Packers Future At Receiver Is Unclear
By jasonperone
With just under a month before the NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers are hard at work finalizing their draft board. General manager Ted Thompson and his team have been spending countless hours over the last year watching players, prospects and analyzing film. As we know, Thompson's passion is the draft and the scouting process that leads up to it. Does he always nail the pick? No. But he has done well in over a decade as Packers GM and one of the reasons is his vision.
Thompson is tasked with keeping the Packers competitive each year. For the most part on his watch, they have been. That goes beyond simply making the current year's team better. With the salary cap and free agency what it is, Thompson often has to look farther into the future. A position of strength right now could quickly become a need area. One example is wide receiver.
Currently on the Packers roster at receiver are Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, Jeff Janis, Trevor Davis, Geronimo Allison, Max McCaffrey and Antwan Goodley. That group made the offense tick in 2016 and helped the Packers reach the NFC Championship game. Minus Nelson, the rest of the bunch are all under 30 years old and in fact, Cobb is closest at just 26 years old. From an age perspective, the Packers have some youth to work with. But beyond Nelson, Cobb and Adams, the rest conjure up more questions than answers.
Cobb is signed through 2018 but, depending on how this year plays out, the Packers could decide to part ways with him a year early. Cobb will count just over $12 million against this season's cap. After this season, his dead money drops down to $3.25 million in 2018. He's scheduled to be a free agent in 2019. Cobb has been an interesting player since joining the team in 2011. On opening night that season, Cobb had an electric 109-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a touchdown catch. Many of us thought he was destined for greatness. I would describe Cobb as steady but he has never blossomed into what was hoped of him. He'll likely be looking for a multi-year deal when the time comes and the Packers don't currently and typically bring aging skill players back.
Nelson had an incredible season back after his ACL injury in 2015 and was Comeback Player of the Year. He's still a very valuable entity in the offense and while doesn't seem to have the blazing speed he once did, still figures to be a big part of the Packers' game plan. But at 31 years old, Nelson could see his decline begin any time now. He's a year-to-year proposition at this stage and the Packers surely have to be thinking about how they will replace all that he is.
Adams broke out in 2016 and the assumption is that the Packers will re-sign him either during the 2017 season or before he hits the open market shortly after. If he can stay healthy, Adams should factor as a huge part of the passing game.
Janis enters his fourth season and has been a bigger special teams contributor than receiver. If he were going to be more, he would have already become more. The Packers may bring him back, but it would likely be more for special teams and depth than in the hopes that he can still be a regular option at receiver. That the Packers integrated Allison more into the game plan last season was another indictment of Janis as a receiver. Allison made some key plays (the big touchdown catch against the Detroit Lions in week 17) and with another offseason could be a surprise breakout player for Green Bay this season.
Davis was drafted in the fifth round last year after displaying his speed at the Combine and during his time at California - Berkeley. Davis was thought to be an option in the return game as well as stretch opposing defenses. Davis largely disappointed as a receiver with just one touchdown catch and only appearing in 11 games in 2016. Davis lost his return duties after a bad fumble against the Tennessee Titans and fell into the dog house. Some question whether he's even on the roster in 2017. I still say that as a fifth round investment, he will be and of the young receiver crop, Davis is the biggest X-factor. If he can turn into a regular part of the receiver rotation, he gives the Packers some breathing room and allows them to focus on improving other areas. With the loss of Micah Hyde, Davis may get another shot at returning punts and could get more opportunity at kick return as well.
McCaffrey and Goodley are nothing to talk about at this point and need to prove their worth when spring mini camps and training camp start.
With everything above in mind, the Packers surely have to be thinking beyond 2017 at receiver. The idea that Green Bay might use an early pick, possibly even their first pick, on a receiver this year seemed ludicrous earlier in the pre-draft process. With never-ending needs on defense, Thompson seemed destined to use his early picks finding more speed and impact on that side of the ball. As I look ahead, the idea of a Corey Davis or a Mike Williams sitting there when the Packers are on the clock seems worthy of high consideration.
The "win now" mentality is understandable but the Packers have to be looking to keep the cupboard stocked for an Aaron Rodgers-led offense. As Rodgers ages and relies more on his arm than his feet, the receiver corps is going to become a huge key to the Packers' ability to maintain their success. It's an area that needs to be addressed and addressed before the 2017 season kicks off.
