Revising the Packers' Draft
You know damn well that, as usual, I was not quite satisfied with Ted Thompson on Draft Day. Well, Day 1 was fine, the trade back actually made sense and despite staying up for nothing, it's logical; however, from the start of Day 2, he slapped that frown of disappointment right back on my face. First, I'll evaluate each of the Packers picks Ted Thompson actually made, and then, like any HGTV show, I'll nearly redo the entire thing to make it presentable and appealing. Sounds good?
Pick #33: Kevin King, CB, Washington. Grade: C+
As a football player, I actually like Kevin King a lot. I think he was undoubtedly first-round talent, as I had him going #22 in my final Mock Draft, and his size makes the Richard Sherman comparisons way too easy to make. Of course, I have some concerns. In almost any discourse, you'll hear "history repeats itself." That's because it's mostly true. The Packers picked Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins with early round picks, and neither of them are trustworthy at the position the Packers absolutely SUCKED at last season. You're just adding another young option. Yes, we have someone that can finally guard tall receivers, but now your CB position is led by former 4th-string Davon House and a Kevin King/Damarious Randall/Quinten Rollins/Ladarius Gunter rotation? They used their most valuable pick on a position that another young guy won't make more than a marginal difference at. We needed a veteran (Tramon Williams return?), not another young option. Plain and simple. Also, multiple RB's with starting potential are still on the board here.
Pick #61: Josh Jones, SS, North Carolina State. Grade: A
At first, this upset me a good amount, but I did forget Micah Hyde left and Josh Jones mostly played SS for the Wolfpack in college. With a Guard signed, we have no pressing needs other than Running Back (come on, Ted), so this pick isn't bad at all. His aggressiveness in the secondary is a huge plus. Many people had him as a Top-40 pick, so the value is excellent here as well. This is actually a good one, Ted.
Pick #93: Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn. Grade: C-
I don't get this one. Sure, we can cut Letroy Guion if we want, but we signed Ricky Jean Francois and Ego Ferguson this offseason, and Kenny Clark was our first rounder last season. Also, after just watching his tape, he just doesn't seem that good. He looks stiff. Even on his pro day, he looks confused half the time. Build-wise, he also looks like a Khyri Thornton/Justin Harrel lovechild, two HUGE busts the Packers drafted. History might repeat itself here. I don't know what kind of upside Mel Kiper sees here, but I hope he has it.
Pick #108: Vince Biegel, OLB, Wisconsin: Grade: A
Who doesn't love a Badger-turned-Packer story? With Datone Jones and Julius Peppers gone, an OLB was going to get picked at some point by Green Bay. The decline of Clay Matthews is imminent, and despite me really loving Jayrone Elliott, Vince Biegel could see a decent sum of snaps for a fourth-rounder. He fits better than Auburn's Carl Lawson or anyone else still on the board here, so I like this pick. A lot.
Pick #134: Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU. Grade: B
So I guess Ty Montgomery is our #1 RB then? This is actually a pretty good pick. His talent is appropriate for #134 and his ability to pass block makes him a valid 3rd down back getting 10-15 touches a game right off the bat. Yes, Ted should have gone with a better player earlier, but Williams is the best pick for what they have and what's left at #134.
Pick #175: DeAngelo Yancey, WR, Purdue. Grade: D-
I like the position, but I certainly don't like the pick. I rated Yancey at a 7/UFA before the draft, and anyone taking him in the 5th was a surprise, let alone Green Bay. His size is really the only thing that makes him a deep threat. He doesn't have speed, and how is he anything more than another Geronimo Allison? Not a fan.
Pick #182: Aaron Jones, RB, UTEP. Grade: C+
Well, they got a second opinion at RB. People are saying he could be the steal of the draft or a poor man's Dalvin Cook. Well, we could have easily had Dalvin Cook himself. I love Jones' hands and quick decision-making, but a 5'9" 208 lb. Running Back that only ran a 4.56? Anyone remember Jonathan Franklin and Alex Green, RB's that the Packers drafted? Exactly. Let's hope the "plays fast" exception actually applies here.
Pick #212: Kofi Amichia, OL, South Florida. Grade: C-
Jahri Evans is a great pickup, but he's 34 and mulled retirement this offseason. Amichia, despite playing LT at USF, fits the G mold for the Packers and is a decent pass protector. They signed Justin McCray this offseason as well, and unfortunately still have Don Barclay on the roster, so there will be competition at guard. If Amichia could also learn how to play Center, that would make this pick better for me.
