Green Bay Packers 2014 Draft: Today’s Big 3
Stanford Cardinal guard David Yankey celebrates with fans after the game against the Oregon Ducks at Stanford Stadium. Could Yankey be the Green Bay Packers’ first round selection in the 2014 NFL Draft? Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports photograph
The NFL 2014 Draft … here we go once again with our look at who might fit well for the Green Bay Packers.
From now until the middle of May we will be trying to put together mock NFL Draft after mock draft – taking our shots in the dark. It’s hard enough to think we can project how other teams will select, but it gets all the more difficult when we try to project and predict Ted Thompson’s thought process in putting together his Green Bay Packers board … yes, it’s kind of like trying to get a perfect NCAA Final 4 bracket correct from beginning to end. The likelihood that it will happen is about as rare as a Sasquatch sighting, or being abducted by aliens.
Maybe that’s why we all love to give it a shot. Bouncing from mock draft to mock draft to see who might land with your team is kind of like Christmas morning as you shake those gifts to try to figure out what might be inside.
So, once again I did some bounding around this morning to come up with three mocks that have three different selections falling to the Green Bay Packers at the 21st pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Today we focus on these three separate mocks: Dove’s first round over at draftinsider.com; Matt Fitzgerald, featured columnist at bleacher report; and walterfootball.com’s newest picks.
Get ready to agree to disagree with these guys for whatever reasons you come up with … Take a look and leave your own impressions below by commenting. You have a better pick at number 21? Tell us about it.
In the meantime, here’ what these guys have come up with for 2014 first round picks for the Green Bay Packers:
Dove’s of draftinsider.net projects:
With the 21st pick of the NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select … David Yankey, OG, Stanford
Though the site doesn’t provide any narrative on the selection, I will take a moment to comment on this one by starting out with a simple “Wow!”
At 6-5. 314 pounds, Yankey is considered one of the top guards coming out for this year’s draft. But considering that everyone feels that the Packers will go defense once again with their first round pick – either a D-lineman or safety – this pick comes as a complete surprise to me. That’s not to say that it’s completely out of left field. We all know that the Packers need to continue to draft and develop linemen to solidify the front for Aaron Rodgers, and Ted Thompson could surprise us all with a pick like this. Yankey, simply put, is a beast. However, given that the Packers have been pretty solid with their guards in Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang, this selection is an interesting one. I can hear everyone yelling if he is indeed selected first by the Packers. Everyone would once again be calling for Thompson’s head … until they see this guy play. He’s the real deal.
Oklahoma State Cowboys defensive back Justin Gilbert (4).
Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports photograph
Matt Fitzgerald, Featured Columnist, Bleacher Report projects:
With the 21st pick of the NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select … Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
Here’s what Fitzgerald has to say about his pick …
"GM Ted Thompson will feel fortunate if Gilbert falls this far. The former Cowboy has incredible ball skills and better size to deal with top-level NFL wideouts. With recent first-rounders Datone Jones and Nick Perry figuring to be bigger contributors to the front seven, Gilbert would help lock things down against the pass."
Lombardiave: I actually love this pick, and I’ve said it before. We all know you can’t have enough cornerbacks. Given that the Packers may lose Sam Shields to free agency, Thompson may be lucky enough to land a prospect with the credentials of Gilbert. This guy can flat out play and would certainly add needed depth to the crew the Packers already have at the position. We all also know that Tramon Williams’ days with the Packers are also nearing an end. A guy like Gilbert could compete for a starting spot right away and add the depth the team needs at the position – especially because Green Bay goes up against the likes of those big receivers around the NFC North Division.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish nose guard Louis Nix III.
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports photograph
Walterfootball.com projects:
With the 21st pick of the NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select … Louis Nix, NT, Notre Dame
Here’s how walterfootball justifies this pick:
"The Packers spent last year’s first-round pick on a defensive lineman, but that doesn’t mean that Ted Thompson won’t double dip there. B.J. Raji happens to be a free agent, and his price tag is simply too high for Green Bay. Louis Nix is a steal here for the Packers."
Lombardiave: Yes, Nix would be a steal for the Packers at 21, but I feel that if Ted Thompson is sold on this guy, then he may have to trade up to get him. Many other mocks have Nix being selected well before #21. But with the likelihood that Raji will walk in free agency the Packers might be wise to try to find a way to get this guy into camp. Some say his teammate at Notre Dame, Stephon Tuitt, would be a better pick, I think the Packers can’t go wrong with Nix. If Nix falls to the Packers, they would be filling a need and taking the best player for their system.