Greetings, G-Force.
In my lifetime, I’ve seen two GM’s build Super Bowl winning rosters for the Green Bay Packers. I’m pining for Brian Gutekunst to become the 3rd. When Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson took over as General Manager, they inherited broken rosters. Yet, amazingly, in Year 2, their teams showed signs that they were destined for positive fortunes. When Gutekunst took over as GM, he received the same. Gutekunst stepped into a weakened roster that was befuddled with injury history. Yet, like two of his Super Bowl winning predecessors, Gutekunst - somehow - finds himself in position to flip the Packers fate in Year 2.
Let it be known that Tuesday, March 12, 2019 will forever be known as the day they defines Brian Gutekunst’s legacy. On Tuesday, March 12, 2019; Gutekunst dished out 4 massive contracts in an effort to solve the issues on the edges of the Packers defensive front, to secure the right side of the OL and to bring an intimidating presence to the Safety position. On Tuesday, March 12, 2019; Gutekunst spent with the confidence of a man who believed he could win Free Agency. Adding to the intrigue; with 6 of the top 120 picks and 10 selections overall; Gutekunst has himself in position to win the Draft. He’s one of three teams with at least two 1st round picks. He also has two choices in rounds 4 and 6. Further, it’s important to mention that he has ammunition in every round of the draft. If Gutekunst is going to bring the Title back to Titletown, U.S.A., he’s going to have to be a dynamo in identifying 4 players in the 2019 NFL Draft that can positively impact the Packers franchise. For as many holes as Gutekunst has patched, this roster still has many areas to improve. Thankfully, Gutekunst has enough draft capital to allow himself the ability to dance around the board to grab his guy, if necessary. And, in the unlikely event that Gutekunst stands stationary throughout Draft weekend, he has to hit on a minimum of 40% of his selections.
Impressively, Gutekunst seems to have learned from his Free Agency mistakes as a 1st year GM. Last year, he overspent on aged veterans who were well past the prime in their careers. This year, he spent on ascending players who appear to have their best football ahead of them.
Ever since I stopped incorporating beer into my write-up, the Packers franchise has been a colossal failure, so I’m going back to my roots. Grab a 2015 Avery Czar. Enjoy those toffee notes. Slowly sip that 10.6% bomber. For those that have followed along with this blog, you know that I’m a music junkie. After all, I am the proud Son of a man who has held the title GameDay Producer of the Green Bay Packers for the last 29 years. So, when it comes to music, what do you expect? Mac had three boys. We all enjoy heavy doses of live music. These days, there are four consistently touring acts that soulfully amplify my life to dimensions that only music can bring you: Phish, Greensky Bluegrass, the Dirty Heads and Michael Franti. This past January, on my birthday, Michael Franti released a new album titled “Stay Human Vol. II” and the Dirty Heads dropped a new must-listen hit called “Listen to Me.” A week before my birthday, Greensky Bluegrass presented us with “All for Money” — an album that blissfully merges psychedelic rock jams with forceful bluegrass gumption. Buzz into it. I’m doing so as I write. And, without further ado, I bring to you my 2019 Green Bay Packers centric Ultimate Mock Draft.
I kick it off with player rankings. As with every year, if I haven't watched any film on the player, I don't comment. If I don't see the position as a position of need for the Packers, I don't really dive into it. This year - I spent almost no time looking at the QB prospects as I don't think Gutekunst should select a QB this year. Normally, I don't spend much time looking at OL prospects, but this year, I invested significant time looking into the position. Especially at OT. Last year, I noted that Gutekunst brought many collegiate Captains into the locker room to fill out his roster. So, I often mentioned those that displayed leadership skills at the college level. Finally, there are many players in this draft that were swing players between QB/RB, OG/OC, OT/OG, ILB/OLB, and S/CB. I tried to list their versatility as much as possible. Enjoy!
QB:
There is no reason for Gutekunst to draft a developing QB. If he's uncertain about Rodgers' back-up, he should sign a veteran. Really, regardless of how he feels about the young QB's, he should bring in a veteran to help groom the young QB's. As it stands, Gutekunst has two developmental QB's in Kizer and Boyle.
1.) Clayton Thorson, QB, Northwestern. Round 5-6. He's the one QB that I spent significant time scouting. I love his fundamentals. I like the way he stands in the pocket. He isn't afraid of taking a hit. He looks throw his reads with great patience. He uses the middle of the field. He finds the check down and the slot. He is mobile. A really good developmental prospect.
RB:
The Packers appear to have every intention of running the football. And, if LaFleur is going to run the ball as much as he’d like, Gutekunst needs to identify at least one more back in the Draft. Aaron Jones has superstar potential, but he’s been hurt in both of his first two seasons. Jamaal Williams is dependable. He’s hard working. He’s assignment sure. But, he’s not a budding star. Thankfully, for Gutekunst’s sake, he doesn’t have to reach for a back in this Draft. There is a lot of good value in the mid-to-late rounds. He can stay patient.
1.) Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama. Round 1-2. Elite pass catching RB. Smooth route runner. Elusive in the open field. Grinds out chunk yardage. Gets better as the game wears on. Questionable long line speed, but appears football fast. Love his game.
2.) Justice Hill, RB, Oklahoma State. Round 2-3. He bounces, he skips and he goes. He hits the hole with rapid pace. He plays with great speed. Immense burst. Bounces off arm tackles. Plays bigger than he locks. Quick to get to the 2nd and third level. Thinks end zone on every play.
3.) David Montgomery, RB, Iowa State. Round 2-3. A brilliant leader. Positive attitude. A football player. He catches the ball. He blocks. He hits the hole and plays with football smart. He'll step through arm tackles. Great vision. One-cut and go. He'll show up every week. Doesn't have breakaway speed.
4.) Trayveon Williams, RB, Texas A&M. Round 2-3. Small in height, but has necessary weight. When he hits the open field, he has top-end speed. He's a great kick-off returner. He is a lethal receiver out of the backfield. When he touches the ball, he's looking for the yard marker. He's a leader. He's looking to find the hole and then take-off. Has a nose for the big play.
5.) Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis. Round 2-3. Darts forward with sustained pace. Grabs yards in chunks. Solid kick returner. Highly productive receiving threat as well. Amazing quickness and balance to get himself to the open field.
6.) Damien Harris, RB, Alabama. Round 3-4. Powerful between the tackles runner. Sees the hole and goes forward with serious momentum. Straight ahead runner. Sure handed. Trustworthy. Nose for the end zone. Limited receiving threat.
7.) Dexter Williams, RB, Notre Dame. Round 3-4. Might be an ideal selection for a LaFleur offense. Explosive runner. Shot out of a cannon. He can hit you between the tackles. He can get to the outside. He's a weapon in the screen game. Small catch radius as a receiver. He has good size and speed combination. I really like his game.
8.) Miles Sanders, RB, Penn State. Round 3-4. An athletic stallion. Ultra quick. Breakaway speed. A reliable receiver with great hands. A good route runner out of the backfield, too. Highly productive. Fumbles often.
9.) Devin Singletary, RB, FAU. Round 3-4. Immensely productive at the college level. Phenomenal receiving threat. Looks tiny. Bursts through the hole with terrific quickness. Explosive athlete in short distances, but lacks long line speed. Good balance.
10.) Ryquell Armstead, RB, Temple. Round 3-4. Finds his way through narrow windows. Not afraid of running between the tackles. Good open field speed. Grabs the corner and goes. Knives forward. Though he looks like a natural in the passing game, he had limited production.
11.) Myles Gaskin, RB, Washington. Round 4-5. He'd be an exciting fit in LaFleur's offense. He's a great receiving back. He's highly elusive. He is a dangerous route runner. He's quick. He's gets out of his cuts and leaves defenders in the dust. You can spread him outside as a receiver or throw it to him on the swing pass. He'll normally make the first person miss. He isn't a consistent between the tackles early-down runner, but he'll hit the hole with desire. I dig. A lot.
12.) Bryce Love, RB, Stanford. Round 4-5. Take away the injuries and he's a top 20 pick. But, durability is a massive concern. He's a fantastic teammate. A gamer. Tough as nails. When he's in the open field, you aren't going to catch him. A workhorse. Overwhelmingly productive. Plays with pain. Needs to be fed the ball in bunches.
13.) Jalin Moore, RB, Appalachian State. Round 4-5. Physical specimen. Dude is yoked up. Super strong. Powerful lower body allows him to plow through arm tackles. Hard working back who runs with great patience. Plays with good speed. Recovering from a serious ankle injury as him drop lower than his tape might suggest.
14.) Mike Weber, RB, Ohio State. Round 4-5. Undersized, but powerful. Dynamite receiving option. He'll make the first person miss in the open field. Plays with both speed and quickness. Runs with great hunger. Bounces off of tackles. He beats defenders to the spot and grabs yards in bundles. Isn't going to be a consistent between the tackles runner. Fumbles too much.
15.) Benny Snell, RB, Kentucky. Round 4-5. Tremendous athlete. Elusive in open field. Creative back. Hurdling instincts. Slices the defense to gobble up yards. Needs to be fed the ball as he wears down defenses.
16.) Tony Pollard, RB, Memphis. Round 4-5. Ultra elusive. Good kick return ability. Great in space. Good hands. Plays small. Might be limited to being a 3rd down back.
17.) Alex Barnes, RB, Kansas State. Round 5-6. A Combine stallion. He's ridiculously strong. He's fast. He has elite quickness. He gets in and out of his cuts with ankle bending quickness. He's a good receiver as well. Could've used another year of school. Really like his upside. Huge ceiling.
18.) Travis Homer, RB, []_[]. Round 5-6. Tireless. A competitive fighter. He chews up yards. There's no quit to his game. A mudder. Decent hands. What he might lack in athleticism, he makes up with heart. Awesome motor. He's going to give you everything he's got. He gets beater as the game wears on.
19.) Elijah Holyfield, RB, Georgia. Round 5-6. The more you watch him, the more you like him. The more he carries the ball, the better he gets. Good hands. Great vision. Powers forward for yards when there's nothing there. Doesn't have home run speed. He's just steady. He pushes forward with desire and gets small in tight spaces.
20.) Rodney Anderson, RB, Oklahoma. Round 5-6. Dashed defenses with long strides. Good receiving threat. A big dude who punishes defenses. Lowers his shoulders to grab added yards. The first guy isn't going to tackle him. Injury concerns are heavy. If he's fit to play, he'd be an exciting addition. But, health is a major question mark.
21.) Alexander Mattison, RB, Boise State. Round 5-6. Really strong, punishing runner. Bounces off tacklers with muscular enthusiasm. Solid pass receiver gives him 3-down potential. Fumbling concerns aplenty. Injury history, too.
22.) Darwin Thompson, RB, Utah State. Round 5-6. He's tiny. Extremely quick. Fast in the open field, too. He speed goes from 0-10 in no time. He's a really good receiver. Like him as a 3rd down option. He's dangerous in space and follows his blockers with patience and good vision. An intriguing player who could cause problems if given 7-10 touches per game.
23.) Karan Higdon, RB, Michigan. Round 6-7. Intriguing late round prospect. A leader. Looks bigger in his pads than he measures. Has great speed. Good quickness out of his cuts. Gives maximum effort. Plays fearlessly. Viable receiving option. Wish he was a little bigger.
24.) Ty Johnson, RB, Maryland. Round 6-7. Love the quickness to his step. Good bounce to his movements. Patient. Follows blockers well. Runs harder than his size suggests.
25.) Marquis Young, RB, Massachusetts. Round 6-7. Slashy, one cut runner. Great hands. Instinctive runner with good vision. Quick. Not afraid to run between the tackles nor look to break it outside. Has return ability.
26.) Wes Hills, RB, Slippery Rock. Round 6-7. Violent, punishing runner. Seeks contact. Looks deliver hits on potential tacklers. Runs a little upright for a power runner, but he displays good balance and footwork. Not going to outrun anyone, but he works to bounce off tacklers.
27.) John Lovette, RB, Princeton. Round 7-UDFA. Played QB. Love his vision in the open field. Smooth runner. Great hip shake. Maximizes yards every time he touches the ball. Intriguing upright runner. Steps out of arm tackles. Shifty slide to his game as a runner. A Football player. Lowers his shoulder to pick up extra yards. High steps out of arm tackles.
28.) Bruce Anderson, RB, North Dakota State University. Round 6-7. Terrific vision. Elusive in space. Great hands. A weapon in the screen game. 3rd down back. Kickoff return ability as well.
29.) Devine Ozigbo, RB, Nebraska. Round 6-7. Powerful, big bodied RB with a massive lower frame. Good receiving skills, too. Follows blockers well in screen game. Limited speed. Plays tall.
30.) Jordan Scarlett, RB, FL. Round 6-7. Kid can dance. Great acceleration through the hole. Can catch the ball and produce on the swing pass. High end top speed. Off field issues concern.
31.) Kerrith Whyte, RB, FAU. Round 6-7. Fitness freak. Breakaway speed. Spins off tacklers. Pace to grab the corner. Possesses an extra gear. Dangerous kick returner. Could be a core special teams performer.
32.) Darrin Hall, RB, Pitt. Round 6-7. Straight ahead power runner. Lacks ideal speed or quickness. Short steps. Quick on his toes, but too stiff to turn his hips and get the corner. Good vision. Between the tackles back.
33.) LJ Scott, RB, Michigan State. Round 7-UDFA. He pounds at the interior of the defense with authority. But, he pays the price as he was oft injured. He's a workhorse. He seems to get better as the game wears on. He's a patient runner, almost to a fault. Solid receiver with a large catch radius. Can run through you or around you.
34.) Nick Brossette, RB, LSU. Round 7-UDFA. Good vision. Low to the ground runner. Good receiving skills. Will pound through the tackles. Steady.
35.) Qadree Ollison, RB, Pittsburgh. Round 7-UDFA. Highly productive, upright runner. Big dude. Runs high. Lacks wiggle to break free in tight corners. If he gets in the open field, he breaks loose by gobbling up yards in chunks.
36.) Alec Ingold, RB, WI. Round 7-UDFA. Bruising FB. Wants contact. Plays with great heart. Football smart. Can catch the ball in the flat. Old school.
37.) Travon McMillan, RB, Colorado. Round 7-UDFA. Good hands in receiving game. Has straight line speed. Good vision. Lacks power to break tackles. Extremely muscular yet he often falls backwards and is stopped in tracks. Runs upright.
38.) Marcus Jones, RB, Gannon University. Round 7-UDFA. Bulldozer of a blocker. A mean dude in pads. Punishing blocker. Creates holes. Intimidating presence. Strictly a FB.
39.) George Aston, RB, Pittsburgh. Round 7-UDFA. Purely a blocking FB. Old school. Looks for the collision. Prides himself on being the tough guy that gets low and wins the leverage battle. Worth a look.
40.) Darnell Woolfolk, RB, Army. Low to the ground grinder of a runner. Powerful lower body. Would likely translate to FB in the NFL.
41.) Marche Dennard, RB, Colorado State University-Pueblo. Round 7-UDFA. Undersized upper body, but strong lower half to step through arms tackles. Great burst. Good vision, too. Really solid late round prospect.
42.) Aca' Cedric Ware, RB, USC. Round 7-UDFA. Shifty, speedy straight line runner. Grabs yards when he goes, but is sometimes too patient and gets caught from behind. Good hands in the screen. A lot of tread on the tires as he was under utilized in the college game. Highly productive. Potential 3rd down receiving back.
43.) Lexington Thomas, RB, UNLV. Round 7-UDFA. Super quick. Elusive. Hits the hole and goes with punctuation. Third down RB prospect. Looks good coming out of the backfield. Might not be big enough.
44.) Nico Evans, RB, Wyoming. Round 7-UDFA. Slashy pass catcher out of the backfield. Can make you miss on the swing pass in the open field. Good shake to his game. Not going to pound between the tackles. Chance to be a 3rd down back.
45.) Ellis Jordan, RB, Virginia. Round 7-UDFA. Scat style of back. Undersized. Quick. Falls on contact even though he drives his legs. Needs to be out in space to maneuver. Good hands, highly productive in the college game. Nose for the end zone.
46.) Taiwan Deal, RB, Wisconsin. Round 7-UDFA. Patient one cut runner. Doesn’t win you over with speed, power nor quickness. Production comes from his vision. Plants foot, gives short hip shake and kicks forward.
