Packers Draft Thread.....

[KCBrewerfan34]

I’m trying to trade up to 5 for Allen or 7 or 8 for White. Then turn to the offensive side of the ball.

[Jenkins5]

Don’t sleep on Bush at 12! Gute skipped Clemson and other major pro days to go to Michigan. Gray didn’t participate & after huge combine Bush has worked way up. Doubt Gute picked that pro day over the likes of Clemson with 3 huge targets in top 15 just to see Chase Winovich as 2nd rounder. Clearly Packers had scouts at all the big ones but fact GM went there, leads me to believe Gray and/or Bush may be high on their list.

 

Devin White is the dream MLB to go with Martinez but I really don’t think Bush is that far off.

[CheezWizHed]

How is it you think Hockenson fits what LaFleur wants to do more than Fant? As I read this I'm thinking you're putting too much weight into his short time with the Titans, but I really don't know what HIS offense is so much as I know what Shannahan wants to do and McCvoy and his coaching tree and they seem to desire those Jordan Reed TE's.

 

Not that Hockenson isn't a TE who fits everywhere..it just seems as if you're saying he's a better fit than Fant in this offense. Not arguing, just curious.

 

Most of it was based on writers talking about Lefluer's style and the coaching tree he came from. Signing Lewis is probably another hint of needing better blockers at TE. Hopefully, he is smart enough to coach what he has rather than the other way around.

 

However, I was comparing Fant and Hockenson a little closer this morning and was surprised at how similar body types they have. Fant actually has larger hands and longer arms than Hock, and only 1/2 inch shorter at essentially the same weight. Everything that I've read said he a pass catcher only. Maybe I'm projecting too much Irv Smith on him.

 

But despite all of that, having a TE that can do both exponentially improves the offense as defenses can't assume pass vs. run based on personnel.

[brewcrewdue80]

Kiper on ESPN radio is calling Jonah Williams? I believe a T from Alabama as our fitting need and pick. Hope its true as I want Rodgers to have more time. Then for 30 suggested a WR to replace Cobb some name with Hollywood in it. I dont neccesarily feel WR is needed after the collection of WRs we have from last year's draft.

[xisxisxis]

Don’t sleep on Bush at 12! Gute skipped Clemson and other major pro days to go to Michigan. Gray didn’t participate & after huge combine Bush has worked way up. Doubt Gute picked that pro day over the likes of Clemson with 3 huge targets in top 15 just to see Chase Winovich as 2nd rounder. Clearly Packers had scouts at all the big ones but fact GM went there, leads me to believe Gray and/or Bush may be high on their list.

I think that was when the Jets were shopping their pick and Gray was a likely option for the team. I haven't seen any mocks where Gray lasts until the 12th pick. All of the above occurred before the big FA signings so there may be a big change in thinking now. I believe without the Smith's, Gute was going to trade up to take an impact D, but now he has the luxury to see what happens before him at #12.

[GAME05]

If I remember the numbers correctly, LaFleur ran the ball 55% of the time in Jacksonville, while MM ran it 35% of the time. Granted, LaFleur didn't have a QB, but if he plans to run that much more, the RB from Alabama at 30 wouldn't surprise me.

[PeaveyFury]

LaFleur wasn't in Jacksonville, the OC was.

[homer]

Maybe he meant Tennessee?

[OnTheBlack]

This mock isn't TERRIBLE.

 

Looks like that was from end of January before the bad performance of Polite at the combine. There was a recent version on USAtoday that I found last night which was updated for early FA moves.

 

I was in B&N and read the Athlon (sp?) and Sporting News draft issues/mags which both were early picks. Not sure how reliable either publication is based on past drafts. Maybe 538 can do a weighted ranking based on sites which could have more value.

