Report: Packers Meet with Top Prospects Shelton, Perryman at Senior Bowl

The Packers were observed meeting with Washington defensive lineman Danny Shelton and Miami linebacker Denzel Perryman at the college football all-star game.

Washington defensive lineman Danny Shelton at the Senior Bowl—John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports.

Washington defensive lineman Danny Shelton at the Senior Bowl—John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports.

While the 2014 season for the Green Bay Packers came to a close just three days ago, general manager Ted Thompson and his staff are already preparing for the future while at the site of the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

The Packers aren't wasting any time meeting with a couple of the top prospects on the defensive side of the football at college football's top all-star game.

Two players that representatives of the Packers met with this week include Washington defensive lineman Danny Shelton and Miami inside linebacker Denzel Perryman, according to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com in his Tuesday and Wednesday reports.

Shelton is considered by some to be the top prospect competing in the Senior Bowl and is ranked as the seventh-best overall player in this year's draft class by CBS Sports' NFLDraftScout.com.

At 6-2 and 343 lbs., Shelton has received comparisons to Vince Wilfork of the New England Patriots and Haloti Ngata of the Baltimore Ravens, including Cheesehead TV draft guide analyst Paul Guillemette, who is in Mobile.

After losing in the NFC Championship game on Sunday and wrapping up the 30th overall selection in the draft, however, the Packers would seem to have little chance of landing Shelton without trading up.

The Packers enter the 2015 season at a crossroads at the nose tackle position with both this year's starter, Letroy Guion, and last year's starter, B.J. Raji, entering unrestricted free agency.

Guion reportedly has been engaged in discussions on a contract extension with the Packers, although nothing is finalized.

It's important not to place too much importance on one team's meeting with a prospect in an environment like the Senior Bowl.

Between all-star games, the Combine, regional combines, pro-day workouts and visits to team facilities, nearly every team will meet with every draft-quality prospect at some point. Case in point, the Packers were one of six teams observed meeting with Shelton on Tuesday.

Lending context to the meeting, Campbell writes:

Here is a recap of the player interviews that were conducted on the field after Tuesday's practice for the North team and the South Team. The North team had very little activity, as 99 percent of the team representatives left the practice early in order to make the drive to see the beginning of the South session.

Typically, these interviews with area scouts are to set up longer, formal interviews for a night during the week. While teams say they "talk" to every player, teams do not take the time to conduct formal interviews with every draft prospect, so this can be a clue as to which players are on their radar.

Perryman, meanwhile, was seen meeting with the Packers at the team's hotel. He's ranked as the third-best inside linebacker in this year's draft class and the 77th overall prospect by NFLDraftScout.com, making him a likely Day 2 draft choice.

The Packers, likewise, would appear to enter the 2015 season in transition at inside linebacker.

The last year of A.J. Hawk's and Brad Jones' respective contracts both expire following the 2015 season, but the Packers would save $3.75 million on next season's salary cap by parting ways with Jones and $3.5 million by releasing Hawk, especially in light of poor seasons by both players.

Clay Matthews may have been the savior at the position in 2015, but assuming they can somehow upgrade the talent at inside linebacker, the Packers would probably prefer to keep Matthews on the line of scrimmage rushing the quarterback.

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Comments (6)

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NewNikeShoes's picture

January 22, 2015 at 02:57 pm

Not trying to sound like a pessimist or anything, but I sincerely doubt either of these guys would be available for us. I keep hearing about Paul Dawson tho. I did some digging, and he reminds me of Ryan Shazier except tougher and more willing to tackle someone down. I seriously hope we get that guy

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Allan Murphy's picture

January 22, 2015 at 05:52 pm

It's fine to look but their's a long way too go before the draft and that will change day by day too ..........

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Charvid's picture

January 22, 2015 at 07:32 pm

Are you shitting me?? Brad Jones at $3.75MM for Brad Jones??? BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

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TKWorldWide's picture

January 22, 2015 at 07:46 pm

Dee-fense!
Dee-fense!
Dee-fense!

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TKWorldWide's picture

January 24, 2015 at 07:17 am

At this "advanced stage" of my fandom, I am totally comfortable with BPA. I remember very clearly years ago when TT traded out of the first round and then took a WR in the second. I thought, "A RECEIVER? GB doesn't need another one of those! What the hell is he doing??"

Yep, Jordy Nelson.

Go, TT, go!
Shut up, TK, shut up!!

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RCPackerFan's picture

January 28, 2015 at 02:16 pm

I can see him trading back again this year possibly.

The talent gap between 30 and 36 isn't that much. So they could possibly pick up and extra 3rd or 4th round pick to move back 6 or whatever spots.

I can see this year that happening.

The only real 'need' position they have is ILB. well if one isn't really worthy of the 30th pick, I have no problem if they go just about any other position. Just because a position is a strength now, doesn't mean it will be a strength by the end of the year.

I would expect them to go defense with their first pick. Probably LB, but DL and CB could be their pick also.

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