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2015 Mock Draft: Packers select Shaq Thompson

Green Bay finds an inside linebacker to pair with Sam Barrington.

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

With the 30th pick in the 2015 Acme Packing Company mock draft, Jason B. Hirschhorn assumed the role of Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson. In that capacity, he has selected:

Shaq Thompson, linebacker, Washington

Height: 6'0"
Weight: 228 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.64 seconds
Bench: 20 reps
Vertical jump: 32 1/2"
Broad jump: 117"
3-cone: 6.99 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.08 seconds

Here's Jason's explanation of the pick:

With the NFL increasingly implementing spread concepts to open up the passing game, having an off-ball linebacker who can effectively cover a tight end or slot receiver is critical to a defense's success. While the Packers believe that Sam Barrington could be one of their answers at inside linebacker, they need another player to step in beside him. Clay Matthews performed well there in a part-time role last season, but the team is better off with their best pass rusher playing off the edge as much as possible.

Enter Shaq Thompson. He came to Washington as a five-star safety recruit who built himself into one of the best linebackers in the country. He possesses excellent coverage skills and above average instincts, making Thompson a great complement to Barrington in the middle of the defense. He may take more time to settle in than Eric Kendricks, UCLA's talented off-ball backer, but Thompson has a higher ceiling. That tends to be the guy Green Bay GM Ted Thompson prefers with his first-round pick.

Pick Team Player Position School
1 TB Jameis Winston QB Florida State
2 TEN Leonard Williams DT USC
3 JAX Amari Cooper WR Alabama
4 OAK Randy Gregory OLB/DE Nebraska
5 WAS Dante Fowler, Jr. OLB Florida
6 NYJ Marcus Mariota QB Oregon
7 CHI Vic Beasley OLB Clemson
8 ATL Brandon Scherff OT Iowa
9 NYG Kevin White WR West Virginia
10 STL La'el Collins OT LSU
11 MIN DeVante Parker WR Louisville
12 CLE Danny Shelton DT Washington
13 NO Trae Waynes CB Michigan State
14 MIA Marcus Peters CB Washington
15 SF Malcom Brown DT Texas
16 HOU Landon Collins S Alabama
17 SD T.J. Clemmings OL Pittsburgh
18 KC Andrus Peat OT Stanford
19 CLE (from BUF) Ereck Flowers OT Miami (FL)
20 PHI Jaelen Strong WR Arizona State
21 CIN D.J. Humphries OT Florida
22 PIT Dorial Green-Beckham WR Missouri
23 DET Todd Gurley RB Georgia
24 ARI Jordan Phillips DT Oklahoma
25 CAR Kevin Johnson CB Wake Forest
26 BAL Melvin Gordon III RB Wisconsin
27 DAL P.J. Williams CB Florida State
28 DEN Arik Armstead DE Oregon
29 IND Eddie Goldman NT Florida State
30 GB Shaq Thompson ILB Washington
31 NO (from SEA)
Jason B. Hirschhorn covers the Green Bay Packers for Acme Packing Company. He also serves as an SB Nation newsdesk contributor and NFL writer for Sports on Earth.