Packers 2018 Draft: 6 first-round options that can help defense

Potential options the Green Bay Packers could have in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Who could the Green Bay Packers select at No. 14 overall?

Here are some names they could consider.

Harold Landry, EDGE: In a draft class littered with long athletes, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Landry is a bit of a throwback to the classic body OLB. Can play with hand in dirt or from a 2-point stance and has lined up on both sides of the line giving great blitz diversity (coveted by DC Mike Pettine).

Great violent hands that grip and rip and maybe the best first step in OLB class. Very explosive, great bend and dip under OT, where his size actually might help him taking on the taller tackles of the NFL. Good instincts, fiercely competitive.

Sick production with 16.5 sacks in 2016. Only charted 5.5 sacks in eight games in 2017 due to injury and game planning against him, however his talent will warrant game planning him on NFL Sunday as it did on College Football Saturday.

Along with his 26 career sacks and 47.5 tackles for loss, he also forced 10 fumbles (although he recovered only one). Can drop into coverage but only serviceable, and anytime the quarterback is passing and he is not rushing is a waste of his one NFL caliber skill set.

Stronger than looks but may have to add bulk at the next level and it may cost him some speed. Will never be a dominant bull rusher and has to develop his pass-rush toolbox at the next level. Can chase down running backs on back-side.

In my opinion the Boston College product had the best overall Combine results running a solid 4.64 forty, knocking out 24 reps, posted a 6.88 on that vital Packer test the 3-cone drill (tied for second) and top in the 20- and 60-yard dash. Even though the rest of his game is just above average to good, this is the best pure pass rusher in the class.

Tremaine Edmunds, LB: The most often used qualifier for Edmunds is young (20 when he steps on the field in fall). He has an extremely high ceiling, still growing and developing. Great size (6-foot-4, 250 pounds)and length for OLB, might be little tall for ILB. A great athlete, with good speed (4.55 at Combine) but plays faster.

As a pass rusher at Virginia Tech, he was deployed both inside and out (good for Pettine) and could have registered more sacks but often played spy role in 2017. Explosive first step that beats tackles on the outside, good body control to elude blockers inside when blitzing. Had 4.5 sacks in 2016, 5.5 sacks in 2017. Productive with consecutive 100-plus tackle seasons.

Good in coverage, should be able to shadow backs and tight ends in the NFL. Will need to add strength (19 reps bench press) and possibly a little bulk at next level. Takes good angles and tackles better at angle, can be overpowered when taking on run blockers head on.

Can also be over-aggressive and find himself out of position, like Josh Jones, but if reined in has true sideline-to-sideline playing speed. Has some talent in hand fighting but will need to develop a better pass-rush toolbox (rip, swim, club, dip etc.). More reactive than intuitive but still developing.