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NFL Draft Report: Green Bay Packers

How will Mike McCarthy and the Packers approach the 2015 NFL Draft?

How will Mike McCarthy and the Packers approach the 2015 NFL Draft?

After finishing last season as the NFC North champions and making a trip to the NFC Championship game, the Green Bay Packers will look to continue their success in 2015. Much of that success has stemmed from the draft, where GM Ted Thompson has been able to build a solid roster out of a core of young players he drafted. This year the Packers have nine total draft picks, including the 30th overall pick in the first round.

The interesting part when looking towards the draft is that Green Bay doesn’t have many glaring draft needs, as they have one of the deepest rosters in the NFL. They ranked in the top half in both team offense and team defense (1st in offense, 14th in defense) in 2014. Thompson will view this as a blessing, as he has always enjoyed following the “select the best player available” mantra when it comes to the draft. This strategy has made it difficult to predict who Green Bay will select, especially with their first round pick. However, when looking closely, the Packers have several spots on the roster that they could use an upgrade or added depth which could point out a few areas where Thompson may focus his picks. Let’s take a look those roster spots and the Packers’ potential draft targets.

Draft Wizard Mock Draft Simulator

Cornerback

Given the construction of Green Bay’s current roster and the lack of free agent signings (another typical Thompson move), cornerback may be the Packer’s biggest draft need. The team lost starter Tramon Williams and backup Davon House to free agency this year. Plus, slot corner Casey Hayward is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Even if the Packers believe they can re-sign Hayward, Green Bay would love to add reinforcements to their depth chart and keep their defense as a top scoring DST fantasy unit (ranked 8th overall in DST in 2014). One potential target could be Marcus Peters out of Washington. Peters has good size for an NFL cover corner but he also likes to be physical with the receivers he is covering. He would be a good fit for the Packers’ defensive scheme and will likely be available when Green Bay selects at 30.

Another possible option for the Packers would be LSU’s Jalen Collins. Collins will come into the NFL as a raw talent, having only made 10 starts in college. However, his blend of speed and size could make him a tough talent to pass on, especially late in the first round, and he may be the type of player Thompson is looking for.

Depending how the picks before Green Bay’s pan out, other options could also be available. Kevin Johnson and Byron Jones are both high profile corners and are projected to be first round picks. If either player is available when the Packers select at no. 30 , it would be hard for Thompson to pass. Either way, Thompson would love to kill two birds with one stone on his first round pick by selecting the best player available but also filling a team need.

Potential draft targets

  • Marcus Peters (Washington)
  • Jalen Collins (LSU)
  • Kevin Johnson (Wake Forest)
  • Byron Jones (Connecticut)

Tight End

Another area where the Packers would love to add depth is at the tight end position. Ever since Jermichal Finley left the team in 2013, Green Bay has not had the same production from their tight end and have been shuffling players in and out of the starting lineup (similar to how the team used Andrew Quarless and Richard Rodgers in 2014). This approach led to the Packers not having a tight end in the top 20 for fantasy scoring in 2014 (Quarless was ranked 26th). Unfortunately for Green Bay, there are not many options at tight end in the first round, with only one player projected to be selected (Minnesota’s Maxx Williams). If Green Bay gets lucky, Williams may fall to them at no. 30 and would provide the team with a playmaker at tight end that they have not seen since Finley.

However, Green Bay drafted a tight end in last year’s draft and it would seem unlikely for them to use their first round pick on a replacement this year. A more likely scenario would be for the Packers to address their need in the later rounds. Clive Walford, out of Miami, will most likely be available in the second round and would provide depth and competition at tight end if the Packers were to take him. Other intriguing options include Jeff Heuerman from Ohio State and Wes Saxton from South Alabama. Both players should still be on the board in the third or fourth round and each has the athletic skills and speed that Finley once displayed in the offense. Overall, unless Thompson views Williams as the best player available at no. 30, the Packers will rely heavily on Rodgers and Quarless, especially early in the season, to carry the load at tight end in 2015.

Potential draft targets

Inside Linebacker

The Packers need better support at the ILB position in 2015. This was on display throughout 2014 where Green Bay finished the year ranked 23rd in rushing defense and was forced to play Clay Matthews inside for much of the year. The Packers would love to add a playmaker to start next to promising 3rd year ILB Sam Barrington and adding depth at the position would keep Matthews in his natural position at outside linebacker. Currently, only one ILB (UCLA’s Eric Kendricks) is projected to be drafted in the first round. Kendricks would definitely fill the need for Green Bay, as he is viewed as one of the top all-around linebackers in the draft. He has the speed to cover receivers and tight ends while also having a nose for the ball and sniffing out runs.

Even if Kendricks is not there at no. 30, or the Packers pass on him, this draft class is deep for inside linebackers and Green Bay should be able to fill their need in the later rounds. Mississippi State’s Bernardrick McKinney and Miami’s Denzel Perryman are two big names that have been linked with the Packers in several mock drafts. Even though both players would be day 1 starters if the Packers drafted them, they would be considered reaches in the first round, even at no. 30, but should be available in the second round. Stephone Anthony, out of Clemson, is also considered to be a solid all-around linebacker in this year’s draft and is projected to be selected in the second or third round. Anthony would be a nice fit in Green Bay’s defense and would be a steal if the Packers were able to grab him in the third round.

Overall, in today’s NFL and with such a deep draft class, it’s difficult to see the Packers using their first round pick on an inside linebacker. However, if Ted Thompson views one of these linebackers as the best player available at no.30, don’t be surprised to see them hoisting up a green and gold jersey on April 30th.

Potential draft targets

  • Eric Kendricks (UCLA)
  • Benardrick McKinney (Mississippi State)
  • Denzel Perryman (Miami (FL))
  • Stephone Anthony (Clemson)

Brad Behrens is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Brad, check out his archive or follow him @_BradBehrens.

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