2017 Green Bay Packers draft preview and predictions

[Jenkins5]

I know nothing about Peppers, but if he's a Hyde type, Last thing we need. Gunter can do that, Brice, Rollins. Slot defender as 1st round pick? No more hybrid cb/safeties. No more converted we or basketball players. If they go cb, get a cb.

 

Think Woodson more than Hyde as a player. Most had him as a Top 5 pick since coming out of high school. Guy can flat out play and is 100x the athlete Hyde was. The comparison is based on pure versatility. I completely don't understand how versatility & being a hybrid could be bad. In the NFL if you do not have a DB who can locked down the slot & be a playmaker all over field, you are at huge disadvantage.

 

Now from the understanding that you are probably upset over safety Randell becoming a CB & struggling.... Rollins always hurt & a project.... but Peppers is a guy to be excited about. Why he is dropping despite testing out really well is because he doesn't have a true position. To me, his best fit is slot, ss, MLB. Remember Burnett in different formations dropped down to MLB.

 

Grab Peppers Round 1, Sidney Jones Round 2 (if Doctor reports are promising) got a strong future Core at DB. Jones was my favorite CB in draft until injury. He is a true shutdown outside CB

[LouisEly]

I think Peppers would be a great pick; as much as teams use nickel packages, a hybrid SS/LB would help with run defense on passing downs/situations. That being said, I think he'll be long gone by the time the Packers pick.

 

I hope Conley is still available, but I doubt it will happen. I also don't see them taking a flyer on Jones in the 2nd; that's something you take a risk on if you know you won't be competing this year or next. I could see them taking a risk on Moreau, as his injury isn't a serious leg injury.

 

McCaffrey is interesting, but I see him and Montgomery as very similar players and unlikely to have both on the field at the same time. McCaffrey will be a weapon in the passing game, but I'm not sure that he's much of a running threat in the pros.

[homer]

I'd be totally fine with GB taking Watt but I have a feeling some team is going to reach for him based on combine numbers.

[patrickgpe]

For a second you'd have to pull the trigger.

i read somewhere last night, that the price is thought to be similar to what the Jets got from the Bucs for Revis (1st and 4th), that would be a harder pill to swallow, although given TT's history with 1st round picks, it may be still worth it to go all in before the nucleus is too old or gone.

[Jenkins5]

Like I said with Jones, all depends on injury reports. I think he may be the best corner in the class but all depends on that achilles. King from Washington is probably the most intriguing CB. Who knows where he will fall. Like Peppers, this CB class is so deep and so close, it all is team by team assessments where they go and when the CB run starts. Peppers could go top 10 could fall to early 2nd. King is a bit of a project. As all the talent in the world. He is a 6'3 WR type corner like Sherman but his came isn't finished and will take some time. Jones is a day 1 starter if he didn't get hurt. Ive been reading last few days Lattimore may drop out of 1st round or fall to late first. It really is a crap shoot. Peppers fits our defense perfect. I love the potential of Howard Wilson. He reminds me of Casey Hayward. Natural ballhawk and if he is there round 4...I snatch him. Best thing about this class...They are all bigger CBs! Only 4 of top 20 are below 5'11. Think 15 are all 6'0+ 190-200 lbs!

 

At RB I stay away from McCaffrey as much as I love him because he is to similar as Ty. Neither will carry the load. If Cook fall, no way you pass on him. After that, you Karama or Mixon who offer that complete back who can play every down explosively. If you want to replace Lacy type back...get a bruiser who will hammer the ball and wear teams down, you are looking at Foreman or Perine in rounds 2-3 or a Conner in mid to late rounds. Mack or Gallman are two guys in round 3-4 who could shine as well. We have options.

[Jenkins5]

Things I'd like to see is

A RB & CB in first 3 rounds.

 

A QB like J. Dobbs in the 5th or 6th. Guy is brilliant. Probably work for NASA once football is done. Has the arm and legs as well. Let him learn and push Hundley.

 

A plug and play Guard somewhere 2-4th round. Lamp will probably be gone but like Feeney and Johnson.