47.) John Santiago, RB, University of North Dakota. Round 7-UDFA. Small but hard nosed RB. Does not have NFL size, but he has the heart. Quick. Elusive. Great desire. Good hands. Sees hole and hits.
WR:
If Gutekunst believes in his Draft selections from last year, he has no reason to Draft a WR in the early rounds this year. Adams, Allison, MVS, ESB, Kumerow and Jah ‘Mon all return. Trevor Davis is also in the fold. Adams and Allison both offer the versatility to step into the slot. MVS and ESB both offered glimpses of being productive slot receivers as well. Therefore, Gutekunst should look to either identify a couple of speed demons in either the later rounds or in UDFA to round out the position group. Unless he feels less optimistic about the upside of his young WR group, which would then create a high need for an early selection at WR — ideally, a slot WR, so Adams and Allison can mostly play on the outside. I spent extensive time on the UDFA options this year to try and uncover guys that might be good depth options for the Packers to pursue.
1.) N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State. Round 1. Gifted talent. Runs like a reggae beat is bouncing in his brain. Elegant footwork. Carries a coolness to his spirit. Graceful in traffic. Can run every route in the books. Shows up in big moments. Can play in the slot and on the outside.
2.) AJ Brown, WR, Mississippi. Round 1. Physically imposing WR. Can play in slot or on the perimeter. The best slot WR in the Draft. Fast. Strong. Great one cut route runner. Deep threat. Confident. Terrific skills after the catch.
3.) Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State. Round 1-2. Big, tall, long, physical. Fast. Throw it up to him and he will come down with it. Good footwork to work the sideline. Deep threat. Catches with his hands. Not sure how he shines as a route runner as he was a man amongst boys and often sent on vertical throws at the college level.
4.) DK Metcalf, WR, Mississippi. Round 1-2. Monster athlete. Workout wonder. Built with fierce biceps. Stunningly fit. Powerful after the catch. Isn’t as refined as a receiver as you’d like. Has all of the physical traits. Isn’t as polished as a route runner.
5.) Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina. Round 2. Take away the injuries and I’d have him as the #3 WR in the draft. Dangerous return man. Tough to corral. Great hip shake. Finds ways to get open. Great hands. Get him the ball and let him do work. Dominant.
6.) Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State. Round 2. A leader. Speed burner. Dynamite physique. Quick burst. Great wiggle in traffic to break free. YAC guru. Goes up and gets the ball in traffic. Varies his speed with a masterful craft. Accelerates out of the box. Can get over the corner down the sideline. Looks like a Gutekunst style of player.
7.) Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma. Round 2. If he were 2 inches bigger and 20 pounds heavier, he’d be a top 5 pick. Size is a concern. Dynamic route runner. Slot phenom. Gets in and out of his breaks. Lethal in open field. A winner. Super quick.
8.) Riley Ridley, WR, Georgia. Round 2-3. Fluid in and out of his breaks. Great hands. Strong releas off of the line. Brings a unique hip shake. Creative mind with and without the ball. Tremendous athletic physique. Dominates high level competition.
9.) Kelvin Harmon, WR, NC State. Round 2-3. With a little more speed, he might be the best WR in the Draft. Precision route runner. Terrific in traffic. Full blown competitor. Tough to bring down after the catch. Huge catch radius. Round 1 talent. Drops due to a lack of straight line speed.
10.) JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford. Round 2-3. Reminds me a little of Jordy Nelson. A back shoulder artisan. Creates separation in small spaces. Lethal in the Red Zone. Gets over the top of the defense. Stiff arm strong. Clutch!
11.) Terry McLaurin, WR, Ohio State. Round 2-3. Dynamic vertical threat. Polished route runner. Quick out of his breaks. Limited ability to juke in the open field after the catch. He simply outruns you.
12.) Andy Isabella, WR, Massachusetts. Round 2-3. Uber Quick. Great twitch to his routes. Good hands. Slot WR. Creates separation with sound route running.
13.) Mecole Hardman, WR, Georgia. Round 3-4. A premier athlete. He flies. Unbelievably quick a well. Undersized. Has a shot to be a great slot weapon. Elusive in space. Breaks down DB's with his ability to cut with supernatural skills. Stops on a dime. Return weapon, too. Needs to be tougher to get off of jams at the line of scrimmage.
14.) Miles Boykin, WR, Notre Dame. Round 3-4. A massive perimeter WR. Works the sideline well. Great straight line speed. Top notch athlete. Has great speed and a huge frame. Looks like a natural athlete. Glides. Not as strong as his size appears. He shies away from contact. Needs more nastiness.
15.) David Sills, WR, Dub-V. Round 3-4. Playmaking Red Zone threat. Runs solid slant, fade, and post routes. Wins with height and an enormous catch radius. Throw it up and he'll come down with it. Match-up nightmare. High jumper. Doesn't have high-end speed.
16.) Penny Hart, WR, Georgia State. Round 3-4. Lethal in and out of his break. Great juice to his step. Small target, but put it near him and he’ll grab. Rich with quickness. Turns DB’s around. Fun after the catch. Terrific feet.
17.) Keelan Doss, WR, UC Davis. Round 3-4. Precision route runner. Impressive out of his breaks. No wasted steps. Smooth strider. Catches with hands. Must hand strength.
18.) Gary Jennings, WR, Dub-V. Round 4-5. I'm cheering for him. He was a clutch performer at the college level. Has NFL size. He's tough to bring down. Had a knack for making the big play. Fast. Dangerous after the catch. Love his game speed. Can get down the field. Developmental route runner and inconsistent hands could drop him down draft boards.
19.) Diontae Johnson, WR, Toledo. Round 4-5. Undersized slot WR who excels on special teams. His short stride acceleration makes him look faster than he times. A weapon as both a punt and a kickoff returner. He's a small target with inconsistent hands, but when the ball is in his hands, he's dangerous.
20.) Dillon Mitchell, WR, Oregon. Round 4-5. Dynamic athlete. Electric with the ball in his hands. A deep threat. He's dangerous with the ball in his hands. He's always thinking about the big play when the ball is in his hands. Still developing as a WR. Huge upside.
21.) Emmanuel Hall, WR, Missouri. Round 4-5. When healthy, he destroyed high level competition. A well-rounded WR with great size. He has excellent speed. He gets over the top of the defense. A dominant deep threat. Perimeter WR.
22.) Anthony Johnson, WR, Buffalo. Round 4-5. Full-out athlete. Good range. Separates from DB's. A competitor. Was able to get deep with relative ease. Great hands. Long. Works the sideline with elegance.
23.) DeMarkus Lodge, WR, Mississippi. Round 4-5. Talented perimeter WR. Big. NFL physique. Good footwork. Plays faster than he timed. Thick route tree. Should be able to fit in the rotation somewhere as a rookie. Had he run faster, he'd have been a Round 1-2 prospect.
24.) Jalen Hurd, WR, Baylor. Round 4-5. Physically dominant. Strong. Tall. Great length. Tough to bring down after the catch. Lacks speed to get free down the sideline, but tough enough to man the middle of the field. Almost projects as a big slot WR like many modern day TE's play.
25.) Terry Godwin II, WR, Georgia. Round 5-6. Performed at his best in the East West Shrine Game when he was given opportunities. Great hands. Quick. Fantastic athlete. Often rounds routes, but his quickness and football IQ allow him to get back for the football. Bright NFL career pending.
26.) Darius Slayton, WR, Auburn. Round 5-6. A legitimate deep threat. He brings great speed over the top. Send him on a fly route and let him run. He has a knack for bringing in the big play. Fluid strider. Inconsistent hands.
27.) Hunter Renfrow, WR, Clemson. Round 5-6. Throw the measurements out the window with him. He’s got heart and he has smarts. He is a football player. A gamer. He’s trustworthy. On third down, he’s open - book it. Shows up in big moments.
28.) Lil'Jordan Humphrey, WR, Texas. Round 5-6. Big target. Fights for the ball. Dynamite Kick Returner. Plays much faster than he timed at the Combine. He's physical. Tough to bring down in the open field. He tosses CB's to the ground with the stiff arm. Plows through arm tackles. Gives maximum effort. Likes the WR screen. Upright runner. Needs to work on route running. Limited upside due to lack of speed. Might be a special teams player to start.
29.) Jaylen Smith, WR, Louisville. Round 5-6. Fast, deep threat. Huge catch radius. Extends arms to go up and get the ball. Wins with physicality. Big presence. Causes match-up issues on outside. Rounds routes, needs polish. Occasionally lets the ball eat him up.
30.) KeeSean Johnson, WR, Fresno State. Round 5-6. Fluid. Highly productive WR. Good hands. Plays perimeter and in the slot. Smooth out of his breaks. NFL body. With more speed, he’d have been an R2 prospect.
31.) Tyre Brady, WR, Marshall. Round 5-6. Tall, big bodied WR. Good hip twitch to create separation. Runs a solid slant route. Tough to bring down after the catch. Frame to add more muscle. Inconsistent hands.
32.) Travis Fulgham, WR, Old Dominion. Round 5-6. Lacks physical texture to break free from a jam, but if he gets a free release, he’s highly productive. Might translate best to the slot. Tough. Gritty. Willing blocker. Likes to engage and help his teammates downfield. Great feet.
33.) Trevon Brown, WR, East Carolina. Round 6-7. Great teammate. Willing to block downfield. Runs a stellar crossing route. Can play on the slot or on the outside. Looks the part as he glides. Kickoff return ability as well. Hard worker. Tough to bring down after the catch. Fights for the ball in traffic. NFL build. Strong hands. Raw route runner.
34.) Cody Thompson, WR, Toledo. Round 6-7. Good makeup. Love his attitude. Big bodied, reliable WR. Can run all of the routes. Not afraid of the middle of the field. Injuries are a concern.
35.) Preston Williams, WR, Colorado State. Round 6-7. NFL physique. Big target. Has good hands, but often tries to catch the ball with his body. Runs a great drag route underneath the ILB. Seems to enjoy working the middle of the field. Long strider. Has length to be an ideal Red Zone target. Ability to return kickoffs, but will occasionally have issues securing the ball. Still rough around the edges, but has the tools. Has the body to play more physical than he does, too. Needs to work on staying focused more consistently.
36.) Jalen Guyton, WR, North Texas. Round 6-7. Quick acceleration out of the breaks. Deep threat. NFL size. He flies with sublime speed. Raw route runner will require him to expand his route tree.
37.) Shawn Poindexter, WR, Arizona. Round 6-7. High end deep ball threat. Immense presence. Still developing as a route runner. Good dance moves after the catch. TD machine. High upside.
38.) Jazz Ferguson, WR, Northwestern State. Round 6-7. Ridiculous size + speed combination. Unbelievable quick for his weight. Can jump out of the gym, too. High points the ball. Gets deep. Wins jump balls. Tracks ball with precision. Route running needs polish. Off field concerns could have him drop down draft boards.
39.) Antoine Wesley, WR, Texas Tech. Round 6-7. He's massive in stature with vein-popping biceps. With the frame to put on more muscle. Shockingly, he only put up the bench 6 times. Fantastic hands. High points the ball with height + leaping ability combo. Route running technician. Physical after the catch. Speed and quickness are concerns and thus, in the NFL, it's easy to worry about his ability to separate.
40.) Jon'Vea Johnson, WR, Toledo. Round 6-7. Really like how fluid he runs. Gallops. Has NFL height. Needs to bulk up. Reliable target. Good stiff arm after the catch. Lazy route runner.
41.) Juwann Winfree, WR, Colorado. Round 6-7. Great catch radius. Goes up and gets it. Not afraid of traffic. Battled injury which limited production. Works sideline well as an outside WR. Takes plays off in run game.
42.) Jakobi Meyers, WR, NC State. Round 6-7. Looks good getting out of his breaks. NFL size. Quicker than fast gives him intriguing play speed. Tough to break down. Good moves after the catch, fun looking spin move. Not afraid to work the middle of the field. Huge catch radius. Inconsistent hands.
43.) DeAndre Thompkins, WR, Penn State. Round 7-UDFA. Competes for the ball in traffic. Wins contested catches. Competitor. Catches with hands. Slot receiving ability. Good strut to his style.
44.) Jeff Smith, WR, Boston College. Round 7-UDFA. A straight line burner. Lacks NFL figure, but has hip shake out of the break to create separation. Rounds routes a little too much, but footwork will allow for quick improvement. Good hands and footwork around sideline.
45.) Ashton Dulin, WR, Malone University. Round 7-UDFA. NFL body. Long arms. Body is well constructed. Looks like he’s still learning the game. Seems to round routes. Seems to lack awareness. Looks to have the athleticism to warrant a training camp look to see if he can be developed.
46.) Ryan Davis, WR, Auburn. Round 7-UDFA. Undersized slot WR. Elusive with the ball in his hands. Has dangerous return skills. Plays with great quickness and change of pace.
47.) Jamal Custis, WR, Syracuse. Round 7-UDFA. Red Zone threat. Long strider. Massive target. Plays upright which allows him to get jammed at the line and not be able to separate even though he has a huge frame. Needs more nasty. Raw as he’s only played one year of football. Needs to come back to the football.
48.) Flynn Nagel, WR, Northwestern University. Round 7-UDFA. Slot WR. Sure handed WR. Solid concentration. Strong for his size. Quicker than fast. Like his burst. Cut up physique for a smaller WR. Works the middle of the field. Tough. Plays with great speed. Midwest hustle to his game.
49.) Charles Holland, WR, Tiffin University. Round 7-UDFA. Monster of a man. Runs really well for his size. Well constructed. Slow it of the gate. Injury concerns. Highly productive. Needs to improve technique. Sound athlete. Attractive small school prospect.
50.) Damion Jeanpiere, WR, Nicholls State. Round 7-UDFA. Highly intriguing small school player. Great teammate. Willing blocker down field. High end straight line speed. Runs a solid crossing route. Must bulk up. Has NFL height, but lacks strength.
51.) Ron'quavion Tarver, WR, Utah State. Round 7-UDFA. Good route runner. No wasted steps. Frames ball and uses hands to snatch it. Limited after catch ability. Plays slower than I prefer. Highly dependable WR. Doesn’t wow you though.
52.) Ventell Bryant, WR, Temple. Round 7-UDFA. Good concentration. Confident WR. Solid hands. Brash on-field presence. NFL physique. Needs to refine route running skills.
53.) Greg Dortch, WR, Wake Forest. Round 7-UDFA. Punt return dynamo. Finds the end zone. Immensely skilled. Dangerous with the ball in his hands. Undersized. Durability is a major concern.
54.) Alex Wesley, WR, Northern Colorado. Round 7-UDFA. Sound route running technique. Digs into his cuts. Plays low to the ground to separate. Lacks football speed. Size concerns.
55.) Brody Oliver, WR, Colorado Mines. Round 7-UDFA. Well constructed WR. Developmental sure handed, smart WR. Slot player. Highly productive red zone target. Choppy steps. Will need to adjust to the speed of the game.
56.) Xavier Ubosi, WR, UAB. Round 7-UDFA. Raw speed. Smooth operator. Like the way he gets in and out of his breaks. Needs to get stronger.
57.) Olabisi Johnson, WR, Colorado State. Round 7-UDFA. Undersized, reliable WR. Quick shake at the top of his routes. Smooth out of his break. Good footwork. Plays small.
58.) Vic Wharton III, WR, CAL. Round 7-UDFA. Scrappy, undersized, slot WR. Limited physical traits. But, a sure handed receiver. Straight ahead punt returner.
59.) Terry Wright, WR, Purdue. Round 7-UDFA. Smooth strider. Top shelf speed. Feels comfortable gliding across the middle. Needs more bulk.
60.) Jesper Horsted, WR, Princeton. Round 7-UDFA. Good size. Can play on the perimeter and in the slot. Needs to refine route running skills.
61.) Jason Moore, WR, Findlay. Round 7-UDFA. Good height. Powerful lower body. Physical. Under developed route running skills. Has tools, but he’s a major project.
62.) Matthew Eaton, WR, Iowa State. Round 7-UDFA. Big target. High points ball. Bright mind. Wins in traffic. Smart. Seems to read coverage. Slow off of the line. Stiff in his breaks. No speed. Strictly an outside WR.
