2018 Packers Draft Selections and Discussion

[JosephC]

There is the speed receiver. Now I like the Moore pick that much more. Getting lucky on my projections. Had both Alexander and Madison in my pre-draft projection, and had Valdes-Scantling on the day three projection I did this morning.

[PeaveyFury]

I'm half expecting Vogel to be traded for a 6th.

[homer]

This has me rethinking my position on Scott:

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/2015-college-football-preview-alabama-jk-scott-punting-sensation/

[young guns]

For the first post, 186 went to Seattle as part of the 27 to 18 trade.

[PeaveyFury]

You'd have to think that the second receiver would put Trevor Davis solidly on the hotseat this camp.

[homer]

For the first post, 186 went to Seattle as part of the 27 to 18 trade.

 

Got it. Thanks.

[Jenkins5]

Congratulations Gutekunst on your first dumb-dumb pick. Last year's rookie punter was seventh in the NFL in net average. Good luck getting a much better performance than that. OLB, TE, S positions all could use help. Also could have added more depth to OL or WR. They must not like the bottom of the board to take a punter there.

 

2x first team All American, 6’6 with incredible extension & power in leg. Outstanding on kick offs. Vogel was good but it has been some time since we had an elite punter (Bidwell maybe?). If they see elite potential in him, roll the dice. Field position is huge, lost best gunner in league which helped inflat Vogel’s net a bit in Janis.

 

I’m fine with not liking specialist in 5th round but to complain because not getting OLB or TE that is just laughable. What garbage non impact or ceiling guy you want them to reach on? Well is pretty dry for both. You take BPA, not just pick marginal talents who are bodies to fill a roster position. Scott & MVS are both high ceiling talents. I rather go that direction over picking blah talent to say you drafted someone at that position

[PeaveyFury]

Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame in the 6th. Some people wanted him back with our fourth, so not sure why he fell.

[homer]

Hall of Fame name

[PeaveyFury]

James Looney, DT, Cal with the first 7th.

[PeaveyFury]

Hunter Bradley, LS, Mississippi State is 2nd in the 7th

[young guns]

That was a superb highlight reel of that long snapper there.

[PeaveyFury]

Kendall Donnerson, OLB, Southeast Missouri State wraps things up for Green Bay. Somewhat surprised they made all 8 scheduled picks today...

[CheezWizHed]

My $0.02 evaluation of our draft picks. Please don't complain that I overcharged you...

 

Jaire Alexander - I'm still not sold on shorter CBs, but certainly has the speed to back him up. I'm a bit concerned about staying healthy in the NFL, but should be Week 1 Nickle/Dime CB to cover the slot. I assume Jaire was a possibility at #14, so a great use of draft pick capitol to squeak out a 2019 1st rounder by basically burning a 3rd round pick this year.

 

Josh Jackson - A gift of a CB dropped to us that you can't pass up. Compared to Richard Sherman, he also evokes (to me) comparisons to fellow 2nd round pick Al Harris. Tough and physical CB that is capable of starting Week 1 if necessary. Excellent value pick here.

 

Oren Burks - So what is he? Well, athletic to start. Safety coverage skills are there, but lacking some LB instincts. If they plug him in at Nickle/Dime LB and let him figure that out they will maximize his rookie impact. Then see how he figures out run coverage for 3 down LB duties as he grows.

 

J'mon Moore - Moore will probably compete with Allison, Yancy, Davis for the 3rd and 4th WRs. I see a lot of Davante in him, but less polished. Similar sized hands give him the same catch issues. But Moore has better speed/3-cone numbers that could give him better route potential. There will be a LOT of WR competition.

 

Cole Madison - Typical 4th/5th round Packer selection of an OT turned G. Even has the hair-do and facial hair to remind of Josh Sitton. Some possibility at RT, but probably more of future at G. Like WR, there will be a LOT of competition to backup G and RT this year. I'll give him 50/50 odds of sticking.

 

JK Scott - The "what the ...???" moment of the draft. Beyond starting QB, I thought Punter was the lowest need on the team. Vogel did really well as a rookie. Really, really well. Not only in results, but showed nerves of steel when pressured or backed up to the goal line. But Scott looks like he has better overall skills and a bigger leg. Including the all important kick-off and place-kick holder positions. Punting competition is coming.... but it should be the good kind (with two viable choices instead of our previous kind where we had to abort and grab someone from waivers).

 

Marquez Valdes-Scantling - Taller version of Davis. With all the WRs on this team, I'm not sure how he makes the team. Can't teach speed though.

 

Equanimeous St. Brown - Winner of Most Pretentious Name of the Draft award. Another huge potential WR that lacks strength to compete right away. He will have to show something to stay on the team with all the other WRs picked this year and last.