 

 

I think Sweat is now a top 15 pick at worst, and I'm seeing him gone before the Packers pick on most mock drafts. I tend to look at ESPN and NFL.com or the NFL Network shows more often. Not that they're the best, just the shows that I tend to have on while doing other things and I don't think I've seen Greedy Williams in the first in a mock draft in any of those sites for a while now.

 

I would be interested in a study by 538, but even then, even if they found the best sites for predicting mock drafts, you're still going to have guys that we as fans see as top 15 picks going in the 3rd or 4th rounds and other guys shooting up draft boards.

 

A friend of mine is always mocking Mel Kiper...who I think is as good as just about anyone else at doing this by picking some of his worst projections. But everyone has them.

 

 

For what it's worth, the latest one I just saw on ESPN.com had Hockenson going 12th and Burns going 30th...and again, no Greedy Williams.

 

Maybe we get lucky and get a guy like Williams in the 2nd round. He's too talented to slip too far, right? And I just can't help but salivate at a King-Greedy combo with Alexander in the slot and then maybe Amos as the Strong Safety rather than the Free and Josh Jackson as a Free Safety?

[OnTheBlack]

I don't watch a lick of NCAA sports other than wrestling, so I really have no opinion on any players. But I wouldn't surprised or opposed if they went with another edge rusher. You really can't have enough of them. If I were a betting man I would put money one of those first rounders being a TE though. If I still agree with Ted Thompson on anything, the draft really should be BPA all the time outside of QB.

 

 

Not a single person on here watches enough of NCAA Football to really form opinions about these guys! We all just read a bunch of stuff, look at the Packers defense and then pick our favorites with a fraction of the information that the team has!

 

There are only a few examples of guys that I've seen in college Football that I KNEW I really wanted and they're the same that most people would look at. Bosa from how he ran past our OL like it was a drill, Hockenson from playing vs us in '18, and then the other guy who really stands out is a 'Bama DT who dominated the last two years in the playoffs. I'm pretty sure it's not Williams, I thought the guy was a True Frosh last year.

 

Anyway, if there are any real scouts out there, I apologize, but for the most part, we're taking very little info and forming opinions and are largely ignorant about most of these guys, same as you.

 

But I would like to see another edge rusher picked early...hopefully a guy who can become a elite young Clay type player.

[OnTheBlack]

Kiper on ESPN radio is calling Jonah Williams? I believe a T from Alabama as our fitting need and pick. Hope its true as I want Rodgers to have more time. Then for 30 suggested a WR to replace Cobb some name with Hollywood in it. I dont neccesarily feel WR is needed after the collection of WRs we have from last year's draft.

 

 

I'm good with that, though I don't think it's because Rodgers needs more time. I just think it's a smart, practical pick for both the future and Williams is a guy who could step in and start right away.

 

If you do pick Williams this year...that Turner signing looks even worse. You'd likely move Williams to RG..where he could be a pro-bowler early on and he could be protection for Bulaga and Bahktari and then he could slide out to RT for the future and be a 10 year starter. Another Clifton/Tauscher combo(though Bahktari is clearly better than Clifton).

 

 

As for WR'er...what we "need" is something we can pick up even after the draft. I would hope that St. Brown, Scantling and Moore(though I think little of the latter) would be ready to make a big jump this year, giving you two 6'4+ 4.4 40 WR'ers who can go up and get 50/50 balls along with a legit #1 in Adams. I'd definitely say that a TE is more important, even if it's Irv Smith with the 30th pick and we miss out on both Iowa guys. Jonah Williams and Irv Smith may not be a sexy draft, but it could really round out our team. Then take some big swings with the next 4 picks.

[OnTheBlack]

If I remember the numbers correctly, LaFleur ran the ball 55% of the time in Jacksonville, while MM ran it 35% of the time. Granted, LaFleur didn't have a QB, but if he plans to run that much more, the RB from Alabama at 30 wouldn't surprise me.

 

 

Yeah, speaking of the variation of mock drafts, I just saw one that had two Bama backs going in round 1.

