This week is an important week for the Green Bay Packers as the NFL Combine is set to take place. The NFL Combine is used to assess NFL draft prospects. However, the Combine is also a place in which coaches and general managers talk business. So, be on the look for some news to break either this week or next regarding trade prospects and players who may be released as cap casualties.
Of course, the NFL Combine is more than just an opportunity for teams to talk trades with one another. It’s about the prospects and their athletic profile as well. RAS (Relative Athletic Score) is used by the media and draft analysts to determine the athletic capabilities a prospect may have.
The Packers value athleticism quite a bit. So if you are interested in learning more about RAS and how it relates to the Packers draft philosophy, then click here.
Now onto breaking down recent Packers mocks!
NFL Draft – Is Corner A Possibility?
Last week, we analyzed really just one person’s mock draft and the potential for a Myles Garrett trade. This week we are gonna do more. First up is a YouTuber who does a mock draft every Monday. He goes by Bengal! Now, before you ask, he isn’t a Bengal’s fan. I actually don’t know why he goes by Bengal, but I digress.
This past Monday, he did a two pick per team team mock draft. Today, we are only going to over his first pick for the Packers. If you want to see who the other Packers pick was, then you should click the link in the above paragraph.
For his first pick, he had the Packers selecting Azareye’h Thomas, cornerback out of Florida State.
Per Lance Zierlein – Thomas is a physical press-man cornerback with excellent length to disrupt receivers early in routes. While he lacks elite speed and fluidity in off-man coverage, his length, ball skills, and ability to contest catches help compensate. He continues to improve in run support but still struggles with anticipation, route recognition, and recovery speed. Though he’s more likely to break up passes than create turnovers.
Fit With Packers
Azareye’h Thomas fits the Packers mold at corner. He is 6’1″ and 191 pounds which is just about perfect for height and weight for a corner who seems to be very Packers-y. Green Bay seemingly will have a need a cornerback with the eventual trade or release of Jaire Alexander. Eric Stokes hasn’t been right since his injury, leaving really just Carrington Valentine and Keisean Nixon at the position. This does make it likely for the Packers to pick a corner.
Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL Draft Mock 2.0
Daniel Jeremiah is the lead NFL Draft analyst and NFL Network. He releases his own top prospects list but really prides himself in drafting based on what he is hearing around the league and what specific teams would do. In his Mock Draft 2.0, he has the Packers drafting another offensive tackle in the first round of this NFL Draft. That tackle is Josh Simmons out of Ohio State.
Jeremiah (Move The Sticks) says that Josh Simmons if healthy wouldn’t be available when the Packers pick because of how good he is. However, he isn’t healthy after having suffered a knee injury. He has all of the traits to be a great offensive tackle and, per Jeremiah, believes he can fit with the Packers because Simmons is capable of playing any position on the line.
Fit With Packers
Green Bay could very well be losing Josh Myers to free agency this season. They also could be looking to upgrade Rasheed Walker at left tackle. It could be as simple as the Packers drafting the best available player (BAP) and that could be Josh Simmons. I know that Green Bay just drafted Jordan Morgan in the first round last year, but building the offensive line is never a bad idea. Just ask the Super Bowl champions about what a great o-line can do for you.
The Packers do have some other pressing needs that could overshadow drafting a talent on the o-line, but free agency could make it more possible for the Packers to draft BAP.
NLF Draft – Last One!
Finally, let’s end this edition by discussing Tom Fornelli’s mock draft. Tom Fornelli is a sports writer at CBSSports and mostly focuses on College Football. In his most recent edition, he had the Green Bay Packers select Kenneth Grant out of Michigan.
Grant is a versatile defensive linemen who projects mostly as a nose tackle but probably could play three technique. The Packers are likely to lose TJ Slaton to free agency and could easily replace Slaton with Grant.
Per Lance Zierlein – Grant is a powerful, broad-bodied nose tackle with the ability to split double teams and disrupt plays when his pad level is right. Though inconsistent on tape, his strength, length, and heavy hands make him a force against interior pass-rushing threats. He struggles with explosiveness, a narrow base, and range as a tackler, but his physical traits suggest high upside. If he can refine his technique and impose his will more consistently, he has the potential to develop into a dominant defensive presence.
I would not be upset with this one. The Packers need to build up their defensive line. When TJ Slaton was in the game, they were able to stop the run, however, they lost any sort of pressure on the quarterback. They need someone(s) to be more versatile in the front seven. I don’t think the Packers should stop with just a single pick at defensive tackle. They need a couple of these guys in the NFL Draft.
But that does it for this week’s edition. I hope these are giving you some insight into possible draft prospects for the Packers and gives you some insight in to what the Packers could be thinking later this April.
Regardless and always,
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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