 

James Looney - Another heads scratcher for me. Seems like a 4-3 DE only. Too small for a 3-4 DE without much chance to grow. Too slow for an OLB. I don't see how he fits.

 

Hunter Bradley - 6 year college student due to 2 ACL tears. Probably the worst kept secret of the draft? Might be working with Scott and Crosby for future FGs.

 

Kendall Donnerson - Workout warrior red flags flying high. Special teams will be his ticket on the team, but probably a practice squad candidate while he figures out football.

 

Overall the draft started well, but the end of the draft ended oddly. Some talented guys, but a good chance that 3-4 of them will be cut or need time on the PS.

[PeaveyFury]

 

Cole Madison - Typical 4th/5th round Packer selection of an OT turned G. Even has the hair-do and facial hair to remind of Josh Sitton. Some possibility at RT, but probably more of future at G. Like WR, there will be a LOT of competition to backup G and RT this year. I'll give him 50/50 odds of sticking starting.

 

Fixed this, just IMO.

 

A few quick thoughts on the class, especially regarding yesterday:

 

I think the increased emphasis on athleticism and speed is apparent. Many of the guys, including the late rounders, were at or near the top of their position rankings (SPARQ) for this. I think we'd all agree that, especially on defense, this is much needed.

 

It will be interesting to see if the large number of 'pre-draft visit' selections was a GM's first draft anamoly or a predictor in the future. I saw one board that was to some degree predicting yesterday's picks based off that list.

 

I think the activity yesterday was indicative of two things: 1)A willingness to select BPA on their board to build depth, rather than focusing on filling needs, and 2)the idea that they weren't completely enamored with the depth at some positions, especially Edge, after the early rounds. I truly think they took the receivers because they were each good value on their board, rather than because they felt they 'had' to take three of them.

 

As I said during the draft, I think the big loser this weekend was Trevor Davis. Along with some of the fringe DB's and Rollins, I think this camp is going to be a fight for guys like Davis and Rollins to prove that they belong.

 

I was surprised they made all 8 scheduled picks yesterday to some degree. I thought there would be more packaging/movement to go after guys. The fact that they didn't suggests to me that adding bodies numerically to build depth and/or the lack of conviction that they had about particular guys on their board didn't entice them to go get anybody. Cheezwiz noted that some of the 7ths like Looney are a bit puzzling, but I wonder if taking a guy like that was based on atheticizm alone and really 'take him with a pick so we don't have to compete for him as a UDFA' is the thought there.

 

The specialist picks don't really bother me. A punter in the 5th is odd, but based on the Raiders' selection of one behind us means that we correctly assumed that JK was going to them if we didn't take him there. Many have noted since the pick that Packers' staff comments regarding Vogel, especially ST coach Ron Zook, were lukewarm last year despite Vogel's numerically solid performance. I would think that JK's ability to kickoff and experience holding (which oddly WAS an issue last year) were at least somewhat attractive. And the LS? In the 7th, it doesn't bother me. As I said about Looney above, it's perhaps more about not wanting to risk losing him as an UDFA than anything, and they've clearly been trying to move on from Goode for a couple of years, unsuccessfully.

[homer]

I think Davis and Clark are gone and I haven't heard one word about Yancey since he was drafted. Gotta figure they go with Adams, Cobb, Allison...and then take your pick. I'm guessing at least two of the receivers from this year make the team and they stash the other on the PS.

[LouisEly]

I don't mind the JK Scott selection - dude has a power leg. Averaged 48 yards/punt on 55 punts as a freshman and 47.2/punt on 64 punts as a junior. Put 50% of his punts inside the 20 as a senior.

 

The head-scratcher for me was drafting three WRs, particularly at the expense of a TE. Apparently didn't learn from last year when they didn't have room for the 2nd WR they drafted, had to draft three this year. Likely says they are not sold on Davis and Yancey. MV-S replaces Janis and will need to be on special teams until (if) he learns to run routes.

 

What this draft implies to me is that they are sold on their safety and OLB group and have confidence in Spriggs. It also implies to me that they plan on keeping 7 WRs and two TEs. Unless they are really high on Byrd, I don't see them keeping Byrd or Tonyan over drafted WRs. Barring injury, WR group likely is Adams/Cobb/Allison/Moore and then three of Clark, MV-S, St. Brown, Davis, Yancey. Perhaps they have Clark try to put some weight on and move to TE.

[CheezWizHed]

Davis is probably gone, but Clark is one of my personal favorites, so I hope he sticks around. But I wonder how much Gutekunst might be cleaning house from TT? Given the amount of young development WRs we have right now, how in the world do you give each enough time to see if there is anything legit there?