63.) Shun Brown, WR, Arizona. Round 7-UDFA. Scat style, undersized runner. Elusive in the open field. Has punt return ability. Durability will be a question. While he’s elusive, he is sometimes indecisive and dances too much rather than exploding forward.
64.) Deonte Harris, WR, Assumption College. Round 7-UDFA. Tiny, electric return specialist. He won't make it as a WR, but he deserves a shot as a return man. Great vision. Good balance. Quick.
65.) Emmanuel Butler, WR, Northern Arizona University. Round 7-UDFA. Has the build. Catches with hands. But, slow out of his break. Doesn’t take on contact. Lazy blocker.
66.) John Duhart, WR, Old Dominion. Round 7-UDFA. Has NFL size and attitude. Has slot receiver potential. Finds ways to get open. Lacks NFL play speed. Needs more consistency with hands, too.
67.) Steven Sims, WR, Kansas. Round 7-UDFA. Has the desire and the quickness. Has willpower. Doesn’t have the size, the toughness nor the muscle to compete.
68.) Nehri Crawford, WR, Duquesne. Round 7-UDFA. moves with swift pace. Possible return specialist. Small. Doesn’t have figure to compete in NFL.
TE
If I were Brian Gutekunst, the #1 thing I’d have done was cut Jimmy Graham to save more than $5 million in cap space in 2019. Gutekunst didn’t do so. He’s committed to Graham for at least one more year. I often say that bad drafts don’t kill franchises, bad contracts do. Graham’s contract is among the worst non-QB contracts in the NFL. Graham was paid to be a difference maker as the highest compensated TE in the league. Instead, in 2018, he was unwilling to block, unable to separate and seemingly incapable of hauling in jump balls as his vertical leap appears to have waned tremendously. In turn, Rodgers clearly lost confidence in him as two of his interceptions ricocheted right off of Graham’s hands. With $12 million invested in Graham for 2019, trust me when I say that no one hopes that I’m wrong on my assessment of him more than me. Gutekunst also questionably resigned Marcedes Lewis who looked destined for retirement throughout last year. Here’s to hoping that last years struggles by Graham and Lewis were solely based on McCarthy’s inability to use the TE and not on their rapid decline in ability. Robert Tonyan showed glimpses of being a reliable 3-down TE. Allen Lazard was a sneaky late season addition who could add weight to present himself as a mismatch receiving TE option. If I’m Gutekunst, I’m absolutely grabbing at least one TE on Draft weekend. Thankfully, this Draft is rich with a diverse group of TE talent.
1.) TJ Hockenson, TE, Iowa. Round 1. Do it all TE. Physical at the line of scrimmage. Dominant blocker. Good hands. Powerful after the catch. Sound route runner. Works the middle of the field like a stalwart. Competitive when the ball is in the air. An immediate plug and play in any system. Feels like he'd be a Pro Bowler in Green Bay.
2.) Noah Fant, TE, Iowa. Round 1. Do it all prospect. Stretches the seam. Forceful after the catch. Trustworthy hands. Plays with willpower. Lines up next to the tackle and fights to seal edge. Agile. Can be moved all over the offense. Good quickness. Red Zone threat. Could improve as a blocker, but he’s definitely willing. He feels like he’d be an ideal Green Bay Packer. He’d be what I think Gutekunst thought Graham would be in 2018.
3.) Irv Smith, TE, Alabama. Round 1-2. Smart all-round TE. Blocks, catches, grabs YAC. Steps through arm tackles. Doesn’t play with high end speed, but reads defenses well and gets open. Sits down in the middle of the field. Great between the hashes. Nice stutter step move to get loose. Catches ball in traffic. Plays with muscle. Catches with his hands.
4.) Jace Sternberger, TE, Texas A&M. Round 2-3. Terrific hands. Clutch in big situations. Reliable target. Wins in traffic. Fighter after the catch. Threat down the seam. Great route runner. Red Zone target. Doesn’t have high end speed. Willing blocker, but room for improvement.
5.) Dawson Knox, TE, Mississippi. Round 2-3. Intense! Moves like a WR. Drive blocker. Great speed. Solid hands. Crisp route runner. Smooth running athlete.
6.) Kahale Warring, TE, San Diego State. Round 2-3. Round 2 talent who wasn’t utilized much at the college game. His athleticism jumps off of the tap. He’s yoked up. He plays with terrific speed. Bursts off the ball. Bursts down the seam. Big presence. Physical blocker. Still developing. Feels like his best football is still ahead of him.
7.) Kaden Smith, TE, Stanford. Round 3-4. Big boy. Sure handed receiving TE. Willing blocker. Tough to bring down after the catch. Gets down the seam. Love the way he competes in traffic. Will also sit down in the soft spot of the zone. 3-down player.
8.) Josh Oliver, TE, San Jose State. Round 2-3. Huge catch radius. Extends to snatch ball. Good concentration in traffic. Nifty, nimble moves for a big guy after the catch. High end athlete. Plays with speed. Inconsistent blocker, but has the strength to improve. Long, powerful legs. Comfortable running routes of the slot.
9.) Drew Sample, TE, Washington. Round 4-5. Solid mid route target. Tough in the trenches. Physical in contact. Smart. Reliable hands. Hard worker. Isn’t fleet of foot. Not going to stretch the field. Will do all of the dirty work.
10.) Foster Moreau, TE, LSU. Round 4-5. Dominant blocker at the point of attack. Didn’t play with the speed he showed at the Combine, but the Combine showed he has the pace to potentially stretch the field. Good hands. Needs seasoning as a route runner. Doesn’t settle in the soft spot of the defense. A fighter at the line of scrimmage.
11.) Isaac Nauta, TE, Georgia. Round 4-5. Plays with much better speed than he showed at the combine. Created separation with pace. Good hands down the field. Persistent blocker.
12.) Trevon Wesco, TE, Dub-V. Round 4-5. He has an NFL career ahead of him. Reliable, hard nosed football player. High football wits. Good hands. Physical. Limited athletically, but makes up for it with willpower. Can also motion into the backfield to be a FB.
13.) Alize Mack, TE, ND. Round 4-5. Pro style modern day receiving TE. Willing to mix it up as a blocker, but he needs to improve. Catches with his hands. Plants and gets out of his breaks well. Almost looks as though he’s a thick-legged big WR target in his pads.
14.) Dax Raymond, TE, Utah State. Round 5-6. Mountain of a man who immediately catches your eye on the screen. Looks to have the frame to add more upper body muscle. Seeks contact as a blocker, but needs to get nastier. Looks athletic out of his stance and moves really well. For his size, you’d expect a bigger catch radius. He’s an intriguing late round prospect.
15.) Donald Parham, TE, Stetson. Round 6-7. Looked like a Mutant playing against lower level competition. A man against boys. Good hands. Controlled the middle of the field. Not sure if he’d have a defined position with his current stature. Need to put on weight to be a true TE.
16.) Zach Gentry, TE, Michigan. Round 7-UDFA. I hope the Packers get him as an UDFA. Good hands. High concentration. In line blocker. Hard worker. Fights to get yards after catch. Maximizes utility with limited athleticism.
17.) Caleb Wilson, TE, UCLA. Round 7-UDFA. Highly dependable middle-of-the-field target. Reliable hands. NFL height with the frame to get bigger. Plays a little soft with the ball. Doesn’t break many tackles. Works the middle of the field like a magician and catches with hands. Runs routes past the marker. Needs to improve as a blocker.
18.) Andrew Beck, TE, Texas. Round 7-UDFA. Dynamite leader. Good leg drive in the blocking game. Needs more upper body strength. Tough. Confident hands. Decent footwork. Can easily slide into a FB role. Not going to burn by anyone. Dependable. A Gutekunst style of UDFA addition.
19.) Kendall Blanton, TE, Missouri. Round 6-7. Long arms, low in his stance blocking TE. Sit in the zone brand of TE without serious burst off of the snap. Better blocker than receiving threat.
20.) Daniel Helm, TE, Duke. Round 7-UDFA. Athletic structure, but didn’t run nor lift like I expected at the Combine. Good route runner. Willing blocker. Good hands. Expect his best football to be in front of him. Dependable target. Needs to play with more balance as a runner and a blocker.
21.) CJ Conrad, TE, Kentucky. Round 7-UDFA. Medical concerns drop him from a R5 possibility to a potentially undrafted prospect. Great run blocking TE who fights for the ball as a receiver. Limited after catch production. Overachiever.
22.) Tommy Sweeney, TE, Boston College. Round 7-UDFA. Slow developing route runner with a knack for getting open. Dependable receiver. Plows forward after contact. Solid blocker. Showed well in big moments.
23.) Kano Dillon, TE, Oregon. Round 7-UDFA. Has the size and the athleticism. Capable deep threat. Has frame to be a good blocker, too. For some reason, it never came together for him. Has good hands. Worthy developmental camp prospect.
24.) Carson Meier, TE, Oklahoma. Round 7-UDFA. Good initial push as a blocking TE, but doesn’t sustain the block. Labors as a route runner. Has size to fill out and add strength. Gets off of the ball well.
25.) Matthew Sokol, TE, Michigan State. Round 7-UDFA. In-line blocking TE. Fights until the whistle. Decent catch radius. Limited athlete, massive heart. Plays like he was raised playing backyard Midwest style football.
26.) Ian Bunting, TE, Cal. Round 7-UDFA. A grinder. It take s couple of steps for him to rev up his engine. But, when he gets going, he has decent quickness. Good footwork. NFL height. Needs a weight room.
27.) Keenan Brown, TE, Texas State. Round 7-UDFA. Willing blocker who likes to work the middle of the field in the pass game. Undersized. Inconsistent hands. Occasional alligator arms in traffic. Short strider.
28.) Isaiah Searight, TE, Fordham. Round 7-UDFA. Catches with hands. Decent route runner. Nasty blocker. Bulky body. Doesn’t play with speed, but makes up with it with his versatility and catch radius. Can throw him open and he adjusts well. Stiff and upright off the ball.
29.) Jerome Washington, TE, Rutgers. Round 7-UDFA. An underachiever. He has all of the athleticism. Great catch radius. Catches the ball in traffic. Absorbs contact as a receiver. Has a good frame. Lacks consistent concentration. Injury plagued. Can’t hold up as a blocker.
30.) David Lucero, TE, UTEP. Round 7-UDFA. Crisp out of his breaks. Settles nicely into the zone of his defense. Sure handed. Needs to bulk up in order to make an NFL roster. Lacks quickness.
31.) Brandon Dillon, TE, Marian University. Sure handed, but lacks which of a catch radius. Tall, thin TE. Lumbers out of his stance. Unlikely to be able to hold up in the blocking game.
OT:
Gutekunst has starting Tackles for 2019. Bakhtiari is a Pro Bowler. When healthy, Bulaga can still ball at a high level. But, Bulaga is in a contract year and he seems to be banged up more than he's not. After Bakhtiari and Bulaga, there isn't much to offer at Tackle. If he's dialed in, Cole Madison could slide in as a back-up. Adam Pankey has experience playing Tackle in college and showed OK in the preseason last year. Jason Spriggs can't play. Gerhard de Beer has an epic name, but he's unproven. Gutekunst must Draft at least one OT. And, really, he should Draft 2. One of those OT should be a 1st round pick who will be the eventual starter at the position.
1.) Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida. Round 1. A phenomenal athlete. Massive frame. Slides like an eventual Pro Bowler. Great footwork. Elite run blocker. Dominant pass protector. A nasty, mean dude who is ridiculously fit. Love his athleticism. He plays with excellence in space.
2.) Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama. Round 1. A full-blown technician. Possesses the size, athletic ability and talent to be the starting RT for the next 8-10 years. Could also play Guard. A great athlete who carries himself like an old-school pro. Feels like he'd appreciate the Green Bay tradition and blend into the Culture. He looks like a natural born leader. A great competitor. I wish he was a little stronger, but he makes up for it with desire and football understanding.
3.) Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State. Round 1. I would love Risner in GB. He can play all 5 positions on the OL. I have him penciled in as a RT. But, he could easily play either Guard or Center. Unique dude. Highly mobile. Mean. A bully. He wins his battle and he's going to tell you all about it. He's quick. He's Midwest strong. He slaps defenders around. A mad man.
4.) Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State. Round 1. Fantastic footwork. Big body. Great quickness. Strong. Smart. Moves feet well. Settles well and redirects rushers. Can get pushed around due to not extending his arms and letting defenders get into his body.
5.) Greg Little, OT, Mississippi. Round 1-2. Slides his feet well and plays with a massive length. Plainly stated, he's a wide bodied dude. Wins with athleticism and finesse rather than sheer power. Showed good conditioning and seemed to get better as the game wore on. Uses height to swallow blockers and bury them into the ground. Wish he was stronger. Needs the weight room.
6.) Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma. Round 1-2. Yoked up versatile lineman who might be best suited for Guard. Thought he projected better on the interior than he did at OT, but showed versatility when he made the switch from Guard to Tackle. Intimidating presence. He's a mammoth man. Tested terribly at the Combine, but the tape looks different. A fighter. True competitor who loves battling in trenches. A head slapper. Moves really well in pads. Sometimes, he gets caught playing too high.
7.) Kaleb McGary, OT, Washington. Round 1-2. Big dude. Could potentially play Guard as well. He's fully in play in Round 1 for the Packers. Looks like a starting OT coming off of the bus. Has a good punch to his game. Needs to make the first contact or he's in trouble. He slides well when he's engaged. Great quickness. Bulls forward. If Ted Thompson we’re still the GM, I’d be extremely confident that’d he’d be drafted by the Packers at either pick 30 or with their first pick of the 2nd round.
8.) Yodny Cajuste, OT, Dub-V. Round 2-3. I love his game. He has a massive wingspan. Elite athleticism. Excellent quickness. Extends to throw lineman away on speed rushes. Slides, mirrors and anchors. Plants on the bull rush. Powers forward in the run game. A force in short yardage situation. A smart dude. Was fun to watch develop over the last four years. He put in the work to get increasingly stronger and never lost his light weight quickness + athleticism. Great work ethic. Feels like he's still developing as a player and that he will continue to get better. Injury history is a major concern. Without the injury concern, he might be a late Round 1 target.
9.) Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State. Round 2-3. Raw. Still developing. If he can lock up the defender, he’s going to win. Struggles with quickness against EDGE rushers and gets bulldozed. Needs to work on footwork. Has desired size and mind. To start, he might be better structured to play on the interior where he can get into a DL and wrestle him. Consistency will be key. Has some reps that make him look like a sure fire R1 talent, but follows them up with reps that make him look like a late round prospect. Has size and athleticism combo that lead to craving sensations.
10.) Trey Pipkins, OT, Sioux Falls. Round 3-4. Athletic. Slides well. Redirects DL with intelligence. High upside. Has the mental prowess and all of the tools to have hope for a high career ceiling. Needs to continue to get stronger. Has the frame to add weight. Seems to have the dedication and commitment to hit the weight room.
11.) David Edwards, OT, WI. Round 3-4. The hope with Edwards is that he propels himself into the professional player that he didn't develop into as a collegiate athlete. I was convinced that he'd become a Round 1 talent. He has all of the triggers. Looks like the typical Badgers lineman. Great quickness. Immense size. Wide bodied. Moves well. Just never put it together.
12.) Max Scharping, OT, Northern Illinois. Round 3-4. Might fit best at guard. From GB, so I'm pulling from him. Classic Midwest OL. He holds up in the bull rush. Plays with football wisdom. Slides well. Has game experience that makes you salivate. Reliable.
13.) Bobby Evans, OT, Oklahoma. Round 4-5. Finesse style OL with a mean side to his personality. Compact wingspan with long arms. Can play any position on the offensive line except Center. His versatility is his strength. Gets to the second level in the run game and disrupts. Needs to be more patient as a blocker. Often over pursues and gets caught in a grabbing situation.
14.) Martez Ivey, OT, Florida. Round 5-6. Monster of a man with incredible length. Moves pretty well for a big boy, too. Balance is his issue. Needs to anchor with deeper roots. Massive presence with high upside. Could possibly try his hand at Guard. Boom or bust prospect.
15.) Oli Udoh, OT, Elon. Round 5-6. Versatile player. Might be best suited for Guard. Plants himself with thick roots. Anchors with mighty intentions. Moves like he’s light on the ground. Good endurance. Doesn’t have ideal height, but he will fight. Has frame to continue to add muscle. Really intriguing developmental prospect.
