Packers seven-round mock draft after first wave of free agency

Round 1, Pick 14: EDGE Harold Landry, Boston College

Other possibilities for the Packers at this pick are Marcus Davenport, Roquan Smith, Tremaine Edmunds, Denzel Ward, Josh Jackson and Derwin James. Basically anybody that plays defense. I think all of these players, except Davenport and Jackson, will be gone when the Packers get to pick at 14.

I think Landry is a better prospect than Davenport so I chose him. I’m also not the biggest fan of Jackson with the potential other players available here. I can definitely understand if the Packers went cornerback on day one. I’m choosing not to.

The Packers’ latest moves in free agency left them without Damarious Randall and Morgan Burnett. A secondary player is suddenly very likely here. I think Derwin James has the best value if he’s still on the board, but the Packers have Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and second-year safety Josh Jones at the position. It doesn’t feel like they’ll go safety as early this year.

Landry was a machine at BC during his junior season, tallying 16.5 sacks and 22 tackles for loss. His senior year was a disappointment, but it was due in large part to a nagging injury. He missed a few games, including the bowl game against Iowa.

Landry was always a prospect that was hanging around the teens and early-20s with the debate surrounding his drop-off performance his senior year. Questions about whether the injury was a legitimate cause for the lack of numbers, or perhaps he just came back down to earth. There was also concern the injury may still have lingering effects. All of those concerns went out the window when Landry worked out at the combine.

This tweet alone got me excited about Landry, but also made me realize that maybe his awesome 2016 was closer to the real Harold Landry than 2017 was. I was iffy about Landry until he proved to be a dominant athlete. Now he’s my favorite choice for the Packers at 14.

Landry will fit in seamlessly with the defense. He’ll definitely be in on every obvious passing down and will allow Clay Matthews to move around the defense and make plays in other areas. Being able to potentially blitz Matthews, Landry and Nick Perry together from different angles would be be havoc for opposing offenses.

A great pass rush is the best way to improve a defense. The Packers have holes in the secondary that will be addressed in this mock, but the rush is the biggest need to me.