How Packers Should Use Each Pick
With the eyes of the NFC North still fixated on Titletown, this Green Bay Packers' draft is about as important as any of them in recent memory. After falling short of the Super Bowl to Atlanta last season, the needs of the Packers have never been as talked about as much. With the defense playing poorly throughout the season, and losing many of those defenders to free agency, the defense is all the Packers should pick. But I'm realistic, and know that Ted Thompson will draft any position at any time. So here is what the Packers should realistically do, by position not player, this draft.
FIRST ROUND (#29 OVERALL)
PASS RUSHER: With Clay Matthews looking old (and possilby moving back inside), and Julius Peppers and Datone Jones gone via free agency, the Packers have a need at OLB. I've been really adamant on not picking a running back, and I also believe that the pass rush will help the corners more. Plus, Ted Thompson believes in the corners we have (I think).
Ideal Pick: OLB TJ Watt, Wisconsin
SECOND ROUND (#61 OVERALL)
CORNERBACK: We can't wait longer than this on taking our biggest need in my opinion, however, and despite it being a deep draft class at this position, I still think we have to take one early. This might be where Sidney Jones of Washington gets taken, but I'm happy with a Florida CB or a Jourdan Lewis of Michigan.
Ideal Pick: CB Teez Tabor, Florida
THIRD ROUND (#93 OVERALL)
RUNNING BACK: This is a deep class of running backs as well, and since running backs grow on trees in the NFL, not wasting a first or second round pick on one is ideal. Players like Dalvin Cook and Leonard Fournette are long gone at this point, but Joe Mixon and D'Onta Foreman are still around.
Ideal Pick: RB Joe Mixon, Oklahoma
FOURTH ROUND (#134 OVERALL)
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN: It can be a guard or a tackle, but I believe adding to the defensive line especially after Ego Ferguson was cut is important. With an eligible to play Letroy Guion, the Packers have five quality linemen, but in a 3-4 scheme six is an ideal number. Line depth is one of the most underrated components of a defense.
Ideal Pick: DT Davon Godchaux, LSU
FIFTH ROUND (#174 OVERALL)
OFFENSIVE GUARD: Thompson is really, really good at finding great linemen in the middle rounds of the NFL draft, and it might even be his greatest strength. TJ Lang, Josh Sitton, David Bakhtiari, JC Tretter and Corey Linsley are all examples, and four of them are interior linemen. We can wait this long to get one.
Ideal Pick: G Ben Braden, Michigan
FIFTH ROUND (#184 OVERALL)
CORNERBACK: This is the Casey Hayward selection for the Packers, so we might as well try and literally replace him. In my opinion, all of our corners are garbage and we need an entirely new group of them, but Thompson doesn't believe that. Still, with how good this class is, taking a second one might not be such a bad idea.
Ideal Pick: CB Brian Allen, Utah
SIXTH ROUND (#214 OVERALL)
LINEBACKER: Our linebacker depth overall is pretty thin, and even though we probably have enough guys on the team to take all or most of the minutes, having another guy to fight for a job isn't such a bad thing. At worst, this player could become a special teams leader.
Ideal Pick: ILB Ben Gedeon, Michigan
SEVENTH ROUND (#247 OVERALL)
OFFENSIVE LINE: I think the Packers just need to keep stockpiling offensive line assets, and making sure that the depth there is good enough to keep Aaron Rodgers on his feet this season, and for many more to come.
Ideal Pick: OT Jerry Ugokwe, William & Mary