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Jason is a freelance writer on staff since 2012 and also co-hosts Cheesehead TV Live, Pulse of the Pack and Pack A Day podcasts. You can follow him on Twitter here
Comments (41)
NickPerry
April 03, 2017 at 06:38 am
This may not be popular but IF Corey Davis or Mike Williams is sitting there at 29, it would be pretty difficult to pass them up. Personally I don't see them falling, especially Davis but you never know. If either is sitting there then TT BPA approach would be put to test. Does he pick the WR if there or take defense?
I like Zay Jones. He has size and speed which is something the Packers lack at the position. Another I like is Goodwin from Penn State. He's not as big as Jones, but actually ran a faster 40. Janis is Janis, he'll stick as a ST player if at all past this year.
Trevor Davis just doesn't feel like a guy who's could fill Nelson's shoes when that time comes. Davis is what's wrong with 40 times at the combine. Sure he can run fast in a straight line, but one knock on him coming out was when he changed directions, he doesn't get back up to speed as quickly as you'd like. Not only that he's pretty darn thin, 6'1" 188. He did manage 11 reps on the bench which is more than I thought he'd put up when looking at him.
Cobb will bounce back this year and Adams will continue to grow. Obviously it's just a feeling about Cobb but I think he plays closer to 2014's version. Neither is "Fast". Allison is a nice "Possession Receiver" who sure seemed and played faster than his Spandex Time at the combine.
Depending how the draft falls out I'd like them to add a WR in the 2nd or preferably 3rd though I doubt Jones or Goodwin are there at #93.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
April 03, 2017 at 09:03 am
I don't want to write Davis off too soon. Jordy took a year to acclimate, while Driver and Adams took a couple. There aren't many Instant Jennings guys out there.
I like Davis a lot, not just for his wheels, but for his developing hands. I see him and Adams forming a potent duo outside, with Jordy, Randall, and our newfound fleet of TE's more inside.
We'll see.
Handsback
April 03, 2017 at 06:46 am
Unless Davis or Williams fall to the Packers...I don't see a WR chosen this year until late. I think that guy from Grambling could be a late round selection.
I wouldn't be surprise to see TT get a TE early (1-3 rounds) and bypass the WRs entirely until the 7th round. It's a bad year for WRs but a great year for TEs. Thats why I think TT goes for at least one TE early. Besides how may pass catchers can you keep on the roster?
croatpackfan
April 03, 2017 at 07:07 am
I agree with you. I think 1st & 2nd round goes to D, and 3rd & 4th round goes to RB & TE. Later rounds (4 picks) will be adding depth, so TT might pick another WR at 5th round.
As I understand how TT doing roster, I think they already have OLB and CB projected in first 2 rounds, but there is possibility of trade back to pick another 2nd round pick and maybe 4th round pick, depends on available players.
So, I believe TT will pick 2 OLB, 1 CB, 1 ILB, 1 RB, 1 TE, 1 OL (OT probably) 1 WR, but not at that sequence.
PackEyedOptimist
April 03, 2017 at 07:18 am
TT's approach is not as simple as "Best Player Available." In an interview a few years back, he let slip his real approach (actually, I think it was McCarthy who said it--it was a long time ago), and it rang completely true. Since then, I've watched that approach be underlined again and again. it is this: "We take a player we believe will be an upgrade to our current roster." That is, if there is a player who they think is a better prospect than their starter, EVEN IF THE STARTER IS GOOD, they will take him. If they think (especially in later rounds) that a player is better than their second or third string player on the roster, they will take him. So one way of looking at it during the draft, is "which players on the board are better than which players on the roster?" I have a theory that the Packers Big Board has all of their CURRENT ROSTER inserted in it as well.
That said, if you want to predict the Packer's choice, the "TT doesn't take guards/RBs high" kind of talk gets tossed to the curb.
croatpackfan
April 03, 2017 at 08:31 am
I almost agree with you! And I'm sure they (TT as the face) think pretty high about Packers roster, so they will look to get "football players" on all positions available in the draft. Pure depth they built through UFDA signings. So, I do think they will look at OLB and CB first. Because they are the positions which they need to upgrade at team anyhow. Not always by better players than they have on the roster, but players who they think can be develop in trully replacement of the best. Add that to TT phylosophy of drafting and you'll see how that meet what happens. So, BAP, Upgrade roster player and "football player" (versatile player capable of playing more than one position!) is mixture TT are using when drafting.
I think we can agree on that!