 

Anyway, I would imagine we'll run the ball more, but only because we'd be stupid not to. I don't know how many times Arod checked out of a run to throw the ball....you could see him doing it from time to time, but if there's ONE thing that I'd really like to see change on this offense, I'd like to see the Packers just being more steady. There's absolutely no reason we couldn't run an offense like the Pats. We have a more talented offense at every position sans TE than the Pats. But to Rodgers detriment, he likes to extend plays when his first read is open for a 6-7 yard gain and instead he likes to scramble, leave the pocket and look for the big play. That's partly what makes him great, but it also stops a lot of our drives.

 

If we ran the ball about 8-10 pct more often, and Rodgers was throwing on rhythm more often, we'd cut WAY down on our 3 and outs and our defense wouldn't have to be on the field nearly as much as it is.

 

 

Think back to some of the games Rodgers has been hurt, be it the calf or his knee from last year. He's been forced to throw from the pocket, and with his arm, and how accurate he is, you saw the offense moving the ball better in smaller chunks. I'd like to see us go back to being a team that focuses on YAC yards rather than Rodgers going for that big shot so often.

[PeaveyFury]

If you do pick Williams this year...that Turner signing looks even worse. You'd likely move Williams to RG..

 

?? Turner is being pegged as the starter at RG. If they draft Williams and he's starting, it's likely because Bulaga is gone. Turner was signed to play, not be a reserve.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I don't watch a lick of NCAA sports other than wrestling, so I really have no opinion on any players. But I wouldn't surprised or opposed if they went with another edge rusher. You really can't have enough of them. If I were a betting man I would put money one of those first rounders being a TE though. If I still agree with Ted Thompson on anything, the draft really should be BPA all the time outside of QB.

 

 

Not a single person on here watches enough of NCAA Football to really form opinions about these guys! We all just read a bunch of stuff, look at the Packers defense and then pick our favorites with a fraction of the information that the team has!

 

There are only a few examples of guys that I've seen in college Football that I KNEW I really wanted and they're the same that most people would look at. Bosa from how he ran past our OL like it was a drill, Hockenson from playing vs us in '18, and then the other guy who really stands out is a 'Bama DT who dominated the last two years in the playoffs. I'm pretty sure it's not Williams, I thought the guy was a True Frosh last year.

 

Anyway, if there are any real scouts out there, I apologize, but for the most part, we're taking very little info and forming opinions and are largely ignorant about most of these guys, same as you.

 

But I would like to see another edge rusher picked early...hopefully a guy who can become a elite young Clay type player.

 

I literally couldn't name a college football player other than a guy or two everyone on my FB feed complains about from WI.

[CheezWizHed]

[sarcasm]Dude! I'm the best arm-chair scout around! [/sarcasm]

 

Seriously though, LouisEly always seems to have a decent eye with his draft predictions which should be coming out pretty soon.

[OnTheBlack]

If you do pick Williams this year...that Turner signing looks even worse. You'd likely move Williams to RG..

 

?? Turner is being pegged as the starter at RG. If they draft Williams and he's starting, it's likely because Bulaga is gone. Turner was signed to play, not be a reserve.

 

 

I don't see them cutting Bulaga who has a very manageable cap number this year and instead trusting a totally unproven journeyman OL. This is a guy who was decent last year for the Broncos, but before that spent all of a week with the Ravens before being cut, was cut not long after being a 3rd round pick for Miami.

 

I'd see no reason to Cut Bulaga just because Williams dropped to you at 12. If Turner starts for a full season and is good, it'll be the first time in his career whereas Bulaga has been a good to elite tackle in the NFL when he's played.

 

 

The ONE scenario I could see Bulaga not opening the season with the Packers would be if they decided to trade him. Given the stupid money given out to tackles, and given how much MORE valuable RT's are now than they've ever been(just slightly less important than LT's since pass rushers are lining up over the RT's) he'd be able to start on probably 20+ teams.

