The second look at what the Green Bay Packers might do in the 2016 NFL Draft:
1st Round – Pick # 27 – DT Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech
It is becoming more and more obvious that the Packers will need to address defensive line early in the draft with the loss of BJ Raji. Butler is a stout NT in the 3-4 who provides some position flexibility because of his athleticism. The Seahawks pick before the Packers and also will be looking at d-line, so that may limit what the Packers can do here, but Butler likely doesn’t fit their needs. I think there is also a strong possibility of a trade down if Paxton Lynch is still there at the end of Round 1, to a team that is trying to sneak ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs. With the depth at d-line in this draft, moving to the early part of the 2nd Round and getting an extra pick seems like another good option.
Other options: DL Jonathan Bullard-Florida, DL Robert Nkemdiche-Ole Miss, LB Su’a Cravens-USC, Trade Down
Previous Pick: DT Kenny Clark-UCLA
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgOxjWwxtVo&w=560&h=315]
2nd Round – Pick #57 – WR Braxton Miller, Ohio State
I really liked Su’a Cravens here, but it appears the Carolina Panthers have fallen in love with the guy and are ready to take him in the 1st round. Leading up to the Packers pick you have the Vikings, Bengals, and Seahawks. All three of those teams are always looking for defensive players, so it could be another year where I have to hold my breath with each pick before Green Bay. I think Offensive Tackle, Defensive Line, and an Outside Linebacker are all in play with this pick. While I don’t think the Packers have a need at Wide Receiver, Miller provides value at this pick, gives them a player who has the ability to beat Cornerbacks over the top, and Ted Thompson has a pretty good track record of WRs in the 2nd Round.
Other options: OLB Yannick Ngakoue-Maryland, OLB Bronson Kaufusi-BYU, DL Sheldon Day-Notre Dame
Previous Pick: LB Su’a Cravens-USC
3rd Round – Pick #88 – OT Willie Beavers, Western Michigan
OT is a position the Packers have to address in this year’s draft. Bulaga and Bahktiari have struggled through injuries so they need an insurance policy, and Bahktiari is a free agent. Beavers is a big athletic guy who could be really good if given some time to develop. He is probably ideal at Right Tackle, but played the Left side in college and has the foot speed to do so in the NFL.
Other Options: LB Joshua Perry-Ohio State, OT Joe Haeg-North Dakota St, OLB Jordan Jenkins-Georgia
Previous Pick: RB Kenyan Drake-Alabama
4th Round – Pick #125 – OLB Joe Schobert, Wisconsin
The Packers will likely be looking to add some pass rush depth with Julius Peppers nearing retirement. Schobert can join the rotation with CM3, Peppers, Nick Perry, and Jayrone Elliot until he can develop.
Previous Pick: LB Jaylon Smith-Notre Dame
4th Round – Pick #131 – RB Jordan Howard, Indiana
I really like John Crockett as the 3rd running back on this team, but if the Packers can find great value in the mid rounds they should find a player that gives them a future option and some leverage in negotiations with Eddie Lacy.
Previous Pick: OT Joe Haeg-North Dakota St
4th Round – Pick #137 – OT Cole Toner, Harvard
Toner is a tough guy who possesses the type of intelligence you’d expect from a Harvard player. I think Toner can be kicked inside and be a developmental Guard. The Packers risk losing a combination of Lang, Sitton, and Tretter next offseason, so Toner gives them some options.
Previous Pick: ILB Antonio Morrison-Florida
5th Round – Pick #163 – CB Harlan Miller, SE Louisiana
The Packers will need to find a fourth CB. Miller could compete with Gunter for that spot. Miller reminds me of Davon House.
Previous Pick: NT Hassan Ridgeway, Texas
6th Round – Pick #200 – ILB Kris Frost, Auburn
I’ve been frustrated with Ted Thompson for not taking an ILB early in the last few drafts. Now here I am, doing the same in a mock draft. There’s simply not a lot of depth at the position this year, and this was the first pick where I thought there was some value.
Previous Pick: DE Matt Ioannidis, Temple
7th Round – Pick #248 – P Riley Dixon, Syracuse
The only pick that I won’t change for this draft. Tim Masthay needs to be replaced. I’m not usually a fan of drafting a Punter, but Dixon is really special and I’d rather not fight for his services with other teams. He has great hang time, has dealt with the elements in college, and even has some skills on Punt fakes.
Previous Pick: P Riley Dixon, Syracuse
Andrew Mertig is a a lifelong Packers fan and draft enthusiast. He has covered the NFL draft for radio and television stations in Green Bay. He is currently a host of the Pack-A-Day podcast and a writer for PackersTalk.com. You can follow him on Twitter @andrewmertig
8 responses to “Green Bay Packers 2016 Draft: Mock Draft v2.0”
Schobert isn’t being looked at as an OLB by 34 defensive teams. He is going to have to make a transition to ILB on a 34 team or Sam LB in a 43 defense. He doesn’t have the size, length or strength to play 34 OLB. He could make a transition to ILB and become a good one, but it will take a little time and its not w/o risk, since he hasn’t played ILB. Slot him in alongside Ryan and Barrington and he’s more of the same, but doesn’t provide what the Packers need at ILB to compliment Ryan and/or Barrington (speed and coverage).
Packers are already 6 deep at WR and have Montgomery and Janis as KR, which makes the Braxton Millier pick useless to the Packers. Who would they release to make room for him? Or do you think the Packers will carry 7 WR on the roster? Miller would be a wasted pick, not that a WR couldn’t be drafted late to get a year of development on the PS. But certainly not a 2nd.