16.) Chuma Edoga, OT, USC. Round 5-6. Almost looks and moves like an oversized TE. Slides well. Takes on the bull rush with good balance. Quick. A long armed athlete. Has frame to get stronger. Needs to add more weight.
17.) Mitch Hyatt, OT, Clemson. Round 5-6. He's one of those collegiate athletes that feels like he's been around forever. As Clemson has been a perennial powerhouse, Hyatt has been a fixture on the OL. He's anchored the QB's blindside for 4 years and he's been a Superstar. Brute strength. Tall. Good width. Projects best as a swing Tackle/Guard prospect. A gamer.
18.) Tyler Roemer, OT, San Diego State. Round 5-6. Locker room concerns are enormous and might make him tough to draft. His on-field play has him as a Round 2-3 talent. Plays with good quickness. Dominating run blocker. Has great flexibility and twists like a Pro Bowler. When engaged, he's the dictator. Mean dude who fights on every play. Great wingspan. Has the frame to get much stronger. Needs to be more strength.
19.) Dennis Daley, OT, South Carolina. Round 5-6. Like way he shuffles his feet. Can handle the speed rush. Has a short jab push move to redirect rushers. Will fight for starters reps, but needs to continue to add muscle to his frame.
20.) Drew Forbes, OT, Southeast Missouri. Round 6-7. Fierce mindset who looks like a big buffalo as he strides forward. Highly athletic. Moves well. Finishes blocks. Gets to the second level with ease. Dominant in the run game. Vicious intent. Might transition best to Guard.
21.) Isaiah Prince, OT, Ohio State. Round 6-7. Will be a great depth RT body for someone this year. Has terrific height and a massive wingspan. Extremely athletic. Slides with agility. Looks like a Round 1-2 talent in pads. But, then you watch him and you wonder how he was coached. Plays way too upright. Rushers get into his body and he loses the leverage battle. Gets pushed backwards. Needs to get stronger. Has the frame and athleticism to develop into a gem of a RT. Will take seasoning.
22.) Derwin Gray, OT, Maryland. Round 7-UDFA. Heavy bodied, strong armed Tackle who needs to either lose a little weight or move to Guard. A fighter who batters his defender, if he can get his hands on him. Heavy hammer hand work when he makes first contact. Struggles with speed rushers around the EDGE. Needs to work on conditioning.
23.) Ryan Pope, OT, San Diego State. Round 7-UDFA. An absolute mauler. Love his size, wingspan and athleticism. Would love to have him as a developmental prospect. Elite level quickness. Slides like a power forward on the basketball court. Muscular. Still developing. Showed significant improvement over the last two years. High level athlete that will require patience as he's technically raw.
24.) Brian Wallace, OT, Arkansas. Round 7-UDFA. Strictly a RT, very limited versatility. Big, steady figure. Moves feet fairly well, but he's slow. If he gets his hands on you, he'll lock you up. Can be beaten with quickness.
25.) Maurice Bibaku Simba, OT, Concordia. Round 7-UDFA. Mammoth developmental prospect who is still learning the game. Physical hand punch. Great vision to help him his zone. Gets to the second level. Pancake blocker who overpowered lower level competition. Still learning the mechanics of the position. Great developmental prospect.
OG:
Gutekunst has to be relieved that Cole Madison reported to camp. Madison’s addition has given him much needed depth, at the position. As it’s stands, you can pencil in Turner and Taylor as the starting Guards with McCray and Madison as the back-ups. Lucas Patrick brings versatility as he can also play C, but I'd like to see him upgraded. Adam Pankey brings G/T flexibility and will fight for a spot. Nico Siragusa is also in the mix. Had Madison reported last year, I firmly believed that he was on track to be the starting RG. Can we depend on him and is he in football shape after a 1-year hiatus? Those are questions that I’m happy I don’t have to answer. Going into the Draft, Gutekunst shouldn’t feel as though Guard is a pressing need, but if he can secure a Tackle who has the ability to slide over to Guard with minimal notice, he’d have to consider that as a major win.
1.) Chris Lindstrom, G, Boston College. Round 1-2. He's firmly in play at #30. Played both tackle and college. Plays with determination. A blocking beast. He's strong. He's quick. He's mean. An athletic specimen. He moves defenders in nasty fashion. I love his game. Looks like he'll have a 10-year NFL career.
2.) Connor McGovern, OG, Round 2-3. Highly versatile lineman who can also play Center. Strong, big bodies interior lineman who brings a nasty competitive fire. Has the makings of a steady, consistent 7-10 year NFL player.
3.) Dru Samia, OG, Oklahoma. Round 3-4. Strong Physical. Quick off of the snap. Long, well-built as. Gets to the second level. Finished plays. Shifts with excellence from one blocker to the next. Good awareness.
4.) Beau Benzschawel, G, WI. Round 3-4. Combo Guard/Center dominator. Possibly the best of the Badgers OL in the Draft this year. A mountain of a man. Midwest strong. Love how he moves in space. Can get to the second level. Tosses people in the run game. A beast. Technically profound.
5.) Ross Pierschbacher, OG, Alabama. Round 3-4. Can play either Guard or Center. Has football wits. Brings versatility to the interior of the OL. Can also play Center. Wins with intelligence and footwork. Plants and shuffles with excellence.
6.) Ben Powers, OG, Oklahoma. Round 3-4. Understands hand placement. Digs in low to the ground and moves people. Great anchor. Wins the initial punch and doesn't resist. Technician. Dependable, highly intelligent player who can get to the second level in the run game.
7.) Michael Dieter, G, WI. Round 3-4. Has Round 1 talent. Didn't develop like I thought he might. Wins leverage game and muscles forward. A bully of a run blocker. Mean dude. Holds up well as a pass blocker as well. Doesn't move as well as I'd prefer though.
8.) Hjalte Froholdt, OG, Arkansas. Round 4-5. Leader. Strong dude who possesses footwork to slide laterally. Versatile interior lineman who can fill in at Center. Good athlete for his size.
9.) Michael Jordan, OG, Ohio State. Round 4-5. Massive slow footed Guard/Center blend who best fits at Guard. Wins the straight ahead war, but can be destroyed by quickness. Versatility and interior line movement gives him great value.
10.) Nate Davis, OG, Charlotte. Round 4-5. Played Tackle in college, but looks to be a Guard in the NFL. Sound in the run game. Gets to the second level and seeks out defenders to put a hat in their chest.
11.) Phil Haynes, OG, Wake Forest. Round 5-6. Well constructed upper body, strong athlete. Muscles his way into a hello. Dominant in winning the leverage battle. If he doesn’t engage early, he’s in trouble. In game quickness didn’t match his combine movement. Possesses the tools to develop into a really good player, but will take technical training.
12.) Oshea Dugas, OG, Louisiana Tech. Round 5-6. Limited pass protection skills, but a nasty run blocker who just trashed people. Moving straight forward, he gets after people.
13.) Joshua Miles, OG, Morgan State. Round 6-7. Has size and quickness to step outside as a versatile Tackle. Moves really well. Raw footwork needs development.
14.) BJ Autry, OG, Jacksonville State. Round 6-7. Heavy set, stout Guard who anchors with strength. Has hand punch to throw DL back. Run blocking capacity to bull defenders backwards. Looks out of shape.
15.) Juwann Bushell-Beatty, OG, Michigan. Round 6-7. Ability to play Tackle possibly as well. Great size. Decent footwork. Needs to play with more of a nasty streak.
16.) Alex Bars, OG, Notre Dame. Round 7-UDFA. I really hope he ends up in Green Bay. A great leader. Plants and isn't moved. NFL frame and mentality. A smart dude with the wits to also slide out to RT. The ultimate teammate who is quick to pick up his RB. Wish he were quicker in getting to the second level. Moves better laterally then he does straight ahead. Injury concern moves him from an R3 prospect to potentially undrafted.
17.) Javon Patterson, OG, Mississippi. Round 7-UDFA. Could slide to Center. Versatile interior lineman. Built bigger in the lower body that the upper body. Combine showed he has more strength than he plays with. Sticks to his block. Wrestler without the nasty. Tried to get underneath and grind forward.
18.) Wyatt Miller, OG, UCF. Round 7-UDFA. Intriguing late round pick who has the ability to athleticism and technique to play all positions except for LT. But, he needs to get stronger. He moves really well and is a disciplined blocker. If he loses leverage, he gets overpowered.
OC:
Gutekunst enters the 2019 Draft with Corey Linsley locked up for 2 more years. His only back-up option on the roster is Lucas Patrick. Patrick is a competitor, a willing teammate; but his skills can be upgraded. Gutekunst would be wise to Draft a versatile interior OL, someone who can play both Guard and Center.
1.) Garrett Bradbury, C, NC State. Round 1. Could also move to Guard. He opens holes. A leader in the middle of the line. Gets low and moves people. Smart. Dialed in. Holds things down for the OL, generates movement as a blocker.
2.) Erik McCoy, C, Texas A&M. Round 1-2. Has versatility to play both Guard and Center. Strong, leverage winner who actively directs OL traffic. Has a leadership aura to him. Looks like a great teammate. Highly athletic and moves really well to get to the second level.
3.) Elgton Jenkins, OC, Mississippi State. Round 2-3. Brute strength. Lacks quickness off the ball. Needs to get the first jab. Struggles with recovery. If he can muscle you upfront, he’ll win the battle. Can also play Guard.
4.) Lamont Gaillard, C, Georgia. Round 5-6. Powerful anchor in the middle of the field. Good quickness. Strong lower body. Dominant in the run game.
5.) Nick Allegretti, OG/C, Illinois. Round 6-7. Hard nosed, middle America toughness. Finishes run blocks with fury. Smart. Athletic. Versatile.
DL
Heading into the Draft, the DL is a strength on the team. Kenny Clark is a budding superstar. Dean Lowry has gotten better every year. Mike Daniels is still a solid player, when he's healthy. Tyler Lancaster showed great promise as the season wore on. Fadol Brown was a factor late in the year. Montravius Adams offer glimpses of goodness, too. James Looney will be in the mix this year as well. With Lowry and Daniels in contract years, I expect Gutekunst to add a DL in the middle rounds.
1.) Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama. Round 1. An absolute monster. He trashes blockers and lives in the backfield. He's equally as talented as a pass rusher as he is a run stopper. He commands a double team. He's quick. He's strong. He's the first one off of the snap. A dominating presence.
2.) Ed Oliver, DT, Houston. Round 1. Quick twitch to his game off the ball. Slides well laterally. Very explosive hands. Instinctive nature to his game. Looks to have the potential to be a pass rusher freak.
3.) Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan. Round 1. Exceptional athlete with the ideal figure for Pettine’s 3-4/4-3 defensive configuration. Can transition between a bigger bodied 3-4 EDGE rusher to a 4-3 DE who holds the point. Tremendous ability to collapse the pocket. More disruptive than the stats suggest. He wrecks plays. Tireless effort. Plays until the whistle. Comfortable as a man on the left side of the defense, which is vital to note. Would compliment Preston Smith.
4.) Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson. Round 1. A remarkable athlete. Plays with brute force. Slippery quick to slice through blockers. Disrupts passing lanes with great length. Overly disruptive. Plays light on his toes and is nimble for a big dude.
5.) Jeffery Simmons, DL, Mississippi State. Round 1. His injury was absolutely gutting. Would've been a top 10 pick. Dominant interior pass rusher. Forceful in the run game as well. Wins the leverage battle and drives blockers backwards.
6.) Jerry Tillery, DL, ND. Round 1-2. Amazingly quick off of the snap. A hungry hunter. Heavy competitor. Has length to develop into a premier interior pass rusher. Destroys blockers in the run game.
7.) Dexter Lawrence, DL, Clemson. Round 1-2. Eats blockers. A thumper in the middle. Has pass rushing ability, but just didn't finish. Collapses the pocket. Seeks contact with sheer desire. Powerful man in the heart of the defense.
8.) Dre'Mont Jones, DL, Ohio State. Round 2-3. Comes up big in big moments. Great interior pass rusher. Wins with effort and quickness. High motor. Slightly undersized for an interior rusher. Has frame to add weight. Chases down the ball from behind. Uses long arms to change plays.
9.) Khalen Saunders, DL, Western Illinois. Round 3-4. Highly athletic. Ultra strong. Quick movement. Can get down the line. 3-down interior player. Disruptive. Great punch to his game. Dominates, at times, but needs to be more consistent.
10.) Renell Wren, DL, Arizona State. Round 3-4. Among the most uniquely constructed players in the Draft. All of the physical tools to be a top 20 pick. He brings height, muscular force, unbelievable quickness and a vicious punch. He hasn't put it all together yet, but he has a huge ceiling. He's the guy you want coming off of the bus first.
11.) Charles Omenihu, DE, Texas. Round 3-4. Times much slower than I expected at the combine. Quick off the snap. Showed up in big moments. Applies consistent pressure. Collapses pocket. Bulls his way from the left side of the line. Big wingspan deflects passes. Assertive. Stiff shuffling down the line limits his ability to close run gaps.
12.) Daniel Wise, DL, Kansas. Round 3-4. Love his length, quickness and desire. Hustle. Hard worker. High energy. Good blood lines. Plays too upright. Really good developmental prospect. Could bring interior pass rushing ability.
13.) Kingsley Keke, DL Texas A&M. Round 3-4. Good quickness. Slaps hands of lineman and bursts forward. Disruptive interior rusher. Slides along the line and stretches plays. Love his on field athleticism. Needs to be more consistent.
14.) Trysten Hill, DL, Central Florida. Round 3-4. High effort performer. Plays until the whistle. Great motor. Super quick off of the ball. Has a variety of interior moves to collapse pocket. He'll twist, he'll turn, he'll spin to get OL off balance. Has a great punch. Active feet. Better in run game than as a pass rusher. Strong dude.
15.) Gerald Willis, DL, []_[]. Round 3-4. Great burst off the snap. Wins with his first step to gain leverage. Dominant run stopper. Inconsistent effort. Questionable locker room presence could have him drop significantly down draft boards, but the talent is definitely there. His good is really good.
16.) LJ Collier, DL, TCU. Round 3-4. Highly productive DE. Holds the point on the edge in the run game. Sees the ball as he mirrors the blocker and releases well. Wish he was a little bit taller. Plays with power. High motor. Could possibly be a situational interior rusher.
17.) Greg Gaines, DL, Washington. Round 4-5. Muscle man. Plays with brute strength. Moves people. Quick off of the ball. Stud in the run game. Tosses lineman backwards and blows up plays. Has pass rush ability, but probably best used on 1st and 2nd down.
18.) Isaiah Buggs, DL, Alabama. Rounds 4-5. Interior defensive line player who brings high effort and wins with pad level. Great motor. Plays much quicker than his combine results showed. Plays stronger, too. Powers between blockers.
19.) Demarcus Christmas, DL, FSU. Round 4-5. Consistency is his concern. At times, he was the most dominant player along the line and then he'd disappear for long stretches. Quick twitch to his game. Physical run game. Good burst off of the line.
20.) Daylon Mack, DL, Texas A&M. Round 4-5. Stoutly built. Still developing. Natural run stopper who should pass rushing ability. At times, he’s unable to be blocked. He tosses OL around. Needs to play with more consistently.
21.) Armon Watts, DL, Arkansas. Round 5-6. Wrist slapping run defender. Isn't quick off of the snap, but moves well when he gets going. Understands leverage and plays with muscle. Solid run stopper. Stacks blockers with raw strength. Moves bodies. Finishes well. 2-down player.
22.) Terry Beckner, DL, Missouri. Round 6-7. Leader. Love his upside. At times, he looks dominant. But, he's inconsistent. Strong dude. Moves like a smooth athlete. One play, he'll drive his blocker back two yards and eat up a runner, but then he'll disappear. Possesses pass rushing ability.If he can find consistency, he could be a late round gem. Injury history is also a concern.
23.) Kevin Givens, DL, Penn State. Round 6-7. Really strong for his size. Powerful with a massive lower body. Flashes ability as an interior pass rusher. Might be best as a 4-3 interior player if he could add weight. As he's currently built, he's a tweener. Would have strength to hold the edge in the run game.