 

Turner was more the result of the fact that Spriggs has been a bust and they don't have anyone athletic enough to play both tackle spots in a pinch if one of our two starters go down. He'll get the first crap at the starting job obviously and if he doesn't hold onto it(Which I don't think is a given)...that's gonna look REALLY bad.

 

 

If he was just signed to play guard, they could have signed a better player for cheaper. He was signed because of his ability to play tackle...which he only started 4 games last year out of the 11 he started total in his "breakout," year. The Packers to me signed 3 good players and then just took a total flier on a OL and paid FAR more than anyone else was willing to making it appear to be a very bad signing at this point. Of course I'll wait until guys actually play before declaring it good or bad.

[PeaveyFury]

I don't see them cutting Bulaga who has a very manageable cap number this year

 

Bulaga carries the largest cap savings that the Packers could/would realistically free up by releasing a guy at $6.67 million. For all of the discussion about Graham, TWil, etc., it's Bulaga that is probably the most in trouble if the Packers want to free up more space.

 

That doesn't mean they will, of course. Bulaga may still have productive days ahead of him, and that's for the Packers to decide.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I was all for Bulaga, Matthews and Cobb getting cut last offseason. Bulaga was a really good player but I think he's in Jimmy Nelson territory at this point where depending on him to do much of anything is a best case scenario. Going off the rails a bit but I think Nelson is a better bet. I wouldn't be surprised or opposed to just getting rid of him, but OL depth is not exactly common in the NFL so I can see why they'd want to try salvaging him too.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Well, I think they can cross Jaylon Ferguson off the list of potential picks. You could have timed his 3-cone drill with an obelisk.

[wildcat83]

Well, I think they can cross Jaylon Ferguson off the list of potential picks. You could have timed his 3-cone drill with an obelisk.

 

Really weird results, his 3 cone and short shuttle are terrible, but everything else was pretty good. Even his 10 split on his 40's were not bad. He's sort of stiff on film, but not that bad. I think Albers could grunt out a better 3 cone.

[OnTheBlack]

I don't see them cutting Bulaga who has a very manageable cap number this year

 

Bulaga carries the largest cap savings that the Packers could/would realistically free up by releasing a guy at $6.67 million. For all of the discussion about Graham, TWil, etc., it's Bulaga that is probably the most in trouble if the Packers want to free up more space.

 

That doesn't mean they will, of course. Bulaga may still have productive days ahead of him, and that's for the Packers to decide.

 

 

Just because it's the highest doesn't mean it's not manageable or makes any sense to do so. He's still been a very, very good RT and you don't find guys like that for 6.7 million dollars. When we have both tackles healthy, we have two bookends. The Packers are still 24 million under the cap(roughly, 23 and change). And that numbers looks infinitely better when compared to Billy Turner's cap number.

 

If Bulaga comes into TC healthy and makes it through TC healthy, there's absolutely no reason to cut him. Even if they do draft a guy like Jonah Williams 12th. Again, when healthy, Bulaga is among the best pass blocking RT's in the NFL...and not to be a broken record, but he's the guy facing Mack and most other premier pass rushers.

[OnTheBlack]

I was all for Bulaga, Matthews and Cobb getting cut last offseason. Bulaga was a really good player but I think he's in Jimmy Nelson territory at this point where depending on him to do much of anything is a best case scenario. Going off the rails a bit but I think Nelson is a better bet. I wouldn't be surprised or opposed to just getting rid of him, but OL depth is not exactly common in the NFL so I can see why they'd want to try salvaging him too.

 

 

I don't quite agree with that. I mean, I have confidence that Nelson will come back this year, but comparing a starting pitcher with reconstructive shoulder surgery and an OL with now a year away from a torn ACL? He came back the last time he tore his ACL and according to PFF was the best pass blocking RT in the NFL for a stretch.

