Green Bay Packers seven-round mock draft: Improving the roster
By Dan Dahlke
2. 61st pick — Tarell Basham, OLB, Ohio
Basham’s senior season was nothing short of impressive. 10.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, and 12 quarterback hurries on the year simply highlights just how disruptive the 6-foot-4, 259-pound edge rusher can be behind the line of scrimmage.
Basham received very little draft buzz during the 2016 college season. However, many took note of the former Bobcats defensive end at the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Down in Mobile, Basham showed a tremendous blend of power and speed rushing off the edge, while also demonstrating strong hand technique and ability to shed blocks. He also showed surprising athleticism and lateral movement when lining up in a two-point stance as an outside linebacker.
If he tests well athletically at the NFL Combine this spring, he could be a strong candidate to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme in the NFL. He could be a steady riser on draft boards in these next few months as more people dive into his tape.
He’s a good fit here at the end of the second round to the Packers. Even if Green Bay manages to re-sign Nick Perry, they still need a young, ascending pass rusher to feature on defense. If they manage to move Clay Matthews to inside linebacker next season, Basham, Perry, and Kyler Fackrell still form a strong outside linebacker group.