Railbird Central Podcast: NFL Draft Sleepers

Ben Fennell, a producer for ESPN and the NFL Network, joins the show to discuss potential Day 2 and Day 3 targets of the Packers.

Episode 518

Discussion of the first round tends to dominate all talk about the NFL Draft, but there's six other rounds and hundreds of other players to analyze. So that's the focus of today's show as we bring in Ben Fennell, a producer with ESPN and the NFL Network, who's seen many of the players talked about in today's show in person. We focus on potential targets for the Packers on Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft, going position by position. After our interview, we get into a breakdown of the Packers 2015 schedule that was released on Tuesday.

Enjoy...

Listen in...

Streaming audio - Press play

Download Versions: Download Audio Podcast

Free Subscription Option

NFL Categories: 
0 points
 

Comments (17)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Allan Murphy's picture

April 22, 2015 at 01:39 pm

Vary upset with cheese head tv 6 weeks now not getting live podcast till 4 or 5 hours after it's over have notifications no still not getting it what the hell is going on out there ?????????

0 points
0
0
Clay Zombo's picture

April 22, 2015 at 05:37 pm

Im sorry but Brian's voice is a voice made for silent movies or canadian hockey, not american football.

0 points
0
0
FITZCORE1252's picture

April 23, 2015 at 07:03 pm

You're selling him short. Brian would be fantastic in a 'Fargo' reboot.

0 points
0
0
ben's picture

April 22, 2015 at 07:09 pm

Next to Bobby Wagner and maybe Luke Kuchley, Mychal Kendricks is as good as any MLB in the league. He's better than any in coverage, a LB skillset the Packers desperately need that could free up Clay and other ILBs (Paul Dawson & Ben Heeney) to rush the passer and stuff the run.

Loved him coming out of Cal. At the time, "the steal of the entire draft", & "the next Nick Barnett." (yes, that's right, I'm quoting myself)

http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2015/4/22/8462837/packers-trade-rumors...

http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/04/are_the_eagles_trading_mychal...

a huge opportunity to improve the defense is once again presenting itself. get over yourself ted and use all the managerial tools at your disposal and make a very good team great. address team weaknesses, not your ego

Trade for Mychal Kendricks
Sign Colin McCarthy
Draft Paul Dawson
Draft Ben Heeney

0 points
0
0
EdsLaces's picture

April 22, 2015 at 10:52 pm

Ben Heeney really isn't that good ...maybe get Dawson though. Other than that your ideas are retarded at best.

0 points
0
0
RCPackerFan's picture

April 23, 2015 at 06:30 am

If they want the next Bobby Wagner, then they should draft Eric Kendricks. He is very similar to Bobby Wagner.

There is a a chance he will be available to them in the first round.

As a bit of a sleeper I do like Heeney. I think he could surprise some people.

0 points
0
0
EdsLaces's picture

April 23, 2015 at 09:11 am

I do like Kendricks ...I think he and Anthony would be the two best fits for the packers. I originally liked Heeney as well but if u watch him play an entire game he starts to remind me too much of Hawk. Gets caught in traffic a ton. Being a WVU fan I obviously love Kevin White, but I think we could really help our special teams by drafting Mario Alford he is a legit returner and a pretty solid wr as well. My brother is friends w Skyler Howard WVU qb and he told him that he ran a 4.28 40 for a few scouts the other day after shedding a few pounds since the combine. I love me some Super Mario!

0 points
0
0
RCPackerFan's picture

April 23, 2015 at 11:51 am

The 2 ILB's I like the most are Kendricks and Anthony. Anthony though I would say is a 2nd round option, where Kendricks will be a 1st round.
Another first round option that I think could be a good fit in Green Bay is Shaq Thompson. He is very versatile and I think Capers could do a lot with him.

For a KR, I like Akeem Hunt as a late round option. He can be the 3rd down change of pace RB that they lack right now and he can offer a lot as a KR.

0 points
0
0
EdsLaces's picture

April 23, 2015 at 02:59 pm

I like Shaq as well but doesn't he seem more like a big safety to you? He's a playmaker that's for sure but his size kinda scares me for a mlb.

