Entering the final day of the 2013 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers were slated to make ten selections. But when it was all said and done, the Packers added only nine players to the team.
Their first two selections of the day were offensive linemen David Bakhtiari and J.C. Tretter.
Bakhtiari was a three-year starter at Colorado, and I had a late-second to early-third round grade on him entering the draft. He was a tackle at the college level but will probably play guard at the NFL level. The Packers drafted Bakhtiari with pick No. 109 in the fourth round.
Tretter started at left tackle the past two seasons at Cornell. He was a unanimous All-Ivy League First Team selection as a senior after beginning his college career as a tight end. He was a high school quarterback. With the Packers, Tretter will likely play on the interior of the offensive line.
Later in round four, Ted Thompson continued his trading ways by moving up for UCLA running back Johnathan Franklin.
Many scouts thought Franklin would be a second-round pick, and some even had Franklin and Eddie Lacy as the top two players at the position. My final rankings had Franklin as the No. 2 back in the draft, just ahead of Lacy and behind Giovani Bernard who was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals at the top of the second round.
It was my belief that Franklin would be a better fit for the Packers offense than Lacy. But now that the Packers have both young backs, the running game should be vastly improved in 2013.
After making UCLA defensive end Datone Jones their first selection of the draft, the Packers went with four straight offensive players: two linemen and two running backs.
But in the fifth and sixth round, the Packers went back to the defensive side of the ball by selecting Iowa cornerback Micah Hyde, Mississippi State defensive end Josh Boyd and Illinois State outside linebacker Nate Palmer.
Hyde faces an uphill battle to earn regular playing time at cornerback, perhaps the Packers’ deepest position, but his versatility and ability to play special teams could help him crack the 53-man roster. Boyd will be a part of the team’s defensive line competition come training camp. Palmer started his college career at Illinois before transferring to Illinois State; he racked up 17 sacks his past two seasons at Illinois State and led the country in quarterback hits in 2012.
In the seventh round, the Packers added a pair of wide receivers.
At No. 216, they selected Charles Johnson of Grand Valley State. Johnson (6-2 215) is a physical player with athleticism that cannot be coached. He wasn’t invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, but he clocked a 4.39 40-yard dash at his March 11 pro day. Combine his straight-line speed with a 39.5″ vertical and it’s easy to see why the Packers were impressed.
Maryland wide receiver Kevin Dorsey was selected by the Packers eight picks after Johnson. Dorsey (6-1 207) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds and posted a vertical jump of 38″ at his pro day. He only caught 18 passes as a senior in 2012 after grabbing a career-high 45 balls in the 2011 season.
The Packers’ final pick of the draft was South Florida linebacker Sam Barrington. An outside linebacker in college, Barrington will likely play inside at the professional level.
What they’re saying:
OL Bakhtiari: “I don’t know where they’re going to play him. There’s a little bit of an issue at left tackle with the Packers. He’s not as tall as people would like. His arms weren’t as long as you’d like, but I think he can play right tackle — even though he has left tackle feet — or he can play inside because he’s tough.” — Mike Mayock (via NFL.com)
OL Tretter: “When I came out, I wanted to be an NFL tight end. When I made the switch to left tackle, then I wanted to be an NFL offensive lineman. I’ve always wanted to be a professional athlete, a professional football player since I was a little kid.” — J.C. Tretter (via JSOnline)
RB Franklin: “I think this is a big-time value pick. Johnathan Franklin plays bigger than what you think. He’s compact, but he’ll run inside the tackles. His problem in the past: Putting the ball on the ground. This season, he had only one fumble. Good locker-room guy.” — Charles Davis (via NFL.com)
DB Hyde: “He’s a smart kid, a tough kid, a willing tackler. He’ll be able to go in and play the nickel, play outside at the corner. He has decent long speed. I like what he did, didn’t let balls get over his head. He understands football. That’s one thing I really like is bringing guys in that have a football I.Q. So there’s number of things that he has that we like.” — Joe Whitt Jr. (via JSOnline)
DL Boyd: “He’s obviously a big man. Got some explosion to him. He’s got some versatility as well; we’ll have to see if we can get nose rush out of him as well. He was able to get some nice pop and for a big man he’s got good movement.” — Mike Trgovac (via JSOnline)
ILB Barrington: “Very good. He’s athletic, has good size. We were a little surprised that he was still available there in the seventh round. Again, he’s someone we were able to speak to at the Combine. Very nice fellow. He carries himself well. He feel he’s a very good player thought it was a really good value.” — Ted Thompson (via JSOnline)
Why they did what they did:
Clearly, the Packers entered Day 3 with the intention of bolstering their running game.
