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Six more days!
The countdown continues to April 28th and the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and the speculation and projection will only get hotter from here as we await next Thursday. Today, it seems that all of the discussion revolving around the Green Bay Packers concerns Alabama inside linebacker Reggie Ragland.
Will Ragland be able to hold up in coverage well enough to serve as a dime linebacker? If not, is he worth a first-round pick? If so, will he even be available when the Packers go on the clock at 27? The first two questions have certainly been assessed by Ted Thompson and company, and although he claimed on Wednesday that his squad does not attempt to create mock drafts, they probably have a general idea on the last one.
What we do not yet know is what their answers are, which leaves us speculating, watching film, and debating. And that debate continues in today's curds.
Green Bay Packers like Sam Barrington and Jake Ryan, but how much? - ESPN
It's an oversimplification to say that the draft will show whether Ted Thompson actually likes his current inside linebackers. Too many variables can lead to the team not drafting a player at the position on the first two days to make a judgment on that.
Ragland to Packers? It's a cover story | Packersnews.com
The biggest problem with Ragland is not a perception that he can't cover - it's a lack of film of him actually doing it, since he often rushed from an outside linebacker position on third downs at Alabama.
Green and Bold: Is Reggie Ragland Overrated? | Cheesehead TV
One thing Ragland does have going for him that few if any other prospects in this class do is his brain. He is as intelligent in his understanding of defense and breaking down film as anyone, and that definitely did translate to the field.
2016 PFF Draft Board for the Green Bay Packers | Pro Football Focus
I'm not sure entirely what PFF is going for here. Although they say they are evaluating how a player would fit in a team's scheme, some of the major changes don't make sense. For example, It's a bit bizarre to see a highly athletic edge rusher like Emmanuel Ogbah go from 37th overall to 98 on their "Packers board."
Jared Goff and Carson Wentz took very different paths to become top picks in the NFL Draft - SBNation.com
Goff was a top high school recruit when Wentz was 5'8 and 120 pounds. Wentz's growth spurt after that and his impressive showings at the Senior Bowl and Combine are what brought him up to the top of the first round, compared to good film and pedigree.
NFL community mourns the death of pop star Prince - NFL.com
Thursday was a sad day in the world of music, and Prince's contribution to the NFL - namely the halftime show at Super Bowl XLI, will not soon be forgotten.