Packers 2022 NFL Draft Discussion

[NBBrewFan]

I really hope they aren't going with a S/DB/QB/RB with any of the first 4 picks.  Those seem to me to be pretty low need considering the holes at WR, TE, depth issues at EDGE and OL plus a real need to upgrade their DL. I get the TE class is week, so that might just be a later/developmental pick with Lewis and Tonyan back (at some point). I am hoping for offense/defense split for the double first/second round picks then BPA/fill in needs for the remainder. An improvement in the personnel around Kenny Clark should be a priority.

[PeaveyFury]

Safety is a sneaky good draft pick with one of their first four, actually. Insurance if whatever unfolded with Savage lingers into 2022 and/or an eventual Amos departure.

[NBBrewFan]

I really want to see one of the stud DL's picked and from what I am seeing they will be gone by the 54th pick.  So that means #22/#28.  I also think they need to draft a WR early, but if one of their top players isn't there at #22 then there could be a tiny window where I would be ok with a Safety at #28, but their likely would be an EDGE that they could get instead.  Without seeing the board unfold it's hard to say.  The great thing with having 2 picks in RND 1 and 2 is that they will likely be less inclined to overdraft a player and I am praying Gute doesn't fixate on a few players then move around just to get them and lose some draft capital. With a deep draft there should be plenty of favorites!

[reillymcshane]

One guy that I had seen projected to GB was Michigan Edge rusher David Ojabo. Well, Ojabo torn his Achilles last week at Michigan's Pro Day. He will likely take at least six months to recover. Might mean he'll drop a bit come draft day.

[CheezWizHed]

I think Safety is a sneaky need on the team.  Sure, We have Amos and Savage, but not much for depth after those two. Plus, who knows if Amos or Savage is here after this year. ILB/S/TE is about the same need level, in my opinion and behind WR, DL, and OLB. 

[Joseph Zarr]

15 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

I think Safety is a sneaky need on the team.  Sure, We have Amos and Savage, but not much for depth after those two. Plus, who knows if Amos or Savage is here after this year. ILB/S/TE is about the same need level, in my opinion and behind WR, DL, and OLB. 

I agree. There are several very good Safeties available early - some, I would argue, are better pure Safety prospects than draft darling Kyle Hamilton who is more of that classic New NFL Modern era Hybrid.

[Joseph Zarr]

Circling back to TE's. A few updates.

(1) The Packers were rumored to be heavily in conversations with rising draft darling and absolute young Marcedes Lewis clone, Jelani Woods, (one of several early Draft crushes - don't worry, this happens every year) at his Pro Day. 

(2) Another TE draft crush of mine, Jeremy Ruckert, was seen in a walking boot at the OSU Pro Day (eeeeeek!) - an injury he suffered at the Senior Bowl. This is as they say in the bizness: 'No Bueno'.

(3) Jalen Wydermyer had an extremely and I mean extremely disappointing Pro Day performance. So much so, that his once major stan, Tony Pauline, now considers the possibility he may go un-drafted. This is an incredible fall from the pedestal he stepped on after his 2019 and 2020 seasons. There were legitimate questions after he showed repeated and careless drop issues this past season but, in a pod with Eric Crocker and Tony Pauline, they confirmed: even his agents have expressed concern. Yikes. Apparently, and I'm not kidding, he jumped a 25" Vert. 25". There are concerns he wouldn't break a 4.9 40. Let me repeat: Yikes. I would simply say: if the Packers were remotely thinking of drafting this kid I sure as heck am hoping they run far far away from that idea after their gamble and failed results with one Jace Sternberger. 

[reillymcshane]

Malik Willis of Liberty had a great pro day this past week - and I'm seeing him rise up on draft boards (into the Top 10). Guy still has some work to do, but scouts say his has the big upside teams love. He's perfect for a team that can let him sit for a year or two.

QBs tend to rise up on draft day. Kenny Pickett looks like a Top 20 pick as well, and Desmond Ridder is starting to pop up there as well. 

This is all good for the Packers. 

The more QBs that get taken ahead of us, the more other talent gets pushed down. 

Still a long way away from the draft. Lots can happen.

[NBBrewFan]

Playing around with pff draft simulator:

 

Don't really know much about Diesch or Farrel, but Jelani Woods looked like a replacement for Mercedes Lewis.  Went a bit WR crazy...

[stalton]

I think alot of BF would be up in arms if we picked WR 3 of our first 4 picks.

[wallus]

I think we need to draft a safety with the contract situation of Amos and Savage.

[reillymcshane]

1 hour ago, stalton said:

I think alot of BF would be up in arms if we picked WR 3 of our first 4 picks.

I doubt we do three - but two wouldn't surprise me. All depends on who's available at our picks.

[nate82]

As a Bears fan this is what I think the Packers will do:

 

On a more less trolling and serious version:

[CheezWizHed]

5 hours ago, NBBrewFan said:

Playing around with pff draft simulator:

 

Don't really know much about Diesch or Farrel, but Jelani Woods looked like a replacement for Mercedes Lewis.  Went a bit WR crazy...