Pick #238: Devante Mays, RB, Utah State. Grade: D
This literally seemed like Ted Thompson was panicking he didn't get competition for Ty Montgomery at starter so he aimed to get as many options as possible for his backup. At 5'10"/230, he's just another short and bulky back. He's not even going to make the active roster, despite cutting Christine Michael. Pretty much a waste of a pick here.
Pick #247: Malachi Dupre, WR, LSU: Grade: A+
Woah, totally forgot about Dupre. I had him as a 3rd/4th Round talent, so to see him go in the 200's is baffling. He's a sizable, raw talent that could end up being a total steal for a 7th rounder. I'd bet on him making the active roster over Yancey. Dupre in the 7th? Damn.
OVERALL GRADE: B
This is actually one of Ted Thompson's better drafts. Having no gaping holes, he had some flexibility, and made some great picks in Josh Jones, Vince Biegel and Malachi Dupre. Running Back will still be questioned, given they chose not to take one until the 4th Round. Kevin King and Jamaal Williams will define how good this class is a year from now.
MY TURN:
Pick #33: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
He went #41 to Minnesota who already has Latavius Murray. Dalvin Cook is a Top-20 talent who could get solid snaps Day 1 on a good number of teams. Cook could have easily won the starting job over Ty Montgomery in camps as well. A combo of Cook and Montgomery looks a helluva lot more appealing than a Montgomery & Williams/Jones/Mays rotation. Kevin King could be the starting CB Day 1, but he could easily just be another young corner in a mix of them for the Pack. Cook could have made a massive difference.
Pick #61: Josh Jones, SS, North Carolina State
Yes, I kept this pick. He fills a hole and he's an excellent talent. DE's Jordan Willis and Tim Williams could have gone here, but neither seemed like a decent fit. CB Fabian Moreau would be good, but there's no starting potential there. Thumbs up, Ted.
Pick #93: Jaleel Johnson, DT, Iowa
Same position, different player. Although to many, the difference is apples and oranges here, I want to see a DT with a motor, and Johnson has that. I've seen three different DT busts just in the past 5 or 6 years, and none of them had motors. Time to change the formula here.
Pick #108: Vince Biegel, OLB, Wisconsin
I kept this pick too because for what's on the board, Biegel is the best fit for a ned that the Packers have. I debated going Guard here with Dorian Johnson or Nico Siragusa, but I love a Badger/Packer connection.
Pick #134: Isaac Asiata, G, Utah
With Dalvin Cook taken, no need for Jamaal Williams here. Isaac Asiata would have been a killer pick here, as I think he's a 3rd/4th Round talent that has plenty of experience at Guard and could also play Center, which the Packers only have one of now with J.C. Tretter's departure. Damn, this would have been such a good pick.
Pick #175: T.J. Logan, RB, North Carolina
Don't worry, I'm not taking three like Ted did. Logan had the fastest 40 time out of any RB at the Combine, and was also a top performer at the Vertical and Long jumps. His good hands and killer speed make him a RB3 option with the best shot at replacing Micah Hyde as a returner.
Pick #182: Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida
Yes, I know about the altercation, but this is my bazillionth pick in this draft and what do I have to lose at 182? If he keeps his hands to himself, he's a second-round talent guy that could easily be put in the rotation early on. Still a better pick than DeAngelo Yancey, thank you.
Pick #212: Jalen Myrick, CB, Minnesota
For me, it was either him or OLB Josh Carraway, and I don't have the patience to develop Carraway right now. Myrick's 4.28 40 time is the best any CB has had in a long time, and he's good enough as a player to see snaps in the slot already. He and Logan will fight for returning snaps. Who doesn't love fast players?
Pick #238: Kyle Fuller, C, Baylor
Corey Linsley is the only Center on the active roster, so Fuller could make his was on the 53-Man right away. His size is really the only strong positive, but hey, it's the 7th Round. Can't really be picky at this point.
Pick #247: Malachi Dupre, WR, LSU
Still an absolute steal at 247 here. Yes, I might just be a fan of his, but Donald Driver went in the 7th, so who knows. Plus, who else would have been better here at pick #247?
So, in summary:
Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
Josh Jones, SS, North Carolina State
Jaleel Johnson, DT, Iowa
Vince Biegel, OLB, Wisconsin
Isaac Asiata, G, Utah
T.J. Logan, RB, North Carolina
Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida
Jalen Myrick, CB, Minnesota
Kyle Fuller, C, Baylor
Malachi Dupre, WR, LSU
Now THIS sets up a Super Bowl-contending team.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Please let me know!
Thank You and God Bless,
Samuel R. Fuller
