I've decided to reignite a draft day tradition by highlighting my preferred targets for each of the Packers' 2017 NFL Draft selections. I use that term "tradition" quite loosely, as I only went through this exercise on the Draft Days in 2011 and 2012. My excitement for this class -- and for the back half of Aaron Rodgers' career -- has me feeling obligated, however, to show my Cheesehead pride and step into Ted Thompson's big shoes.
The first year I took a stab at this I noted in the brief preamble that I had explicit trust for Thompson's selections. He then went on to draft Derek Sherrod with the last pick of the first round. Not cool, Teddy (even if Sherrod was one of my "wish list" players). While he's faired okay since then, his last five draft classes haven't done enough to arm Rodgers and his golden arm with the surrounding pieces to get back over the hump and bring another ring back to Titletown. So my faith has wavered. If he can land some of the names I've highlighted below, we'll get back to the blind trust thing for one more year. I just hope there are no major surprises this year (though admittedly Kenny Clark was way off my first round radar last year and there's reason to believe Thompson nailed that pick).
So, fellow Cheeseheads, with the backstory out of the way and the magical hour fast approaching, I wish you the happiest of Draft weekends. Hope you enjoy the read.
RD 1, 29 overall:
- T.J. Watt, OLB (Wisconsin)
- Joe Mixon, RB (Oklahoma)
- Dalvin Cook, RB (Florida State)
For all the focus on Green Bay's dreadful cornerback play last season, much of it justified, they are not as thin in their secondary as many outside of Lambeau think. Damarious Randall and Quintin Rollins were their first two draft picks, respectively, in 2015 and battled injuries all of last season after promising rookie years. That pair returning to form and the return of veteran Davon House to solidify the group leaves them needing depth, not a first round talent, at corner. With Clay Matthews turning 31, however, the departures of Julius Peppers and Datone Jones and the weakness in the middle of their linebacking corps, the Pack are in major need of a difference make at their thinnest overall position group. Watt fits that bill and then some as a supremely long and athletic backfield terror who can give them great personnel versatility. Very close back ups would be either of the draft's two most talented tailbacks, either of whom could help transform this offense into the most complete in football. When Watt likely ends up a Cowboy, unfortunately, and Ted Thompson opts not to be the one GM to bite on Mixon in the first, someone like Tyus Bowser feels like the pick here.
RD 2, 61 overall:
- Samaje Perine, RB (Oklahoma)
- Sidney Jones, CB (Washington)
- Ryan Anderson, OLB (Alabama)
If Cook is gone and Thompson can't pull the trigger on Mixon in the first (and Mixon hasn't toppled this far... man would that be a dream!), Perine would be a sweet consolation. He's my fourth-ranked running back and a player that could kill teams that choose to spend most of their time in a nickel formation against Rodgers. Jones represents the best value we could get at corner in this draft if he's still on the board, and Anderson is just a flat out football warrior, physically built and wired to play this game like his life depends on it. Both defensive stars have excellent football IQ's, and in the case of Anderson in particular, the leadership traits to help Mike Daniels and Clay Matthews establish the right defensive culture.
RD 3, 93 overall:
- Dorian Johnson, OG (Pittsburgh)
- Trey Hendrickson, OLB (Florida Atlantic)
- Ahkello Witherspoon, CB (Colorado)
Jahri Evans is a great stopgap, but he's soon to be 34 years old. If Green Bay is going to invest a high pick in a running back, they should likewise invest in a high-upside road grader who can apprentice for a year under Evans and grow up with their new tailback and Ty Montgomery. If Johnson is off the board (good chance) and they don't have Watt at this point, Hendrickson is the best fit left for a 3-4 OLB that can make the quarterback sweat. He reminds me of Connor Barwin. Witherspoon, with or without Jones, provides a great value here as a long-limbed, highly athletic corner that's only scratched the surface of his potential. Of course, I don't have him listed but if we're still without a running back at this point, Marlon Mack could end up a steal, even if he might fall to pick number 134.
