The Packers Will Draft At No. 28 Overall
by Brandon on Jan 18, 2012 10:00 AM CST
in Green Bay Packers Draft
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BBAO: NFC North draft order - NFC North Blog - ESPN. One thing that's been set by the Green Bay Packers loss to the Giants is that they'll be picking No. 28 overall.
Every mock draft I've read over the past several weeks, such as the most recent one from SB Nation, has them drafting a defensive lineman. I really don't want them to get too focused on one position. It's hard to predict the bottom of the 1st round. This seems to be a talented draft pool, but sometimes you have to go with the only player left above your first round line, as the Packers did in 2005 when they drafted Aaron Rodgers.
In more recent years, they seemed pretty ecstatic when Bryan Bulaga was still available with the No. 23 overall pick, and that's worked out pretty well. While they had a need at tackle, they had just re-signed Clifton and Tauscher, so it wasn't essential to draft one.
Let's hope there's a defensive player available with a first round grade when they draft next April.
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Pass Rusher
if they grade out a rusher in the mid to late first round, they should go after him. I agree that if they stay at 28 they shouldn’t just take the best pass rusher available, they need to take the best player. Other than QB, ILB, and probably WR the probably isn’t a single position we couldn’t upgrade.
REPORTER: What do you think is happening to the team?
MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON: The ship be sinking.
REPORTER: How far can it sink?
MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON: Sky's the limit.
by uofmike on Jan 18, 2012 10:55 AM CST via Android app reply actions
*there probably isn't a single position we couldn't upgrade
REPORTER: What do you think is happening to the team?
MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON: The ship be sinking.
REPORTER: How far can it sink?
MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON: Sky's the limit.
by uofmike on Jan 18, 2012 10:56 AM CST via Android app up reply actions
Trade up
We need a top tier DE/OLB/CB in the worst way. We already have depth and a young team.
I know this probably won’t happen as TT is gonna do TT things, but I think the best thing would be to trade up for an impact player IF IF IF we don’t think one will be there at 28.
there should be options
imo right now we should be drafting for depth on the dline and olb, unless someone ridiculous falls in our laps. hoping michael brockers from my school lsu is available, he can really fill thevoid at de.
by bcbullyblinders on Jan 18, 2012 11:14 AM CST via Android app reply actions
more depth?
How many more average dudes do we need? Wynn, Wilson, Neal, Green are all serviceable on the DL. Jones, Walden, Zombo are all about the same at LB. The last thing we need is another average player.
not average if 1st round ready
when i said depth i meant throughout draft. still think someone to relace pickett or wynn is biggest need. brockers IS all over the place and might not be there. i also would love to see us snatch up chris polk in round 3 or so. could be a big hit in this offense.
by bcbullyblinders on Jan 19, 2012 8:31 AM CST via Android app up reply actions
Replace Pickett?
He’s a good run stuffer and a valuable piece to our D. Maybe we need to pick up his eventual successor, but Pickett does not need to be replaced. Not every defensive linemen needs to be able to rush the passer.
While Brockers has a ton of talent and may still be there at 28, he’s not gonna solve our DL problems immediately. He should be able to step in and play well against the run, but hes still very young and needs work on developing his skills. In a few years Brockers could be a star, but he needs to develop a little more first.
our dline...
was beaten consistently. maybe not picketts fault alone but this team was drastically bad at point of attack and needs someone to engage opposing linemen and free up the linebackers. that said, wouldnt want us wasting a pick on a reach at that spot.
by bcbullyblinders on Jan 19, 2012 6:57 PM CST via Android app up reply actions
I'd take Brockers in a heartbeat!
Might be THE most talented defensive player in this draft! Will take him a good year or so to develop, but should still be able to contribute early. In a couple years he should be the best Defensive player in this draft. I just don’t think you pass on that kinda talent.
Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!
brockers
Isn’t he the #1 DT on Kiper’s board? I would be thrilled if we could get him, but don’t get my hopes up!
