Today’s Look at three possible draft picks for the Green Bay Packers
Jarvis Jones
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Today we take another look at three separate mock drafts and their projections for the Green Bay Packers first round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Below, you will find the author of the mock draft, their pick, and their brief on why they think that’s the right player for the Packers. We follow that with some statistics and our own thoughts on these particular picks.
Let us know what you think …
Peter Schrager believes the Packers will select Xavier Rhodes, cornerback, Florida State.
Xavier Rhodes
Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sport
, cornerback, Florida State
"The Packers spent their first six draft picks of 2012 on defensive players, and yet they still need more talent on that side of the ball. Casey Hawyard was a stud in his rookie year. If Rhodes slips all the way to 26, they could make for one of the league’s most talented young corner duos. At 6-1, 210 pounds, he ran a strong 4.43 40-yard-dash and jumps off the screen in his game tape."
Lombardiave: Rhodes is ranked as high as the number two cornerback and number 18 prospect in this year’s draft and many feel he will be a first-rounder. Whether he’s still on the board when the Packers pick twenty-sixth is a stretch, but not beyond the realm of reality. If he is, Ted Thompson would be helping the defense once again with an incredible athlete who would complement second-year player Casey Hayward, if he made it into the starting lineup among an already talented field of players in the Packers’ defensive backfield.
Rhodes picked off three passes last season and had eight over the past three years. Listed at 6-1, 217 pounds, Rhodes is known for his physicality and ability to press at the line of scrimmage. In matching up with NFC North receivers like Brandon Marshall and Calvin Johnson is a must and Rhodes could be that guy in the mix.
He’s an interesting prospect and could fit well into the Packers scheme.
Gil Brandt
Jarvis Jones
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Gil Brandt believes the Packers will select Jarvis Jones, outside linebacker, Georgia, with the twenty-sixth pick.
"Lots of anticipation surrounded Jones heading into the combine, but when the linebacker prospect chose to not work out, he more or less fell off the face of the Earth. He’s putting all of his eggs in his pro-day basket, which is dangerous. Nonetheless, he can be the kind of outside pass rusher Green Bay is looking for."
Lombardiave: Jones is another talented athlete who may drop into the late first round or into the second round of the NFL Draft – mainly because he didn’t work out at the Combine. While his pro day may help his chances of going in the first round, he is still probably a late first-rounder at best. That mean he may slide to the Packers and could be a nice choice to bring in.
Statistically, Jones put up monster numbers at Georgia. He led the nation last season in sacks (14.5, school record), had 24.5 tackles for loss – also a school record, and forced seven fumbles. Add to those numbers his 85 tackles, four defensed passes and even an interception and you’ve got stats that would surely register as a first-rounder. Will the Packers be interested? I guess it depends on where they rank him on their draft board. In my mind, he’s got to be near the top.
Brandon Birkhead of Turf Show Times projects Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama, as the Packers first pick at number 26.
"Eddie LacyMatthew Emmons-USA TODAY SportsAs you all know, I am completely against drafting running backs in the first round, but some team is going to pick Lacy in the first, I just know it. The Packers have to be sick and tired of constantly looking for a solution at RB. Lacy is not an explosive player, but he will grind out yards, and pass protect well."
Lombardiave: I would be beside myself if Ted Thompson pulled the trigger on a running back in the first round, given the Packers pass-first philosophy and the fact that he has never considered a running back with his first pick. But if there is one that may change his mind, it’s Eddie Lacy. The Packers have consistently looked for an every down back since Ryan Grant got injured in 2010 and haven’t had anyone who could foot the bill.
Lacy may be that guy. He’s a workhorse back who’s built with a strong lower body. Many compare him to Frank Gore. A positive for the Packers is that he seems capable of pass protecting, but would have to be coached up on that aspect of his game. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield. He had a giant year in 2012. As an All-SEC player he played 14 games, carried the ball 204 times for 1,322 yards, and scored 17 times. In addition, he had 22 receptions out of the backfield and scored twice on those receptions.
For a team looking to improve its presence out of the backfield, the Packers may see Lacy as the answer to their issues. Whether he would be an every down back in his rookie season would have to be determined by the coaches, but he would certainly add to the stable of players they already have in-house.