Packers 2016 Draft: Last minute NFL mock draft

Pick #21 — Washington

Ryan Kelly

Last year, Washington turned out to be one of the surprise teams; despite issues across the roster and a slow start, they managed to end the season with a playoff berth and a home game against the Packers which many out there expected them to win.

Coming into this year’s draft, this team has already made some noteworthy moves, including the recent addition of Josh Norman. Beyond him, there is a nice collection of talent in a few spots on the roster as currently constituted; Kirk Cousins showed himself to be a quality starter at quarterback, DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon make a nice 1-2 punch at wideout, they have a solid if unspectacular defensive line rotation, and a couple pass rush options to throw at offenses.

Even with their success last year, the team can’t just expect to stay atop the moribund NFC East without adding onto what they ended the year with. The Norman addition was a superb start, but they have a long way to go here.

On offense, Washington could use some more dynamic weaponry; another runner or a high-level receiver could make life easier of Cousins. The team also could really stand to add to the middle of their offensive line, with at least two holes (center and guard) that need an influx of new young talent.

Defensively, they could use even more help. The linebackers are way too beatable in the middle, the safeties are projected to rely an awful lot on the aging DeAngelo Hall, the defensive line could use a high-end player to lead a decent group, and a third corner option behind the Norman-Breshawn Breeland duo could work wonders for nickel and dime lineups.

Let’s cross off some of these to see what of the remaining talents fit.

Outside of Ezekiel Elliott, there are no RBs worth any consideration this high. A wide receiver would be a good step, but while finding the top-end talent there is much more likely early in the draft, it is probably one of the easier positions to find mid-tier contributors for; if Washington really wants to boost their talents at this spot there will be plenty of time. There aren’t any good candidates at LB worth a pick this high. They could feel somewhat satisfied with their corner position as a whole after the Norman addition.

To me, this comes down to Whitehair at guard, Kelly at center, and Keanu Neal at safety.

Neal would probably be the pick from what a fan might appreciate in terms of just strictly watching on-field product; Washington has been dreadful at safety for years, and could use some quality back-end coverage for the first time since they tragically lost Sean Taylor.

Just because it may be a more noticeable move doesn’t make it the best move, however; though few who aren’t directly involved with the product on the field often ever realize or understand just how important the play of an offensive line is, the teams we watch intimately understand the need to do well up front — and how difficult the game can get when you don’t win in the trenches. The effects can be mitigated to a degree (look at success by a team like Seattle, which never invests in this area) but it provides a defense a clear weakness to target, and the margins for error are drastically shrunken if the line cannot keep their skill position teammates unencumbered by their opposing counterparts.

With that in mind, Kelly is the answer here.

While a quality counterpart for top-5 pick Brandon Scherff at guard is definitely on the wish list, the play at that spot was nowhere near as god-awful as the stomach-churning results provided by the center position.

Bringing in Kelly gives the team a long-term answer there (finally).