Butler is the one pick I do like. While everyone is clamoring for NT, I believe 5 tech DE is the primary need on DL. Guion and Pennel’s best position is NT. Butler could get some NT work, but his best position is clearly 5 tech DE. His best draft comparison (per NFL.com, not to mention myself) is Muhammad Wilkerson, NYJ DE.
As a point of reference regarding Schobert, he has an almost exact duplicate already on the Packers roster. Carl Bradford… How is that working out?
Schobert 6’1 244, 4.76 40, 31.5 in arms and small hands.
Bradford 6’1 250, 4.76 40, 30.5 in arms and small hands.
Both describe as “play w/ hair in fire” types, supposed to make up for it w/ effort, heart and desire. Too bad those great traits aren’t enough in the NFL to succeed at OLB.
Based on last year’s performance there’s still a lot of question marks in this receiving corp. Everyone assumes that if Jordy comes back healthy everything will be fixed. I think Adams spot on the roster is in trouble if he doesn’t come in with a different mindset and preparation in training camp. I love Abbrederris, but if an upgrade is available, I don’t his spot as guaranteed.
The roster depth also assumes both Jordy and Ty Montgomery can stay healthy.
I didn’t even mention the WR group. But since you bring it up… A very large part of the equation is Jordy. He is the deep threat that keeps defenses honest and BOTH safeties deep. Without Jordy in the lineup, teams realized that no one on the roster was going to threaten them deep. So teams started playing the safeties closer and closer to the LOS. Then moved a safety into the box to make running the ball more difficult. Without a focus and attacking Lacy the run game faultered, the other WR started seeing press coverage all game, every game. They had difficulties beating press man coverage and w/ the safeties closer to the LOS all the short and intermediate zones were full of defenders. So there was no room for Cobb to get anything done. Along w/ the better CB looking at Cobb and each WR down the line seeing a better CB than the previous year, the passing game suffered.
This year w/ Jordy forcing safeties deep again and taking the best CB the other WR are again back in a comfort and more space to work short/intermediate areas all the routes will be more open. Add Cook as a threat up the seam and the offense will be humming as good or better than ’14.
Adams has some pressure to step up, but lets face it… He was a 2nd rd pick, he’ll be on the roster again this year and he’ll be given every chance to take over the #3 WR role again. Even if he isn’t #3 they aren’t going to release him. Monty will see snaps in the slot and have a role in the backfield in place of Cobb. Abbrederis is a solid backup, probably not a good starter, but that remains to be seen.
Janis is being groomed to take over Jordy’s role, but he has alot to improve on yet. He’s a ht, wt, speed project who is likely to take 3+ yrs to “get it” if he ever does. In the meantime, he absolutely has a role on ST.
I didn’t even mention the WR group. But since you bring it up… A very large part of the equation is Jordy. He is the deep threat that keeps defenses honest and BOTH safeties deep. Without Jordy in the lineup, teams realized that no one on the roster was going to threaten them deep. So teams started playing the safeties closer and closer to the LOS. Then moved a safety into the box to make running the ball more difficult. Without a focus and attacking Lacy the run game faultered, the other WR started seeing press coverage all game, every game. They had difficulties beating press man coverage and w/ the safeties closer to the LOS all the short and intermediate zones were full of defenders. So there was no room for Cobb to get anything done. Along w/ the better CB looking at Cobb and each WR down the line seeing a better CB than the previous year, the passing game suffered.
This year w/ Jordy forcing safeties deep again and taking the best CB the other WR are again back in a comfort and more space to work short/intermediate areas all the routes will be more open. Add Cook as a threat up the seam and the offense will be humming as good or better than ’14.
Adams has some pressure to step up, but lets face it… He was a 2nd rd pick, he’ll be on the roster again this year and he’ll be given every chance to take over the #3 WR role again. Even if he isn’t #3 they aren’t going to release him. Monty will see snaps in the slot and have a role in the backfield in place of Cobb. Abbrederis is a solid backup, probably not a good starter, but that remains to be seen.
Janis is being groomed to take over Jordy’s role, but he has alot to improve on yet. He’s a ht, wt, speed project who is likely to take 3+ yrs to “get it” if he ever does. In the meantime, he absolutely has a role on ST.
Based on last year’s performance there’s still a lot of question marks in this receiving corp. Everyone assumes that if Jordy comes back healthy everything will be fixed. I think Adams spot on the roster is in trouble if he doesn’t come in with a different mindset and preparation in training camp. I love Abbrederris, but if an upgrade is available, I don’t his spot as guaranteed.
The roster depth also assumes both Jordy and Ty Montgomery can stay healthy.
thank you for the frank discussion on Schobert.. i have been feeling like leaving him our of my mock drafts was unconscionable.. this gives me valuable insight/argument for moving on from Schobert.
When I see any mock draft have the Packers take a WR in first 2 rounds I usually don’t bother looking at the rest of the mock. I know, TT is great at taking WR’s in 2nd round and jordy coming back from knee, etc. but we have 6 WR’s worth a roster spot and even if one gets hurt, most years we only keep 5. James Jones will prob be available again as a “break the glass” option. I blame the coaching staff for not using the WR’s and coaching them up last year. Regardless of what you think of Adams, he deserves another shot based on his rookie year and draft status. Only WR we are looking for this year is a good practice squad candidate.