Packers Daily Links: UConn Tight End, Arkansas State Safety Visit Packers
A pair of college players have pre-draft visits set up with the Green Bay Packers. That and more in today's Daily Links...
A pair of players, Connecticut tight end Ryan Griffin and Arkansas State safety Don Jones, have pre-draft visits set up with the Green Bay Packers, according to Packer Report. "Jones is a big-time athlete with plenty of intriguing potential," writes reporter Bill Huber. "This champion sprinter posted a vertical jump better than any defensive back at the Scouting Combine." Jones comes from the same university as current Packers safety M.D. Jennings.
An interview with South Carolina State safety Jakar Hamiliton appears at Packer Report ahead of his visit with the Packers.
As noted by NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, there won't be many surefire left tackle prospects available to the Packers late in the first round of the NFL Draft. "The smoothest scenario would be better play from (Marshall) Newhouse, which would prevent moving (Bryan) Bulaga back to a position he hasn't played in four years," writes Seifert. "But the draft's top three left tackles -- Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel, Central Michigan's Eric Fisher and Oklahoma's Lane Johnson -- will be long gone by the time the Packers' No. 26 pick arrives." Seifert notes that Florida State's Menelik Watson might be an option and has been predicted as going to the Packers in a mock draft by ESPN's Todd McShay.
More mock drafts appear at AllGreenBayPackers.com, Acme Packing Company and Lombardi Ave.
An article on Ted Thompson's "general manager tree" appears at Fox Sports Wisconsin. "Having the title of 'Director of Football Operations' for the Packers has evolved to basically meaning one thing: Good luck as the next general manager of another team," writes reporter Paul Imig. "It happened with John Schneider, then Reggie McKenzie and this offseason with John Dorsey."
Former Packers signee Anthony Hargrove became part of the many former players joining the concussion lawsuits against the NFL.
Commentary on cornerback Casey Hayward and tight end Matthew Mulligan appears at Acme Packing Company.
Blog posts on the Packers schedule and their managerial philosophy are at Lombardi Ave.
This year's draft class of defensive backs gets some attention at the Packers official website.
An interview with offensive lineman Derek Sherrod appears at Scout.com.
A history of the 122nd draft choice comes from Packer Report.
Video: When Mike McCarthy retires from coaching football, he might have a future as a wedding photographer. From TMJ4 in Milwaukee...
Brian Carriveau is the author of "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor of Cheesehead TV's "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].
Comments (5)
April 09, 2013 at 09:09 am
I'm curious what Ted's tendencies are with pre-draft visits. Does he have a history of actually picking these guys or does he use the visits more as a smoke-screen?
Brian Carriveau
April 09, 2013 at 09:13 am
I don't think you can simply categorize these visits as the former or the latter. Most (though not all) are spent on undrafted types. They typically end up signing a handful of the players they bring in for visits. But even those they don't, it's all about the information gathering process. You never know when you'll have the opportunity to sign one of these guys or claim them on waivers later in their career.
April 09, 2013 at 09:18 am
Thanks, Brian. That makes sense.
April 09, 2013 at 09:14 am
Jones is making noise because of his speed and vertical. His JUCO tape shows some big hits and a pick-six. But he weighed in at 191 lbs. for his pro day and had only one interception all season. He's not a ball hawk, and at that size I don't see how he can be a big hitter at the next level and hold up for long.
April 09, 2013 at 11:01 am
Interviewing the potential UDFA's. C/G, RB and other TT traditional low draft priority positions to come.