[LouisEly]

The Packers have a complex system, and it takes at least a year or more to get on the same page as Rodgers. With this system you have to draft WRs a year before you need them. They'll get a year to evaluate these guys.

 

The other thing is that they may be looking at the Vikings and think you don't have to spend high picks on WRs to find good ones. With so many college teams running a spread offense, there are a lot of receivers coming out every year and the delta between a 5th/6th round WR might not be that much compared to a 2nd/3rd round WR. The thought might be to replace quality with quantity in later rounds.

[patrickgpe]

after reading up on what was done, overall I am happy. I wish they would have addressed the TE position, but i love that they got 2 huge WR's early on Saturday. My only concern on alexander is his health. I think he is tall enough to play the position but he needs to stay healthy. Johnson made the draft, I wanted him at 18 and to get him in the 2nd was awesome. some are questioning drafting the long snapper and punter, but hopefully this adds some stability to those 2 positions. Its been musical punters forever and the LS has been in peril for 2-3 years. using compensatory picks to do that doesn't bother me.

[CheezWizHed]

The Packers have a complex system, and it takes at least a year or more to get on the same page as Rodgers. With this system you have to draft WRs a year before you need them. They'll get a year to evaluate these guys.

 

That is my point though. They have so many, its really hard to keep them. Especially with pulling in three development WRs two years in a row. Yancy, Dupre and Clark came in last year. They lost Dupre off the PS, Yancy was pulled for depth, but did nothing, and Clark was pulled so he wasn't stolen off the PS.

 

We have Adams, Cobb, Allison and Davis as the main holdovers (granted Davis is in real danger to be cut this year). Add in the three new draft picks and there is a lot of decisions to be made. Personally, I don't think they will keep 7 WRs on the 53-man; at least not for long. 6 WRs, 2 TEs and probably 6RBs (2 FBs).

 

Locks: Cobb, Adams

Probable: Allison, Moore

Best of the rest: Davis, Clark, Yancy, MVS, and St. Brown.

 

There is a good chance that 2 of those stick on the PS this year again, but a lot of talent for probably two roster spots nonetheless.

[Jenkins5]

From seasons end to training camp Packers should have had Clark on the Giannis & Thon diet (6000 to 8000 calories a day) & lifting heavy to bulk him up for TE. Get him up to 240-245 for this season. 250-255 in 2019. Never be an inline guy but could use him like a Graham. His frame isn’t slight like a MVS or St. Brown. Problem is he had always trained as a b-ball player & later a WR. He has the dream frame to work with. It is amazing what colleges & NFL strength & conditioning. David Edwards 6’7 220 QB/TE recruit...redshirts, 6’7 285 next season.... by rs Soph season 6’7 310. That is just my opinion & dream for him though.

 

Incredibly interesting story on the Brown (St. Brown kids) family!

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.si.com/college-football/2017/09/06/equanimeous-osiris-amonra-st-brown-brothers-family

[superfly]

I really don't see a problem with all the WR. Folks act like we have this surplus of wealth there....have we watched the past 2-3 years of football? One guy gets hurt and it's a total disaster out there. It's been showing in ARodge's effectiveness too, as small as it may be. He shouldn't have to be a magician out there 24/7, it's too taxing. I was actually hoping we'd have put a bigger priority on WR with a 1st-2nd rounder, but hard to do that when JJ falls into your lap in the 2nd. Overall I don't mind the draft one bit, only hmm would be the punter, but if he's really that good he will be a great weapon for the special teams here for the next decade.

[FVBrewerFan]

The Packers have a complex system, and it takes at least a year or more to get on the same page as Rodgers. With this system you have to draft WRs a year before you need them. They'll get a year to evaluate these guys.

 

Those days are over. I mean, I agree with you that's the way it's always been. Part of the reason is they've always had that luxury, the top 3-5 WR have always been set in years past.

 

This is one example of many, this organization needs to wake up and get beyond 2010. Is the offense complex? Sure. But c'mon, it's football. Figure it out, learn it and move on. Rodgers has to be on board with that too. "I'm not throwing it to you until I trust you." Waive good-bye to that line of thinking.

 

There are four new, big WRs including Clark. All we need is for two of them to be ready to contribute in Week 1. Obviously injuries factor in to all this, and there's no way all of their top 8 or so WRs will avoid injury between now and week 1.

[CheezWizHed]

I updated the UDFAs based on the official Packer list. These guys are either only invited to the rookie camp or they failed a physical:

 

 

Damon Gibson, TE/WR Minnesota—Moorhead

Naashon Hughes, OLB, Texas

Chris Seisay, CB, Portland State