Its weird
Different scouts and people have him rated differently. I’m guessing that’s because they haven’t done their homework about Brockers yet. He’s still a young player who would have been better served by going back to college this year, and that may hurt his overall draft position.
And, I bet,
Different scouts and people have him rated differently. I’m guessing that’s because they haven’t done their homework about Brockers yet.
TT has him rated differently than all of ’em.
"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."
"We're nobody's underdog!"
"We don't play scared!"
After further review,
the Munsters of the Midway still suck!
OLB
Take Andre Branch of Clemson if available. Will transition to OLB at the next level. Make up for the mistake of taking Sherrod when Brooks Reed was available last year. How much better would the pass rush have been with Reed and Matthews. Reed has 10.5 sacks.
in fairness
Reed seemed to be better fit for impressive workouts than football stats
REPORTER: What do you think is happening to the team?
MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON: The ship be sinking.
REPORTER: How far can it sink?
MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON: Sky's the limit.
by uofmike on Jan 18, 2012 11:32 AM CST via Android app up reply actions
Meaning?
Who on the Packers had 10.5 sacks?
by 66Nitschke66 on Jan 18, 2012 2:01 PM CST up reply actions
meaning
he had 1 healthy season of starting in College, in which he had 6.5 sacks. They could have taken a shot on him, but his stock jumped so high because he had such a good workout… which is always a little worrisome, especially when his sack numbers weren’t amazing in that healthy starting season.
REPORTER: What do you think is happening to the team?
MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON: The ship be sinking.
REPORTER: How far can it sink?
MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON: Sky's the limit.
The OL was the spot of worry last draft with Tauscher and Clifton,the uncertainty of Lang
Lets leave the hindsight out of this as everyone was jumping with joy over the defense last year.
by Tarynfor12 on Jan 18, 2012 12:32 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs
one season
There are always flash-in-the-pans in the NFL. Nothing against Brooks Reed, but let’s see how he does over the next few years. Sherrod was the right choice last year. I didn’t think we would miss Jenkins or Barnett because they were so injury-prone.
?
Was Clay a flash in the pan too after a good rookie season? Sherrod was a first year bust, beat out by Newhouse. Could he develop, sure, quite possibly. “But”, who would have helped the Pack more this year and possibly years to come? Reed. A bookend to Clay would have helped immensely. What was the major factor all year? Pass rush. As I stated previously no one can knock TT but I personally would have loved to have gotten Brooks.
by 66Nitschke66 on Jan 18, 2012 2:06 PM CST up reply actions
But, as said above, pass rush wasn't as big of a need as OL was last year.
In hindsight, it looks dumb that we didn’t draft Reed. If we were going to redo the draft, this year we would have benefited with Reed more. Let’s wait a few years for them to pan out before we can say whom was the better choice.
On Wisconsin!
of course not
But the defense was in good shape statistically last year. The line was a bigger concern. In hindsight though you are right.
Nice hindsight-based logic, there, pal.
"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."
"We're nobody's underdog!"
"We don't play scared!"
After further review,
the Munsters of the Midway still suck!
Nick Perry
I’ve read a lot of mock drafts that have the Packers taking him with the 28th pick. really, so long as the jets or chargers don’t take him, he theoretically should be there when it’s time for us to pick. He had 9.5 sacks this year which was a little down from what he had the year prior but he’s got big upside
Vontaze Burfict from ASU??
in the ESPN mocks I was looking at, they have us taking a DE that they think would convert to OLB in an NFL 3-4. I’m a little leery of taking a converted DE, but if they have the athleticism, I’d be OK with it.
One guy who has impressed me every time I watched him is Vontaze Burfict from Arizona State. I get to watch him a lot because I live in Oregon and they play in the Pac-12. He has the speed and strength to pass rush, and the range and instincts to be a solid 3-4 OLB. He jumps off the tape when you watch him play, and he is supposed to be available when we pick. Draws comparisons to Ray Lewis. Can you imagine he and Clay working the edges?
by rip_city_swagger on Jan 18, 2012 12:59 PM CST reply actions
would like that...
