Packers Post-Free Agency 7 Round Mock Draft

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Round 1, Pick 21 - Calvin Pryor, FS, Louisville

Unless C.J. Mosely is dangling above Ted Thompson's head here at 21 overall, the Packers will draft their biggest need over best talent available. Calvin Pryor is probably the most NFL ready safety in this draft next to HaHa Clinton-Dix and Jimmie Ward. With the way Ted Thompson handled the defensive line in free agency, the Packers can focus on drafting defensive backs and linebackers to rebuild the defense, and it all starts here in Round 1. 


Round 2, Pick 53 - Trent Murphy, DE/OLB, Stanford

Packers are really high on Trent Murphy and that's why he's staying here in this mock draft. His name has come up the most when Ted Thompson has talked about draft prospects. The Packers have longed for a outside linebacker to lineup opposite of Clay Matthews. Nick Perry has yet to stay healthy enough to tell if he is the guy or not. Newly signed Packer Julius Peppers is likely to play split time at OLB and DE this year. Adding depth to linebacker is a must this draft as it became the most injured position on the team last year.


Round 3, Pick 85 - Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin

In case you missed the news, James Jones was signed to a three year contract with the Oakland Raiders. As it stands, the Packers have Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Jarrett Boykin, and Myles White with others on the practice squad. Just two years ago the Packers had Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones, and Donald Driver. They need to add a wide receiver early in the draft and this is a great spot for it with the likelihood of having two picks in the second round. Jard Abbrederis is such a Ted Thompson kind of guy. Not only could Jared be a deep threat option for Aaron Rodgers, but he could also serve as a solid option as a kick returner.


Round 3, Compensatory Pick (Greg Jennings) - C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa

Look, I know there are a lot of people out there that really like Andrew Quarless. I am not one of them. I just don't feel comfortable going into the season with Quarless, Ryan Taylor, Brandon Bostick and Jake Stoneburner as our only tight end options. We don't need to reach for a tight end in the first round for a guy like Ebron or Amaro, but we need an upgrade from what we have. Fiedorowicz is a perfect tight end for the Packers offense. He can block and has great hands with decent burst to get yards after contact. 


Round 4, Pick ??? - Max Bullough, ILB, Michigan State

As I said above, the Packers need serious help at linebacker, but especially at inside linebacker. The aging AJ Hawk and the incredibly inconsistent Brad Jones are at the top of the depth chart. Beneath them is Jamari Lattimore who actually is a promising young talent and Sam Barrington who just needs to keep developing. In a perfect world the Packers would cut ties with Hawk to free up cap space and just hit the reset button on the entire interior linebacker squad. max Bullough is the guy that was suspended from football activities at Michigan State for an off the field issue. Bullough had an incredible combine and probably out-shined the rest of the inside linebackers. But, because of the off the field issue, he will likely drop in the draft. It's a good thing Green Bay is an organization that can help off the field issues players have. Max is highly regarded by his coaches. He's a defensive leader.


Round 5, Pick ??? - Seantrel Henderson, OT, Miami

With the loss of EDS to the Buccaneers and the apparent departure of Marshall Newhouse, the Packers will need to address the offensive line in the draft. Injuries were an issue last year as the team lost Bryan Bulaga in training camp with a torn ACL. Without a set in stone center, the Packers may have to shuffle the line around again. If they want a quick fix, the Packers will try either JC Tretter or Don Barclay at center. To cover the blow of the losses and a possible changing of the guard (pun intended) on the line, drafting an offensive lineman here is not a bad idea. Seantrel Henderson is a massive human being. He'd be a instant improvement over Newhouse and would provide as an excellent backup tackle to Bulaga and Bakhtiari.


Round 6, Pick ??? - Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech

The Packers need to develop a dependable back up QB. Last year that became painfully evident. Matt Flynn was able to cushion the blow of losing Aaron Rodgers once he was eventually signed. Logan Thomas is a great pick here. Receiving comparisons like "Cam 2.0" is very intriguing to me. I've seen a few mocks that have Green Bay taking Tajh Boyd as early as the fourth round. No. That can't happen and won't happen. Boyd is not good at quarterback. That was evident at the NFL Combine when scouts and league executives said they wouldn't even waste a draft pick on him. The Packers have more needs to fill in the earlier rounds than to take a quarterback that *likely* won't see a lot of playing time. 


Round 6, Compensatory Pick (Erik Walden) - Avery Williamson, ILB, Kentucky 

Williamson is one of those Ted Thompson guys. Under the radar guy who fits exactly into the defensive scheme. As I stated above, middle linebacker is a very shallow area for the Packers and they need depth. Williamson is very quick. He's a great tackler. He'll defend in short coverage, he'll rack up pass defends, he'll rap up a ball carrier. He's a perfect weight and height for the position, standing in at 6-1, 249 pounds. At the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.66 40 yard dash and was a top performer in the 20 yard shuttle. 