0 points
0
0
Evan's picture

April 23, 2015 at 07:21 pm

Shaq is also my 1st round pick of choice. It might take him a season, but I don't see why he can't add 5-10 lbs to get him into the mid-230s.

I do hate taking a guy in the 1st who has to grow into the position, but I love his speed and versatility. I think Dom could create some packages to utilize his talents as he grows into a full-time player.

0 points
0
0
Thegreatreynoldo's picture

April 24, 2015 at 09:54 am

I suspect Shaq could be a sub package player on 3rd downs immediately. Sort of a Brandon Chillar guy. But with the new uptempo NFL, teams will catch him on the field in other situations by making substitutions difficult.

The concern is that Shaq really is around 219 Lbs. He has a narrow frame and thin legs and hips. Worry isn't that he can't add 5 lbs, but that he'd need to add 20 lbs. to be a 3-down player. His speed is good for an ILBer, okay for a SS, but would not be special as a FS. What would his speed be at 239 pounds? Long arms, but just 6'. Vertical is 33.5, but is very fluid. Based on measurables, Sean Richardson blows him away. What I like is more important though is that he has very good instincts, vision, and football IQ, and intangibles that can't be taught. I'd be okay with taking him because I think he is a football player, just not sure of his position. I think Capers can find a place or scheme for him if he can't add the necessary weight to play ILB in a traditional sense, and thus I would be surprised if he does not get on the field. Fairly low bust concern, IMO.

0 points
0
0
ben's picture

April 22, 2015 at 10:52 pm

Sign:
ILB-Colin McCarthy

Trade 1:
Eagles Get: (Packer’s 1st Round), (Packer’s 2016 4thRound), S:HaseanDix
Packers Get: (Eagle’s 2016 1st Round), MLB:MychalKendricks, (Eagle’s 2nd Round)
Trade 2:
Raiders Get: WR:DavonteAdams, (Packer’s 2nd Round), (Packer’s 2016 5th Round)
Packers Get: (Raider’s 2nd Round), CB:KeithMcGill, (Raider’s 3rd Round)
Trade 3:
Colts get: TE:RichardRodgers, OLB:MikeNeal, (Raider’s 3rd Round)
Packers get: TE:CobyFleener, NT:ZachKerr, (Colt’s 3rd Round), (Colt’s 2016 5th Round)

(2015Picks - 2,2,3,4,4,5,6,6,6,7) - (2016Picks – 1,1,2,3,5,6,7)

2015 53-man Roster
QB: Rodgers, Tolzien, [212thPick:TaylorHeinicke-(PracticeSquad)]
RB: Lacey, Starks, Raijon Neal, [205thPick:CoreyGrant]
FB: Kuhn, [247thPick:HunterJoyner]
WR: Jordy, Cobb, Janis, Abbrederis, [93rdPick:ChrisConley]
TE: Coby Fleener, Quarless, [166thPick:CjUzomah]
OL: Bakhtiari, Sitton, Linsley, Lang, Bulaga, Barclay, Vujnovich, Tretter
NT: Raji, [52ndPick:JordanPhillips], Zach Kerr
DE: Daniels, Boyd, Datone, Luther Robinson
ILB: Mychal Kendricks, [35thPick:PaulDawson], [94thPick:BenHeeney], Colin McCarthy, Barrington
OLB: Matthews, Peppers, Perry, Jayrone Elliot, Adrian Hubbard
CB: Shields, Heyward, Hyde, Keith McGill, [210thPick:DexterMcDonald], Goodson
S: Burnett, Richardson, [129thPick:JustinCox], Banjo
ST: Crosby, Masthay, LS: (see roster-TBD)

0 points
0
0
ben's picture

April 22, 2015 at 11:19 pm

more sleepers:

3-4th Round: WR - Chris Conley
http://draftbreakdown.com/video/chris-conley-vs-tennessee-2013/
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=120005&draftyear...
http://draftbreakdown.com/video/chris-conley-vs-arkansas-2014/