PackEyedOptimist
April 03, 2017 at 09:12 am
I agree with everything you say here, Croat (I usually do, and I enjoy your posts as they remind me of the summer I spent teaching English in Poland :-) ). "Potential" certainly is part of the decision, as is injury history, etc. "Need" is an important part of the picture, because it increases the probability that the rookie is better than the current guy on the roster. The importance of the position has to come into play as well: a back-up guard isn't as important as a back-up QB. Your addition that "flexibility" is important is also accurate, but all of those things are just a part of the "is he better than the guy on the roster."
Fans often want the team to pick a "need," but if TT looks at the roster and says "I don't think this "needed" CB draft-prospect is any better than our current starter/back-up CB, but this "unneeded" Safety prospect is better than our current back-up safety," he will take the safety.
dobber
April 03, 2017 at 08:03 am
I hate to project what the Packers will take simply because you never know how the draft will fall, but I expect there to be an edge player, offensive skill player, and DB in the first three picks. I think DB goes later (unless a guy they really like drops to them) simply because the draft is deep there and TT has too much draft capital invested in Rollins and Randall to no let them develop.
I think the best move the Packers could make is to move back from #29 into the top third of round 2 and pick up an extra day 2 pick.
croatpackfan
April 03, 2017 at 08:30 am
I agree with you! I just said that I can forsee trading back...
PackEyedOptimist
April 03, 2017 at 09:22 am
I'd LOVE a good trade-back, but with the depth of this year's first three rounds, I don't think any team will bite on it.
PackEyedOptimist
April 03, 2017 at 09:19 am
I think that TT will see an available RB as "better than Christine Michael" pretty early in this draft. I think he'll see a "better DL prospect" very early as well.
I'm not convinced he'll take an OLB early, as they will need to seem better than Matthews/Perry/Fackrell/Elliott, and that may not be easy.
I think CB may be like OLB--will the prospect CLEARLY be better than House/Randall/Rollins/Gunter(and others)?
The staff may still see equal or greater potential in the current guys.
PackEyedOptimist
April 03, 2017 at 09:30 am
I'm really hoping the Packers pick up BYU's Jamaal Williams. He's predicted to go anywhere from the second round to the sixth round, which amazes me. Yeah, he's probably going to deal with injuries off-and-on, but he's like a cross between Marshawn Lynch and Donald Driver (especially remembering that epic beast-mode run of Driver's). If you haven't watched one of his You-Tube highlight videos, do yourself a treat and watch one! He makes me laugh out loud, he runs so angry/crazy/active! He jump-cuts around good players like he's a video game! I also think he'd be great on special teams, both returning kicks and being a gunner.
NickPerry
April 03, 2017 at 07:18 am
"It's a bad year for WRs but a great year for TEs."
Completely agree but Jones or Goodwin in the 3rd wouldn't be a bad pick at all. TE's will start flying off the board in the 2nd round but one who might be there in the 3rd or better yet the 4th is Jake Butt. He'll need a year anyways because of his injury but he could be there at 93 and ready when Kendricks is gone and learn from Bennett for 3 years. I highly doubt Butt is there in the 4th but mabe a move up into the 4th if he's still there wouldn't be bad.
The only thing that scares me about waiting so long is you never know when Nelson starts to decline. He wasn't as fast last season which was to be expected. But having a WR WHEN Nelson starts to decline is going to be important, just like it was when DD started to slip.
RCPackerFan
April 03, 2017 at 07:52 am
"The only thing that scares me about waiting so long is you never know when Nelson starts to decline. He wasn't as fast last season which was to be expected. But having a WR WHEN Nelson starts to decline is going to be important, just like it was when DD started to slip."
I thought Nelson seemed to get faster as the year went on. Maybe not as fast as he was, but he to me seemed like he got faster and improved a lot from the beginning of the year till the end.
You bring up a great point. The drafting a WR to develop for down the road to be a replacement for other WR's. Don't forget that after this year Adams will be a free agent. Also with Montgomery playing more RB, it wouldn't be surprising for them to draft a WR earlier then expected.
I also really like Zay Jones. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they used a 2nd or 3rd round pick on a WR. A couple of guys to keep an eye on are Jones and Ju-Ju Smith Schuster. Thompson likes his Pac-10 guys and Ju-Ju is one of the top WR's from there.
PackEyedOptimist
April 03, 2017 at 07:07 am
Good article, but I was disappointed by the "McCaffrey...nothing to talk about" comment.