I"ve seen him listed as an ILB. If he really is an edge player, and he’s available, that would be a great pickup.
Yes I like him too, he is an ILB though, and I think he’ll be early second round. I don’t think TT would go with him at 28. He is a fierce player though, but has a position change/attitude concerns and TT will try to get most value from our picks
by Tracker J Dunn on Jan 18, 2012 2:05 PM CST up reply actions
The one knock on him is attitude.
I haven’t really noticed TT picking someone in recent years with a character flaw like that. The guy is an animal though.
That dog just won't hunt.
by Bush League All Star on Jan 18, 2012 5:43 PM CST up reply actions
God NO!!!
Totally over-rated… Watched him at ASU for the past 3 years. Undisciplined Me kinda guy… Never seemed to be a good leader and sucks in coverage! And Berfect is stricly a run stuffing ILB, he has no experience as a pass rusher.
Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!
strikes me as a 4-3 MLB
football does not build character, it reveals character.
that sounds entirely plausible and not at all sarcastic.
football does not build character, it reveals character.
If...
Woodson moves to safety and Collins’ can’t return because of his injury, do the Packers look at a CB at 28? Personally, I’d like to see the pass rush improved before a DB is selected. The OLBs, Matthews excluded, aren’t starters. They provide solid depth and ST play, but a capable starter opposite Matthews is critical.
I agree I'd much rather start looking at pass rush.
If there is a CB that falls to us in the draft that TT just can’t give up, I’m fine with him drafting a corner. Otherwise, I think we should exclusively be looking for pass rush, and trading up if we think there will be no pass rushing talent at No. 28.
On Wisconsin!
Pass rush can cover some flaws in the secondary as well.
That dog just won't hunt.
by Bush League All Star on Jan 18, 2012 5:44 PM CST up reply actions
Yep, I definitely don't think the secondary was as bad as it looked, thanks to the crappy pass rush.
Still, if a good corner falls to us, it’s a position that could use some upgrading.
On Wisconsin!
IF Nick Collins can’t return AND Woodson moves to safety AND Dre Kirpatrick possibly Janoris Jenkins is around AND grades out higher than the available pass rushers and theres not much S talent, then I would say yes. All a possibility (I only think so because Kirpatrick got caught smoking pot, although to be fair, it was after the BCS championship game, give the dude a break.
by Tracker J Dunn on Jan 18, 2012 2:08 PM CST up reply actions
One thing to consider
Do we have room to sign all the potential picks in next year’s draft? Consider who is all coming back, and us possibly signing a few guys off this year’s practice squad, and a free agent signing or two.
If room is limited perhaps we either:
a) trade later picks to move up (i.e. swap first rounders with someoen and include our third and fourth, etc)
b) trade picks for immediate help at DE or OLB.
Shit happens when you win championships
Ok, what about number of players
That is more what I was referring to.
Shit happens when you win championships
by Andrew Clark on Jan 18, 2012 2:01 PM CST up reply actions
Possibly.
We have 7 picks, plus a few compensatory I believe. I think there are about 7-10 players who are FA’s or might retire. There might be a few roster casualties, So I think its possible, especially if we put a few on the PS. But I think there will be a few roster moves made and we definitely have the draft day ammunition to make some moves up without hurting the roster. We are already the second youngest team, at some point it might make sense to look to FA.
by Tracker J Dunn on Jan 18, 2012 2:20 PM CST up reply actions
There's always room if it's an upgrade over a player already on the roster
I thought we’d have way too many players last year (esp with 15 guys coming off of IR), but we managed to keep all but two of our draft picks (one sucked, Elmore, and the other was traded to the Jets, Schlauderaff) plus another half dozen or so undrafted rookies.
13.
Wanted: someone to hang out back behind the line.. a little to the right... perfect.
I can understand why TT wanted to go with Jones/Walden/Zombo/So’oto/Lattimore this year because there could be some good talent in there, that just needs some development. We didn’t have a lot of film on most of these guys, but all had shown some type of promise.