Round 7, Pick ??? - C.J. Barnett, SS, Ohio State

The Packers take a second safety here. The secondary was absolutely destroyed last season due to injury and just lack of performance. The Packers have had a void in the secondary since the team lost Nick Collins. There are some bright spots. The emergence of Casey Hayward and Micah Hyde has been refreshing. Also, Sam Shields coming back provides some stability. Tramon Williams had a very productive year last season. C.J. Barnett would come from an Ohio State team that has produced defensive backs such as Malcolm Jenkins, Nate Clements, Antoine Winfield, Chris Gamble, Donte Whitner and Kurt Coleman. Barnett was a bright spot on the OSU defense that was near the bottom of the Big Ten ranks.

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

-Andrew Vrchota

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Packers, Brewers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live in-game commentary, breaking news, rumors, previews, and post game discussion. Follow the entire writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, and @10iskristin

Packers Post-NFL Combine 7 Round Mock Draft

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The NFL Combine took place last week which showcased many NFL hopefuls that were judged on various drills, tests, and questions. Since we're just ten days away from free agency starting and sixty nine days away from the NFL Draft, here is my second-to-last Packers Mock Draft I'll be doing until draft day rolls in.

Photo: ESPN

Round 1, Pick 21 - Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh

No defensive lineman's stock has risen more than Aaron Donald's. Some will question whether he'll even make it to the Packers at Pick 21. Quick on his feet and he fits the role of what Green Bay is looking for in a faster defense over guys like Louis Nix and Ra'Shede Hageman, even though Nix and Hageman are ideal 3-4 linemen. At one point last season at Pittsburgh he led the nation in sacks and loss per tackle. He had an outstanding combine...best of all linemen, some said.

I'm banking that the Steelers taking a safety, Chicago drafting Hageman, and Dallas taking Nix or Jernigan, leaving Donald on the board for Green Bay. It's more likely Donald is on the board at #21 overall than it is C.J. Mosely, who is even being considered a Top 10 pick now. Because Aaron Donald lacks the typical height you would want in a lineman, he could drop down to Green Bay. But don't let his size fool you. Rob Rang of CBS Sports wrote that he "comes off the snap like he was shot out of a cannon". The Packers need someone explosive on this defensive line if Raji, Wilson, Jolly, and Pickett are all gone next year.


Round 2, Pick 53 - Trent Murphy, DE/OLB, Stanford

This is an obvious choice. Clay Matthews has longed for an outside linebacker to mirror him on the opposite side of the field to provide a dual pass rush. Nick Perry was supposed to be that man, but has not stayed healthy enough to prove himself after being drafted just two years ago. And, now with there are talks among the Packers organization that Nick Perry is in line to play more of a hybrid linebacker/defensive end position, the Packers will be looking for depth at outside linebacker.

There are multiple reports that indicate Ted Thompson is very high on Trent. Ted and a few members of the scout team spoke with Trent at the Senior Bowl. Murphy is 6'5", 252 pounds which likely means he's better suited to be a linebacker instead of a defensive end. Take the conversation he had with the scouting team with a grain of salt, though. The scouting department will likely talk to hundreds of draft eligible players that will go unreported. However, Trent fits the system and will likely be available in the second round.




Round 3, Pick 85 -  CJ Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa

As noted by Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers have a good history of drafting Iowa Hawkeyes. CJ could be the next one to come wear green and gold. Over the last four drafts, Ted Thompson has drafted Iowa players in three of them (Mike Daniels, Bryan Bulaga, and Micah Hyde). CJ has the potential to come into Green Bay and receive the starting role as TE1 with the unlikely returns of Jermichael Finley (injury) and Andrew Quarless (God's awful gift). He'd be a weapon for Aaron Rodgers to utilize across the middle as well as a shield to block for Eddie Lacy and Rodgers.


Round 3, Compensatory Pick (Greg Jennings) - Christian Jones, ILB, Florida State

The Packers will likely have an extra pick in the third round when they receive compensation for losing Greg Jennings to the Vikings in free agency. At worst, it would be a fourth round pick, but we'll assume its a third rounder for the time being.

Not even Jesus could save the Packer's defense last year, so maybe adding Christian will help? Christian Jones is a tackling machine. He stuffs the running game and creates turnovers. In his senior year he had 7.5 tackles for loss and six quarterback hits. With A.J. Hawk rapidly aging and Brad Jones consistently being inconsistent, its time to add some depth to inside linebacker.

NOTE: If Christian Jones is off the board, I'd be very comfortable with Green Bay selecting Michigan State inside linebacker Max Bullough here. Regardless of how his season ended, he's a leader on defense. He has a great understanding of the game. Max had an outstanding combine (4.78 40-yard dash and 30 reps of 225 pounds which was most by any other inside linebacker). If he can prove to coaches that his off the field incident won't repeat itself again, his stock will rise back up to where it was.


Round 4, Pick ?? - Kenneth Ladler, FS, Vanderbilt

Another guy Ted Thompson reportedly has his eyes on, Kenny Ladler is one of the most under the radar guys in this draft class. Much like Iowa, Ted Thompson has started to take notice of the talent being produced by Vanderbilt (Casey Hayward and Sean Richardson have come in the last two NFL Drafts). He was selected to the All-SEC team last year and was the only player in college football with five+ interceptions and five+ forced fumbles. He's 6'0", 200 pounds and shows quick speed and potential to be an elite defender. Some draft analysts say he could be just as good if not better than Ha-Ha Clinton Dix and Calvin Pryor. The Packers need all the help they can get at safety, and drafting a play maker is a good start. Don't count free agency out, either.


