It is finally NFL Draft week. If you’re like me, you’ve been following draft coverage and studying prospects for months, so it’s a very exciting time to finally see how this whole thing will play out.
It’s anyone’s guess which direction the Green Bay Packers will go with their eight selections. Ted Thompson and his front office are very unpredictable, but we know the areas the team needs to address this weekend.
The Packers still need a starting-caliber cornerback, guard, and running back. They also need to consider the futures of the outside linebacker and wide receiver positions, as well as get more athletic at inside linebacker.
With teams likely to reach for quarterbacks and offensive tackles in the first round, there could be really talented prospects drop to the Packers in the early rounds. This is good news for a team that needs more playmakers on defense.
Regardless of who ends up with the Packers this week, Green Bay needs to hit on several picks and find key contributors from this year’s draft class.
With this in mind, let’s take one last look at how the seven rounds could play out for the Packers.
Round 1 – Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
It was only a few months ago I viewed Wilson as the top cornerback in the draft and a top-20 pick. It seemed unlikely he would fall to the Packers at the end of the first round.
However, Wilson’s forty time (4.54) and vertical (32”) were only average for his position, which hurt his draft stock in this deep class of cornerbacks. Despite not boasting elite athletic numbers, Wilson is still a big physical defensive back (6-1, 211) with fluid hips and excellent change of direction ability (4.02 shuttle).
He excels in press-man coverage and has very good ball skills. Even though opposing quarterbacks seldom threw his way, he still managed to record five interceptions and 11 pass breakups in his last two seasons at Florida.
Wilson would give the Packers a reliable boundary corner who rarely gets beat downfield and can make plays in the secondary.
Round 2 – Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston
The hype on Bowser continues to grow in the draft community and some even believe he’ll sneak into the first round. While I like the 6-foot-3, 246-pound outside linebacker, the first day is way too rich for me.
Rather, I view Bowser as a good value pick here at the end of the second round. Bowser has impressive athletic upside, but he still needs a lot more development as a pass rusher.
He’s explosive upfield and moves well in space. He registered 8.5 sacks as a senior and won with speed and explosiveness off the edge. However, he’ll need to develop more pass rush moves to have success in the NFL.
As a Day 2 prospect, he could play behind starters Clay Matthews and Nick Perry in a rotational role as he learns the nuances of the position and polishes his overall game.
Round 3 – Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma
Of all the halfbacks in this year’s deep class, Perine is one of my favorite fits for the Packers. He’s a tough bruising 233-pound back with nifty feet and smooth change of direction ability.
With Ty Montgomery in the backfield already as a change-of-pace guy, I love the idea of Green Bay selecting a downhill runner who can pick up the tough yards and push piles.
However, Perine is not only a power back who loves running over defenders, he also has a lot of experience running out of shotgun and playing in a hurry-up spread offense. He also has underrated hands and would complement Montgomery well in the backfield.
Round 4 – Sean Harlow, OG, Oregon State
Harlow has experience at every position on the offensive line, making him a versatile player for any NFL roster.
In his senior season he split time between right and left tackle and was consistently the Beavers top pass protector, even against tough competition like UCLA’s Takk McKinley and Washington’s Joe Mathis.
Because of his height (6-4, 303) and lack of arm length Harlow will most likely have to make the move to guard. He’s also a solid athlete, but not elite. His game is more power than anything else, making him an intriguing guard prospect.
Round 5a – Elijah Lee, ILB, Kansas State
The Packers could use more speed and athleticism at inside linebacker, and Lee is one of the better linebackers out in space in the draft.
He excels in coverage and can run sideline-to-sideline and make plays in pursuit.
He would instantly compete for one of the two inside linebacker spots in the Packers nickel defense and would bring a little more tenacity against the run than Joe Thomas.
Round 5b – Jehu Chesson, WR, Michigan
Chesson is a tremendous athlete with high upside. However, he didn’t always put it together on the field in Michigan’s offense.
He was the team’s leading receiver in 2015, recording 50 receptions for 764 yards and nine touchdowns, but his production really trailed off last year as he dealt with a lingering knee injury and teammate Amara Darboh emerged as the Wolverines top target.
As a Day 3 prospect, Chesson is an intriguing player for the Packers to develop on their depth chart. His 6-foot-2, 204-pound frame with 4.47 speed, 35.5-inch vertical, and 6.70 three-come time give him an excellent athletic profile for the position.
Round 6 – Chuck Clark, DB, Virginia Tech
Clark is an interesting late-round defensive back. He primarily played safety in college, but he has some experience playing cornerback.
At 6-foot, 208 pounds and 4.54 speed, Clark could develop into a reliable nickel corner, who can offer run support in the box and match slot receivers and tight ends in coverage. His lateral movement is excellent (4.07 shuttle), which will aid him shadowing receivers over the middle of the field.
He could immediately contribute on special teams and eventually fulfill the Micah Hyde role on the Packers defense.
Round 7 – Cooper Rush, QB, Central Michigan
It would make a lot of sense for the Packers to spend a late-round pick on a developmental quarterback.
If Brett Hundley has a really strong preseason this year then he could be a valuable trade piece for the Packers next offseason. It would be smart for them to then bring in a young quarterback to develop to be their eventual backup.
Rush is a smart quarterback with a strong arm, who lit up the Mid-American Conference as a four-year starter.
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