Some stats on him make him as interesting as most current college players, and he has a season of NFL training. 6’2” 196#, 4.46 (unofficial 4.36) 40,
36 ½” vertical, 7.09 3-cone, 9 reps bench
NFL bloodlines (Ed, soon Christian), Did returning in college
Lphill
April 03, 2017 at 07:08 am
Wide receiver might be the only position group the Packers are solid in , tight end also , I don't see an early round being used in this draft for either group when defense seems to be a priority this draft . Bpa has to be the best defensive player available.
NickPerry
April 03, 2017 at 07:30 am
Sigh.... It sure seems Defense has been a "Priority" for a long, long time doesn't it?
Razer
April 03, 2017 at 08:46 am
Indeed. Don't seem to be making much headway through the draft nor FA. Our defensive scheme doesn't seem to fool many teams. Hard to keep hoping that next year will be "the year".
RCPackerFan
April 03, 2017 at 07:17 am
I like our WR group overall.
Nelson returned to form as the season wore on and showed the difference he makes in this offense.
Adams showed what a difference another good outside WR can make.
Cobb is still one of the best slot WR's in the league (when healthy).
Allison really emerged as a real weapon.
Davis despite not playing a lot I think can be developed. And that fumble that Davis had as a PR should have been a penalty, and shouldn't have been a fumble. He bobble the ball and before the ball hit the ground the defender hit him jarring the ball loose, which is illegal.
While Allison and Davis were rookies and didn't play a ton, I think they both could take a step in their 2nd years. Allison showed terrific hands and for a 'slow' guy always seemed to get open.
Add to the WR position 2 new TE's in Bennett and Kendricks along with Montgomery, gives us a lot of pass catching options.
I can see the Packers drafting a WR. Under Thompson they have drafted at least 1 WR in 9 out of 12 drafts. One guy to keep an eye on later in the draft or possibly as an UDFA is DeAngelo Yancey from Purdue. They seem to like him as they have brought him to Green Bay for a visit.
MarkinMadison
April 03, 2017 at 07:32 am
Shades of 2015 still haunt me. Without Jordy this WR group looked pretty lost. Adams has progressed and Cobb was dinged up, but if Nelson goes down or becomes ineffective this year (not likely this year, but increasingly likely every year) does anyone really have confidence in this group? I don't. So I can't rule out a round 1 WR pick if the right guy is there.
dobber
April 03, 2017 at 07:56 am
Admittedly, the receiver group played at least OK in the playoffs after Jordy broke his ribs (and his performance against Atlanta was laudable). But I think Jared Cook had a lot to do with that. I'm not trying to wash away 2015 (involuntary shudder), but Martellus Bennett should send Cook a thank-you note for helping to show TT how important a good TE is to the offense.
Salary cap football means that no team is immune to the impact to an injury to a starter. On a team like the Packers that absolutely must keep ARod flush with options catching the ball, the receiver group can't be skimped on and it needs to be able to play fast. I said it a few weeks ago: I expect that the Packers will call a WR name in the first two days of the draft. I don't think it will be round 1 simply because the bona fide first rounders will go early because it's such a shallow pool, but if one of them did slip, TT will have the pick at the podium toute de suite.
RCPackerFan
April 03, 2017 at 08:00 am
What really hurt this team in the playoffs was against the Falcons, they essentially were playing without 3 of their top 4 WR's. Nelson played well with broken ribs. But Adams and Allison were basically non factors with their injuries.
I would have loved to have seen what that game could/would have been like had our WR's been healthy.
Bearmeat
April 03, 2017 at 09:05 am
Don't forget, only 2 of our top 4 CBs too. Randall and Rollins were banged up all year long. Plus, CM3 and Perry were hurt (again... sigh)
RCPackerFan
April 03, 2017 at 09:13 am
Oh yeah, definitely.
And then in that Falcons game we also lost Montgomery, and 3/5ths of our starting OL.
Both Randall and Rollins sophomore years reminds me of Adams 2nd year. Hopefully they will follow suit with having a great 3rd year.
PackEyedOptimist
April 03, 2017 at 09:38 am
Yep, people talk about the blow-out, but the offense was completely ham-strung. It reminds me of the Super-Bowl loss to the Broncos; everyone forgets that although they were playing, half the team was playing injured or had JUST come back from injuries. The whole "injuries don't matter" cry is SO ridiculous. That's what the players and coaches should say/believe, in order to remain fiercely optimistic, but fans, especially post-game, should be realistic. Some of the same fans that scream that a non-super-star player "needs to be replaced!" will then act like a back-up or injured player needs to be as good as the starter. Ridiculous expectation.