Major overdraft of Woods.  You could've gotten him in a simulated 5th round. 

[CheezWizHed]

2 hours ago, nate82 said:

As a Bears fan this is what I think the Packers will do:

 

On a more less trolling and serious version:

The of those QBs would become HOFers though...

[Joseph Zarr]

6 hours ago, reillymcshane said:

Malik Willis of Liberty had a great pro day this past week - and I'm seeing him rise up on draft boards (into the Top 10). Guy still has some work to do, but scouts say his has the big upside teams love. He's perfect for a team that can let him sit for a year or two.

QBs tend to rise up on draft day. Kenny Pickett looks like a Top 20 pick as well, and Desmond Ridder is starting to pop up there as well. 

This is all good for the Packers. 

The more QBs that get taken ahead of us, the more other talent gets pushed down. 

Still a long way away from the draft. Lots can happen.

This would be an incredible scenario. Of the names mentioned, I would gather to say - at this point - only Willis is a sure fire 1st round pick. We shall see. 

[Joseph Zarr]

4 hours ago, stalton said:

I think alot of BF would be up in arms if we picked WR 3 of our first 4 picks.

I find the best response to literally any draft is: "Welp, that's over. I guess we'll see in about 3 years."

[Joseph Zarr]

Penn State Pro Day today. Gute and team in attendance:

 

I didn't realize Jahan Dotson was so small. I really didn't . For some reason, I thought he was bigger. Regardless, apparently he looked very smooth in drills:

 

One of my favorite Safeties in this draft also showcasing his physique. Man, I LOVE Jaquan Brisker. Built like a LB, moves like a CB. You want to replace Henry Black? Here's our guy:

Brandon Smith (PSU ILB) was also in attendance. He looks the part of an NFL LB. He just does. Lots to like there. Apparently he rested on his 4.52 Combine 40. With a 3 cone under 7 seconds, a 10'8" Broad, and a 37.5" vert this kid is plenty plenty athletic to man the middle in the NFL. At 6'3" 244 there's plenty to understand why many in the scouting community have him as a clear Day 2 pick.

For a full-scale write-up, visit PFN here: https://www.profootballnetwork.com/penn-state-pro-day-2022-jaquan-brisker-jahan-dotson-shine-in-front-of-decision-makers-for-cowboys-49ers-packers-more/

Edit to Add: I don't know why I failed to mention Ebiketie but, it should go without saying: The Packers were definitely watching his work. He would be a prime 2nd rd Edge target.

Their Pro Day coverage is fantastic, btw. Their draft coverage, in general, is really top notch. 

 

[nate82]

2 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

The of those QBs would become HOFers though...

LOL probably would.

[reillymcshane]

Dotson would be a really nice add for us.

I've seen him slotted mostly in the 2nd tier of WRs - after London, Olave, Wilson, Williams and Burks (in no particular order). His lack of size and strength are his biggest knocks, but he really is well rounded and should be able to help right away.

He'd be a fine pick at #28 - but almost no way he drops to us in round 2. 

[reillymcshane]

The mock draft thing at PFF.com is fun. Here's mine. I totally did a homer pick on Chenal - but I think he would fit for us (stress 'think'). I figure he can help a ton in the run game, plus he can still play as a pass rusher. Thus his coverage skills are minimized. I really wanted a DL type - but just couldn't pass up Raimann at #28. I went with McBride - passing on WR George Pickens. That might have been a mistake, but whatever. Just fun.

[nate82]

9 minutes ago, reillymcshane said:

The mock draft thing at PFF.com is fun. Here's mine. I totally did a homer pick on Chenal - but I think he would fit for us (stress 'think'). I figure he can help a ton in the run game, plus he can still play as a pass rusher. Thus his coverage skills are minimized. I really wanted a DL type - but just couldn't pass up Raimann at #28. I went with McBride - passing on WR George Pickens. That might have been a mistake, but whatever. Just fun.

Similar to my Bears draft but the Bears taking Chenal in round 2 along with a CB or WR.  Also have Parham to the Bears in the 4th I think.  

[BillScottCanRake]

Ok, the PFF.com mock draft is addictive.

For fun, I moved picks 22 and 28 and ended up with 14 picks starting at 32. You have to believe one of those 5 receviers will make an impact.

 

[NBBrewFan]

8 hours ago, BillScottCanRake said:

Ok, the PFF.com mock draft is addictive.

For fun, I moved picks 22 and 28 and ended up with 14 picks starting at 32. You have to believe one of those 5 receviers will make an impact.

No kidding!  While I like the gratification of a grade from PFF, I like the trade function in PFN's simulator (it offers trades to YOU almost every pick (and multiple that you can select among of counter). There's also obviously a difference in their boards.  For PFF I could draft Jameson Williams about 10% of the time, while for PFN he NEVER was available at 22.

Here was one I did where I dropped down from both 1st round picks to add multiple early round picks:

 

[patrickgpe]

If they don't go WR in the first round, the 1 WR's I like in rds 2-3 is Khalil Shakir and Skyy Moore