 

You need one edge guy in first 5 rounds

 

If they are worried about Adams and resigning, Zaye Jones is a carbon copy. I would mind him in round 2. Not many WR I am high on in draft though. Someone mention Ross earlier in round 1. I actually wouldn't mind. When we deal with a roster full of guys who aren't burners, having that one guy who can flat out beat every DB on the field for a WR threat and a QB like Rodgers....that is scary. Cobb is a possession guy. Adams is big and physical and goes and gets balls. Jordy is big, incredible route runner, a strider, who is 100% on page with Rodgers (not really a burner though) then Allison is just a big WR who is a strider. With Ross for teams to worry about over the top with speed alone, how much more does that open up Bennett, Jordy, Adams?

 

Defense has killed us though. We need to address it. Once again I dislike this years OLB,ILB, and DL class. Maybe a Beckwith in round 4 at MLB? We can sure up DB in this draft but realistically, outside of adding depth, not sure we find plug and play studs at any of those 4 positions.

 

If I had to Mock which probably won't even be close I'd go with these two. The OR seperates the two mock drafts

1. RB Cook or DB Peppers

2. CB Tinkersley or RB Mixon

3. OG Isadora or OLB R. Williams

4. ILB Beckwith or CB H. Wilson

5. OLB Biegel OR OG Harlow

5. WR A. Scott or SS Woods

6. QB Dobbs OR J. Dobbs

7. Anyone

[young guns]

I would do a second for sherman in a heart beat. A first i would have to think about but would probably still do. Looking at past drafts, i would almost do it just to take the first away from thompson lol.

 

2010- bulaga, 23rd pick

2011- sherrod

2012- perry, took about 5 years for this to work out.

2013- datone

2014- haha, 21st pick

2015- randall

2016- clark

 

So out of the past 7 years the only 2 "good" picks were considerably higher than what we have this year. Now obviously its still way early for clark and randall and i still have high hopes for them, but i would still trade them for sherman.

[brewcrewdue80]

Sherman must be in the class of All-time best picks in a draft. Brady forever being #1

5th rd, never missed a game All-Pro and now you're looking at maybe getting a 1st/4 or 5 return pick in trade... Sherman was a 5th. And considering the draft is deep at CB, getting a 1st rd/2nd rd pick would mean you could replace Sherman immediately for far less money and team control. Not that the CB will be an All Pro, but you would assume a solid contributor from day 1, with the ceiling of a Sherman.

 

The problem to me is that I don't think the Packers' secondary is a Sherman away from competing, and they need one of those 1st/2nd rd type CBs to team with Sherman to reach a worthiness to acquire. Giving up 1 of those 2 picks makes that a question of happening. 2nd rd pick is #61 so I'd find that hard to believe headlines a trade for Sherman, a 1st rd pick it is. So now if your draft starts in the 2nd round, at 61 is any of those CBs still around or even a starter? Say there's 1 available, but a higher regarded player who quite often falls to the Packers pick. You wind up taking that player and not supporting the need with Sherman's acquisition.

 

I'm on record that if I'm GB I'd trade in to the 2nd round nabbing 3 in top 60. Let it cost the 3rd and 1 of the 5s or supplement with a player inn the offer.

We have the top line talent in Offense, Daniels is special at the DL, get some top of the draft talent vs. filling out a roster with depth at the 4,5,6 rd picks.

[Jenkins5]

So to breakdown this deep deep deep draft I think it is easier to seperate them by the type of corners they are

 

Physical & Impossing CBs

These are the guys who are extremely physical, big, nasty type CBs. All can cover very well but are going to give WRs fits.

1. Q. Wilson Florida 1-2 grade

2. M. Humphrey Alabama 1 grade by most scouts

3 C. Tankersley Clemson 2 grade

4. F. Moreau UCLA 3-4 grade

 

Lock-Down

These are guys who are flat out outside cover corners. These are guys who may or may not be overally physical but they they can lock a guy down, are athletic with good ball skills.

1 Lattimore OSU 1 grade

2. T. White LSU 1 grade

3. S. Jones Washington 2-3 grade (my favorite but injuried :/ )

4. G. Conley OSU 1-2 grade

5. T. Tabor Florida 2-3 grade (speed & off-field hurts)

6. C. Sutton UT 2-3 grade

7. H. Wilson Houston 3-4 grade

8. S. Griffin USF 3-4 grade

 

Slot CB or Combo slot/SS

These are guys who are tweeners or CBs who are better served inside.

