look at the mocks and projections the more I can see Thompson trading out of the 1st. 102 declared underclassmen will push a lot of 4 year talent into the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

I agree...I can see him adding picks, unless there is a "must have" player there.

There is no such thing as a "must have" with Thompson. The preferred term is "lap faller".

 

 

I also see the possibility of a trade down in the first. However, it takes a trading partner to accomplish that. Who at 21 is going to be so special a team would trade up for? Especially since all teams know it will likely be a deep draft well into round 4 with all the juniors declaring. They will be reluctant to give up picks.

 

Perhaps if a QB falls and a team needs, really wants that QB they might want to move up. Or a team thinks they are 1 player away and a good player at that position is available they might try to move up to 21. So, IMHO, its gonna be difficult to trade down this year, but could happen if thats what TT decides and has a willing partner.

Teams trade up in every round, every year.

 

Some team always has their eye on somebody.

 True...quite true...  LOL