I feel like they are all great back-ups, but we need a playmaking stud. Either an immediate starter (free agency/trade) or at least to draft someone with an obvious high level of talent who we can get playmaking ability from similar to Aldon Smith (SF) right away. Someone like Courtney Upshaw or Whitney Mercilus, the girlier the name, the better!
As it stands now, I don’t like the decision to go with Walden as starter for most of the year, I don’t think he has shown the playmaking ability required (he’s alright, but ROLB is one of the most important positions on our defense). I’m not sure anyone else got any meaningful playing time. I can only hope they still gained solid development, because I don’t see any of them blossoming into that player yet, this offseason is crucial.
I would hate to part with an additional second rounder, to move up, if it wasn’t for Upshaw/Mercilus. I would be okay with a third or fourth for Brandon Jenkins/Nick Perry, but even then I’m not exactly sure how much better they are than the next few up (Curry, Lewis, Branch) who should be around at 28. One later round guy I like is Cordarro Law (possible 4-5 rounder). Looking back at this last draft (still to early to judge fairly) I would rather have grabbed Sam Acho or Justin Houston instead of Alex Green with our 3rd (I do believe they were still around then, or within striking distance).
Otherwise draft the biggest stud available on defense: I would prefer OLB>DE>CB>ILB>NT>S. If we absolutely have to go offense I would hope for a C, like if Konz fell to us at 28 then idk..
Yeah got caught smoking pot before the combine. Same thing this year with Dre Kirpatrick CB from Bama, I’d draft him at 28 if he was there.
by Tracker J Dunn on Jan 19, 2012 4:10 PM CST up reply actions
Hopefully we'll get a 1st rounder for Flynn
I’d imagine there will be a number of teams in the mid-first round that would trade for him…if we protect him via the Franchise tag. I’ve said before and I’ll say again, we need a DL, a RB, and an OL…after that DL and CB/S…but if we could get a 1st and 3rd for Flynn…that would be fantastic…
if we franchised him
he’d be making considerably more money than Rodgers and if no one bit on him (I mean, why would they, we have no leverage in that situation) we are screwed. There’s no chance Flynn gets franchised IMO
REPORTER: What do you think is happening to the team?
MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON: The ship be sinking.
REPORTER: How far can it sink?
MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON: Sky's the limit.
ya I agree..
I think the tag and trade is a lot of wishful thinking..
I love wins. Wins are good for the soul.- Barry Alvarez Sep 25, 2005
We expect to win.- Ted Thompson July 28, 2011
Hold on a minute
I don’t think our lack of leverage in that situation has anything to do with whether or not a team would bite on Flynn. Teams are not going to pass up an opportunity on a potential franchise QB (assuming at least one team believes he could be one) because the Packers have no leverage or just to screw the Packers into paying Flynn more than Rodgers for a year. I’m not saying there is not a risk, and I agree that the Packers are very unlikely to take that risk. I’m just saying a team would make a decision to go after him independent of our situation with him.
Why would they? Because.. have you seen the play of half the QB’s in this league last year? pretttty terrible.
by Tracker J Dunn on Jan 19, 2012 4:12 PM CST up reply actions
Like most people
I’m hoping for a pass rusher. I feel that a DE would be a nice fit because who knows if Neal will ever be healthy, and when Jenkins was playing with Raji it was hard to stop those 2 guys. I feel they would like an OLB most but they will need to be confident he can rush to draft him in the first round.
There is nothing wrong with me cheering for players that are former players for my teams. Unless they become a Viking.
by Giant_in_la_area on Jan 18, 2012 5:21 PM CST via mobile reply actions
OLB/CB/DE
I would prefer to draft an instant playmaker in the 1st Round. Playmakers at the DE position in the 3-4 are so rare that the odds are high he may not live up to his draft value. At least that is my opinion. I think it would be safer if we address the DE position in the 2nd Round if not a CB. A CB or OLB would be my preference in the first round. Hopefully we can trade Flynn for at least a 2nd Round Pick. Some people think we can get a 1st, but I don’t have my hopes up that high. I’d be fine settling for a 2nd Round Pick, where we are in a good position to draft a CB, OLB, and DE all in the first two rounds of the draft.