Round 5, Pick ?? - David Fales, QB, San Jose State

Mike McCarthy recently stated to the media that the Packers will look to take a quarterback relatively early in the draft after everything that happened last year. I don't buy the "early" part, but I do think the Packers may want to look at drafting one to develop. David Fales fits the Green Bay offense the best out of all the quarterbacks that will likely be left at this point, unless of course somehow Alabama's AJ McCarron drops this far down.

There's not much to dislike about David Fales. He's very accurate. He can pick up yards on his feet if he has to. But, he's classified as a pocket passer. He's got a very decent arm to throw the deep ball. He does a great job at leading his receivers. At San Jose he played under different formations such as shotgun, under center, pistol, etc. He's a little short, but is receiving comparisons to Matt Ryan and Eli Manning. I'd say David would be a perfect project for Green Bay to take on to mold into a solid back up QB for the time being.


Round 6, Pick ?? - Cody Hoffman, WR, Brigham Young

The sixth round will be where the Packers buy more ammunition for Aaron Rodgers. First Cody Hoffman from BYU. He's BYU's all-time leading receiver with 3,612 yards (prevously held by Austin Collie) over four seasons with the team to go along with 33 touchdown catches. Hoffman had his best game of the year come against the Wisconsin Badgers as he hauled in two touchdowns on 113 yards receiving. With a report stating that James Jones is likely not returning to the Packers next year, the Packers will need to add depth behind Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, and Jarrett Boykin. Standing in at 6'4" and weighing 210 pounds, Hoffman is not a very bad WR4 option by any means.
 

Round 6, Compensatory Pick (Eric Walden) - L'Damian Washington, WR, Missouri

With the team's second compensatory pick, the Packers should take another wide out that has kick returning potential as that was something Green Bay couldn't figure out in 2013. Washington ran a 4.46 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine, which is very impressive. He is one of the taller wide outs in this draft as well coming in at 6'4" and weighing 205 pounds. Washington could also fill in for the departing James Jones as stated above. With the team needing a realistic kick returning option and not a flavor of the week like Johnathan Franklin, Jeremy Ross, etc. etc. etc., L'Damian is a great pick especially this late in the draft. Washington caught 15 touchdowns for 1,735 yards during his tenure at Missouri.


Round 7, Pick ?? - Cornelius Lucas, OT, Kansas State

The dude is 6'8", 316 pounds. With all of the returning linemen that were injured last season, we may want to draft some depth for the offensive line just in case. Plus, Marshall Newhouse does not belong on the team next year in any format whatsoever. If no one gets hurt, he can be placed on the practice squad. With a guy that size potentially available in the 7th round, you take him in a heartbeat strictly for value purposes. Simple as that.


Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

-Andrew Vrchota

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Packers, Brewers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live in-game commentary, breaking news, rumors, previews, and post game discussion. Follow the entire writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, and @10iskristin

Packers Season-End 7 Round Mock Draft

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Before I jump into this, I first want to wish everyone a belated Happy New Year and welcome to 2014 on the Wisconsin Sports Blog. We had record breaking traffic on this site last year, and I owe it all to my dedicated writers as well as to the equally dedicated readers. Looking forward to writing for all of you again this year.

So another season and another playoff game where the Packers fall short. That has pretty much been the trend since we won the Super Bowl. It's very disappointing but how many teams can say they haven't missed the playoffs since 2009?

The biggest issue our team has is health on both sides of the ball. You can't blame the health of the team on a single entity. There are many factors. Blaming the coaching staff is not one of them. The rule changes over where you can and can't tackle someone are. Believe it or not, injuries happen when you play a high contact sport like football.

So going into the draft the Packers have a few spots they need to focus on. Mainly they need to upgrade the secondary, at inside linebacker, and on the defensive line. In addition to the defensive upgrades, the Packers might also look to add a tight end prospect as well as a kick returner. With those five focuses in mind, here is my first Packers mock draft of 2014.


Round 1, Pick 21 - C.J. Mosley, ILB, University of Alabama

I guess before I get into the specifics on C.J. Mosley, I'm going to have to show you how this Top 15 talent will fall to Green Bay at 21st overall. I think the first four picks of the draft are all pretty much set. Houston will take Bridgewater, whoever the Rams trade their pick to will take Clowney, and the Jaguars and Browns will take Manziel and Bortles in either order. The Raiders would have taken Hundley at 5th overall, but he's returning to school for his senior year. So, Raiders probably take Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans. The Falcons take Jake Matthews while the Bucs take Khalil Mack. The Vikings take either Derek Carr here or reach for another quarterback. The Bills likely take whoever the Raiders don't pick for wide receiver. Rounding out the Top 10, the Lions likely take a wide receiver to compliment Megatron or they take Clinton-Dix off the board.

Now, picks 11-20 are a lot more difficult to predict, but here's what I think each teams biggest needs are...