1. J. Peppers UM 1 grade combo

2. D. King Iowa 2 grade combo

3. J. Lewis UM 2-3 grade cover

4. C. Awuzie Colorado 2-3 grade combo

5. A. Jackson USC 2 grade cover

6. D. Kazee SDST 3-4 grade cover

7. C. Elder Miami 4 grade cover

 

Length WR CBs

These are the Richard Sherman types. Incredible size, ball skills, and will match up against the big receivers of the day.

1. K. King Washington 2 grade

2. A. Witterspon Colorado 2-3 grade

3. R. Douglas WV 3 grade

 

For me, it'd be nice to to grab two CBs in rounds 1-4. Id diversify between the groups. Favorites

 

Obviously, Lattimore & White will not last. I'm high on them. Humphrey will be gone but since he struggles covering deep routes that's fine.

 

Sidney Jones is guy before injury I'd have only behind Lattimore. I really thing he good end up being top lockdown corner in future.

 

G. Conley was really good this season. Has every skill you could wish for outside of being a terrible tackler. Most important he has improved drastically each year at OSU.

 

J. Lewis is smaller but would be a C. Hayward in the slot. He'd lockdown slots with great ball skillls. Just watch Wisconsin game again.

 

D. King really is a faster Micah Hyde. Not really made fore the outside in NFL but can lock down slots or play SS. However, if you want more of a bigger, tougher Combo Awuzie is way to go.

 

Dislike Gunter but love his size & ability to line up with those big WRs? King, Witterspon, Douglas are just that but all are much better athletes & have better ball skills.

 

H. Wilson was dumb for coming out so early. Outstanding Freshman year and dropped this year a bit. Could have been one of top corners next year. That all said, all the talent & size there

[DHonks]

I'm not on board with drafting a MLB, but lots of publications expect it. We have two competent ones, and I expect Clay to transition more to MLB. His over-pursuit on the edge burns the Packers EVERY game against the run. He's also not holding up when battling tackles. Given that we play Nickel something like 70% of the time, I'd actually like a defensive lineman that's more of a pass-rush guy, and some more flexible guys that can play multiple spots for versatility. We need speed, but we need to be able to pressure QB's.

[Jenkins5]

With Martinez, Ryan, Thomas, and Clay I see no need in one either. The other issue is this isn't a very good year for LBs either. Last year the year to target MLB early.

 

DL depth would be great, haven't found too many good targets I like yet

[homer]

Clay is lucky to play 10 games a year.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Clay is lucky to play 10 games a year.

 

I'm sure that might be tongue in cheek somewhat (and yeah, I realize that Matthews is injury prone), but 11 is the fewest games he's ever played in (4 years ago)

 

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MattCl99.htm

 

He's definitely less effective than he used to be.

[pacopete4]

It just feels like ten because it seems as though he takes at least six games off. Or at least it sure looks that way on the field most seasons.

[FVBrewerFan]

Plus, he's not a MLB. He should be, but it's not going to happen. Even MM is delusional about it, I heard him say in a PC after the season that Matthews played a lot of MLB last year," he moves around all over the field." No, not really.

 

They are paying him a ton of money, and nobody is willing to say "Clay, putting you close to full time at MLB is best for the team." Last time this defense was any good, that's where he played.

 

As far as the Sherman thing goes, of course he's worth a 1st round pick- especially a low 1st round pick. He wouldn't solve all the problems, but having a lock-down corner on one side of the field makes it a whole lot easier to defend the other side. Not that a trade will ever happen, just saying.

[CheezWizHed]

My Predictions:

- We will draft two CBs this year

- We will draft a OL (probably a college tackle) in the 4-5th rounds and convert him to G.

- We won't draft an RB in the first 3 rounds.

- We will draft a player in the top 3 rounds in one of these positions that pundits will scream about because its not "a need":

--- WR, TE, DL

 

Ok, not really predictions as they are TT drafting trends...

[brewcrewdue80]

Just cause I'm bored here are Mocks of past week for Packers

CBSSports: CB Marlon Humphrey Alabama

SB Nation: RB Dalvin Cook FL St. 2nd CB Cordrea Tankersley Clemson

TheRinger: S Jabrill Peppers, Michigan

Bleacher Report: G Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky

FoxSports: CB Quincy Wilson, Florida 2nd OLB Tim Williams, Alabama 3rd RB Joe Mixon Oklahoma 4th DT Jarron Jones, Notre Dame

SI: CB Tre'Davious White, LSU

NJ: RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

Sportingnews: Traded with Clv for 2nd rd pick

Forbes: LB TJ Watt, Wisconsin

Bloggingtheboys: LB TJ Watt, Wisconsin supposedly based on 50mock avg 26% vote 11% CB Kevin King, Washington how out of 50 do you get an odd %?