With their first pick in the fourth round, the Packers took one of the more versatile linemen in the draft in David Bakhtiari. Many draft boards had Bakhtiari as a third-round prospect, so the Packers appear to have gotten solid value where they took him.
J.C. Tretter is a terrific athlete for a lineman, and it will be interesting to see whether or not he gets a shot at the starting center position. Having played left tackle in college, playing center would be foreign to him at this point. But the mental aspect shouldn’t be much of a problem for Tretter, considering he attended an Ivy League school and has changed positions multiple times in the past.
The Packers already added a potential three-down running back in the second round when they drafted Alabama’s Eddie Lacy at No. 61 overall, but when UCLA running back Johnathan Franklin was still sitting on the board late in the fourth round, the team simply decided he was too good to pass up. Lacy figures to be the between-the-tackles power back, while Franklin should provide a welcome change-of-pace to the backfield.
And with DuJuan Harris still in the fold and entering his first offseason with the team, the Packers appear to have their deepest backfield since Mike McCarthy arrived as head coach.
The Packers will remain a pass-happy team for as long as Aaron Rodgers is in Green Bay, but clearly the team wanted to strengthen its running game to relieve some stress off the MVP quarterback. They did exactly that on Day 2 and early on Day 3.
Without any NFL-ready safeties available, the Packers looked to the later rounds to improve their defense elsewhere.
Outside linebacker Nate Palmer is an interesting sixth-round selection. Headed into the draft, the Packers only had three players at outside linebacker: Clay Matthews, Nick Perry and Dezman Moses. Palmer will have every opportunity to make the team and become at least a small part of the rotation in 2013.
Of the Packers’ seventh-round picks, wide receiver Charles Johnson is the most physically intriguing. Johnson has the size, speed and athleticism to crack the final roster as a rookie. And with Greg Jennings out of town, Johnson and fellow rookie receiver Kevin Dorsey have decent odds at being the No. 5 wide receiver.
Randall Cobb, James Jones and Jordy Nelson will return as the top three receivers, and Jarrett Boykin is the most likely candidate to lock down the No. 4 job. Jeremy Ross will compete with Johnson, Dorsey and any undrafted free agents for a spot on the 53-man roster.
Thompson typically drafts receivers on Day 2, having found Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Randall Cobb in rounds two or three in previous years. But after passing on receivers through six rounds, the Packers felt Johnson and Dorsey would provide adequate competition at the position.
Day 3 Grade: B
The Packers were loaded with picks headed into the final day of the draft, and they managed to address several key needs.
They got their power back Friday in Alabama’s Eddie Lacy. They added a scat back Saturday in UCLA’s Johnathan Franklin. On paper, that looks like a dangerous 1-2 punch at running back. Again, Franklin and Lacy were my No. 2 and No. 3 running backs in this year’s class.
Franklin will likely see his fair share of time on offense as a rookie, but he’s also a candidate to return kicks with Randall Cobb likely being pulled off special teams. In the event that Franklin were to become the starting running back, he’d certainly be relieved of his return duties.
Along the offensive line, the Packers came into the draft in good shape at offensive guard. Bryan Bulaga is likely the team’s best pass-blocking tackle, but Marshall Newhouse is an average-at-best starter, and Derek Sherrod’s future is uncertain.
