Green Bay Packers: Re-drafting the 2017 NFL Draft
Round 7: Keelan Cole, WR, Kentucky Wesleyan
Packers pick: Malachi Dupree, WR, LSU
Dupree was a former top high school recruit who didn’t pan out at LSU. He was projected to go a little higher than this in the draft, but he was still seen as an incomplete prospect. This was a lottery ticket pick for the Packers that didn’t have much consequence when they eventually waived him. It’s difficult to get production from your seventh-round picks, but that’s what I’m going to get in this re-draft.
Nobody was supposed to know Cole would be as good as he was. A speedy, division two receiver made himself known during the preseason for the Jaguars and the rest is history. Cole led the Jaguars in receiving yards last year and is one of the true gems of this class after going undrafted.
The Packers are currently looking to bolster their receiving corps and took a flier on two this year. Had they gotten lucky and went with Cole the need for more speed opposite Davante Adams may not exist as it presently does.
Round 7: Corey Clement, RB, Wisconsin
Packers pick: Devante Mays, RB, Utah State
Mays never got much of a chance last year for the Packers. He had four carries and one catch, but fumbled twice. Having ball security issues isn’t something that was going to help his case either.
Mays suited up for a good chunk of the season and just never got to play much. Mike McCarthy doesn’t always handle his running backs the best so I’ll chalk it up to that. Mays will have to fight for a roster spot next year, especially if the Packers draft another running back. I hope he can find some snaps somewhere in the NFL if he doesn’t make the cut.
On to my final pick for the Packers in this re-draft. Ted Thomspon could’ve won some major brownie points if he had made this pick. I was surprised Clement went undrafted because I thought he was a really hard runner at Wisconsin. His weaknesses were his athletic ability and versatility. Those claims turned out to be silly.
Clement was one of the stars of the Super Bowl for the Eagles against the Patriots. With Kamara and Jones, plus Ty Montgomery also being a pass catcher out of the backfield, Clement may not get much opportunity in this scenario. He’s still the best option left towards the end of the draft and it’s fun to imagine him staying in Wisconsin with fellow former Badger T.J. Watt.
Next: Top 30 moments in Green Bay history
A re-draft is impossible, but it’s still fun to do. Hopefully the front office is looking at and learning from the ‘what ifs’ from last year the same way we are.