Packers Address Inside Linebacker, Select Michigan's Jake Ryan

The former Wolverine doesn't need to play right away but should help the interior of Green Bay's defense. 

After two days of wailing and gnashing their teeth, Packers fans were finally placated with an inside linebacker selection by the Green and Gold in the fourth round as Ted Thompson pulled the trigger on Michigan's Jake Ryan. 

Ryan certainly fits the theme of the draft so far in that he can be quite versatile for the Packers, able to play both inside and out at the linebacker position. 

Lance Zierlein over at NFL.com put it quite well:

He's got the size, physicality and commitment to film work to play inside, but his instincts still need work. Ryan is a little stiff and stays blocked for too long, but his disengagement from blocks will improve with more reps inside. Faster than quick, he is scheme versatile and can fit inside or at the SAM linebacker spot in a 4-3. Ryan's productivity comes from toughness, play demeanor and physical tools. Teams could pigeonhole him as a "try-hard" linebacker, but they shouldn't.

Eliot Wolf indicated in his post-pick press conference that the Packers don't feel Ryan needs to play right away, but you have to think he'll be in the mix for playing time sooner rather than later. 

Here's our live reaction from the CHTV Livestream, with special guest analysis from 247Sports' Brian Carriveau.

 

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Comments (6)

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HankScorpio's picture

May 02, 2015 at 01:20 pm

JAKE!!!! He's my boy!!!

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TKWorldWide's picture

May 03, 2015 at 08:44 pm

I see what you did there.

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Samson's picture

May 02, 2015 at 02:09 pm

Diamond in the rough ??
I hope so. The middle of the "D" is the cross-your-fingers part of the Pack going into 2015.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

May 02, 2015 at 02:43 pm

Looks like a solid pick to me. Looking for TT to work his day 3 and UDFA magic.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

May 02, 2015 at 06:23 pm

AJ Hawk 2.0 as a late fourth rounder will be just fine.

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Clay Zombo's picture

May 02, 2015 at 07:10 pm

You watch him at ILb with that brace on and you just know the further he gets away from that ACL injury and the more reps he gets inside the better hes gonna get.

I like the pick.

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