24.) Byron Cowart, DL, Maryland. Round 6-7. Plays with a mean intensity. Has good first step. Cut-up muscular frame. Looks the part. Uses strength to eat up multiple blockers in the run game to help the ILB's roam free.
25.) Michael Dogbe, DL, Temple. Round 6-7. Highly dependable interior DL who can move along the line. Extreme quickness at the snap. Slices way through gaps. Needs to master the leverage art. Plays too high.
26.) Dontavius Russell, DL, Auburn. Round 6-7. A big boy. Quick for his size. Eats up blockers. Physical toughness. Gets a decent push in the run game. Limited pass rush skills.
27.) Chris Nelson, DL, Texas. Round 6-7. Quick of the ball. Gets underneath pads and moves people. Hungry. Good energy. Powerful lower body. Plays low to the ground. Lacks height.
28.) Ricky Walker, DL, Virginia Tech. Round 6-7. Thick lower body. Understands leverage. But, easily moved and not quick enough out of his stance. When he gets moving though, he has a decent burst. Has good frame.
29.) Isaiah Mack, DT, Tennessee-Chattanooga. Round 6-7. Short stubby arms cause huge concerns. Gets low to the ground and has a noteworthy first step. Could grow into a rotational disruptive interior pass rusher. Doesn’t always finish the play, but his activity and motor causes alarm for opposing QB’s. Always hustling. Shows well in the run game, too.
30.) Cortez Broughton, DL, Cincinnati. Round 7-UDFA. Has NFL height and length to extend. Good height. Needs more weight as an interior lineman. Plays upright. Lacks quickness.
31.) Joel Van Pelt, DL, Calgary. Round 7-UDFA. Thinly constructed but long. Uses length to disengage from blockers. Sees play in front of him. Moves well. Needs to get stronger.
32.) Jonathan Ledbetter, DL, Georgia. Round 7-UDFA. Has the talent and the strength, but I'm not sure where to play him. He could possibly play an edge role on early downs, while sliding inside on pass rushing downs, but he doesn't win the edge with quickness. He brings a high motor and a lot of effort. If he was either 10 pounds heavier or 20 pounds lighter, he'd be easier to figure out.
33.) Kyle Lawrence Phillips, DL, Tennessee. Round 7-UDFA. Really like his quickness and drive off the ball. Powerful lower body. Unable to finish plays with power. Often driven backwards on contact. Needs more strength.
34.) Javier Edwards, DL, Colorado. Round 7-UDFA. Power interior DL player who plays with good awareness. Disrupts plays by getting his hands in the air. Lacks quickness. Good effort. Does a good job of eating blockers to let the LB’s run free.
35.) Youhanna Ghaifan, DL, Wyoming. Round 7-UDFA. Really like his motor and his quickness. Undersized. Has good speed to his game. Disruptive interior player. Needs to add roughly 15 lbs and has the frame to do it. If he can't add weight, he'll have to make it as an early down DE whose main job is to hold the edge in the run game. Love his athleticism. Good developmental camp prospect.
36.) Malik Dorton, DL, USC. Round 7-UDFA. Quick first step. Weaves way through gaps in line to disrupt. Good short burst run defender who can win in space. Struggles at point of attack. Gets out muscled.
37.) Lawrence Marshall, DL, Michigan. Round 7-UDFA. Good football smarts. Moves well down the line. Shoots gaps well. Doesn’t excel in either the run or the pass game. Just steady. A hard worker.
38.) Anree Saint-Armour, DL, Georgia Tech. Round 7-UDFA. Variety of moves that allows him to keep a lineman’s hands off of him. Decent spin move and burst out of it. If he’s unable to get a release, he’s easily knocked off balance.
39.) Trevon Sanders, DL, Troy. Round 7-UDFA. Stout run defender. Quicker than his frame might suggest. Powerful lower body. Shows good burst off of the snap. Short yardage project. Moves the line of scrimmage.
40.) Mathieu Betts, DL, Laval. Round 7-UDFA. Has size to move along the line. Good quickness and hand punch. Indecisive as a pass rusher. Too much dancing for a big body.
41.) Kevin Wilkins, DL, Rutgers. Round 7-UDFA. Powerful lower body. Athletic frame. Extends arms well, but plays smaller than he looks. Gets locked up and twisted.
42.) Chris Slayton, DL, Syracuse. Round 7-UDFA. Hope plugger. Little pass rush ability, but he will stand up and fight in the run game. Twists and turns to escape blocks.
43.) Immanuel Turner, DE, Louisiana Tech. Round 7-UDFA. Like his size. Love his hustle. Interior DL who plays until the whistle. Chases down plays. Limited athletically but fights with all of his weight. Good height. Needs to master the leverage war.
44.) Ryan Bee, DL, Marshall. Round 7-UDFA. Long, tall defender who can be moved all along the DL. Applies power moves, but not strong enough for the NFL. Determined. Needs more muscle.
45.) Mike Onuoha, DL, Texas A&M Commerce. Hard working overachieving DE who looks to slap the ball loose when applying pressure. Needs to extend arms when setting the edge in the run game. Has the height and length, but needs to become more technically sound.
46.) Shyheim Tuttle, DL, Tennessee. Round 7-UDFA. Quick first step off ball. An interior lineman, strictly. Plays off balance and gets trashed to the turf. Slides down the line slowly. Can’t finish plays.
47.) Jay-Tee Tiuli, DL, Eastern Washington University. Round 7-UDFA. Interior DL. Small in stature, big in heart. High end motor. Strong. Lacks quickness and balance.
48.) Ray Smith, DL, Boston College. Round 7-UDFA. Short, stocky DT. Limited quickness. Maximum effort. Tries so hard that he occasionally loses his balance.
EDGE
In the modern NFL, a team is required to have 4 talented rushers in order to effectively defend high octane offenses. As the rules have changed and the OT’s have become mutants, elite defenses have had a solid rotation of QB aggressors. Heading into the offseason, Gutekunst had one capable rusher in Kyler Fackrell. In FA, he gobbled up the Smith Bros to quench his thirst. In Preston Smith, Gutekunst added a legitimate pursuer of the QB. Throw stats out the window, Preston Smith disrupts the QB. He is most effective from the right side. Gutekunst was most attracted to Za’Darius Smith. Za’Darius is a perfect fit for Mike Pettine’s defense. He is best used as an interior blitzer on 3rd down. I’m looking forward to the Smith Bros lined up on the right side of the line. Preston taking a wide angle towards the QB, which should open up space for Za’Darius to operate on the inside next to him. After studying the Smith Bros, I’ve been on a massive hunt for an EDGE rusher who can collapse the pocket from the left side. My mission was to identify an EDGE rusher who successfully moved QB’s off the spot when they were in clear sight of the QB. Reggie White used to joke that it was easier for Sean Jones to get to the QB because he was coming from the blind side. I took note that Clemson had Bryant lined up on the left and Ferrell on the right, but Boston College moved Allen and Ray around the line. Somewhat surprisingly, most of the EDGE rushers in this Draft were predominantly found rushing from the right side. I fully expect Gutekunst to add at least one EDGE rusher on Draft weekend.
1.) Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky. Round 1. Plainly stated, my #1 rated player in the Draft. Highly intelligent. Plays as if he’s standing in the other teams huddle. Thin framed, yet muscular. A long pursuant defender. Good extension and side-to-side quickness. Ideal length. Drops into coverage. A man. A competitor. A winner. Shows up big when the spotlight is brightest. Dominant. Full football player.
2.) Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State. Round 1. He has all of the skills of his older brother. He also has his older brothers injury history. When he was on the field, he dominated the the edge of the defense, but he was not on the field enough. His talents can’t be questioned. He brings excellent burst, bend and might. Durability and commitment do concern me. Is he a me-first teammate? Possibly. If not, he’s worthy of a top 3 pick.
3.) Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State. Round 1. Dynamite burst off of the ball. Long armed edge rusher who loves the two handed fully-extended punch move as his initial push. Great burst. Dips and turns the corner. Uses his eyes as a focal tool to stay aware of QB movements. Tireless rusher. Brings speed and power off the edge. Doesn’t quit on plays and has awareness allows for him to win with a 2nd or 3rd move. Great up and under punch move. Equally as gifted rushing from either the left or right side. Did a great job consistently collapsing the pocket from the left side. Does get beat up in the run game on occasion. When QBs step up in the pocket on him, he’s going to swallow them up. Does have a heart condition that could cause him to fall on draft boards. I’m not a Dr, but judging from his play on the field, he’s R1 talent.
4.) Brian Burns, EDGE, FSU. Round 1. I’d be more excited to grab him at #30 than at #12. As a pure pass rusher, he brings it with high octane, top end spend. He bends and turns the corner. A natural athlete. Looks to slap the ball out of the QBs hands as he flies at him. Can he keep on the weight required to man up in the run game? Body mass is his question mark. He plays with great desire and a will to win.
5.) Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson. A dynamite competitor. Excellent length. He doesn’t fit in the 6-3, 250 EDGE body. He’s bigger and more physical. Brings a long extended arm to his pass rush around the corner. He’s willing and athletic enough to drop in space, but that’s not where he excels. Largely, he only rushed from the right side. Highly productive. A beast in big moments. Battle tested and rose to the top.
6.) Jachai Polite, EDGE, FL. Round 1-2. Looks to be the best pure pass rusher in the Draft. Attitude and communication skills might drop him further down that expected. Before the Combine, he was in my sights for #12. But, he didn’t run well, he didn’t interview well and he bailed with injury. Nonetheless, on the field, he plays with a confident swagger that I crave. Speed rusher. Grabs corner better than anyone in the Draft. Swipes the football away as well. A turnover creator. He’s a big play waiting to happen. Put his hand in the dirt on 3rd down and let him loose.
7.) Chase Winovich, EDGE, Michigan. Round 2-3. Wins with grit, energy, passion and intelligence. Athletic, too. Fun to watch him pursue from both the right and left side. Chases down ball carriers from behind. Always in pursuit. Tremendous energy. A leader. Quick twitch move to the inside often leaves Tackles in the dust. Great in run game. Self confident.
8.) Justin Hollins, EDGE, Oregon. Round 2-3. I’m probably higher on him than most, but I’m fascinated by his game. Extremely versatile. Move him around and let him run. Top of the shelf athlete. Tremendous speed. A playmaker. Moves well in space. A Gutekunst style of athlete. He can rush from the inside and the out. He can drop in coverage. His speed kills.
9.) D’Andre Walker, EDGE, Georgia. Round 2-3. Adaptable defender. Move him where you need him and he’s coming with a vengeance. Witty rusher who knives his way through small gaps to get home. Can play on either side of the line. He’s even talented when he’s standing multiple yards off of the line of scrimmage and rushing from the inside. You have to game plan for him.
10.) Jaylon Ferguson, EDGE, Louisiana Tech. Round 2-3. One trick pony. He’s a pass rusher. Statistically, he has more sacks than anyone ever in college football. He flourished against weaker competition. His quickness off the ball and his pinch moves were winners. He isn’t littered with moves. He doesn’t have have great speed. He was much bigger and stronger than small school competitors. He can rush from both the right and left side. He has the necessary mean streak to get to the QB.
11.) Joe Jackson, EDGE, []_[]. Round 2-3. Plays with great length. Gets after the football. Round 1 talent, but often plays with lackadaisical effort. Needs to be more consistent. When he’s dialed in, he’s physical and attacking. Needs to be more animated.
12.) Oshane Ximenes, EDGE, Old Dominion. Round 2-3. Ideal size. Still raw and developing, his best football might be ahead of him. Still, he powerfully dips his shoulder beneath the outstretched arms of a blocker like an old pro. He has a patented tug and pull move to escape from blockers and to propel himself forward. Importantly, he played extensively on the left side of the line. He won with a working mans mentality.
13.) Zach Allen, EDGE, Boston College. Round 2-3. Dude brings power to the football field. He gets underneath the pads of the blocker and drives his man backwards. Plays with brute force. Reminds me of a young Nick Perry a little bit. Solid in run game. Intimidating mind. Powerful lower body. Lined up on both the left and right side.
14.) Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Eastern Michigan. Round 3-4. Great straight line speed. A giddy-up to his game when he’s attacking the ball from behind. Long arms. Needs to get stronger. Moves better straight ahead than side to side. Developmental talent who has the will to improve. Might have difficulty dropping in space.
15.) Christian Miller, EDGE, Alabama. Round 3-4. A bit of an enigma. At times, he looks like he’s destined to be a star. Other times, I wonder how he fits. He certainly looks the part at 6-3, 247. He’s slender. He moves smoothly. He drops in space. He dips low around the edge. Then, he disappears. If he puts it all together; the sky is the limit.
16.) Austin Bryant, EDGE, Clemson. Round 3-4. I’ve searched long and hard for defenders who rushed extensively from the left side. Bryant did it as much as anyone as Ferrell commanded the left side.
17.) Anthony Nelson, EDGE, Iowa. Round 3-4. Hard working, highly active defender. Moves well in short spaces. Good first step. Quick hands. Sharp mind. I see him setting the edge on run downs and sliding inside on pass downs. Would fit well on the left side of the Packers DL.
18.) Gerri Green, EDGE, Mississippi State. Round 4-5. Workout warrior. Combine numbers don’t show up on the tape. Has a quick burst off the edge when pressuring the QB. Didn’t hold the point in the run game. Has tough time releasing off blocks. Seemed to regress from junior to senior year. Can slide inside as well. Walks like a stud. Has size, tools and mentality to make him worthy of a mid round pick.
19.) Malik Carney, EDGE, UNC. Round 4-5. He craves the football. He’s not looking to simply make the tackle, he’s looking to strip the ball. Looks like an athletic dynamo. Moves fluidly. Intense mind. Slightly undersized. Great spin move. Wrist slapping tackler. Good upside if height doesn’t limit him.
20.) Wyatt Ray, EDGE, Round 4-5. Quicker than fast. Continues to get bigger and looks to have the frame to add more weight if he’d like. 6-3, 257. Great length. Uses hands well to disengage blockers. Timed terribly and it shows when he’s forced to play in space.
21.) Jordan Brailford, EDGE, Oklahoma State. Round 4-5. At first glance, he doesn’t wow you. But, as you study him, he grows on you. He’s a creative pass rusher with a decent burst. Explosive. He works hard holding the point in the run game, but has room for improvement in that area. He’s a hard worker who believes in himself. Might not be a year one difference maker, but he has the athleticism and the physique to grow into a solid pro. Can play on both the right and left side.
22.) Jamal Davis, EDGE, Akron. Round 4-5. Explosive energy bursting though gaps in the run game. Extremely quick. Showed better in run game than as a pass rusher. Though he has the length, height and speed off the edge to develop into a pass rusher. Still developing. Best football might be ahead of him. Needs NFL diet to put 10 pounds of muscle on him to round out his frame. Too light right now. Importantly, he’s comfortable coming from the left side.
23.) John Cominsky, EDGE, Charleston. Round 4-5. Really like how he gets his hands in the air to defend the pass at the line of scrimmage. Can move him to the inside as he’s a capable inside pass rusher. Developmental as he lacks a go-to move to escape an OL when the blocker gets his hands on him. He often gets stuck as a rusher and is taken out of the play. Value is found in his length, his athleticism and his ability to play in multiple places along the line. Capable of coming from either the left or right side. Not sure he’s ready to hold up in the run game.
24.) Porter Gustin, EDGE, USC. Round 4-5. Throw away the injury history and he’s a Round 1-2 prospect. He possesses a Herculean figure. A workout animal. He plays with immense intensity. Seeks contact. Wants to inflict pain. Has all of the tools, but can he stay healthy?
25.) Ben Banogu, EDGE, TCU. Round 4-5. I really want to like his game. He’s an excellent athlete. Good quickness. He looks the part in his uniform with the exception of his arm length. 6-3, 250. But, he has a limited arsenal of pass rushing options and he often gets swallowed. He attempts to win with speed, but when the tackle gets his hands on him; he has little to no chance. Tried his hand at both the right and left side.
26.) Jalen Jelks, EDGE, Oregon. Round 4-5. Pettine might watch Jelks and think of Calvin Pace. He plays quicker than fast. He’s smart. He can play all over the field. He has great length. Uses his height to disrupt passing lanes. Straight line speed might scare the Packers away.
