Montravius Adams drafted to add depth and run support for the Green Bay Packers
With their third selection of the night, this one coming in the third round, the Green Bay Packers picked Montravius Adams, a defensive tackle out of Auburn.
Packers GM Ted Thompson sent a defensive message to the rest of the league by picking cornerback Kevin King out of the University of Washington with the first pick of the second round, Josh Jones, another defensive back with the 29th pick of the second round, and then rounded out the day with their selection of Adams with the 29th pick of the third round.
While Thompson aggressively attacked the defensive backfield – the area many feel is the area on the team with the greatest needs – he turned his attention to the defensive line with his final pick of Friday night.
Given that the Packers’ D-line has seen some hits this offseason, it appears that Thompson thought it important to address the situation in the third round.
The Packers lost B.J. Raji last season when he said he was taking a reprieve from football to deal with family issues. He has yet to come back and many feel his time in Green Bay is done.
In addition, Datone Jones was lost in free agency to the Vikings and Letroy Guion is facing suspension next season. That said, rebuilding the line will need to be addressed, at least partially, through the draft.
Thompson took that step tonight with the drafting of Adams.
So what does Adams bring to the field?
According to NFL.com, Adams’ strengths are as follows: “Low out of his stance and with good explosiveness. Springs into gaps to stress guards and split double teams. Usually first into neutral zone. Disruptive when working the gaps. Burly lower half with good thickness through his hips and thighs. Powerful leg drive pushes him through blocker’s shoulder and into the backfield. Motor seemed to be revved more consistently in 2016 than in 2015. Pursues from backside with hustle. Has some bull rush potential if he keeps pads low.”
Again, NFL.com addresses Adams’ weaknesses: “Strikes head first with eyes down losing sight of the play. Doesn’t utilize hands well enough to keep himself clean. Needs to improve punch and extension to add value as a two-gap tackle. Sticks on blocks and labors to disengage. Short stepper with limited lateral effectiveness as pass rusher. Active as rusher but fails to stress the edge often enough. Has carried label as underachiever at times. Has talent but needs to more consistently play to it.”
With the Packers’ defensive line needing bodies who can work into the rotation, they may have found a big body who will help improve the team’s defense against the run – a part of the game that sometimes goes unnoticed.
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Adams is that big body tonight and hopefully he can bring more to the table that will help the team down the road.