NinersNation: HashtagMafioso's picks: Edge Takkarist McKinley, UCLA 2nd: CB Desmond King Iowa 3rd: RB Kareem Hunt Toledo

CSNmidatlantic: CB Marlon Humphrey, Alabama 2nd: DE Carl Lawson, Auburn

NFL.com's Latest 5 names of mocks

Daniel Jeremiah: CB Quincy Wilson, Florida

Bucky Brooks: RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

Lance Zierlein: OLB Charles Harris, Missouri

Charley Casserly: CB Teez Tabor, Florida

Chad Reuter: LB TJ Watt, Wisconsin 2nd: CB Marlon Humphrey, Alabama 3rd: G Danny Isidora, Miami 4th: RB Joe Williams, Utah

FanRagsports: CB Chidobe Awuzie, Colorado

Sandiegouniontribune: CB TreDavious White, LSU 2nd: C Pat Elflein, Ohio St

Walterfootball: S Jabrill Peppers, Michigan 2nd: OLB Tyus Bowser, Houston 3rd: RB T.J. Logan, North Carolina 4th: G/OT Jermaine Eluemunor, Texas A&M

Drafttek: CB Gareon Conley, Ohio St 2nd: Edge Ryan Anderson, Alabama 3rd: OC J.J. Dielman, Utah 4th: WRF Kenny Golladay, N Illinois

 

 

There is the 1st 3 pages of Google Search to NFL Mocks

I am thinking since there is almost no consensus GB trades down gets that overnight post 1st round to assess 2nd and 3rd round options and/or more trade doings.

[patrickgpe]

im focused in on Watt, Peppers. or Lamp.

[docduany]

I wouldn't trade a 1st round pick for Sherman. I think he's on the decline due to age. As more of a physical corner as opposed to a pure speed merchant, it may not hurt him as fast. He is crafty and smart, so perhaps he can last longer too. I just wouldn't invest in an old corner. I also can't stand the guy, but that's neither here nor there. Now our first round pick for Malcom Butler, I can get behind that.

 

I really have a man crush on TJ Watt. I loved him in Madison. I'm buying the theory that he has some projection left. His combine numbers were as good or better than Clay Matthews. That put me over the top. I just feel that he's going to be like Chris Borland. Just has an it factor and dominated at the NFL level.

[Jenkins5]

Very interested how this draft falls. Really there is one lock in this draft. Outside of #1, it can get wild. It's deep without much seperation between prospects. We know Leonard, Allen, Thomas, Howard, and Adams all stand above. Hooker maybe in that group. Outside of that, it's a crap shoot based on team preference.

 

There are few players I think you can't pass up on if you are GB if they are there.

1. Cook, no way you let that special of a complete back walk. He instantly make our offense more explosive. As a runner & receiver. Maybe he is similar skill set at Ty but I'd take him any day. He can carry the load for a team. I really don't think he is far off from Leonard but doesn't have man child build with the speed.

 

2. True Outside CB. Lattimore, White, Conley are 3 outside guys who could make immediate impact. Lattimore won't drop but who knows with other two.

 

3. Peppers He is a toy & like Mattheis he is simply a player all over field. Dom's packages can range from Slot CB, SS, FS, Outside CB, MLB. Be one of top Returners in game. If injuries come at RB or WR.... he can play there. TT loves football players & that is what he is.

 

4 Watt. Good chance all those guys are gone. Watt is special. Motor doesn't stop, relentless, explosive, and playmaker. Packers need another one like that. He is a lot like a young CM3

 

After that it's who ever in next on their board.

[Point Beer Is Best]

There's never a good time to give up picks. And yea, the word is CB is deep. But that doesn't mean a stud will be there at the end of the 1st. Or, they could even go bolder and trade Hundley and a 3rd next year for a mid first rounder this year. Then they would have two first round picks this season. Get a stud CB, and then a LB, pass rusher, O lineman, whatever with the other 1st round pick.

 

Just to throw some water on this idea, there is no way that a team will give up a mid 1st rounder for Hundley & a 3rd round pick. Hundley needs to put a full preseason of game tape against better opposition for him to be worth that. He was robbed of that opportunity with his injury last year.