Titans: Tied for 21st in league for sacks. They need a pass rusher DE/OLB
Giants: Eli Manning was terrible this season. Part if it had to do with Eli being sacked 40 times. Need OL help.
Rams: They need help in the secondary and at wide receiver.
Bears: Everywhere on defense. Mosley could be taken here but I think the Bears address defensive line first.
Steelers: Defensive line or secondary.
Cowboys: Cowboys finished in the bottom 10 in sacks. They need a pass rusher.
Ravens: Wide receiver for Joe Flacco to attempt to throw to.
Jets: Need a weapon for Geno Smith to throw to.
Dolphins: I heard they need offensive line help.
Cardinals: Quarterback and offensive line. Maybe a wideout or a running back?

Which brings us to the Packers at pick #21. With Desmond Bishop gone, Brad Jones hopefully gone, and A.J. Hawk slowly making his way to the door as well, the Packers need to address the inside linebacker position. Mosley is everything A.J Hawk isn't. Yes, Hawk tackles like a madman. However, he just doesn't go the extra mile to create turnovers at the level he should be at. Mosley is listed as an outside linebacker but would definitely fit in well as an inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

The Butkus Award winner finished his Alabama career with 319 tackles, 23 TFL (tackles for loss), 6.5 sacks, 5 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries. Mosley creates a serious presence int he middle of the field that will help improve the tackling of our defense, which has slipped over the years.

Round 2, Pick 53 - Craig Loston, S, Louisiana State University

For those hoping the Packers could get their hands on Hesean Clinton Dix in the first round, I'm here to burst your bubble. If the Packers got the opportunity to draft Dix, they would. But, he'll be gone by pick 21 so they'll have to settle for the next best available at the position, which is LSU's senior Craig Loston. Loston is a tall strong safety prospect who has 7 career interceptions for the lock-down Tigers defense. Just recently in the Outback Bowl, Loston accounted for a forced fumble, and interception and a pass defended. LSU's defense only surrendered and average of 197.5 passing yards per game in 2013 and only allowed 15 passing touchdowns in those games, which Craig deserves a lot of credit for.

We all know the Packers need upgrades in the secondary. We've seen our defense get shredded year after year by the likes of Colin Kaepernick and Co. M.D. Jennings and Morgan Burnett could honestly not make it back next year and I don't think many people would mind. I wouldn't. They were really bad. Awful, actually. Burnett certainly isn't worth the 4.9MM cap space. M.D. Jennings is a restricted year agent, so he's free to go. I expect major changes to come other than drafting, too. Ted rarely pulls the trigger on free agency, but I think Jarius Byrd would be someone to look at to help fix our secondary blunders. But that's an article for another day.

Finally, in 2013 Loston has a total of 3 passes defensed. The Packers used 5 safeties this season. They combined for 8 passes defensed. So, there's that.

Round 3, Pick 85 - Yawin Smallwood, ILB, University of Connecticut

But why not Chris Borland? I love Chris. I wouldn't hate the pick if Ted took him here. However, just to keep me away from the Homer Train, I'll go with a guy just as physical and a little taller. Meet Yawin Smallwood.

Smallwood was named UConn's 2013 defensive player of the year after putting up monster numbers in his junior year. The linebacker started all 12 games for the Huskies and led the team with 118 tackles, which placed him at 22nd in the nation and third in the conference with 9.8 stops per contest. Smallwood also picked up 9.5 TFL and 4 sacks, an interception, 9 pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles to an all-around dominant season. Smallwood notched double-digit tackles in six games.

As stated above with C.J. Mosley, the Packers have some serious issues to address at inside linebacker. Adding another inside linebacker here would set us up with one of the best linebacker quartets in all of football.

Round 4, Pick 117 - Martavis Bryant, WR, Clemson University

With James Jones entering his unrestricted free agency year, the Packers may want to address a wide receiver here. Also, the Packers have longed for a kick returner since converting Randall Cobb into strictly a wide receiver to prevent injury. There have been many trials yet no solid returner has surfaced. They need to take one eventually in the draft and here would be a good selection. Martavis Bryant could fix all that. Bryant runs a 4.38 forty-yard dash and has experience returning kickoffs at Clemson.

Playing opposite to Sammy Watkins this season, Bryant was still able to pull in some great numbers with Tajh Boyd this year. Martavis finished his junior year with 828 yards on 42 receptions to go along with 7 touchdowns. If we lose James Jones, Bryant becomes a solid WR4 behind Jordy, Cobb, and Boykin.

Round 5, Pick 149 - Isaiah Lewis, S, Michigan State University

So the Packers struggle on defense, huh? Well let's draft a player from the number one ranked defense in the country in 2013. Michigan State's 2013 defense allowed 210.2 yards per game, 43.4 rushing yards per game, 11.6 points per game, and a 90.29 average passer efficiency rating. Isaiah Lewis is one of four dominant defensive backs on the Spartans that produced at a high level this season to help this defense be so great.

Lewis finished up his senior year with 58 tackles, 2 interceptions, a TFL, and 8 passes defensed . The Packers used 5 safeties this season. They combined for 8 passes defensed. So, yeah. Lewis would be an instant improvement at the safety position. Only being 5-foot-10, some may question his size but I think he does a pretty good job with what he's been given to work with.

Round 6, Pick 181 - Colt Lyerla, TE, University of Oregon

Yep, it's the cocaine guy. But, everyone deserves a second chance, right? RIGHT?

I originally was totally against this idea as someone on Twitter suggested it to me it would be smart for the Packers to make this pick. But after thinking about it, it makes a lot of sense to take this risk. Before Colt left the Oregon football program, he was a Top 64 NFL draft prospect. But, because of the off-field issues with cocaine etc., his stock dropped quicker than frozen concentrated orange-juice. He compares to guys like Jace Amaro, Eric Ebron, and C.J. Fiederowicz talent wise and size wise. The only difference is Ted wouldn't have to waste a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd round pick on Colt.

With the status of Jermichael Finley completely in his hands and the fact that "God's Gift" Andrew Quarless is still evidently trying to find his own hands, taking a talented tight end like Colt Lyerla is the right pick here.

Round 7, Pick 213 - Bruce Gaston, DT, Purdue University

Farewell, B.J. Raji. He hasn't had a sack in over two years. He's a free agent. That will be the end of that. I hope Johnny Jolly is back, however. He had a solid year. I liked what I saw from rookies Datone Jones and Josh Boyd. Not sure what the team does with C.J. Wilson. Ryan Pickett is also a free agent. That being said, the Packers should not be satisfied with the pass rush, or lack there of. Our secondary gets burned a lot because we aren't getting any pressure on the quarterbacks and they then get to pass all over us all game.

Bruce Gaston would add some nice depth to the defensive line in which I could see him making an impact. He amounted to 7 sacks and 23.5 TFL over four years at Purdue. He only missed three games over those four years. He has fast feet and great lateral agility. If he can stay healthy, he's someone that can give the Packers a legit pass rush again.


Undrafted Free Agents

Connor Shaw, QB, University of South Carolina - He looked really impressive against the Badgers in the Capital One Bowl. There is a chance he even gets drafted late in the 6th or 7th round. But if he doesn't, it might be something the Packers look at to at least bring him to camp. Seneca Wallace and Matt Flynn will most likely not return, so there needs to be someone besides Scott Tolzien. If Connor Shaw is drafted, then I'd look at Logan Thomas (Virginia Tech) or James Franklin (Missouri).

David Sims, FB, Georgia Tech University - Sims is one of those hybrid running back/full backs. He's got weight of what a full back would be to be a blocker, but has the speed of a running back. With James Starks and John Kuhn set to test free agency, we may need to add some depth to Eddie Lacy, DuJuan Harris, and Johnathan Franklin.

Kaleb Ramsey, DT/DE, Boston College - I like this guy's upside. As noted, he can play either tackle or end. Injuries have plagued his tenure at Boston College. But, in the time he has played, he's been a truck. Due to those injuries, he has medically red shirted twice giving him 6 years of service at Boston College.

Dri Archer, RB/WR/KR, Kentucky State University - Dri Archer is the second fastest athlete in this year's draft. Only DeAnthony Thomas has a faster forty-yard dash by a tenth of a second. This may be the route Green Bay goes in if they decide not to draft a kick returner.



Noel Grigsby, WR, San Jose State University - Noel may be the best wide receiver that goes undrafted this year. San Jose State lost Noel to a knee injury in the second game of 2013, which was his senior year. Over his 4 years at San Jose State, he collected 237 passes for 3121 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Jonathan Brown, OLB, University of Illinois - Brown had a huge senior season, leading the team and ranking second in the conference in tackles with 119, and ranking third in the Big Ten with 15 tackles for loss. He also added 5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble on the season. For his career, Brown made 317 tackles including 45.5 TFLs, the third-most in school history, and 14.0 sacks. As much as the Packers need help at inside linebacker, you can't forgot how banged up they've been at outside linebacker, too.

Michael Philipp, OT, Oregon State University - He's a big boy. 6 foot 4 inches tall and 330 pounds. Injured much of his sophomore and junior years, Philipp played extremely well as a true freshman and as a senior this year. With Evan Dietrich-Smith and Marshall Newhouse both free agents, adding depth at guard/tackle is a good idea.

John Fullington, OG, Washington State University - Mostly used as a left tackle, John also can play both right tackle and right guard. He's 6 foot 5, so he'll usually have the height advantage. He moves quick on his feet and has great lateral agility. As I said for Michael Philipp, Evan Dietrich-Smith and Marshall Newhouse may not return next season,so replenishment may be needed at guard and tackle.

Matt Lengel, TE, Eastern Kentucky University - Couldn't find his stats from this past year, but he is projected as a 7th rounder/FA. The reason why is that he's 6 foot 7 and weighs 260 pounds. He's an inch taller than Rob Gronkowski but weighs 5 pounds less. If Ted doesn't draft a tight end in the seven rounds, he will definitely look for an undrafted free agent like Matt Lengel.

Jacques Washington, FS, Iowa State University - A running back in high school and recruited as a cornerback, Jacques moved to safety in his sophomore season. He ended his career at Iowa State with 311 tackles. Yet another safety to add to the dwindled bunch Green Bay has now.


My next mock draft probably won't be until a month or so before the draft. I want to see where the compensatory picks fall for the Packers so I can deliver a more accurate mock draft. Until then, enjoy the rest of the NFL Playoffs!

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

-Andrew Vrchota

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Packers, Brewers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live in-game commentary, breaking news, rumors, previews, and post game discussion. Follow the entire writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, and @10iskristin

Packers Mid-Season 7 Round Mock Draft

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Round 1 - Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech

This wouldn't have been my pick a few months ago. But, with the latest developments to Jermichael Finley's severe injury and questionable future as a football player not just on the Green Bay Packers, but in the National Footwritten, ague, this is a wise choice for Green Bay.

Jace Amaro (right), a junior at Texas Tech, was the highest ranked player out of high school to ever commit to the Red Raiders in team history. He's got a tall figure. A bit bulky, but has room to put on muscle. Runs great routes and has smooth maneuvers when going for extra yards. He breaks tackles with his motoring skills. All around, a great tight end prospect the Packers will be looking at on draft day.

Note: You'll find dirt on Jace Amaro from 2012. Jace and a teammate were arrested for reportedly making a purchase on a debit card without having the consent of the card holder to do so. From what I dug up, it was a teammates card. I don't think this is a red flag at all, considering other teams/players in the news in the recent years.

As far as injuries, in his sophomore year he was hit pretty hard in the midsection where he broke a rib and had his spleen punctured. He missed three weeks and was in the hospital on bed rest during that time. This past week he suffered an injury to his chest by Baylor safety Ahmad Dixon.

Coincidentally, Ahmad Dixon is my second round pick.

Round 2 - Ahmad Dixon, S, Baylor

Ahmad Dixon is a projected second/third round pick, but he may be the best strong safety prospect in next year's draft. I think as the season carries on, Dixon's stock will rise into possibly even a Top 32 prospect. Dixon has speed and youth. By youth, i nean room to mature and grow. He's extremely fast running down field, which helps prevent the deep ball game a lot of quarterbacks like to mix in every now and then. He also is very aware of running games and will get involved in those contact plays as well.

At Baylor, during his sophomore and junior years, he played the strong safety position. This year, though, he has been playing a "hybrid" safety/linebacker position. Dixon still runs a 4.5 40 and will be drafted as a safety. With the Packers' defensive backs not impressing, especially M.D. Jennings and Jerron McMillian, they need to draft a defensive back early this draft.

Dixon would probably be a Top 32 pick already had it not been for his arrest for a misdemeanor assault back in September. He allegedly attacked a man he believed had broken into his home. Not sure the exact story, but this wasn't at a bar or a nightclub where Dixon shouldn't have been. Not defending anything that happened, but it could have been a worse situation.

Round 3 - Michael Sam, DE/OLB, Missouri
 

Listed as a defensive end in college, he is much more projectable as a pass rushing outside linebacker. But, for what it's worth, I'll analyze both scenarios. First off, who is he and why such a high pick for someone you haven't heard of? As of the time this article was written, Michael Sam is tied with Vic Beasley for the most sacks this season with 10. He has a total of 16 tackles for losses, 1 forced fumble that he returned for a touchdown, and 24 solo tackles with 8 assisted.

As an outside linebacker, Sam would back up Clay Matthews and Nick Perry to provide a nice, well rested cycle of pass rushers that still has steam in the 4th quarter. Pass rush is still a part of the game the Packers need to improve on. There was a decline in pass rush after the Super Bowl season when we went from 47 sacks in 2010, to 29 sacks in 2011, then back up to 46 in 2012, and now through seven games the defense has 23 sacks. To keep things at consistent production, providing the depth necessary to continue to rush the quarterback is a great idea here.

As a defensive end, it seems we are at the tail end of the C.J. Wilson experience. We drafted Datone Jones in last year's draft and now this year if we take another defensive lineman it could mark the end of it. Wilson just isn't getting playing time over Raji, Daniels, Pickett, Jolly, and Jones. With the line aging overall, Sam can provide youth to replenish what we're losing to time.

He's majoring in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.

Round 4 - Chris Borland, ILB, Wisconsin

A.J. Hawk isn't getting any younger. However, as of late, that hasn't really shown in his play. In the absence of Clay Matthews with his broken thumb, Hawk has really stepped it up for the Packers. Nonetheless, when Matthews was around, Hawk seemed to be lost at times. Adding depth at inside linebacker, just like outside, is a very good idea heading into May's draft.

The term "football player" gets thrown around a lot in evaluations. To me, no one personifies that better than Chris Borland of Wisconsin.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) October 31, 2013

Chris Borland is not your typical linebacker. Not at 5'11". However, the intensity Borland brings to the field every game makes up for his size. Borland has a knack for being involved in every play, every tackle. The numbers he has put up since a true freshman at Wisconsin is astonishing. Going into this Saturday's game Borland has 362 career tackles, over 50 tackles for loss, 13 forced fumbles, 15 sacks, and 3 interceptions.

Borland's instincts, mental preparation, and passion outweigh his smaller stature. His involvement on every play makes him an elite linebacker that can prevent a run game, attack the quarterback, and cause turnovers. I would love to see the Packers start day three of the draft with Chris Borland, the hometown kid.

If I were to not to go with Borland just because he's a Badger, I'm still really high on Max Bullough, ILB, Michigan State from a month or so ago.

Round 5 - Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech

Logan Thomas is getting Cam Newton comparisons, which is a big comparison to throw out there. In a draft full of quarterbacks going in the first round, Logan will likely slip under the radar while Bridgewater, Manziel and Mariota are in the spotlight. Oh yeah, and don't forget Hundley, Carr, Mettenberger, Boyd, McCarron, and Murray too. My point is that not every team needs a QB, so the likelihood of Thomas falling here is great.

If you watched the Virginia Tech/Miami game from this past week, you know the kind of impact player Thomas is. He's 6-6, 254 pounds and runs a 4.6 40. It's a good investment for the Packers to draft a back up quarterback, at least to put in development. I'm totally fine with either Tolzien or Flynn backing up Rodgers next year and then having Thomas on the practice squad. 

Round 6 - Dri Archer, RB/WR, Kent State 



Meet the fastest player in this draft class. Dri Archer may be only 5-8, 178 pounds, but he's a speed demon. He's been clocked at running a 40 yard dash at 4.37. The Packers need to address the kick returning hole the team as after Jeremy Ross was cut and Johnathan Franklin struggled. Archer is a perfect example of a Devin Hester type player. Strictly on the team to return punts and kick offs. But, also, available to be a deep threat for Aaron Rodgers. Nothing else to really say here. It's a smart pick for the sixth round.

Round 7 - Carrington Byndom, CB, Texas

With the injuries to Sam Shields and Casey Hayward and the decline in productivity in Tramon Williams this year as well as the mediocre play by Davon House, the Packers need to figure out things at the corner back position. Now, I will defend the corner backs a bit because of our lack of pass rush and all of our other issues on defense, but we give up big plays to wide receivers on the first plays of the game all the way to the last plays of game.

Byndom would be a great steal for the Packers in the seventh round here. He's a solid defender. He's very lean, which could haunt him against guys like Calvin Johnson and co., but his quickness and athleticism counter the size deficiency nicely. He has room to put on some weight, but at a 4.5 40 time, I'm not sure how much more bulk he'd want to put on. He's a standard six feet tall, so at least there's that.

CBS's Rob Rang wrote this little excerpt about Carrington...

Byndom's lean frame allowed him to be pushed around by some of the bigger, more physical receivers in the conference, but his agility and hand-eye coordination quickly established him as a cornerback to think twice about challenging.

--Rob Rang

As far as what Green Bay would be looking for in the undrafted free agent side of things, I would expect a good amount of offensive and defensive linemen signed. Also, probably a fullback, another tight end, and a few wide receivers and linebackers too.

I'll have another Mock Draft for the Packers after the Super Bowl in late January if not sooner. Until then, Go Pack Go!

Until next time, Beer, Brats, and Championships.

- Andrew Vrchota (@AndrewVrchota)

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live, in-game commentary, breaking news, previews and post game discussions. Follow the entire Wisconsin Sports Blog writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, and @10iskristin.

Packers Early 7 Round Mock Draft

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The Packers are coming off their much needed bye week. After a 1-2 start, this bye couldn't have come at a better time. As dry as it is right now for Wisconsin sports, I thought I'd concoct the first installment of NFL Draft prospects for the Packers going into the 2014 NFL Draft. I think it's very important to get familiar with potential prospects for your pro sports teams, which is why I do these. These are purely based on blatant needs the Packers will be looking for in the draft and how these players could fall to them. (I recommend that if you're going to watch the videos that you enlarge them to full screen to really watch the featured player.)

Round 1 - Cyril Richardson, G/OT, Baylor

Depending on the Packers draft position, this would be the logical choice as our first round pick. Cyril Richardson could go in the Top 15, but he could also go late in the first round. I've seen him scattered all around draft boards. Richardson can play both guard and tackle on the offensive line. As we've seen so blatantly this year and in years past, Aaron Rodgers needs to be protected a heckuva lot more than he does. It seems every year the line suffers a huge injury that bumps somebody into a position on the line they are experienced at. This year = prime example. Bryan Bulaga gets hurt, insert rookie right tackle David Bahktiari at left tackle. I'm probably in the minority, but the only offensive lineman I trust to protect Aaron Rodgers in Josh Sitton. I want to get on the TJ Lang club, but too often I see him being lost. Now, maybe its him getting used to the new position this year (went from left guard to right guard)? Who knows.

Focusing on Cyril, this is a big boy. He knows how to protect a quarterback. The highlight video shows that. Richardson is 6'5", 340 pounds. He's a mammoth of a man and a true force. At Baylor, he was their starting left tackle for some guy named Robert Griffin III. After RG3 was drafted, Richardson shifted to left guard. He excels at both positions. For his size, he's very light on his feet. Guard, in my opinion, is his natural position.

Round 2 - Josh Huff, WR, Oregon

A little back story on why I see a wide receiver coming off the board so early for the Packers...

James Jones - Free Agent in 2014
Jermichael Finley - Free Agent in 2014
Jordy Nelson - Free Agent in 2015
Randall Cobb - Free Agent in 2015

See where I'm going with this? We all know how Ted operates. We all know that those four individuals won't all be Packers come 2015. We are going to have to replenish the targets that the gun shoots at. Catch my drift? Josh Huff may not have the elite speed, but is one of the most physical and tough wide receivers in this draft class. Rob Rang from NFLDraftScout.com wrote this up on him...

"...a difficult match up for cornerbacks. Huff uses his body well to shield defenders from the ball and he is a strong runner after the catch, demonstrating the balance and leg-drive to spin and run through arm tackles. Huff is not a future No. 1 target in the NFL, but his size and strength should make him an effective complementary wideout capable of contributing early in his pro career."

I did say he doesn't have elite speed. However, he still runs a 4.48 40 yard dash. That is definitely enough to qualify as a kick returner, something the Packers also need dearly. The team values Randall Cobb too much as a wide receiver to risk injury and having him return kicks for us anymore. It is unfortunate that the Jeremy Ross experiment didn't pan out, but it's back to the drawing board. Maybe Reggie Dunn will give us a spark.

Round 3 - Bennett Jackson, CB, Notre Dame

Bennett Jackson is like sap on your hands after you touch a pine tree. He's like duct tape. He's a leech. He's one of the best defensive backs and the Packers could really use the depth. The most unique attribute about Jackson is that he's a former wide receiver. That being said, you could assume that he strives so well at corner because he knows the ins and outs of the position he's defending.

Last year for the Fighting Irish he recording 65 tackles (3rd best on the team) and 4 interceptions. Through the first five games of this season, he has accumulated 31 tackles, 1 sack and 1 interception that turned into a pick-six for Bennett.

Round 4 - Max Bullough, ILB, Michigan State

Max is a firecracker. He's calls the shots on defense. Players have compared him to Matt Wilhelm, who you might remember from the Packers 2010 Super Bowl XLV Championship team.

The Packers have an acceptable inside linebacker core, but every year it is lacking one major piece to the puzzle. That, my friends, is the pass rush. Clay Matthews can't do it all. Max has a knack for being physical and being a major presence in slowing a run game down.What he has in strength he lacks in speed. You don't want him in pass coverage, but it's something he can improve on during his senior year.

Speaking of the run defense, Max Bullough's #1 run defense in the country has given up a total of 229 rushing yards over the last 4 games. That averages out to be 57.25 yards per game. Absolutely mind blowing.

(I think you'll all like the next inside linebacker I feature in 2.0)

Round 5 - Boseko Lokombo, OLB, Oregon



With the shadows of Kiko Alonso and Michael Clay gone, meet Boseko Lokombo. Coming into this season, he's accounted for 39 total tackles (26 solo tackles), 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions and a forced fumble. He also has 4 defensive touchdowns on his resume. Lokombo will likely be a finalist for the 2013 Butkus Award.

Main reason for drafting him - security blanket in case Nick Perry doesn't live up to his potential. You can never have too much depth at linebacker on a football team in my opinion.

Here's an interesting note on Boseko that I came upon - Back in May of this year he was selected in the CFL draft to the B.C. Lions. He is obviously continuing his college career and still is 100% focused on the NFL, but by being drafted by the CFL as a redshirt junior gives him something to fall back on in case the NFL doesn't work out. Basically, the CFL can draft red shirt juniors and can wait to sign them until their college careers are over with. Also, if they choose to go to the NFL instead, they can still be signed by the team they were drafted by after their NFL career.

Round 6 - Jacob Pederson, TE, Wisconsin



Probably not the first Badger you thought I'd feature in one of these. In any event, Pederson addresses a huge hole for the Packers. The Packers just don't have a legitimate tight end behind Jermichael Finley, and that shows whenever Finley doesn't play. You don't realize how important Finley is until he's gone. Well, not anymore.

Jacob Pederson is pretty much Jermichael Finley in another body. They both are 6'5". They both weight 240. They both are play-makers and game changers. For the most part, they have good hands. They are both pivotal. The thing I really like about Pederson is that he isn't afraid to throw a block. Like I mentioned above with the offensive line, any extra help and protection the team can give Aaron Rodgers the better.

Round 7 - Jimmie Ward, SS, Northern Illinois 

The last time the Packers drafted someone from Northern Illinois was in 1994. LeShon Johnson was a running back for the Pack for two years. Unless your name is Michael Turner, you aren't really known for playing at NUI. Until you meet Jimmie Ward.

Ward has potential to be a stud. He plays the strong safety position extremely well. He's a lock down kind of player. He's always in the middle of plays either tackling breaking up passes. Ward is known as one of the locker room leaders and voices of the team. Coaching staff has nothing but great things to say about him. He's currently playing through a serious injury on his left hand/wrist area. It has been in a cast for a few weeks now.

The Packers need serious help in the secondary. Not saying we lack the talent now, because we don't. we have a few regular starters beat up and hurt right now, and much like the offensive line, we have guys subbing in at positions they aren't used to which turns into disasters. Ward would be a great option late in the draft to address this particular issue and if anything provide depth and competition.

Until next time, Beer, Brats, and Championships.

- Andrew Vrchota (@AndrewVrchota)

Follow us on Twitter (@WISportsBlog) for up to date news on the Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks, and Golden Eagles. We feature live, in-game commentary, breaking news, previews and post game discussions. Follow the entire Wisconsin Sports Blog writing team on Twitter: @AndrewVrchota, @jheldred, @JoeP_Norton, @olewr7, @Stevie2Westside, and @10iskristin.