Could the Green Bay Packers be back on the Barrett Jones trail?
Alabama Crimson Tide offensive linesman Barrett Jones (75) celebrates following a win over the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Alabama defeated LSU, 21-17. Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
I know, I know … you can’t get enough of the NFL Draft and especially what will be happening at the Green Bay Packers number 26 pick – so here’s a doozy for you – will the Packers draft an offensive lineman and will that player be Alabama center Barrett Jones? How about following that up with a running back – Eddie Lacy?
The question is asked, now scroll down and leave your comment below … no, not really – continue to read the reasoning about why we’re even bringing this up.
Yesterday PredictionMachine.com General Manager Paul Bessire came out with his first round selections and predicted that the Packers would select Jones in the first round pickand then turn around in the second round and select Alabama running back Lacy with the number 55 pick.
What do you think of that? Doubling down on two national champions with their first two picks?
Well, I’m not too sure about either one.
Alabama Crimson Tide running back Eddie Lacy (42) runs with the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 BCS Championship game at Sun Life Stadium. Alabama won 42-14. Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
For months, all the mocks (or at least a good number of them) had either Jones or Lacy as they Packers number one choice, but as the past month has transpired, most have moved away from both of those picks for the Packers.
Jones was said about a month ago to be languishing in his recovery from lis franc foot surgery and that he wouldn’t be ready for the pro teams’ spring practices. Sources from his camp and Jones himself emphatically denied those rumors and said that he would definitely be ready to hit the field in May and June. Though everyone said his draft stock fell into the second and maybe even the third or fourth rounds, not much has been said as of late about the heady lineman who has played all five positions along the offensive line.
There’s no question he would be an excellent choice for the Packers. He is probably one of the smartest players in this year’s draft and wouldn’t have any trouble adapting to the pro game. However, there are those who also rank him somewhere in the middle of the pack among other centers in this draft.
So, whether he’s at the top of Ted Thompson’s draft board won’t be known until late Thursday night.
As for Lacy – he’s come out and said he wouldn’t mind playing for the Packers, but the question is whether he would even fit into the Packers system. He’s a north-south power runner who is best between the tackles. He doesn’t catch the ball well out of the backfield and had a poor pro day that seems to have dropped him out of the first round and into the second.
The one thing he does well that the Packers may like is that he’s a decent blocker – something the Packers require of their running backs.
Is Wisconsin Badgers running back Montee Ball a better pick for the Packers? Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
In my humble opinion, I think the Packers would be better off going with a runner like Montee Ball, Giovani Bernard or Christine Michael. Ball and Bernard may go in the second round, but Michael might be a steal in the later rounds.
So, here’s my take on this prognostication – if the Packers trade back into the second round, they might have a chance at picking up Jones in the second or third rounds, but they should stay away from Lacy. He doesn’t fit the Packers system and they can do better elsewhere.
Ted Thompson will let us know his intentions come Thursday night.
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