 

And as much as anything, I look at this RIDICULOUS deals given out to average or historically below average tackles(Turner) and a healthy Bulaga is a steal at 6.6 this year. Bulaga is just 30 years old, he's elite when healthy and his injury history is primarily bad luck, two torn ACL's on each leg.

 

 

Of course the Packers know a lot more about these things than we do. Maybe they're more concerned about something he's currently dealing with and that's why they so grossly overpaid for a journeyman....who in all fairness is young and does have athletic ability. But certainly has not proven to be worth almost 30 million over 4 years.

[OnTheBlack]

Well, I think they can cross Jaylon Ferguson off the list of potential picks. You could have timed his 3-cone drill with an obelisk.

 

 

The combine and pro day is a tool. ONE tool.

 

Antonio Brown ran a 4.56-second 40, he had only a 33.5-inch vertical and a 6.98-second 3-cone. His 8-foot, 9-inch broad was dead LAST among WR'ers that year.

T-Sizzle was AWFUL at the combine, Kam, Joe Haden ran like a 4.6 and was an elite CB for several years with the Browns.

 

I've seen NFL scouts say the one stat that translates the most from college production to NFL production is sacks. If you can get to the QB in College, you are likely to be a good pass rusher at the next level.

 

 

But now maybe he's available for us at 44. That wouldn't be so bad. BAP at 12...maybe it allows you to take a guy like Hockenson who is moving up board or the previously discussed Jonah Williams. Maybe Sweat falls to you and you grab a guy like Fant at 30. Maybe you end up with Greedy Williams, Noah Fant and Jaylon Ferguson? Would anyone be too disappointing with a 4.4 TE threat, a big, long, physical sub 4.4 40 CB to play opposite King and then the NCAA's all time sack leaders to come in as a rotational pass rusher?

 

 

 

Although, I gotta say, the most I see the tapes on Kentucky's Allen, the more I'd be perfectly, 100 pct happy to trade both 1sts, and our 2nd to move up and grab him at #4 if he's available. The guy just killed SEC tackles, and you see video of him running 40 yards downfield making a play on the ball. If you think he's the next superstar.....that's the type of move you've gotta make.

[OnTheBlack]

Well, I think they can cross Jaylon Ferguson off the list of potential picks. You could have timed his 3-cone drill with an obelisk.

 

Really weird results, his 3 cone and short shuttle are terrible, but everything else was pretty good. Even his 10 split on his 40's were not bad. He's sort of stiff on film, but not that bad. I think Albers could grunt out a better 3 cone.

 

 

Those are usually pretty vital drills for pass rushers. That and his vertical and long jump give you an idea of his get off. Heck, as much as I've speculated, maybe he drops to the 3rd round and we snag him there and he becomes one of these guys everyone talks about their terrible testing while dominating the NFL.

[PeaveyFury]

Just because it's the highest doesn't mean it's not manageable or makes any sense to do so. He's still been a very, very good RT and you don't find guys like that for 6.7 million dollars. When we have both tackles healthy, we have two bookends. The Packers are still 24 million under the cap(roughly, 23 and change). And that numbers looks infinitely better when compared to Billy Turner's cap number.

 

If Bulaga comes into TC healthy and makes it through TC healthy, there's absolutely no reason to cut him. Even if they do draft a guy like Jonah Williams 12th. Again, when healthy, Bulaga is among the best pass blocking RT's in the NFL...and not to be a broken record, but he's the guy facing Mack and most other premier pass rushers.

 

Problem is, Bulaga has rarely stayed healthy throughout his career- he's only played in more than 75% of the games 3 times in his career thus far. Obviously, the Packers will be better able to make a decision on his health and effectiveness better than we will, but I think there's a strong chance that if they're presented with a better option, they'll cut him if they feel that he either isn't a good bet to stay healthy or ineffective if he does.

 

Also, not sure where you're seeing the $23million and change for the cap- they're closer to $14 at this point, and $7-8 million when factoring in the draft class.