[Point Beer Is Best]

I was on NFLtraderumors.com yesterday and they had their first mock up. It was the WR out of Washington that ran like a 4.2. That would be a colossally stupid pick for the Pack in the 1st round. The WR depth chart is already at least 4 deep with Nelson, Adams, Cobb, and Allison. Not to mention the fact that with 2 good TE's this year the WR's might not play as much. Any new WR probably wouldn't see the field much.

 

Gotta be a CB or a LB of some sort. Maybe would consider a RB if a good one falls.

 

I think WR is more of a need than people realize.

 

Adams - Free agent after '17, needs to be extended but that's not a guarantee right now

Nelson - Free agent after '18, will be 34 after that so he's basically got two years left. While he may re-sign, chances are his effectiveness as a #1 outside WR are over, but maybe he carves out a niche in the slot to replace Cobb for a couple of years. Time to groom a replacement (that's why they WR1 is actually a great need heading into this draft for me).

Cobb - Free agent after '18, and hasn't really lived up to his contract. Potentially a cap casualty.

Allison - certainly has potential to be a good WR, but he's still a question mark.

Davis - has the speed, but skinny as a rail. But hey, so was Donald Driver as a rookie. Needs to fill out, but certainly not a sure thing.

Janis - purely a special teamer, as he cannot track the ball in the air and cannot seem to run the correct routes.

 

Ted Thompson always drafts with the thought in his head, "what does my roster look like two years from now?" Adams is good, but I don't think he's a #1 guy. While I don't think they grab a WR in the 1st round, I will be surprised if they don't grab one in the 2nd or 3rd.

[brewcrewdue80]

I'd certainly re-sign Nelson after '18 unless he falls off a cliff in production. Overall talent, he's head and shoulders above any of the WRs on the team currently. They are what I'd think Nelson, if falling off a cliff in production, becomes.

 

Cobb is certainly the most disappointing of the group. His undersized and speed seem to have caught up to him. Or Coach MM just doesn't install him in to the playcalling like previously. It's was like once every other game it would seem the team would put a drive on Cobb's shoulders, playcalling 3-5 plays on a successful drive. Then nothing come next possession.

 

Allison seemed to do well if he were put in the #2 or slot role. Adding these TE's, just no way do we really need a true address to WR. Do it next draft. Any kind of #2/slot talent will look like #1s and 2s because of Rodgers. For the most part, WRs don't need a multiple years to suddenly be an everyday starter. Learn the playbook, run the routes and Rodgers will do the rest.

 

Find the defensive players. Because if Randall and Rollins revert more to their play 2 years back vs last year, and you find another everyday CB or Safety and some LB or DE the defense can climb in ability very quickly.(should they stay healthy which seems to never happen longer than 4 games if not just 2)

[LouisEly]

WR is another position that is very deep this year. The challenge is that in college with the spread offenses/hurry-up tempos the sideline signals the play in and the WR runs the route without having to read the defense, so they do need time to adjust to the NFL.

 

That being said, because WR is so deep I think there are more Geronimo Allison's than people realize. Let them put two WRs on the practice squad to develop for a year to learn NFL defense-reading.

 

The problem with drafting one now is, where do you put them? You just can't carry seven WRs on the roster. You need your 5th/6th WR to be special teams players, which is where Janis excels. (BTW, the knock on Janis his first two years was learning routes but he did a pretty good job of tracking the ball in the playoffs two years ago. Last year he didn't play much because the WRs were healthy and because Allison was so good.)

[homer]

WR is another position that is very deep this year. The challenge is that in college with the spread offenses/hurry-up tempos the sideline signals the play in and the WR runs the route without having to read the defense, so they do need time to adjust to the NFL.

 

That being said, because WR is so deep I think there are more Geronimo Allison's than people realize. Let them put two WRs on the practice squad to develop for a year to learn NFL defense-reading.

 

The problem with drafting one now is, where do you put them? You just can't carry seven WRs on the roster. You need your 5th/6th WR to be special teams players, which is where Janis excels. (BTW, the knock on Janis his first two years was learning routes but he did a pretty good job of tracking the ball in the playoffs two years ago. Last year he didn't play much because the WRs were healthy and because Allison was so good.)

 

If there's one thing Ted Thompson is good at, it's drafting wide receivers.