RD 4, 134 overall:
- Jermaine Eluemunor, OG (Texas A&M)
- Shaquill Griffin, CB (Central Florida)
- Kendell Beckwith, ILB (LSU)
Guard, corner depth and 'backer depth. All three represent solid value and which position simply depends on who the Pack have already landed and how the board falls. None of these picks get me too excited, but whoever this selection is could end up a major contributor. Thompson has a knack for the fourth round steals -- namely Daniels and David Bakhtiari.
RD 5, 172 overall:
- Ben Boulware, ILB (Clemson)
- John Conner, RB (Pittsburgh)
- Tarik Cohen, RB (North Carolina A&T)
If we haven't added an inside linebacker at this point, I really hope this pick is Boulware, one of my favorite players in this draft by far. He gets knocked too much for perceived deficiencies in his physical measurables, but the fact is you can count on one hand the number of defensive players in this draft that can match his passion, intensity and instincts. His football speed and IQ allow him to more than compensate for a lack of elite size and speed. He's always around the football, makes splash plays regularly and pumps up his teammates, who he also helps get in proper position. He reminds me tremendously of retired linebacker Chris Borland, who faced similar question marks pre-draft before becoming a revelation for the 49ers defense as a rookie in 2014. If Boulware is off the board or GB passes, Conner and Cohen would be nice depth additions to a backfield that should definitely add two tailbacks from this loaded class. At this point, it's good to target specialists -- Conner is a bruiser, Cohen an electric video game character aptly nicknamed "The Human Joystick."
RD 5, 182 overall:
- Blair Brown, ILB (Ohio)
- Jehu Chesson, WR (Michigan)
- Brian Allen, CB (Utah)
If they miss out on Boulware, Brown is my last hope to find a potential upgrade over the uninspiring duo of Jake Ryan and Blake Martinez. I say "potential" because that's not a very likely outcome to expect of a late fifth round pick, but nevertheless, depth is an issue too. Chesson is perhaps getting knocked too much for a down season and could develop into a productive No. 3 wideout if he's paired with a great passer like Rodgers. Allen is a cornerback project with a sensational size/speed package that could be a late-round-to-Pro-Bowl story in 3-5 years.
RD 6, 212 overall:
- Fred Ross, WR (Mississippi)
- Jake Eldrenkamp, OG (Washington)
- Joe Mathis, OLB (Washington)
Ross was one of my favorite wide receivers to study the last few months. He possesses all of the physical tools and found plenty of success in the SEC, even this year after losing Dak Prescott, but yet the vast majority of draft prognosticators don't see him as much more than a sixth or seventh round option. I have a third to fourth round grade on Ross and would love his steady hands and shiftiness after the catch in a Packer uniform. Eldrenkamp and Mathis are camp bodies who played at a great program last year and could compete for depth roles on the final roster.
RD 7, 247 overall:
- Elijah Hood, RB (North Carolina)
- Scott Orndoff, TE (Pittsburgh)
- Ryan Lewis, CB (Pittsburgh)
Why not take a gamble on a former five star recruit who does have a 1,400-plus yard season on his ACC resume? Hood may run a bit stiff but he absolutely has an NFL body to produce between the tackles. Orndoff is miscast as primarily a blocking tight end -- which he does quite well mind you -- but he also has soft hands, a hulking frame and he flashed the ability to run away from defenders in the ACC. His experience in a pro style system is a major plus too for someone who could develop into the next Jack Doyle. Lewis fits the bill for physical baseline numbers to take a gamble on, though he could easily be drafted by this point in a class that might see a record number of corners snatched up.
Perfect Draft:
1. T.J. Watt, OLB
2. Joe Mixon, RB
3. Ahkello Witherspoon, CB
4. Jermaine Eluemunor, OG
5. Ben Boulware, ILB
5. John Conner, RB
6. Fred Ross, WR
7. Ryan Lewis, CB