The most anticipated event of the NFL off-season is set to kick-off this Thursday night, April 30 in Chicago – round one of the NFL Draft. For ‘drafniks’ such as myself it is a culmination of hours of analyzing – and over-analyzing – stats, game films and biographies. There is great anticipation that the Packers will select many of the guys that I have mocked – those players that will put them over the top.
With so many players of equal value at the end of the first round there is a real possibility that some team will jump up and offer the Packers a trade, rather than wait until the next day and hope that their guy is still available. This would be a dream scenario for General Manager Ted Thompson should such a trade partner materialize.
Should no trades develop here are my projected nine picks for the Green Bay Packers for the 2015 NFL Draft:
Round one (30): Jalen Collins – CB – LSU 6’ 1”, 203#. A tough, physical press corner. A bigger version of Tramon Williams. Past issues appear to be behind him.
Round two (62): Denzel Perryman – ILB – Miami 5’ 11”, 236#. Flows to the ball, covers receivers well and a tackling machine.
Round three (94): Marcus Hardison – DE – Arizona State 6’ 3”, 307#. Great outside speed. A late bloomer with plenty of upside.
Round four (129): MyCole Pruitt – TE – So. Illinois 6’ 2’ 251#. Great hands, adjust well, led nation in catches, yards and TD’s for a TE.
Round five (166): Jeremy Langford – RB – Michigan State, 6’ 0” 208#. Great speed and good hands, willing blocker and potential to return kicks. Third down back initially and key special team contributor.
Round six (205): Kyle Emanuel – OLB – N. Dakota State, 6’ 3”, 255#. Strong edge rushing and against run. Non-stop motor.
Round six (210) – compensatory: Mike Hull – ILB – Penn State, 6’ 0”, 237#. Tough sideline-to-sideline player, strong at point of attack.
Round six (212) – compensatory: Cody Fajardo – QB – Nevada 6’ 1”, 223#. Accurate, confident, team leader, ability to run a plus.
Round seven (247): Blake Bell – TE – Oklahoma 6’ 6”, 252#. Former QB. Massive with room to grow. Good hands and physical blocker.
That makes it four offensive players and five on the defensive side.
If you are searching for another possibility to Collins I would look for Eddie Goldman, DT from Florida State as the alternative choice in round one.
There is a good blend of quality players and a lot to like. Each selection should also represent Best Available Player in their selected round.
The Packers would also fill current needs particularly at corner, inside linebacker and tight end.
This is a fun draft to ‘mock’. I hope that you enjoy my projections.
Let the debate begin.
——————Jeff Albrecht grew up just north of Green Bay and was lucky enough to attend some of the Lombardi Era classic games, like the 1962 championship and the Ice Bowl. Jeff went on to play HS football in the Green Bay area and College ball at UW - Stevens Point. Jeff is retired but still does some writing for his local paper. Jeff is a writer with AllGreenBayPackers.com and you can follow him on twitter at @pointerjeff .
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“With so many players of equal value at the end of the first round there is a real possibility that some team will jump up and offer the Packers a trade, rather than wait until the next day and hope that their guy is still available”
Using a trade calculator, pick #30 for #15 in round 2 (47 overall) and the corresponding pick in round 3 (79 overall) is an even deal…
I’m okay with Jalen Collins based on his ability, but with the recent news that he failed “multiple” drug tests for weed while at LSU, I’d take Goldman over Collins. Ability-wise about equal, so perhaps need triumphs. I’d like to know his failed tests came last year or if they were early in his college career. Makes a difference to me. Some mocks have GB taking Collins at #62.
Perhaps Perryman can cover receivers well, but I would think if that is your opinion it is a minority opinion. He is the same type of guy as Barrington, and I am not sure that he is much better in terms of measurables. Big need pick with him, but since he will be overdrafted, it is not a reach. In fact, he might be gone by #62.
Hardison is fine. Mycole Pruitt is another need and reach pick. Langford, Emmanuel and Hull are fine. Hull might surprise. He is small, but he has strengths too. Blake Bell is fine.
Barrington, for being thrown in as he was a year ago, actually didn’t do too badly in coverage according to PFF (if you put stock in that). As with the other ILB candidates, people are hot and cold on Perryman and some say he could be exposed in coverage in the NFL.
I’ve heard some call Hull this season’s Chris Borland…minus the sudden retirement, of course.
“Let the debate begin.” Let’s see, Jeff, your first three selections are a doper, a short two-down ILB, and a DE who best fits a 4-3 defense (suggest Xavier Cooper or Henry Anderson instead). Your 4th round pick, Pruitt, is OK but there are other TEs out there (James, Kroft, Koyack) I personally would prefer at that stage of the draft as well as those who should be available later (Nick Boyle, A.J. Derby, Brian Parker, and your own 7th round pick, Blake Bell, who probably will be selected several rounds earlier). As for your other picks . . . Hull and Emanuel are OK, Fajardo is a wasted pick (he may be available as an UDFA, although I don’t know why we would want him), and Langford, as a 5th round pick would be tempting, but I personally would prefer taking Zach Zenner later in the 6th round. Zenner, is a versatile, all-purpose, 3 down back who has good speed, can catch the ball out of the backfield and can block like a FB. In fact, if we get him, John Kuhn becomes unnecessary.
My relatively uninformed mock. Assuming no deals…
1 (30) Carl Davis, DT, Iowa. Big, strong, smart DE/DT who can anchor against the run and get upfield push. Will provide immediate help at DE and can project out as a replacement in the middle.
2 (62) Lorenzo Mauldin, OLB/DE, Louisville. High motor, productive, has played on the line and standing up. Love his intangibles. Should contribute right away in passing situations.
3. (94) Ife Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon. Aggressive and effective corner. Short and coming off ACL pushes down his draft stock.
4. (129) Craig Mager, CB, Texas St. Strong, experienced corner. Can return punts.
5. (166) Darren Waller, WR, Ga Tech. Uber-tall (6’6″, 240#), fast (sub-4.5) WR who fits a niche for the Packers as a red zone, jump-ball threat. Could be the seam-splitting move TE we’re looking for.
6. (205) Thomas Rawls, RB, Central Michigan. Very productive MAC-back. Not polished in pass-pro. Has some character issues.
6. (210) C.J. Uzomah, TE, Auburn. Big (6’6″, 260#), athletic TE with soft hands and in-line blocking skills. Under utilized in college, might blossom with ARod throwing him passes.
6. (212) Mike Hull, LB, PSU. See above
7. (247) Junior Sylvestre, LB, Toledo. Fast but undersized LB. Immediate special teams contributor.
I don’t think Ted will pass up the quality DL’s that will be available at #30…but I don’t think he’ll pass up the opportunity to trade back either.