RCPackerFan
April 03, 2017 at 10:02 am
I truly believe the game would have went much differently if they had their WR's healthy.. It really hurt what the offense could do and they simply didn't have enough weapons left to stay in the game.
A few weeks back I got into it with a local radio host a bit about it. He said the defense was the sole reason why they lost. I simply said it was a big reason but not the sole reason. I reminded him that 3 of the top 4 WR's were playing hurt and shouldn't have played and then also during they game they lost Montgomery and their OL. He said they played though so it wasn't the offenses problem. I said that they played but were clearly not able to play like themselves. They shouldn't have even played and the only reason why they did was because it was the NFC Championship game.
MarkinMadison
April 03, 2017 at 10:19 am
Definitely have to love what happened with the TE position this off-season. Cook was good, but Kenricks is just as good and Bennett is better. No doubt the talent at the TE position will take a lot of pressure off the receivers for at least the next two years. It is just that looking three years down the road someone is going to need to emerge as a No. 1 receiver. I'm not sure I see that guy on this roster right now.
Razer
April 03, 2017 at 07:53 am
The WR group is solid today, particularly with the TE additions. However, change is looming for 2018. No way Ted is going to have 3 $40 million dollar WRs on the roster so someone will have to go. Take Jordy out of the picture and the other guys get average fast. We need someone in the pipeline that will be our stud 2 years from now and the other guys can support. I don't know if that WR is on our roster today. A winner pick will be needed and soon.
4zone
April 03, 2017 at 08:03 am
No problem taking a receiver like Davis in the first. I would put Cobb back as a returner this year. He's not as unreplaceable as he once was at WR. Clearly our best return man.
Savage57
April 03, 2017 at 08:06 am
Jordy's getting up there. Cobb's never played to his contract. Adams redeemed himself after '15, but is that enough of a resume to declare him a bankable #1 or #2? Allison flashed, but after that, there's not much to talk about on the roster. Janis obviously has a learning disability.
Ted will probably see WR as a position group where he looks to rounds 4-6 to find guys that can challenge for the #3,4,5 spots this year and perhaps one emerges to replace Cobb or Nelson in a couple of seasons.
There are just too many other needs on the other side of the ball who can provide immediate impact and contribution that are going to command the investment of the Packers high-value draft capital
4zone
April 03, 2017 at 11:17 am
Our new TEs will change our offense dramatically. We will no longer need to go to 4&5 wides. With Montgomery back there teams will have to live in nickle and dime.
We need Jordys replacement and TT may go for him early if one drops. In reality, our D is pretty much the same as last year only a lot of young guy got way more experience than usual. Just being healthy makes us better.
Having said that, an onslought of offensive players early could stock us for the remainder of ARs career. Out offense would be better than last year and draft defense depth late.
I'm not recommending it, but its one way to go at it. And in a way, it IS pretty much going all in except on the other side of the ball. And considering your strength is your QB, it only makes sense giving him the best weapons available. Let the defense just make a stop or two and just steamroll everyone on O.
4zone
April 03, 2017 at 11:20 am
Sorry Duplicate, can't delete.
4zone
April 03, 2017 at 09:06 am
Also, in this kind of offense, McCaffrey makes a lot of sense. A duplicate Montgomery who can be our feature returner. Bet AR loves the idea. Man, just think of all the scary formations we could throw out there...
4zone
April 03, 2017 at 09:09 am
Betcha TT is looking at his big board and giggling himself silly on how wrong everyone is at what he has planned.
Bearmeat
April 03, 2017 at 09:18 am
Jordy may not be an outside threat at WR for much longer, but he's going to be effective from the slot for several more years. No longer a game breaker, but a threat. He's still our X, but he'll be moving to an effective H role very soon. (a la Larry Fitzgerald)
This, more than anything else, suggests to me that Cobb is gone after 2018. He's redundant. He thrives in the H role. Or, perhaps, they keep Cobb (on a lesser deal) and get rid of Jordy. Not sure which way it will go - but both those guys won't TOGETHER make more than 10 million after 2018.
Davante is basically James Jones. He's an ascending player who needs to be paid this year. He's a Z WR. Maybe not a great 1, but a great 2.
If he builds off of late last year, Allison could be an excellent Z WR. A 2nd threat. If not, he'll be a solid 4th. Still valuable in a rotation.
You've got to give Davis time. He was a 5th round pick. Those late picks usually take years to bloom. Year 3 (2018) is where we'll see what we've got from him.
