The Packers continued to fill the hole left by Tramon Williams and Davon House in the second round of the draft with the selection of Quentin Rollins, cornerback out of Miami (OH). The main storyline with Rollins through the draft process has been mostly about his football career, but also his basketball career at Miami. He played basketball his first four years and ended his career second in Miami history in steals, fourth in assists, seventh in games started, and ninth in minutes played. He claims that his basketball skills do, in fact, carry over to the football field:
Rollins says many skills translate from basketball to football: Keeping guys in front on defense, seeing the floor/field. #PackersDraft
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) May 2, 2015
With only one year of football experience under his belt, Rollins certainly made the most of it recording 72 tackles and 7 interceptions, which was 3rd best in the entire country. His play on the football field earned him the 2014 MAC Defensive Player of the Year and now the 62nd overall pick in the draft. Ted Thompson went with back-to-back defensive picks to open up the Packers 2015 NFL Draft, with the first being Damarious Randall out of Arizona State to fill a secondary that had been left thin due to free agency. Cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt Jr. will now have two young players in his meeting room to develop into Dom Capers' system. He seems up to the challenge:
We're happy to have (D. Randall & Q. Rollins) coming in. The CB/secondary room has changed. The addition of these two men is exciting.
With the Packers 3rd round and 94th overall pick, Thompson went the offensive route in drafting Ty Montgomery, the 6'2'' 216 lb wide reciever out of Stanford. The former Cardinal will most likely be used primarily as a return man in Zook's system, and is considered to be one of the top special teams prospects in the draft.
NFLDraftScout has Ty Montgomery as "arguably the best return man in this draft." 27.4 yards per kick return, 18.3 punt return. #Packers
— Paul Imig (@Paulimig) May 2, 2015
With Damarious Randall being taken in the first round, some thought he would be used as a special teams weapon as well, which gives the Packers options when it comes to the return game besides Randall Cobb. When Sam Seale, the Packers' West Regional Scout, was asked about Montgomery, he replied with a very flattering comment:
Seale describes Ty Montgomery as "a bigger Randall (Cobb)." #PackersDraft
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) May 2, 2015
If that holds true, the Packers will have quite the special teams unit come next August, built on a team that greatly improved its' special teams play in 2014. Was Ted smart to go with Montgomery, who appears to be picked only for his return skills, so early in the draft? Some think it's an effective move, others think Ty could possibly have been picked up in the 6th or even 7th round of the draft. The Packers still have a need at inside linebacker that Thompson claimed he would address in the third and final day of the draft, and the hope is that Montgomery will turn out to be worthy of that 3rd round status. He seems to think so, and is pretty pumped to be heading to Wisconsin.
Hallelujah! Praise Jesus! Green Bay baby, Thank you!
— Ty Montgomery (@TyMontgomery2) May 2, 2015
As is Rollins:
--Man God is great ! Blessed 2 be apart of the #Packers organization. Thankful 4 the opportunity and ready 4 this new chapter ! #H&H
— Quinten Rollins (@QRollins2) May 2, 2015