Remember, a DE’s role in the 3-4 is to occupy blockers. Anybody that can go above and beyond that and can get sacks are gems, but are rare. We can find big bodies to occupy blockers in the 2nd Round.
One game at a time...
by Jabooty on Jan 18, 2012 6:29 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
occupy blockers and collapse the pocket
football does not build character, it reveals character.
Here is the deal
TT is a very smart man and I’m going to back his decisions. Get some draft picks for Matt Flynn. I’m sure Washington and Miami are going to need QB’s Get a first round pick. We need a better DE, somebody by the name of Jerel Worthy, Quinton Couples.
I really think with a stud DE, Erick Walden, Brad Jones combo at the other OLB position are just fine. Depends are where you get the draft pick for Matt Flynn, if Peter Konz is available you have to take him in the teen’s or mid twenties. Scott Wells is aging and Peter could play OG for a year or two till he is ready to take over. Also Derrek Sherrod not beating Marshall Newhouse in is rookie year isn’t a big deal. Sherrod will be a great player for years to come.
I really think with a stud DE, Erick Walden, Brad Jones combo at the other OLB position are just fine.
I wish that was the case, but when they can’t beat single blockers and can’t get off their blocks, I find it hard to believe a different DE/DT will help them do so. If they were constantly drawing 2 blockers, then it’d be a different story.
What we need is another OLB that can beat an OT. I’m trying to think of the right term for it, but Walden was constantly swallowed up by a single blocker. I’ve seen enough of Jones to get an idea of what kind of player he will be, but I hope he proves me wrong. I truly feel we MUST get a playmaker in the 1st Round, whether it’s an OLB or CB. We haven’t done that since the 09’ draft, which paid huge dividends for us. Another thing is we don’t know how much playing time the DE would get compared to an OLB. The DE would be a part of a rotation, whereas the OLB would be on the field for the majority of the time. He would also provide some relief if/when Matthews gets injured. I simply feel we would get more value out of an OLB over a DE in our defense. I’m not saying we don’t need a DE, because we do, but I would prefer not to use it on a DE unless it’s a can’t miss prospect.
One game at a time...
I would like to see either a 3-4 DL or OLB
the defensive backfield would have looked a lot better if there was any pass rush, and if that area improves next year the secondary will look a lot better whether or not new players are added back there.
football does not build character, it reveals character.
by sheehan on Jan 19, 2012 7:08 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
good call.
a secondary of hall of famers would look tame with no pass rush. the fact we had such a great turnover margn despite no pressure proves to me this is a quality group for the most part. a safety would be ok but only, imo if there isnt a good value dt/34de that isnt up there. i still believe like someone else mentioned that Waldenzombo would be fine if the front 3 guys can disrupt like during jenkins time. we really missed him.
by bcbullyblinders on Jan 19, 2012 8:35 AM CST via Android app up reply actions 2 recs
Two things...
First, Walden or Zombo behind DE Cullen Jenkins in 2010 made them better. An OT has to make decisions about whom he will pay more attention too (DE/OLB) which allows the other to make a move against the QB/RB. A good DE (which Mike Neal could be) makes that OLB better. Clay Matthews’ dip in sacks suffered because of Jenkins’ departure. As Jabooty said, a 3-4 DE must be a stud DE to merit a #1 pick.
Second, could Matt Flynn be (a) franchised, then (b) traded on the contingency that the other team has to sign him to a new contract? This way, the Packers would be on the hook for a signing bonus, but the acquiring team takes care of him with a new contract. The CBA might not permit this. If that’s the case, GB will get a 3rd round compensatory pick. Considering Flynn was a #7 pick, that’s not bad. I’d like to see more but that compensatory pick may be the best GB will get.
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