27.) Shareef Miller, EDGE, Penn State. Round 4-5. Has NFL size. Looks good in pads. Limited athleticism. Good first step off the ball, but he’s not strong enough to consistently separate from a blocker. Flashed highlight film playmaking skills, at times, but I question whether he’s physical enough to play at the next level. He consistently pressured from the left side and was able to effectively stunt to the inside.
28.) Randy Ramsey, EDGE, Arkansas. Round 6-7. Long, slender figure and quick first step makes him attractive at first peep. Limited strength and bend give great cause for concern. Needs to bulk up. Has the body to easily put on 10-15 pounds. Still somewhat raw as he’s reinventing his pass rushing style. Feels very comfortable rushing from the left side. Wins with a speed move to the outside followed by a sharp cut to the inside. Potential off field issues to sort through. Has ability to drop in coverage and athleticism to finish plays in the open field. He could rise into a rotational pass rushing specialist. At worst, I see him on a practice squad player this year. Has wingspan, quickness and height that you can’t teach.
29.) Kaden Elliss, EDGE, Idaho. Round 6-7. Dynamic hybrid LB who can pressure the QB, cover and attack in run support. Showed comfort as an edge rusher on the left side. Played on the right side as well. Was comfortable in space. Great burst to the ball. Even showed athleticism as a receiver when he lined up at TE. Strong, smart football player. Runs well. Good recognition. Might need to add a little weight to be a 3-down EDGE player in the modern day NFL. Or if he loses a little weight, he could possibly transition to ILB. Figure out how to use him and have patience. High upside.
30.) Sutton Smith, EDGE, Northern Illinois. Round 6-7. I should probably put him at ILB because I think he translates best to an ILB in a 3-4 or a weak side OLB in the 4-3. He’s not big enough to hold the point in a 3-4 as a true edge player, but that was his position in college. Sutton can run. He plays with heart. Great desire. Highly intelligent football player. He finds the football.
31.) Malik Reed, EDGE, Nevada. Round 6-7. Stubby steps. Quick feet. Powerful lower body. Wins with effort. Variety of noteworthy moves to win in 1 on 1 battle and can get the corner with quickness. Will play off the line of scrimmage and play in space. Love his versatile. Fantastic bend as he turns the corner. Shows well at inside as well as outside. Can use him in a variety of ways. Boom or bust type prospect.
32.) Landis Durham, EDGE, Texas A&M. Round 6-7. Pedestrian performer who doesn’t appear to stand a chance in the run game. Loses leverage and gets billed over. But, worth mentioning as he does have decent burst off of the ball. Could fill-in as a rotational 3rd down pass rusher. When he sees the play in front of him, he brings excellent burst.
33.) Carl Granderson, EDGE, Wyoming. Round 6-7. Wants to win with speed. Needs to add tricks to his pass rush arsenal. Dominates lower level competition. Tries to win to the inside with a quick-twitch hip shake on run defense and tries to outpace the Tackle with speed as a pass rusher. He’s active, he’s aggressive. Good motor.
34.) Jabrill Frazier, EDGE, Boise State. Round 7-UDFA. Energized, long, tall pass rusher who fights throughout the play. Has good stamina. Quick feet. Must add 10-15 pounds to his frame in order to hold up. Rushed from both the left and right side. Love his energy, just wish he was a lot stronger and a little quicker.
35.) Jamel Garcia-Williams, EDGE, UAB. Round 7-UDFA. Comes from the left side, which intrigues. Can stand up or come with his hand in the dirt. Looks to win with a wide angle to the QB and then win with speed. Needs to get stronger as he’s easily pushed around.
36.) Derick Roberson, EDGE, Sam Houston State. Round 7-UDFA. Plays low in his pass rushing stance. Has the size to target. Dominant collegiate pass rusher. Slow off the ball.
37.) Titus Davis, EDGE, Central Florida. Round 7-UDFA. Drops well in coverage. Decent backpedal into space. Needs to stay disciplined In run lanes. Can rush from all over the field. Lacks burst to consistently get to the QB. NFL size. Arms flail wildly. Needs to get his arms up to help swat away blockers.
38.) Jesse Aniebonam, EDGE, Maryland. Round 7-UDFA. Productive prior to serious injury. Stout, thick bodied, strong presence. Holds up well in the run game. Lacks significant pass rushing moves. Wins with effort. Can’t envision him playing in space in NFL. Came from both the right and left side.
39.) Markus Jones, EDGE, Angelo State. Round 7-UDFA. Well constructed body who feels comfortable attacking straight ahead. Quick burst to the QB. Disruptive. Needs to play with discipline as he often overruns the play.
40.) Breckyn Hager, EDGE, Texas. Round 7-UDFA. High-spirited, fun loving teammate who is quick to celebrate with a teammate. Mean. Football fire. At the college level, those traits made up for athletic deficiencies. Don’t think they will in the NFL though.
41.) Cece Jefferson, EDGE, Florida. Round 7-UDFA. Decent quickness off the snap. Came from left side often. He’s strictly a speed rusher, but he lacks speed. A little short and too much weight. Gets arms in air to disrupt passing lanes. Not strong enough to hold up in the run game. Has a chance as a 3rd down pass rusher, but I don’t see it.
42.) Kahzin Daniels, EDGE, Charleston. Round 7-UDFA. Dominated low level competition by anticipating snap counts and winning with speed off the edge. Active QB hunter. His snap count guessing gets him in trouble as he is prone to jump offsides. Feels comfortable coming from the left side. Always looking to steal the ball, too.
43.) Ronheen Bingham, EDGE, Arkansas State. Round 7-UDFA. NFL style burst to the ball. A big wall of muscle. Destroyed lower level competition as a pass rusher. Limited sideways mobility. Stiff. Raw. Needs to add technique to his game.
44.) Obinna Iheoma, Northwestern State. Round 7-UDFA. Try hard edge rusher. Undersized. Quality first step. Lacks speed stamina to close the deal. Often, he moves the QB off the spot, but lacks the gas to seal the deal. Will struggle in run game. Wasted steps in space gets him in trouble.
ILB:
Almost painfully, ILB remains a pressing need for the Packers. Blake Martinez is in a contract year and will demand serious money. Oren Burks looked the part in the preseason, but he never showed up during the Regular Season. James Crawford showed special teams ability and offered hope in the preseason, but his play never transitioned to the Regular Season either. Gutekunst must add at least one ILB in the Draft.
1.) Devin White, ILB, LSU. Round 1. Rambunctious! Extra turbo sideline to sideline speed. Intensely built. Passionate. Destructive. Drops in coverage. Great vision to attack RB in hole. Terrific on the middle blitz.
2.) Devin Bush, ILB, Michigan. Round 1. Leader. Plays with terrific reaction. Knows how to avoid blockers and find the football. When he's free to roam, he's elite. He can fly. Great quickness. Plays sideline-to-sideline. Tackles with force. Closes quickly. Great interior blitzer. Struggles to free himself from blockers.
3.) Mack Wilson, ILB, Alabama. Round 1-2. Roams with a vengeance. Intimidating presence in the middle of the field. Eager to seek out ballcarriers. Reads and recognizes the play. Drops well into coverage. Smart. Understands angles. Wish he was a little quicker. Plays a little too upright.
4.) Vosean Joseph, ILB, Florida. Round 2-3. Love his size. He looks like a toned up star. Plays the run well, drops in coverage and is capable of getting home when coming on the blitz. Uses long arms to deflect passes. Plays with animation. Has great quickness. Has a nasty aggressiveness.
5.) Te'Von Coney, ILB, Notre Dame. Round 2-3. Muscular construction. Sniffs out running plays with brilliance. Reads his blockers and knives between the gap. Smart and disciplined. Great motor. Wish he was both faster and quicker.
6.) Drue Tranquill, ILB, Notre Dame. Round 3-4. Have the feeling that he’s a Gutekunst style of player. A leader. Fluid movement. Athletically gifted. Smarts galore. Made plays all over the field. In the old days, he would’ve been a sub-package backer. In today’s league, he’s a 3-down backer with field awareness and the ability to both rush the QB on the blitz and cover in the passing game.
7.) Jahlani Tavai, ILB, Hawaii. Round 3-4. Long limbs. Muscular tone. Tough dude. Has a nasty side to him. Dominates the run game. Has good versatility and can be moved around the defense. Displays decent pass rushing moves as well. Finds the football. He attacks with purpose.
8.) Bobby Okere, ILB, Stanford. Round 3-4. Leader. Highly intelligent competitor. Would immediately step in and make a profound impact on special teams. He is a top notch cover LB. Drops and bends well. Uses his length to defend the pass. Inconsistent tackler in space.
9.) Sione Takitaki, ILB, BYU. Round 3-4. He can hit. He can cover. He can rush the passer. He can play in space. Physical. Bright presence. Football mind. A leader. Wish he had a little more speed.
10.) Germaine Pratt, ILB, NC State. Round 3-4. Would be best served to drop 10-15 pounds. Have athletic physique. Good quickness. Quality coverage skills. But, at his current weight he’s not able to hold the point on the EDGE. He isn’t going to stack and shed. His body would best be constructed as a modern day sideline-to- sideline quick-moving ILB. Great upside with reduced weight.
11.) Blake Cashman, ILB, Minnesota. Round 3-4. Has Midwest intelligence. Plays with great tempo. If he sees a gap, he'll accelerate through the hole and finish the play. Will struggle when he has to disengage from a blocker. Will be a special teams guru.
12.) Ben Burr-Kirven, ILB, Washington. Round 4-5. Smart football player. Finds the football. Sees the play develop quickly. Plays with recognition. Has balance to get low and underneath the block. Finishes plays. Has good speed and quickness, but needs to get thicker in order to stack and shed.
13.) Ulysees Gilbert III, ILB, Akron. Round 5-6. Modern day NFL physique. Run, cover and blitz. All skills in his repertoire. High level coverage skills. Good recognition and long arms. Still learning to recognize run plays. Better in his drop than stacking and shedding. High energy, active performer.
14.) Darius Harris, ILB, Middle Tennessee State. Round 5-6. Excels as a coverage LB. Reads the swing pass and attacks it. Keeps play in front of him. Sure tackler but often falls backwards. Plays too high. Step too slow. Fluid in his motion. Started in the NFLPA Bowl. Always around the ball.
15.) Nate Hall, ILB, Northwestern. Round 5-6. Intelligent, rangy ILB. Big body presence who covers ground and can get sideline to sideline. Good recognition. Drops well in coverage. Good hands. Quicker than fast.
16.) Chase Hansen, ILB, Utah. Round 5-6. Attacking ILB. Sees the ball and pursues with intensity when the play is in front of him. Quick. Witty defender. Destructive. Reads and recognizes. Built like a big Safety.
17.) David Long, ILB, Dub-V. Round 5-6. Good early down linebacker. Between the tackles player. Lacks speed. But, finds football with instinct and smarts.
18.) Ty Summers, ILB, TCU. Round 5-6. NFL physique. Has good football recognition. Has well timed blitzes. Plays with pain. Tough minded. Really strong. A forceful tackler. Inconsistent in coverage. Oft injured.
19.) Tre Watson, ILB, Maryland. Round 5-6. Built like a brick house. Sure tackler. Massive quads bring brute force, but limit his lateral movement. Performs better in run game than pass game. Vulnerable in space.
20.) Dakota Allen, ILB, Texas Tech. Round 5-6. High effort football finder. Hustles until the whistle. Maximum effort performer. Has the makings of a special teams dynamo. Has good activity. Doesn't display great athleticism on the field. Off field issues will concern some teams.
21.) TJ Edwards, ILB, WI. Round 5-6. What a phenomenal college career, he had. A total leader. All heart. A mastermind. So smart. It was almost as if he knew the play that was going to be called. Came up big in important moments. Tough dude. Lacks desired athleticism to make it as an every down LB, but I'd throw him on special teams on Day 1 and watch him go to work. He's hungry!
22.) Emeke Egbule, ILB, Houston. Round 5-6. His versatility is his greatest strength. He can move around from ILB to an EDGE rusher. He attacks the ball on a mission. Has frame to add muscle and keep his quickness. Drops well in coverage. Moves well laterally. Has the makings of being a top notch special teams performer.
23.) Cameron Smith, ILB, USC. Round 5-6. Highly intelligent man in the middle. Plays through pain. Takes good angles to the football. Needs to play with more pace. He's in the right place, but he doesn't always have the speed to finish.
24.) Terrill Hanks, ILB, New Mexico State. Round 6-7. Combine speed makes him tough to draft. Football speed makes him look like a mid-round pick. Moved all over in the college game. Buckled up and took on the run as an inside backer. Came off of the EDGE. Plays to the whistle. Hits with vicious intention.
25.) Deshaun Davis, ILB, Auburn. Round 6-7. Love his football mind and intensity. Brings desire to every play. Height/weight combo concerns. Built awkwardly. Shorter and heavier than I'd prefer. Active player. Drops well in coverage. Struggles to separate from blocks. Can move side to side.
26.) Joey Alfieri, ILB, Stanford. Round 6-7. High motor, hard working, intelligent LB. Versatile. Can be used on the inside or the outside. Best suited to play ILB in a 3-4 or weak side LB in a 4-3. Reads play design and sees it with clear vision. Plays with balance. Reliable. Consistent. He's not overly explosive. Over achiever. Leader.
27.) Jordan Kunaszyk, ILB, Cal. Round 6-7. Highly instinctive, smart football player. Limited athletically, but a huge heart makes up for it. Sure tackler. Understands angles. Speed is a concern, but smarts and experience make up for it. Football schooled, clearly. Good depth body as a 3-4 ILB. Potential special teams demon. He finds the football. Good tackling sideline to sideline player. Plays run game well. Intelligent. Vocal.
28.) Quincy Williams, ILB, Murray State. Round 6-7. I want him. Mean. Tough. Football battle tested. Football genes. Older brother of Quinnen Williams. Undersized. Too many wasted steps, but dude wants it. Quick. Wins in space. Reads the play. Football instincts. Football hunter. Doesn’t have traditional NFL figure but has the heart to make a roster. Consistently busts up plays. Potential special teams figurehead.
29.) Cole Holcomb, ILB, North Carolina. Round 7-IDFA. Built more like a safety, especially in the upper body. Smart, highly active football player. Moves well laterally. Won’t be able to hold up in run game at the next level.
30.) Willie Harvey, ILB, Iowa State. Round 7-UDFA. Football player. Leader. Decent OLB at the college level. But, size limits his ability to play outside. Best suited for 3-4 ILB. Hard worker. Wants to be the best he can. Smart. Nose for football. Good football IQ.
31.) Khalil Hodge, LB, Buffalo. Round 7-UDFA. Productive run stopping LB. Attacks blockers. Leader. Hits line with anger. Limited coverage skills.
32.) BJ Blunt, ILB, McNeese State. Round 7-UDFA. Undersized ILB who is built like a safety. Drops well in coverage. Reads routes well. He’s always talking on the field. Confident. Will struggle to hold up in the run game.
33.) Drew Lewis, ILB, Colorado. Round 7-UDFA. Highly mobile sideline to sideline ILB. Plays well in coverage. Plays too much on his heels and lacks recognition in the run game. Let’s the ball carrier come to him rather than assertively attacking the football.
34.) Darrell Williams, ILB, Auburn. Round 7-UDFA. Hit or miss prospect. But, I dig. Long. Big. Intimidating. Punishing run stopper. Stacks and sheds blockers, while keeping eyes on the ballcarrier. Sure tackler. Moves well sideline to sideline. Lacks straight line speed. But, shuffles his feet with quickness in his twitch. Capable zone defender in pass coverage. Drops good, too. Intriguing training camp body who could impress on special teams.
35.) Cody Barton, ILB, Utah. Round 7-UDFA. Hard worker. Good burst. Always around the football. Sound blitzing capabilities from both the outside and the inside. Lacks awareness in pass coverage. A little undersized.
36.) Ryan Connelly, ILB, WI. Round 7-UDFA. Midwest style of ILB. Has all heart. Tough. A grinder. Smart. Does everything well, but nothing spectacular. Diagnoses plays and has the desire to finish. Would make an instant impact on special teams.
37.) Silas Stewart, ILB, University of the Incarnate World. Round 7-UDFA. Has a fun bounce to his step. Drops into coverage with a savvy mind. Speed of game will be a challenge for him, but with added exposure he looks to have the necessary mobility to compete as a 3-4 ILB.