4th Round: ILB - Ben Heeney
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=120193&draftyear...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNi1LYn_1lM

4-5th Round: WR – Darren Waller
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=125673&draftyear...
http://draftbreakdown.com/video/darren-waller-vs-mississippi-state-2014/

4-5th Round S – Justin Cox
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=126904&draftyear...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO2g4NJXHTU

5th Round: RB – Corey Grant
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2043007-auburn-running-back-corey-gra...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEcX5jZ1kCo
http://flywareagle.com/2015/03/03/auburn-football-corey-grant-star-aubur...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_ODf8ED7ls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1Ctm7oMr-c

5-6th Round S – Adrian Amos

6-7th Round CB - Dexter McDonald
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=110299&draftyear...
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/dexter-mcdonald-1.html

6-7th Round: TE – CJ Uzomah
http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2015/03/cj_uzomah_shrugs_off_...

6-7th Round FS - Brian Suite
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=112741&draftyear...
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/brian-suite-1.html

7th Round: LB Junior Sylvestre
http://www.hustlebelt.com/mac-football/2015/1/21/7854847/2015-nfl-draft-...
Linebacker Junior Sylvestre, who will be in a camp this summer, completed 26 reps on the bench and ran the forty in a time around 4.5 flat, with some stopwatches reading under 4.50.

7th Round: QB - Taylor Heinicke
http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/QB/Taylor-Heinicke.php

7th Round: ILB - Quayshawn Nealy
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/quayshawn-nealy-1.html
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?spor...

7th: CB - Tray Walker
6-2 3/4, 189 pounds, posted 36.5-inch vertical jump and 10-7 broad jump. His 40 times included a wind-aided 4.44 and 4.51 against the wind. Walker also clocked a 4.05 in the short shuttle and a 3-cone, which dipped under 6.7.

UDFA: FB – Hunter Joyner
http://walterfootball.com/draft2015FB.php

UDFA: OT/OG - Tyson Chandler

UDFA: NT – Terry Williams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjmQq7KepA4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ3OtN3_8d8

UDFA: WR – Shakim Phillips
the UConn transfer who entered the season considered as a draftable prospect by scouts but struggled with injury all last year, timed in the 4.3s today

UDFA: LB/S – Matt Wells

UDFA: OLB - Matt Longacre
the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and an AFCA All-American from Northwest Missouri State, measured 6-3 1/4, 261 pounds, timed 4.75 in the 40, 6.95 in the 3-cone. His vertical jump was 33 inches and broad 9-10. He also completed 22 reps on the bench.

0 points
0
0
4thand1's picture

April 22, 2015 at 11:56 pm

TY, TY. I had trouble sleeping but now I won't have a problem.

0 points
0
0
RCPackerFan's picture

April 23, 2015 at 06:36 am

One player that I think could be a great fit in Green Bay on your list is Darren Waller. He is a TE/WR tweener. They really don't need an inline blocking TE, what they need is an athletic faster TE that can stretch the seem to pair with Rodgers.
Waller could be that guy. He will need to gain some weight and learn how to block better, but to start out he could be a pass catching option that they really don't have right now on the roster. He could be a matchup nightmare for defenses especially down in the Redzone, which is another need for the Packers.

0 points
0
0
J0hn Denver's Gavel's picture

April 24, 2015 at 07:37 am

I've heard Waller is really smart but seemingly disinterested in football per McGinn http://m.jsonline.com/sports/packers/talented-dorial-green-beckham-comes... He's been called a scouts nightmare. Also, a crummy blocker from what I've seen. Still an Intriguing prospect.

0 points
0
0
J0hn Denver's Gavel's picture

April 24, 2015 at 07:37 am

I've heard Waller is really smart but seemingly disinterested in football per McGinn http://m.jsonline.com/sports/packers/talented-dorial-green-beckham-comes... He's been called a scouts nightmare. Also, a crummy blocker from what I've seen. Still an Intriguing prospect.

0 points
0
0