Green Bay Packers: Breaking Down Each 2015 Draft Pick
By Kenn Korb
Aug 30, 2014; Stanford, CA, USA;Stanford Cardinal wide receiver Ty Montgomery (7) runs for a 44 yard touchdown during the second quarter against the UC Davis Aggies at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Round 3: Ty Montgomery (WR)
If you’re sensing a theme of initial confusion with this draft class, you’re not wrong.
Montgomery seems like a major luxury pick, being that wide receiver for the Packers is about as stacked a position group can get.
Not only are Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams all set in the top three spots for the Packers for the foreseeable future, but they also have guys like Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis from last season’s draft who should at least try to grab some snaps in 2015.
Don’t stick to simple conventional thinking however; the Packers sure aren’t.
While those guys are all either currently strong options or have the potential to be, anything can happen in a given year. Injuries always end up attacking teams, and there is no way to predict where it hits or how decimating they will be.
Plus, Montgomery bring more than just wide receiver talent anyway.
I mean, he has already been called a bigger Randall Cobb by some in terms of skill set, so that bodes well for his receiving potential. But he was the career leader at Stanford for kickoff return yardage.
Special teams is an area Green Bay knows they need to improve dramatically; that includes the return game. Last year’s main returner on kickoffs (DuJuan Harris) was one of the worst league-wide in terms of the field position he accumulated for the Packers’ offense.
Having a guy who’s basically a bigger Cobb (who has spent plenty of time returning kickoffs himself throughout his career) should be able to set up Aaron Rodgers with much better starting positions, in part making both the special teams AND offense more productive.
And just think how scary things can be if in a couple years his offensive capabilities end up somewhere close to where Cobb’s currently are.
I shudder for those future defensive coordinators.