38.) Joe Dineen, ILB, Kansas. Round 7-UDFA. Athletic build. Looks like a big safety. Roams. Smart. Lean frame. Not going to stack and shed. Tweener.
39.) Peyton Pelluer, ILB, Washington State. Round 7-UDFA. Bright minded football finder. Too small to play every down. Potential to be a special teams guru. Savvy football brain. Reads and reacts to the ball. Student.
40.) Sterling Sheffield, ILB, University of Maine. Round 7-UDFA. Attentive listener. Assertive special teams motor. Still learning. Animated personality. Looks to strip the ball upon the tackle. Carries himself like a leader. Slow to see the play develop. Engaging teammate.
41.) Koa Farmer, LB, Penn State. Round 7-UDFA. Safety style of ILB. Solid coverage skills. Plays fast and physical. Will need to transition to ILB. Not going to stack and shed, he needs to be able to roam free. Needs to translate weight room strength into football strength.
42.) Josh Corcoran, ILB, NIU. Round 7-UDFA. Mentally fit, hard working Midwest style ILB. Disciplined. In position. Uses hands well. Sees plays develop. Lacks sideline to sideline speed. Overachiever. Might be worth a look on special teams.
43.) EJ Ejiya, ILB, North Texas. Round 7-UDFA. Reads blockers well to be able to keep himself free from contact. Moves well laterally. Plays too high and doesn’t win man-to-man battles upon contact. Often driven backwards. Training camp body.
44.) AJ Hotchkins, ILB, UTEP. Round 7-UDFA. Likely just a training camp body. Undersized and limited football awareness. Struggles in his drop. Noted him as he’s a sure tackler.
CB:
Gutekunst has to feel OK with his CB group. He has a future Pro Bowler in Jaire. TMon and Josh Jackson can fill the slot. Kevin King and Tony Brown are options on the perimeter. Will Redmond and Natrell Jamerson are worthwhile developmental prospects. In today’s NFL, a team can never have enough cover CB’s. Gutekunst would be wise to select a Safety who can double down as a slot CB early in the Draft. It also wouldn’t surprise me if he selected a true CB in the middle rounds.
1.) Greedy Williams, CB, LSU. Round 1. Competitive fire. Confident. Ideal height and length. Mirrors WR. Turns and runs. Desired CB attitude. Wish he had more strength. Has the frame to add muscle. Soft in run support.
2.) Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia. Round 1-2. Cover corner with the athleticism to man-up and the wits to play zone. Reads QBs eyes. Jumps routes. Plays bigger than his size suggests. Proud man.
3.) Byron Murphy, CB, Washington. Round 1-2. On-field play suggests he’s a Round 1 talent. Smart. Plays with great recognition. High end athleticism in pads. His Combine was not what I expected. Tough to play the perimeter with 4.55 speed. Has quickness to play the slot. When the ball is in the air, he plays it with top notch ability.
4.) Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple. Round 2-3. Breaks on the ball with excellence. Turns and runs like a star. Fantastic footwork. Built to play the perimeter. Has good make up speed. Football faster than sprinter fast. Love the way he uses his hands. Jams at the line. Flips hips with excellence.
5.) Sean Bunting, CB, Central Michigan. Round 2-3. Plays ball well in the air. Great make up speed. Perimeter CB. Top-notch quickness. High points the ball. Gets in face of WR. Has competitive fire helping out in run game. Fun loving approach towards playmaking. Not afraid to mix it up and jam at the line of scrimmage. Has frame to add more muscle.
6.) Kris Boyd, CB, Texas. Round 2-3. Plays with pace. Has the height and length to be a perimeter CB. Jams you at the line. Physical -- almost to a fault. Gets his hands on balls, but doesn't always finish the play. Almost feels like he's trying to knock it down rather than pick it off, at times. Tough tackler.
7.) Justin Layne, CB, Michigan State. Round 2-3. John Schneider brand of CB. Great length. Feisty. Terrific ball skills. Physical. Still needs to be groomed to turn and run.
8.) Julian Love, CB, ND. Round 2-3. Turns hips and runs with precision. Highly productive. Gets his hands on the ball. Sees ball in air and high points it. Not a jam you style of CB. Perimeter speed is a concern.
9.) Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson. Round 2-3. Incredible athlete who accelerates who quickly reaches his maximum speed. Great length to high point the ball and knock the ball away. Willing to mix it up in the run game. Footwork is a concern as he struggles to turn and run. Plays better off of the line than in press coverage. His upside is off of the charts if his technique can be properly groomed.
10.) Lonnie Johnson, CB, Kentucky. Round 2-3. Long bodied, active CB. Athletic. Dude can run. Good burst. Chases with desire in run game, but lacks physicality when taking on blockers. Needs to get stronger. Rail thin arms. Moves with personal belief. Quick. Good project.
11.) Michael Jackson, CB, []_[]. Round 2-3. Round 1 athlete who was highly inconsistent. Massively built. Drops well in his backpedal. Turns and runs. If he puts its all together, the sky is the limit.
12.) Isaiah Johnson, CB, Houston. Round 2-3. Long CB. Great speed. Physical at the line, but has excellent make-up speed. Doesn't possess first class ball skills, but has all of the traits. Consistency and focus are lacking.
13.) Jamel Dean, CB, Auburn. Round 2-3. A gazelle. Balanced athlete with ideal NFL physique. Has length to play the perimeter and the bend + quickness to handle the slot. Doesn't jam with the nasty streak that his well-built frame would suggest he'd display. He's forceful in the run game, just needs to use that physicality in the first 5 yards of pass coverage. Injuries are a major concern.
14.) David Long, CB, Michigan. Round 2-3. Lower body twitch allows him to mirror WR's in either the slot or on the perimeter. Cat-like quickness. Turns and sees the ball. Physical mindset. Looks like a dominant Day 1 gunner on special teams. Biggest knock is that he grabs and is prone to penalty.
15.) Armani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State. Round 3-4. Wish he made more plays on the ball because his style intrigues me as a perimeter player. Physical. Loves to get in the face of a WR and jam him. Great length. Turns and runs. Has speed. Just didn't finish plays. Might be able to transition to FS as well. Like the way he moves. Intimidating physique.
16.) JoeJuan Williams, CB, Vanderbilt. Round 3-4. Toned, muscular physique. Vein bursting biceps. Has length to be a physical perimeter CB. Has the size to jam WR's off of their routes. Physical in run support. Long strider. Lacks speed, which might force him to play Safety.
17.) Iman Marshall, CB, USC. Round 3-4. Physical, press cover corner. Prior to his Junior year, I had a Round 1 grade. I viewed him as a player who could play on both the outside and in the slot. He played with speed and toughness. He beat WR's up at the line of scrimmage. But, over the last two years, he's become a grabber and that concerns me. The talent is there. He's highly capable of having a long NFL career if he puts it all together.
18.) Jordan Brown, CB South Dakota State. Round 4-5. My favorite of the small school CB's in the Draft. Plays with great hustle. Has a great burst to close on the ball. Has a massive catch radius. Good hands. High points the ball to either pick off the pass or knock it away. Short, quick strides. Well constructed upper body. Love the way he high points the ball. Uses great length to knock away the ball. Has the right attitude. Looks to jump routes. He's a physical freak on the field. Prone to pass interference penalties.
19.) Corey Ballentine, CB, Washburn. Round 4-5. A battler. Great speed, but struggles to turn and run. Like his length. Has played perimeter. Might be best suited for the slot. Breaks well on the ball and uses his length to break up passes. Willing to mix it up in the run game, too. Like his athleticism. Plays with a positive spirit. Grabs often. Needs to move on from one play to the next.
20.) Saivon Smith CB, Alabama. Round 4-5. Good length. Like the way he back-pedals and turns. Good footwork. Quick on his toes like a tap dancer. An athlete with the ball in his hands. Plays with good awareness. Lacks the speed to be a perimeter CB. Feel like he could be best as a Free Safety where he can see the ball in front of him.
21.) Kendall Sheffield, CB, Ohio State. Round 4-5. Lightly framed CB who has the hip twist to cover in the CB and the athletic traits to hold up on the perimeter. Loves to get in the face of a WR and jam at the line. Turns and runs in sound fashion. Inconsistent performer who isn't a sure-fire tackler.
22.) Jimmy Moreland, CB, James Madison. Round 5-6. Highly productive. Great ball skills. Breaks on the ball. Playmaker with the ball in his hands. Turns and runs with elite twist. Sees the ball. Wants to be the receiver when the ball is in the air. Undersized. Has punt return ability.
23.) Stephen Denmark, CB, Valdosta State. Round 5-6. Intriguing late round prospect who is an outstanding athlete. Still learning the position as he has only played CB for one year. A former WR, he knows how to play the ball in the air. Length to be a perimeter NFL CB. Superfly quickness. Steps up with confidence in the run game. Fantastic closing speed. Footwork and technique will need work, but he can make a difference as a gunner early in his career. Good developmental prospect.
24.) Xavier Crawford, CB, Central Michigan. Round 5-6. Really like his long line speed. Breaks on the ball and bats it away. Competitive fire to get in your face and jam the WR off of his route. Steps up with pizzazz in the run game. Not sure where he translates best as he lacks the quickness to play the slot and he doesn't have ideal height to be a perimeter CB. Lacks desired physical strength.
25.) Tim Harris, CB, Virginia. Round 5-6. Looks the part. Good length. Breaks on ball. Fast. Needs to be tougher in run game. Gets turned around in the pass game. Good developmental prospect. Body to be a perimeter CB if he can master his footwork. He might have to slide over to be a FS if he can’t figure out his footwork.
26.) Chris Westry, CB, Kentucky. Round 5-6. He can flat out fly. Long and lanky at 6-4. Thin. Needs to get stronger to press at the line. Gets to stuff in his bend. Potential to be the type of perimeter CB that John Schneider loves. Will defend jump balls. Great mid-to-late round prospect.
27.) Derrick Baity, CB, Kentucky. Round 5-6. Long, thin framed outside CB. Highly confident, smack talking CB who permeates attitude. Me against the world persona. Understands 1v1 mental battle. Has mindset required to play the perimeter. Not afraid to step up in run game, but often attacks too high.
28.) Mark Fields, CB, Clemson. Round 5-6. Lightning fast. Slot CB. Quick feet. Plays low to the ground and bursts forward. Lacks height to play the perimeter. High end athlete.
29.) Donnie Lewis, CB, Tulane. Round 6-7. Animated, long armed CB. Plays with great energy. Heavy confidence. Plays with physicality. Has length to help him him breakup passes when he’s beaten. Plays the ball. In-your-face press style CB.
30.) Jordan Wyatt, CB, Southern Methodist. Round 6-7. Talented perimeter defender who is fluid enough to step inside and play the slot CB role. Needs to toughen up in run defense. Like the way he moves. Seems like a good student of the game, too.
31.) Derek Thomas, CB, Baylor. Round 6-7. Has desired NFL size + speed combination as a perimeter CB. Great wingspan. Has length to disrupt WR's off of their routes. Competitive athlete. With press-man cover skills. Former WR who is still learning the position.
32.) Jordan Miller, CB, Washington. Round 6-7. If he could add 15 pounds, he'd be a 3rd round pick. Like his technique. He is a perimeter CB who has the technique, the size and speed that breeds NFL success. But, he's rail thin. Needs to chug protein shakes and live in the gym to have a chance. He has the competitive fire and the desire to be a jam CB, but he's simply not strong enough.
33.) Mazzi Wilkins, CB, South Florida. Round 6-7. Great upside. Raw. Fearless. Still learning the game and his footwork. When his technique is sound, he looks like he’s running the route. Occasionally gets too handsy. Has length. Needs more muscle. Good athlete. Steps up in run support. Needs to stay disciplined on the double move as he often bites. Intriguing.
34.) Jamal Peters, CB, Mississippi State. Round 6-7. Punishing, monster of a man. Strictly a perimeter CB. Intimidating. Has had injury concerns. Stiff in his bend. If he loses the jam at the line, he’s in trouble. Could possibly transition to Safety.
35.) Rashad Fenton, CB, South Carolina. Round 6-7. A thick bodied bruiser. Often feels like he’s reading the route. Quickly breaks on ball to undercut deep routes. Stiff. Built tough. Timed faster than he plays. Looks like a Safety.
36.) Hamp Cheevers, CB, Boston College. Round 6-7. A tiny, slot cover CB who plays low to the ground and gets in and out of his breaks with quickness to mirror WR routes. Quicker than he timed. Good punt return skills. He's really small, which might prevent him from holding up in the run game as a slot CB.
37.) Montre Hartage, CB, Northwestern. Round 7-UDFA. Has NFL size. Perimeter defender. Breaks on ball. Confident. Handsy Physical. Potent triceps. Looks part. Solid backpedal. Has natural football awareness, but occasionally slow to react. Plays on his toes. Forceful tackler. Opens hips to field like an old pro. Anxious fighter who is prone to early contact and thus, penalties follow suit. Disappointed in the 40 at the combine. Might have to be a Safety in the NFL.
38.) Darius Williams, CB, Colorado State - Pueblo. Round 7-UDFA. Reads QB well. Playmaker on the ball. Slot CB. Quicker than fast. Can get caught staring into the backfield. Tried to sniff out the play. A gambler. Trusts his gut. Confident and hard nosed. Undersized.
39.) Blace Brown, CB, Troy. Round 7-UDFA. Ideal height and length. Decent man coverage skills. Could add more upper body strength. Not afraid to jam at the line of scrimmage. Plays the ball in the air like a budding star. Often lacks in-play awareness as he is too focused on his man. Speed concerns make him an eventual FS. Injury history is worrisome. He looks like a worthwhile training camp add who can be a versatile CB/FS body and the build to play special teams.
40.) Ken Webster, CB, Mississippi. Round 7-UDFA. I remember watching him in 2016 and thinking that he had all of the intangibles to be a R2-3 pick and that he could possibly come out early. Then, he blew up his knee in ugly fashion and he was never the same. He's a phenomenal athleticism and before the injury he showed the quickness and footwork to be a fascinating slot CB. He is light on his feet and plays with good quickness on his toes. Strong dude. Pulling for him.
41.) Isaiah Wharton, CB, Rutgers. Round 7-UDFA. Physical outside CB. Tough. Speed is a concern. Might need to transition to safety to mask his speed issues. Plays ball well.
42.) Jalin Burrell, CB, New Mexico. Round 7-UDFA. Finds himself in position to make plays, but too soft and too small. Good quickness. Plays low to the ground. Needs to fight through the ball. Doesn’t play to the whistle.
43.) Kyron Brown, CB, Akron. Round 7-UDFA. Highly intriguing prospect. Stacks WR and gets on top of him. Turns and runs. Great intangibles and understands route concepts. Turns and sees the ball. Uses sideline. Chance to make it as a perimeter CB. Exciting late round or undrafted prospect for someone.
44.) Deion Harris, CB, University of North Dakota. Round 7-UDFA. Physical in-your-face brand of perimeter CB. Plays to the whistle and beyond. Quick feet. Likes to jam at the line. Tries to turn and run with you after jabbing you at the line. If he loses the arm battle in the first 5 yards, he’s in trouble. He’s a grabber. Looks to make the big hit rather than playing the ball. Tough guy.
45.) D'Andre Payne, CB Iowa State University. Round 7-UDFA. Nickel CB prospect. Lacks height, but reads routes really well. Plays ball really well. Tough for his size. Plays bigger than he measures. Dependable. Quick out of his break. Plenty of upside.
46.) Keisean Nixon, CB, South Carolina. Round 7-UDFA. Great athletic traits. Quick, low to the ground slot CB. Has good hands and anticipation. Performs well in short spaces. Needs more aggressiveness in the run game. Easily blocked and a liability in run support.
47.) Blessuan Austin, CB, Rutgers. Round 7-UDFA. Big, physical perimeter CB who translates best to Safety. Has length to jab WR at the line and turn and run with them. Has desire to be the best he can be. Lacks speed + quickness to play CB. Likely needs to transition to FS.
48.) Nik Needham, CB, UTEP. Round 7-UDFA. Good twitch to his game. Moves and looks like a blend between a perimeter and a slot CB. Risk-reward CB who tries to jump routes to make up for his lack of speed and quickness. Plays the guessing game. Isn't tough enough to play in the box. Might be best at FS.
