15 Undrafted Free Agents the Packers Could Target

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While the NFL draft is certainly where Packers GM Ted Thompson does the majority of his best work, the undrafted free agent market has also been kind to Thompson.

His most notable finds—Tramon Williams, Sam Shields and Frank Zombo—were all important contributors to the Packers Super Bowl season in 2010.

With that in mind and the 2011 draft over, who could be the next undrafted player that Thompson discovers? Here are some interesting prospects who could be brought in by Thompson (whenever teams are allowed to do so).

CB/S Anthony Walters, Delaware

He’s a cornerback/safety hybrid who can play on special teams and add depth to the Packers secondary. Thompson worked out Walters, and despite taking Davon House, Walters has a solid chance at landing in Green Bay.

WR Jarred Fayson, Illinois

Thompson did well on the last highly skilled but under-acheiving speedster he signed after the draft. If the Packers could harness some of the explosiveness Fayson has (he’s a former five-star recruit), maybe he could be a Sam Shields type player early on.

DT/DE Anthony Gray, Southern Miss

Gray has the type of body and playing style that will remind most of Ryan Pickett and Howard Green. At 5-11, 335 pounds, Gray could help bolster a defensive line that is losing Cullen Jenkins.

OLB Mario Addison, Troy

The Packers added Ricky Elmore in the draft, but there’s nothing wrong with adding competition at rush linebacker. Addison had 10.5 sacks in his final year at Troy, which also happens to be the same school that produced Demarcus Ware.

DE Martin Parker, Richmond

While he impressed at the East-West Shrine Game and looks like a natural fit in the 3-4, Parker went undrafted. The Packers are losing Jenkins, and I’d assume defensive line is a position where Thompson would bring in a few undrafted free agents.

DE Cedric Thornton, Southern Arkansas

Thornton is another guy who looked set to be drafted in the mid-to-late rounds. His size and power make him a candidate to play the five technique for the Packers 3-4 defense.

OT Willie Smith, East Carolina

Smith is only starting to reach his potential at offensive tackle. He’s played the position for just two years, and he could be worth a look as a developmental tackle prospect.

LB Marc Schiechl, Colorado School of Mines

You’ve likely heard the name by now, but Schiechl could be a hidden pass rusher for the Packers. He registered 46 sacks during his collegiate career, the most in NCAA Division II history.

S Joseph Lefeged, Rutgers

Lefeged might be the best player that went undrafted. He could potentially be a starting safety in the NFL, but he’ll also be a guy that makes his name playing special teams. From a value view point, he’s worth the chance.

ILB Nick Bellore, Central Michigan

All Bellore did at Central Michigan was tackle ball carriers. Owner of over 500 tackles, Bellore fits the prototype of what the Packers want in an inside linebacker.

WR Armon Binns, Cincinnati

If James Jones leaves, and most expect him too, Binns appears to be an ideal replacement size-wise. He’s also a physical receiver who could push Brett Swain for the No. 5 receiver.

RB Graig Cooper, Miami

Cooper and third round pick Alex Green are very similar players, but that doesn’t necessarily rule out Cooper. The Packers like having a solid stable of backs heading into training camp.

DT Ian Williams, Notre Dame

Williams is another big body that fits along the Packers defensive line. His best contribution would be as a run-stopper.

ILB Orie Lemon, Oklahoma State

With a good frame (6-0, 245) and some athleticism for the position, Lemon would fit as a backup and on special teams.

CB/S Mike Holmes, Syracuse

Holmes is another ‘tweener who played both safety and cornerback in college. He can also return punts and kicks.

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Zach Kruse is a 23-year-old sports journalist with a passion for the Green Bay Packers. He currently lives in Wisconsin and is working on his journalism degree, while also covering prep sports for The Dunn Co. News.

You can read more of Zach's Packers articles on AllGreenBayPackers.com.

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15 thoughts on “15 Undrafted Free Agents the Packers Could Target

  1. I preparing for the draft, Mario Addison, Cedric Thornton, and Martin Parker were three guys that I thought the Packers would target in the 6th and 7th rounds. I am surprised that all three went undrafted (especially Thorton & Parker) since they appear to be natural fits for the 3-4. If we could add those three guys as UFA’s, I would be thrilled.

    1. It was a huge year for DL. Sooo many were taken. Still surprised Thornton was left out. hell, Lawrence Guy was almost left out, and most “pundits” had him as a 4th rounder.

  2. We already drafted a Guy now you’re suggesting we take a Lemon. You sure you’re a Packer fan…nyuk, nyuk.
    Thorton and Parker were surprises. Not mentioned even though TT worked him out is Baylor CB Antareis Bryan. He has the size (6006, 190lbs) and his 4.34 speed is intriguing. I know he was injured alot and only did 10 BB reps, but…

  3. I’ve seen Ian Williams play too many times.
    Stay away from that guy, TT!

  4. Parker and Thornton will definitely be playing somewhere next year. I was really hoping for Addison after Chris Carter was drafted by the steelers. Very quick first step. On the smaller side, but looks really natural. Binns sounds good. Fayson is a freak athletically and I have no idea how he did not have more production at Illinois. If you are that big and fast you should be able to get more production than that in the Big 10. I remember reading about that guy from Baylor and thought he would get drafted for sure with that size/speed combo. If we could bring in the guys I listed it would make me happier than when we drafted DJ Williams. and i LOVE dj williams. the guy from the school of mines has a lot of production, but he just does not look athletic enough to me to get it done in the pros. intriguing guy…but there was a reason he was at DII to start with.

    1. Completely different position, but if you’re looking for a Big 10 player that should have been more productive than the stats show – Mike Neal.

  5. If the Packers signed Graig Cooper they’d have in him and Sam Shields the two Hurricanes who combined to memorably put the Badgers in an immediate hole in the ’09 Champs Sports Bowl. Cooper caught the opening kick and handed it to Shields on a reverse; Shields took it to the house for a TD that was called back to the 16 because of an illegal block, and Cooper ran it in on the next play.

  6. I was shocked that Cedric Thornton didn’t get selected. There must be something off the field or in the interviews with this kid, I watched some of his film and he sure looked like a real NFL caliber D lineman.

  7. completely different subject here, but now that the packers have taken OTs in the first round in back to back years it is hard to believe that TT started a season with Barbre as his starting RT. as good as TT is at finding talent in strange places it amazes me that he felt confident in rolling that turd out there. did campen tell him that barbre could play? out of all the things that TT has or has not done in his tenure that was probably his biggest mistake.

    1. ted is always willing to roll the dice rather than reach or overextend to go get a solution to the problem. Take the backup QB situation, when Brohm and Flynn were rookies. EVERYBODY (including me) thought they needed a veteran backup (just in case). Ted rolled the dice and won that gamble.

      1. he lost badly on the Barbre gamble. starting the season with barbre at RT is like calling someone on the river with a seven high and then saying, “i thought you were bluffing.” well even if he was bluffing your hand still sucked. you had no chance.

      2. if tauscher was not able to come back to replace barbre the packers probably would have been sub .500 and who knows if MM and TT would still have their jobs.

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