Adding Bakhtiari in the third round was a great pickup for the Packers. He may be a more natural guard at the NFL level, but he has the length to kick outside to tackle.
Overall, the trade-up for Franklin was the highlight of Day 3 for the Packers. He should provide a spark for the offense which is aiming to be a more physical bunch next season.
The only thing I would really second-guess is passing up wide receiver Quinton Patton when he was still available in the third round. I’m anxious to hear what the deal is with Patton, as I considered him to be an early-second round prospect. This kind of thing happens every year in the draft; a player takes a dive on draft day due to issues (medical or otherwise) that had been previously unreleased.
Day 1 may have been the ideal scenario for the Packers, as they landed a surefire first-round talent in Datone Jones. On Day 2, the Packers were able to land a potential first-round prospect in Eddie Lacy with their second-round pick. And on Day 3, Thompson capped off another impressive draft by making nine selections.
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Marques is a Journalism student, serving as the Sports Editor of UW-Green Bay\'s campus newspaper The Fourth Estate and a Packers writer at Jersey Al\'s AllGBP.com. Follow Marques on Twitter @MJEversoll.
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A couple more undersized O-Linemen. That will help against that actually have good Defensive lines. The Mantra during this offseason was “Bigger, Stronger, Faster”! This draft is just like most of TT’s. Get as many low round choices and pray! This was the perfect year to trade UP in the draft, because it didn’t cost much. But we can’t have that. It’s so much better to get LB’s with 4.91 speed and is 6’1″. Just more garbage!!
Are you seriously taking what Thompson say at press conferences at face value? Thompson never tells anyone what he’s going to do so if you think he wants to make the team “bigger, faster, stronger” then it’s probably just to troll you.
“The only thing I would really second-guess is passing up wide receiver Quinton Patton when he was still available in the third round. I’m anxious to hear what the deal is with Patton, as I considered him to be an early-second round prospect.”
They passed on him 3 times in round 4, too. There must’ve been something that sent up flags to TT, or they just decided that wasn’t what they were going to do.
Disappointed that they didn’t take Sudfeld late, but maybe he’ll come in as a UDFA.
I have a feeling that Thompson or someone else in the front office dislikes big mouths at the wide receiver position. Wide receivers have almost this endemic problem with yapping, but the Packers had Driver, Jennings, Nelson, Jones and Cobb, who are all really well spoken and generally not that chatty. Patton was more like TO or ocho cinco
Reports that the following have signed UDFA deals with the Packers:
Lane Taylor, OG, Oklahoma St.
Ben Erickson, S, Illinois St.
Matt Brown, QB, Illinois St.
Gilbert Pena, DT, Mississippi
Jake Stoneburner, TE, Ohio State
Patrick Lewis, C, Texas A&M
Andy Mulumba, DE/OLB, Eastern Michigan
I was unaware that Illinois State was serving as a Packer farm team…
I like the Pena signing. He could be a sleeper for snaps at NT, especially with Pickett in his contract season
I was surprised TT didn’t take Pena in the 7th but he must of know he was willing to come in as a UDFA. Even better.
He’s gotta make the team…means he’s gotta displace someone. Given that the only viable options on the nose are Raji and Pickett, he’s got that going for him. Gonna be tough, though.
This team is soft! So much so that McCarthy had to address it 3 different times this offseason! And after drafting an undersized DE. and 2 more undersized OL. Where did this team get bigger, stronger, faster? The 7th round WR is plenty fast, but also uncoachable! And Boyd. He’s the ONE bigger guy the Packers drafted. Of course it was later in the draft. SO there are most likely reasons he lasted that long. It’s just the same tired draft, just then 2013 version!
Scott, if you’re trying for a new record for most thumbs downs, you can stop now – you win!
I’ll give you a hint, anything McCarthy says Thompson approves of. Anything that Thompson approves of being said is uninformative, IT’S FREAKING TED THOMPSON! He would probably have trouble telling you what day of the week it is.