49.) Jomon Dotson, CB, Nevada. Round 7-UDFA. An undersized, quick- twitch athlete who made the transition from RB to CB. Though he is significantly undersized and needs to add close to 20 pounds, he brings the competitive, contact-forward RB mentality to the CB position. Willing tackler. Great speed and low to the ground quickness to develop into a slot. Might be an interesting practice squad candidate for someone.
50.) Nate Brooks, CB, North Texas. Round 7-UDFA. Has wingspan to highpoint ball. Great length. Good hands. Willing tackler. Plays the ball well in the air. If he can't make it as a perimeter CB, he could potentially try his hand at FS. Needs to add weight. Has the height. But, thinly crafted. Plays with more physicality than his weight suggests. Still working on technique. Good developmental prospect.
51.) Ka'dar Hollman, CB, Toledo. Round 7-UDFA. Undersized, quick footed CB. Plays with great speed and burst to close on routes. Won’t be quick to step up in the run game. Passive. Has footwork to compete in the slot.
52.) Josh Lewis, CB, Eastern Washington University. Round 7-UDFA. Turns and sees the ball. Just doesn’t snatch the ball. Let’s ball come to him rather than high pointing it. Decent backpedal. Like his footwork. Jams at line of scrimmage in slot play. Needs to be more physical as a tackler.
53.) Montre Gregory, CB, Bowling Green State University. Round 7-UDFA. Perimeter CB who needs to learn to use his hands to jam defenders. Guesses on routes too often and gets turned around. Like his size.
54.) Kemon Hall, CB, North Texas. Round 7-UDFA. I like the way he breaks on the ball, but way too many wasted steps in his back pedal. Needs to play more instinctive because when he does he is disruptive with the ball in the air. Needs to be more physical as tackler. Tackles with hands rather than his shoulder. Lacks awareness.
55.) Brandon Watson, CB, Michigan. Hard working player that might have to be a FS in the NFL, if he’s going to get a crack. Understands angles. Smart. Lacks speed and size to match up in coverage.
56.) Brian Peavy, CB, Iowa State University. Round 7-UDFA. Undersized slot CB project. Will struggle on deep ball as he fails to high point it. Soft in contact. Quick steps out of his break gives him a chance, but long road to make a 53-man roster.
S:
As we enter Draft weekend, the Packers have a gaping hole at Safety. Amos was an exciting signing and should bring versatility to the position. Outside of him, unless TMon is dialed in at Safety, I’m not sure what the Packers are planning on doing. Josh Jones has not shown enough to be trusted. He looks best attacking the line of scrimmage. Raven Greene showed glimpses of goodness as a special teams talent, but he didn’t appear ready to be a starting Safety. So, as it stands, Gutekunst should target two Safeties in this years Draft to ensure that he shores up the position for years to come.
1.) Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State. Round 1-2. Heavy hitting punisher. Looks to cause pain. Confident. Trash talker. Plays the body and not the ball. Forceful. Mean dude. Great speed, too. Discipline is his issue.
2.) Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia. Round 1-2. He'd be an ideal selection for the Packers at either the end of Round 1 or with their 2nd round pick. Lightning quick. He glides as he strides. A playmaker. He can step into the slot and man up as a cover corner, too. He can play FS and he is tough enough to step up into the box. He finds the football.
3.) Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S, Florida. Round 2-3. Enamored with his game. Slightly undersized, but he has the athletic traits to highpoint the ball. Can step into the slot and cover. Diagnoses plays and blows them up. Plays with high octane intensity. An aggressive dude. Has great speed + quickness combination. Performs well in short spaces. Darts through to make plays in the run game. Confident trash talker. When he picks off a pass, he is thinking about scoring. Love the way he blitzes. He's slightly undersized, but his intensity and physicality make up for it. Would be a great 2nd Round pick for the Packers.
4.) Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware. Round 1-2. Love his family heritage. Playmaking Safety who is around the ball. Has return ability as well. Willing, physical tackler. Looks to jump routes. Might be more natural as a free safety. Moves gracefully. Love his burst and his length. Would fit next to Amos in the Packers secondary.
5.) Taylor Rapp, S, Washington. Round 2-3. Playmaking Safety who can play both Free and Strong Safety. Has a great break towards the football. Plays with intelligence. Finds the football. Dangerous on the blitz. Physical tackler. Plays with really good quickness getting in and out of his breaks. Has necessary strength to play in box or as deep Safety.
6.) Darnell Savage, S, Maryland. Round 2-3. Comfortable stepping up in coverage. Can mark a TE with relative ease. Like his quickness. And his straight line speed. Drives on the football. Playmaker on the ball. Tough. Would love him in R3. Slightly undersized.
7.) Amani Hooker, S, Iowa. Round 2-3. Playmaker. Has great speed. Easily steps into the slot and mans up in coverage. High points ball. Makes big plays at big moments. Versatile. Comfortable as a slot CB, a FS, a SS or an ILB in sub-packages. Has great quickness. Plays with high intelligence.
8.) Marquise Blair, S, Utah. Round 3-4. Willing to mix it up in coverage. Extremely capable coverage, too. Tracks ball. Quick feet. Highly athletic. Great size. Plays to the whistle and beyond. Physical run stopper. Brash.
9.) Mike Edwards, CB, Kentucky. Round 3-4. Fashionable demon defender. Best suited to play a slot CB or even an attacking safety role. An attacking spur. The type of defender that offenses have to circle prior to each play. Great personality. Stylish attitude. Playmaker. Has mindset to alter games. Looked much better in 2017 than in 2018. Height is a big concern.
10.) Saquan Hampton, S, Rutgers. Round 3-4. A leader. Flies around the field. Active. Fast. Attacks the football. Plays better when the play is in front of him, but capable of tracking ball in the air. Good height. Athletic frame. Sound open field tackler. Not going to shine as a man slot cover corner, however he’s willing to step up into the mix.
11.) Lukas Denis, S, Boston College. Round 4-5. Play making safety with slot cover skills. He’s ultra thin. Lacks speed to play on perimeter. Tracks ball like an All Pro. Size is his concern. Not sure where to play him. Possibly FS? But, if he’s around the ball, he’s going to get it. If he were 10 pounds heavier, he’s a Day 2 pick. Slightly undersized player who doesn’t shy away from contact. Quicker than fast. Good hands and when he picks it off, he’s looking to make a big play.
12.) Jaquan Johnson, S, []_[]. Round 4-5. Leader. Tremendous ball skills. I had him as a late Round 1 to early Round 2 target until his combine. He was an inch smaller than I hoped, 10 pounds lighter than I thought and he ran much slower than I thought. He was a passionate leader in college. A motivator. He inspired others to be better. He was a playmaker. He found the football. He was a willing tackler as well. I really like his game. He's a winner.
13.) Marvell Tell, S, USC. Round 4-5. Gallops as he runs. He's built like an NFL Safety. Has length and leaping ability to high point the ball. Covers ground with long strides. Plays light on his feet. Quick. Thinly framed. True FS. Willing to step into the slot and cover. He's not going to step into the box and be a force.
14.) Evan Worthington, S, Colorado. Round 4-5. Looks like an athletic specimen. An intimidating presence who plays the ball in the air with precision. Seeks contact. Has size to play in the box and the speed to cover the long ball as a FS. Faster than quick. Looks stiff when required to change direction quickly. Has injury + off field history that will cause concerns.
15.) Malik Gant, S, Marshall. Round 4-5. Plays faster than he timed. Has speed to cover ground and takes good angles to the ball in the air. Plays ball well in the air. Too thin to man-up in the box. Needs to get stronger.
16.) Khari Willis, S, Michigan State. Round 5-6. Leader. Tough. Big body. Powerful safety. Great run stopper. Made for the box. Presses at the line of scrimmage. Lumbers as he moves in space. Timed way faster than he plays. Struggles in coverage.
17.) Sheldrick Redwine, S, []_[]. Round 5-6. On day 1, he steps in as a lightning bolt difference maker on special teams. He's built like an NFL safety. He has great speed and covers ground quickly. He's a heavy hitter. He's always around the ball. He intimidates. Discipline and football intelligence worry me.
18.) Ugo Amadi, S, Oregon, Round 5-6. Short, undersized Safety who plays with great confidence. He's not afraid to mix it up. Star in pass coverage. He finds himself around the ball and makes plays on the ball. Good speed and quickness, light on his toes. Quick twitch to his game. Competitive. Smells plays and busts them up. Dangerous punt returner.
19.) Kiy Hester, S, Rutgers. Round 5-6. Attacks the line of scrimmage. Back more weight into his frame than his stature appears. Good open field tackler. Dishes out contact. No fear. Questionable coverage skills.
20.) Chris Johnson, S, North Alabama. Round 6-7. Great playmaking skills on the hall. Extends with brilliance. Rangy single high FS talent with good short sprint speed to get from inside the hash marks to the perimeter in order to cover ground. Has NFL height. Needs NFL strength. Developmental prospect.
21.) Adarius Pickett, S, UCLA. Round 6-7. Finds the football. Sound tackler. Good teammate. Moves feet well. Not afraid to step into the clot as a cover CB. Plays better moving forward than in his backpedal.
22.) Delvon Randall, S, Temple. Round 6-7. Center fielder. Sees ball in air and plays it well. Takes good angles to the ball. Limited athletically. Doesn’t have man cover skills.
23.) Zedrick Woods, S, Ole Miss. Round 6-7. Has all of the speed. Has the tenacious mindset that you seek. Fantastic straight ahead player. Plays until the whistle. Often looks lost. Minimal coverage skills. Limited lateral movement. If he has to think, you’re in trouble. His frame and straight-line speed suggest he’s a day 2 pick. The rest of his game concerns. Tackling is a concern.
24.) Andrew Wingard, S, Wyoming. Round 6-7. Tireless, hard worker. Plays with wit. Sound football instincts. Good anticipation. Finds football. Willing to both step into the box or to roam the secondary. Playmaking skills galore at times in the college level, but very limited athletically. Seemed to regress this year.
25.) Jalen Young, S, FAU. Round 6-7. Long arms. Good open field tackler. Has football instincts. Not afraid to step up and cover in the slot. Can also play free safety.
26.) Mike Bell, S, Fresno State. Round 5-6. Great length allows him to cover ground and make up for a lack of quickness. Tough dude in the box who looks to get physical. Wins in the run game, but lacks the wow plays. Outgoing on-field attitude. Plays too slow to hold up as a free safety.
27.) JoJo McIntosh, S, Washington. Round 6-7. Strong. Hard hitting safety with solid range. Plays well in middle of the field as a tough intimidator. Bend and quickness out of his breaks concern me. Struggles in coverage.
28.) Darius West, S, Kentucky. Round 6-7. Pursuant wide-eyed Safety with a tough nose to sniff out football angles. Knowledgeable. Active. Developmental. A fighter in the box. Needs to improve in coverage. Lowers shoulder into the blocker to create separation. Willing, scrappy tackler.
29.) Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, S, Arizona. Round 6-7. Appears to be a high character, humble in-the-box Safety. High flying length. Moves well straight ahead. Plays fast when moving forward, but slow out of his breaks. Lacks true coverage skills. Finds himself around the ball. Needs to finish. Like the way he attacks in the run game.
30.) Joshua Simmons, S, Limestone College. Round 6-7. Extremely intriguing prospect. Good coverage skills. Looks the part in his backpedal. Could possibly play nickel CB or FS. Needs to hold his weight. Has a small frame. Plays the ball well. Must work on footwork and technique. Has a legit shot at a roster somewhere.
31.) Tyree Kinnel, S, Michigan. Round 7-UDFA. Always around the ball. Carries most of his weight in his lower body. Lacks straight line speed. More comfortable in the box than as a free safety.
32.) Nick Scott, S, Penn State. Round 7-UDFA. Epitome of a teammate. A leader. Hard nosed. Starred on special teams. Was around the football. Limited upside. Doesn’t possess cover skills. You know what you’re going to get. Dependable, high motor player.
33.) D'Cota Dixon, S, WI. Round 7-UDFA. Undersized Safety who plays with great awareness and finds himself around football. Plays with great heart. Has necessary desire. A step slow for his make-up.
34.) John Battle, S, LSU. Round 7-UDFA. NFL figure. A step slow in the passing game. Looks to be an in-the-box safety. Competitive. Always around the ball. In position to make plays. Just hasn’t finished them.
35.) Kyle Gibson, S, Central Florida. Round 7-UDFA. Leader. Good awareness. Free safety skills who finds the football. Light. Plays tougher than weight suggests.
36.) Marcus Epps, S, Wyoming. Round 7-UDFA. 3-time captain. Mature, confident middle of the field safety. Steps up to deliver blows. Has the leadership, good locker room mentality that Gutekunst targets. Plays with active excitement.
My Top 15 Targets for Round 1:
1.) Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky.
2.) Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama.
3.) Joey Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State.
4.) Devin White, ILB, LSU.
5.) Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State.
6.) Ed Oliver, DL, Houston.
7.) TJ Hockenson, TE, Iowa.
8.) Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida.
9.) Noah Fant, TE, Iowa.
10.) Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama.
11.) Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State.
12.) Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan.
13.) Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State.
14.) Brian Burns, EDGE, FSU.
15.) Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson.
In one year, Gutekunst has done a decent job of rebuilding the depth on the roster. If the Packers view TMon as a Safety, then Gutekunst enters Draft weekend with a starter penciled in at every position. If that’s the case, he can truly draft the best player available when the Packers are on the clock. Furthermore, Gutekunst will be in a position to secure a top tier front 7 player on the defense, an impact OL and a starting caliber Safety in the first two rounds of the Draft. After that, Gutekunst can have some fun! But, patience is key. He has 6 of the top 120 selections and he’d be smart to keep it that way. When I look at his three picks over the last two rounds, I anticipate that Gutekunst might target non-Power Conference stars that dominated lower level competition. The depth of this years Draft is different than past years. Look for Gutekunst to take a flier or two on Combine or Pro Day workout warriors from schools outside of the Power 5 Conference to ensure that he gets them into camp rather than having to negotiate to get them into Titletown, U.S.A. as an UDFA.
Additionally, it wouldn’t stun me to see a Kicker drafted in rounds 5-7. Mason Crosby has been a great Packer. He’s a Packer HOF’er. But, he was unreliable last year and the Packers can add $3.6 million in cap space by cutting him before 6/1. I haven’t looked into any of the Kicker’s in the Draft, but don’t be stunned or disappointed if Gutekunst drafts a Kicker this year.
Lastly, I can’t ever recall a time in which I was pining for the Packers to Draft an OL in Round 1. This year - I’m really hoping for the Packers to select an OL in either Round 1 or Round 2.
Here is my Packers 2019 Mock Draft:
1a) Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State. When my good buddies, Craig Forrestal and Andrew Baamonde let me know that Montez Sweat would not be in attendance for the Draft, I decided to pull him from the #12 pick in the Draft. I’d love him, but I wonder if it’s realistic. If Doctor McKenzie cleared him, I still hope he’s the pick. With Dillard, the hope is that RT is secure for the foreseeable future.
1b) Jonathon Abram, S, Mississippi State. Packers are aiming to become a more intimidating style of defense. They want to mimic the Ravens brand. Abram fits the mold.
2.) Jace Sternberger, TE, Texas A&M. Exciting playmaker who creates separation and will give Rodgers a reliable middle of the field target.
3.) Sean Bunting, CB, Central Michigan. It’d be good for a Jaire to be able to mentor a young pro. Bunting gives the Packers insurance in case King goes down with injury again.
4a) Trysten Hill, DL, Central Florida. Adds beef to the interior and protection in case Lowry or Daniels leave after the year.
4b) Dexter Williams, RB, Notre Dame. The Packers are expected to pound the ball this year. Need another 3-down back in the Draft.
5.) Lukas Denis, S, Boston College. Coveted FS/slot CB skillset.
6a) Ulysses Gilbert, ILB, Akron. Simply put, he’s my favorite sleeper pick in the Draft.
6b) Randy Ramsey, EDGE, Arkansas. Still developing as a rusher. Drops well. Length to hold point and has the necessary left side experience.
7.) Kaden Elliss, EDGE, Idaho. Has versatility to slide inside. Pettine would love to disguise him all over the field.
Win the draft, Gutekunst!
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
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