Janis is not a WR. He's a gunner.
What GBs offense really could use is for an X with speed. If Davis improves, this will be him. If not, they're going to need to find another after 2018. Perhaps a late HWS prospect like Janis to sit on the practice squad. We've got a lot of Zs right now, and a lot of Hs right now. And actually, a lot of Fs (Flex TE) right now. But we don't have an outstanding boundary WR. That doesn't mean the offense can't be successful - hell, the Pats have lived with basically the personnel we have on offense for 10 years. That also doesn't mean we shouldn't be looking for that top end Z cog either. But bottom line, I don't think offense is going to be prioritized AT ALL in the upcoming draft. I'd be shocked if there is an offensive pick at all in the first 2 rounds. Maybe round 3.
PackEyedOptimist
April 03, 2017 at 09:47 am
I agree about the need for a Z to develop, though I give Davis and McCaffrey about equal shots at it. I think a 6-7 round (or UDFA) Z prospect is reasonable to expect.
We'll see about the early D picks; I agree, but I won't be surprised to see an OG or RB selected with one or both of those. That may be where the value lies.
At this point, I'm still expecting a DT/DE/5 to be the first pick, just because I think TT will value someone more highly than the draft mags/sites/talking heads. "Taco," McDowell, Chris Wormley, Tarell Basham, etc. might be a "surprise pick."
4zone
April 03, 2017 at 11:27 am
Jordy is just a guy that doesn't give up and doesn't let things get in his way of producing. It would be great to get his replacement this year so next year we had the option of moving him inside and lowballing Cobb.
Davis, may or may not develop. I'm not seeing it though. G-Mo is showing his ability to make plays. Maybe only 3 or 4 at best but effective.
Corey Davis would be the future, with Jordy in the slot and Adams on the other side. Spooky scary thought man. With our new TE's, and Montogmery in the backfield...wow. Spend next year's draft and all those compensatory picks on defense. Get Jordy's replacement in the house and learning the system so we have no drop off at all in the future and immediate upgrade for the present.
stockholder
April 03, 2017 at 11:49 am
Guys - sorry to break up your group therapy. Also not trying to be negative. But no way he takes Davis or Williams. TT does not select the BPA. He only would do that if we won the super-bowl. The TE selection is over! Practice squad only for the TE selection. ( He signed the guys he wanted.) McCafferey is the only offensive player that has a shot @29 with TT. And thats because all the best RBs will be gone before he picks @ 93. If you liked House @cb. You'll love Conley or White. Because these guys just aren't playmakers. The best thing TT could do is take a Safety first. Barnett and Ha Ha need help. I don't believe TT will sign Barnett again. TT has to take a shot at safety or Edge/olb. (My preference is Watt as you know) So that takes us to the second round. Unless he trades up for a cb. He stuck with going DE here. Think Willis or Wormly. Because he wouldn't take a undersized Cb to play outside. (Maybe Jones?) That takes us to the third. No RB, No CB. He'd have to go small school. WR or C/G here BPA. But if Watt is gone, this is what I would do if I was a GM. @29 Melifonwu. S @69 Moreau or Jones. CB IR guys aren't TT, but are BPA @93 Rasul Douglass. Dede Westbrook WR . Later I would take Perine as a newer James Starks. So you fix the secondary with good talent. Not borderline.
PackEyedOptimist
April 03, 2017 at 12:54 pm
Melifonwu, if he drops to us and I don't believe he will, would ABSOLUTELY be my pick. I'd actually practice him as a match-up DB, putting him on the other team's best tall receiver/tight end. He has the potential to be a shut-down defender.
I still like Reddick over Watt, but there's a good chance both will be gone.
stockholder
April 03, 2017 at 01:16 pm
I hear Melifonwu was being looked at by Detroit. Makes sense as they only have Slay. Reddick is a guy that should be taken before Watt. (He can play ILB and should end up there) But I would not draft him over Watt if I'm the packers. Watt is bigger and has the size to play outside in the pro's.
PackEyedOptimist
April 03, 2017 at 01:16 pm
I also like Perine; in college he often looked like a brick weeble: people hit him and fall off. I question whether that will be true in the NFL. He also benefited from a lot of gaping holes, due to his blocking. Though I think he does way more on his own than D'Onta Freeman (who reminds me WAY too much of Alex Green: "Look at me run in a straight line through gigantic holes!"
I do think Perine will be good in a zone scheme and in short yardage.
I still like watching Jamaal Williams more. :)