Like you was hoping for some linemen that came from gang and penitentary backgrounds, the kinds of guys you’d like to have your back in a knife fight, but c’mon – could you ever envision Percy Thompson and Poindexter McCarthy ever bringing in BA’s to this team?
This ain’t the California Penal league…we wear caps and sleeves in this league, Vaughn!
“Clearly, the Packers entered Day 3 with the intention of bolstering their running game.”
Why would TT have Benson in and be rumored to court Bradshaw if they intended to bolster their run game with day 3?
The draft happened to fall this way and TT got extreme value at his picks.
In the end it doesn’t really matter. I’m glad they drafted some thunder and lightning.
Chicken and egg.
That very well could be the case. It could also be that plan A was to draft Lacy and/or Franklyn and, if it didn’t fall down like that, have Benson and/or Bradshaw as plan B.
Gilbert Pena
According to Shawn Zobel he is the most underrated guy in football:
http://www.draftheadquarters.com/
Yup and he also rated Tretter as a UDFA. We picked him in the 4th round INSTEAD of Quessinnbury!!
So by your estimation Quessenberry is the better player? Apparently the Packers don’t think so. Are you more qualified than Thompson and ALL the Packer scouts?
Ummm no, just my opinion. You should know something about that, you comment on everything ANYONE shares. I’ve actually grown to respect some of your opinions. Perhaps you should do the same. Because someone has a different opinion than you, you feel the need to respond with sarcasm? As they say on “ESPN Sunday Countdown”, “Common man”!
Hey just saying. Bahktieri was drafted ahead of Quessenberry and all the teams had a couple opportunities to draft either one.
I too wonder about why Patton was passed over so many times. His talent seems to fit the packers well. I was also surprised that they didn’t go after Jesse Williams from Bama in the 4th. He lasted much longer than I would have expected. –Still happy with the overall draft. GoPack!
Williams’ knee was a big issue – one source I saw said his knee is a mess
Here is to hoping that McMillan’s time in GB this offseason has been productive and that he is the answer at SS. I for one, think he is going to do well. I am excited to see FRanklin. He was awesome at the Senior Bowl. GoPack!
Generally OK I guess but isn’t it all just amusing guesses?
They won’t listen to me but I don’t want any of these guys on KR duties.
You find a specialist to do that stuff. Not your bread and butter.
Dumb, dumb, dumb, DUMB.
We’ll get to see Patton right away in week one against the 49ers. To trade out of the 3rd round and receive the lowly picks he did, and then turn around in the 4th round and give part of it back made no sense. I’d much rather have saw the Packers draft Patton than Tretter. My concern is still WR, Safety, and Inside LB. I think the first 4 picks were good values across the board. Every other pick, not so much. It was also said that they loved David Quessenberry, yet passed on him. I look at the Ravens, 49ers, and they drafted excellent players and filled needs. I think passing on Patton 4 times will come back and bite the Packers.
You mean seeing Patton on the bench? Remember their 1st rd pick last year didn’t do squat at WR. And Patton talks more than Finley, so I’m sure you would have hated him w/in a week!
That’s a good point. Do we have room on our team for 2 Finley’s? GoPack!
At the end of the day are they playing football or what? Patton plays football and if he’s productive I could give a dang about his mouth! Would I like a player who just plays? Sure, but I’d also like a player that can ball which Patton does.
Ask the Lions brass about young, mouthy receivers.
Drafting 2 more “versatile” offensive lineman — ala Spitz, Colledge, Lang, EDS, etc.
Why do we continue to take college LTs who are not capable of playing LT in the NFL and then struggle at G/C especially when we are weak at LT?
I just do not understand the desire to collect mediocrity along the OLine – Datko, Barclay, Von Roten, EDS, Newhouse, and even Lang – meh.
Hope Bakhtiari and Tretter turn out differently but they seem to have the same pedigree.
IIRC 3 of the starting OG in the Pro Bowl were college OT’s. Usually the best OL on the college teams play LT, and if they aren’t the cream of the crop at OT they move to OG and usually do very well.
