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Green Bay Packers: How team needs were addressed in 2016 NFL Draft

By Freddie Boston

Dec 5, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal inside linebacker Blake Martinez (4) knocks the ball out of the hands of Southern California Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler (6) in the third quarter in the Pac-12 Conference football championship game at Levi
Dec 5, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal inside linebacker Blake Martinez (4) knocks the ball out of the hands of Southern California Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler (6) in the third quarter in the Pac-12 Conference football championship game at Levi /
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Oct 15, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal linebacker Blake Martinez (4) during the NCAA football game against the UCLA Bruins at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal linebacker Blake Martinez (4) during the NCAA football game against the UCLA Bruins at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Inside linebacker

Largely considered the Packers’ biggest need entering the offseason, it was only a matter of time before the inside linebacker group was addressed. Just like a year ago, fans had to patiently wait until the fourth round of the draft to get their man. On the draft’s final day, GM Ted Thompson turned to Blake Martinez out of Stanford.

Martinez joins a group featuring second-year Jake Ryan and a healthy Sam Barrington. With the intention to move Clay Matthews back outside clear, a strong duo forming in the middle needs to be evident. Martinez was asked to drop back into coverage a lot in college, and this could help his transition to a similar role in Dom Capers’ defense.

Martinez wasn’t the only addition at the position, however. Beniquez Brown — projected by many analysts to hear his name called in the fourth round — went undrafted before landing in Green Bay following the event. Brown won’t be expected to take on a big role right away and will need to fight for a roster spot, but he has potential.

With these four as well as Joe Thomas in contention, do the Packers finally have enough to make inside linebacker a strength?

Next: Pass rush

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