Green Bay Packers: Re-drafting the 2017 NFL Draft

Round 3: Eddie Jackson, S, Alabama

Packers pick: Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn

I liked Adams because of his upside, but he was hurt most of the year and we never really got to see him. The jury is still out on whether he was a bad pick or not. I’ll focus more on Eddie Jackson here and less on the criticism of the actual pick.

Jackson was always around the ball at a Alabama. He was criticized for being a weak tackler, but he’s a dynamite playmaker and that’s what the Packers defense desperately needs. Jackson also returned punts at Alabama, something the Packers certainly would have him do. He’s a lightning bolt waiting to strike; an energizer that’ll swing momentum at any moment.

Jackson was a bit of a reach here, he went 19 picks later to the Bears, but he fits a need after passing on the secondary in the first two rounds. The same strategy for developing Jones could be used for Jackson. He would be immediate depth and a potential replacement down the road.

The only downside of this pick is you lose the athleticism that Jones brings. Jackson won’t play the run very well and isn’t going to be playing closer to the line of scrimmage like Jones does. What he will do is get his hands on the football and that makes up for it. He can sniff the ball out and when he gets his chance to score he’s going to score.

It’s been a long time since we saw a player like this in the green and gold.