I don’t understand why people question this philosophy so much. It makes a lot more sense than drafting undertalented college OG and trying to make due w/ them!
Ok. I guess. Disappointed we didn’t go after top talent on ILB, S. But I’m impressed with lining up chess pieces on running game. That is probably the best upgrade for the defense (good ground game offense is d-friendly), best upgrade for protecting newly signed AR, and best upgrade for the team to keep offense on the field. While I can’t comment on players specifically. I’m impressed with the plan. It should close the gap between game plan and actually executing it.
I can’t fault TT for his ‘play percentages approach’. I don’t like it on draft day…cuz I get caught up on the big names…and getting wishing for this or that big name. But, when you factor in the busts, and hidden gems, then it’s all about percentages, and then you just stockpile picks. So the mathematician will err on the side of trading down if ever given the options.
There was only one top talent at ILB and that was Ogletree. Everyone else was a 2 down player at best. Teo? Please. Minter? short and slow. Ogletree was the one playmaker at ILB, but he had the off-field issues that don’t sit well w/ the Packers.
In case you haven’t seen or heard it the Packers were actively trying to trade Bishop. Clearly they are making room for Manning, who BTW tests very similar to Ogletree. Manning is a terrific run player, but need to work a little on his coverage, tho he has the athletic ability to be good at it.
The playmaking ILB is already on the roster, and even tho I liked Ogletree a lot, Manning is capable of being a very similar type of playmaking ILB!
I wanted Ogletree despite issues…but on the other hand, I appreciate the character guys. So fine. But Brown at ILB, you didn’t think he would be big impact on run-d and worth the second round pick?
I think Manning will be better than Brown. You want another Hawk kinda player at ILB? As in a LB that doesn’t create turnovers?
I said over a month ago that IMO, this should be the year Thompson takes a chance on a player or 2 with some character issues. I would have loved to see him take Ogletree and then use a pick on Michael if they couldn’t get a RB earlier. Obviously we did get Lacy, so Micheal wouldn’t have been necessary anyway.
I wonder how much of it is his injury. Maybe he’s not recovering as well as expected. I love your point about Manning, he’s one that definitely needs to see the field. I still say Patton would have been a good pick though I didn’t know about his mouth. That drives me crazy about Finley, so I’m sure you’re right.
Bishops injury is a serious concern IMO. Torn hamstrings usually heal on their own w/o surgery. Bishops wasn’t just a muscle tear, the muscle actually was torn away from the bone. That’s very possibly a career ending injury. Once you have it re-attached its gonna be very susceptible to being torn away again. You can’t just inorganically replace the type of organic attachment the muscle/tendons have to a bone.
I was wondering–when they were reportedly shopping Bishop around–who would give anything for him, all things considered.
I’m happy we didn’t get Patton! Last thing I want is a loud mouth complaining about not getting his fair share of catches. Stroh’s right about him being on the bench all year too.
You don’t know that for sure. A injury to Boldon or Crabtree, you never know. The kid they drafted last year, Williams from Illinois I believe. He reported out of shape and overweight so he was in coaches doghouse at the start. I wasn’t aware of the loudmouth part of Patton so yes, maybe it’s a good thing. Last thing the Packers need is TWO guys telling the world how great they are.
The WR SF drafted in the 1st rd last year was a major reach. He’s fast but didn’t run good routes and was nothing but a speed guy w/ few other redeemable qualities as an NFL WR.
I’m not a big fan of the draft other than getting Lacy in the 2nd, but I’ll withhold judgement till I see how they play for the next 2 years.
Yea, I read an article on him. He claims to look up to Ocho Cinco! I just don’t want the rest of the team to have to deal with that.
I really like the Franklin pick. Could we have used someone else in that spot? Without question, but I watched several UCLA games this past season (Live in Los Angeles) and I loved the way Franklin played ball. He’s not a scat back by any means. I think between Harris, Lacy, and Franklin the running game just became a strength on the Packers. Now we get to see for sure if McCartheys ZBS is worth a damn! Lol