Green Bay Packers Saturday night first round draft
Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker
C.J. Mosley. Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports photograph
The Green Bay Packers will head into this year’s NFL Draft looking for help on the defensive side of the ball, first and foremost. Most look to a defensive tackle, given that B.J. Raji is most likely heading down the free agent road, but even more look to safety as the most important position to fill.
To me, the Packers can’t miss by filling either position. In my mind, like a baseball team, a good football team is strong up the middle from the offensive to the defensive side of the ball. The Packers were hurt and inconsistent at the linebacker position this past season. Only A.J. Hawk could stay on the field and while I love his reliability and durability – as well as his humility – the position is going to need fresh blood in the near future.
Now is the time to refresh the depth charts here.
That’s why in this mock draft – courtesy of fanspeak.com’s computer-generated selection process – I’ve taken a step away from selecting a defensive tackle like Timmy Jernigan or a safety like Ha Ha Clinton Dix to pick C.J. Mosley, inside linebacker out of Alabama.
The 6-2, 232-pound Mosley is described as the heart and soul of Alabama’s defense and, according to cbs.com, “a coach’s dream at linebacker, earning the Tide’s Defensive Player of the Week 11 times in 12 games.”
Here is how cbs.com’s draft website analyzes Mosley:
"STRENGTHS: Mosley does a nice job using his length and lower body fluidity to keep himself clean through a crowd and finishes at the ball, wrapping and driving through his target. He is very smart and keeps his eyes on the ball to track and attack and rarely makes mental mistakes, which is a result of his high football IQ and preparation skills.WEAKNESSES: Isn’t always fundamentally consistent as a tackler, at times opting to throw himself at his target or drop his head on contact. Missed time in 2011 with a dislocated elbow.COMPARES TO: Lavonte David, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Like David, Mosley’s combination of toughness, elite instincts and superb athleticism offer the versatility of lining up inside or out, and have enabled him to be one of the nation’s top all-around linebackers."
While his tackling abilities are questioned, those are fundamentals that could be coached up at the next level. His ability to play inside or out is something that the Packers like out of their players – versatility.
Is Mosley worthy of a first round selection? Many feel so. Only Ted Thompson will know if he fits the Packers model.
On thing is for sure … he would go a long way in adding depth to a Packers team that played rookies and second-year players anyway last year at the position. However, those players weren’t of the talent level that Mosley would bring to the field.
I feel he would be an asset to the team at the position and could be an excellent first round pick.
Here is the entire first round selected through fanspeak.com’s computer-generated app:
1
QB TEDDY BRIDGEWATER
HOUSTON TEXANS
2
OT JAKE MATTHEWS
ST. LOUIS RAMS
3
DE JADEVEON CLOWNEY
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
4
QB BLAKE BORTLES
CLEVELAND BROWNS
5
QB JOHNNY MANZIEL
OAKLAND RAIDERS
6
OLB ANTHONY BARR
ATLANTA FALCONS
7
DE STEPHON TUITT
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
8
QB DEREK CARR
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
9
G CYRIL RICHARDSON
BUFFALO BILLS
10
WR SAMMY WATKINS
DETROIT LIONS
11
OLB KYLE VAN NOY
TENNESSEE TITANS
12
CB DARQUEZE DENNARD
NEW YORK GIANTS
13
OLB KHALIL MACK
ST. LOUIS RAMS
14
DT LOUIS NIX III
CHICAGO BEARS
15
OT TAYLOR LEWAN
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
16
DT RA’SHEDE HAGEMAN
DALLAS COWBOYS
17
OT GREG ROBINSON
BALTIMORE RAVENS
18
WR MIKE EVANS
NEW YORK JETS
19
OT CYRUS KOUANDJIO
MIAMI DOLPHINS
20
OT ANTONIO RICHARDSON
ARIZONA CARDINALS
21
ILB C.J. MOSLEY
GREEN BAY PACKERS
22
OLB RYAN SHAZIER
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
23
TE ERIC EBRON
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
24
ILB SHAYNE SKOV
CINCINNATI BENGALS
25
DE KONY EALY
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
26
WR JORDAN MATTHEWS
CLEVELAND BROWNS
27
CB JUSTIN GILBERT
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
28
WR MARQISE LEE
CAROLINA PANTHERS
29
DT TIMMY JERNIGAN
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
30
WR ODELL BECKHAM JR.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
31
CB JASON VERRETT
DENVER BRONCOS
32
WR ALLEN ROBINSON
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS