Draft Analysis: NFL Draft Needs: Packers

Evan Silva (@EvanSilva) is the Senior Football Editor for Rotoworld’s NFL Page, and Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) leads Rotoworld’s college football and NFL draft coverage. Together, they’re breaking down every team’s biggest needs and offering potential draft-day solutions.

For a breakdown on every team, check out the team-by-team draft preview schedule.

No. 1 Team Need: Inside Linebacker

Silva’s Analysis

The Packers have scrapped the Clay Matthews experiment inside, moving him back onto the edge. Left behind at inside linebacker is a sub-replacement-level cast including Sam Barrington, Jake Ryan and Joe Thomas. Inside linebacker has been an ongoing weakness for DC Dom Capers‘ defense. It’s past time for GM Ted Thompson to fix it.

No. 2 Team Need: Defensive Line

Silva’s Analysis

With the exception of DE Mike Daniels, Green Bay’s defensive line play has been another annual problem. Free agent NT B.J. Raji retired. Daniels and sub-package DL Datone Jones are the Packers’ only down linemen with any semblance of pass-rush skills. Letroy Guion, Josh Boyd and Mike Pennel are strictly space eaters inside. Green Bay needs an influx of talent in the trenches.

No. 3 Team Need: Tight End

Silva’s Analysis

Even after signing Jared Cook, the Packers should stay in the market for tight ends. Cook will play 2016 on a cheap, one-year deal, while athletically-deficient Richard Rodgers likely doesn’t have a future as a starter. With 31-year-old Jordy Nelson coming off a torn ACL and Davante Adams a brutally ineffective sophomore campaign, the Packers could mitigate future pass-catcher deficiencies by adding a dynamic receiving tight end. A fourth Packers need is offensive line depth; Green Bay’s front five collapsed whenever it experienced injury to a starter last season.

Norris’ Mock Draft

Round 1 (27): DL Jarran Reed, Alabama – #TedIsTakingADL. The Packers need some size and power up front. Reed would offer an outstanding anchor and strength in the middle of the defense, and flashes pushing the pocket in one on one situations. Reed’s ceiling is a question, but he is a fairly straightforward evaluation.

Round 2 (57): LB Joshua Perry, Ohio State – Perry possesses a nice combination of power and movement at the position. He is at his best downhill, closing on ball carriers or shallow routes. Perry rarely misses a tackle and would help Clay Matthews move to the edge, like Evan mentioned. (It remains to be seen if that is actually the plan).

Round 3 (88): OL Joe Thuney, NC State – The Packers like their versatile offensive linemen. Some thought David Bakhtiari was just a guard. J.C. Tretter was projected at virtually every position along the offensive line, and so is Thuney. He is a personal favorite who also possesses great athleticism. At the very least he is a great utility lineman.

Round 4 (125): TE Beau Sandland, Montana State – As Evan mentioned, Richard Rodgers is just a guy. Insert Sandland who has displayed an ability to separate at each level. He is also a great athlete and has the size to potentially play inline.

Round 4 (131): EDGE Matt Judon, Grand Valley State – A small schooler with big game. The Packers value size at the position, and Judon offers it at 6-foot-3 and 275-pounds. Judon flashes using a long arm or working around offensive tackles. Ted Thompson has shown a willingness to take small schoolers on the third day.

Round 4 (137): WR Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia – If this happens, it will be deemed another Ted Thompson receiver steal. Mitchell is a very skilled receiver who is reliable, something the team lacked when playing Davante Adams.

Round 5 (163): CB Deandre Elliott, Colorado State – Elliott is an above-average athlete who also has 32-plus inch arms. The team has made it work with “tools” corners in the past.

Round 6 (200): RB Peyton Barber, Auburn – A powerful runner who can create after contact.

Round 7 (248): QB Josh Woodrum, Liberty – The Packers seem to like three quarterbacks on the roster, and Woodrum could be that third.

Packers Current Offensive Depth Chart

QB: Aaron Rodgers

RB: Eddie Lacy

WR: Jordy Nelson

WR: Randall Cobb

WR: Davante Adams

TE: Jared Cook

LT: David Bakhtiari

LG: Josh Sitton

C: Corey Linsley