Green Bay Packers: Five first-round options in 2017 NFL Draft

LB Takkarist McKinley, UCLA

Equally as important as finding help at cornerback is bolstering the pass rush. Despite the unit netting 40 sacks on the year, good for sixth in the NFL, there are a lot of moving parts at linebacker for the Packers.

Green Bay’s two sack leaders, Nick Perry and Julius Peppers, are free-agents-to-be. Peppers’ Hall-of-Fame career may be finished. Not only that, the regression of Clay Matthews was evident for all to see. Maybe it was because of bad injury luck, but there’s as much chance it’s part of the natural cycle of NFL players. Nearly 31-years-old, Matthews’ best years are behind him.

Should Ted Thompson look to strengthen the pass rush on day one, an option could be Takkarist McKinley. It would come as no surprise, as two of the Packers’ past four first-round picks have come out of UCLA, just like McKinley.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein gave a fair assessment of the 6-foot-2, 265-pounder, describing McKinley as an “ascending edge prospect who racked up impressive TFL and sack numbers this year despite a relatively raw approach and skill set”.

McKinley is a talented pass rusher and also defends the run well, although he may need to hit the weight room in order to develop his power moves and become a stronger force against the run. The UCLA Bruin might not be a lights out performer from day one and needs work, but this would be a solid pick at the bottom of the first round.

A somewhat underrated prospect, McKinley would offer some production as a rookie with room to grow into an excellent outside linebacker in Dom Capers’ defense.