Potential Green Bay Packers NFL Draft Day 2 picks – FOXSports.com
The NFL Draft’s first round always provides some surprising picks and moves, which, as usual, leaves plenty of talented players available on Day 2.
The Green Bay Packers filled one need with their first pick, drafting defensive tackle Kenny Clark of UCLA. But the Packers could use helped still at linebacker, add another solid lineman or try to upgrade the offensive line or tight end, among the possibilities.
Green Bay currently owns the No. 57 (Round 2) and No. 88 picks (Round 3). The Packers also own a pick in every subsequent round plus two extra picks in the fourth, but those compensatory picks are not eligible to be traded (that rule changes next year).
Here are a number of players who are available and expected to be drafted in rounds 2-3 (listed in alphabetical order):
TE Jerell Adams, South Carolina: Do the Packers want to select a tight end in what is a middling class this year? Adams would likely be a third-round option after he caught 28 passes with three touchdowns in 2015.
OT Willie Beavers, Western Michigan: Very athletic despite being 6-foot-5, 320 pounds. Could play all over the line but tackle might be his eventual landing spot. Might need some time but has major upside. Not expected to last past Day 2.
WR Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh: Wide receiver is not a need position for the Packers, but if Boyd somehow falls to Green Bay in the third round he might be hard to overlook. In three years at Pittsburgh, Boyd had 254 receptions — including 91 last season.
DL Jonathan Bullard, Florida: If Green Bay wants to totally remake its interior defensive line and Bullard slips to Round 3, this would be a great value pick. He had 18 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks for the Gators in 2015.
DE Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State: Got into opposing backfields all throughout his college career. Had 14.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks in 2015 following a 2014 in which he had 12.5 TFL and 8 sacks and was named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year. Expected to go in the second round.
OT Le’Raven Clark, Texas Tech: Mock drafts had Clark all over the board. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound tackle played at a pass-heavy school, so there might be some concern on his run blocking. But he has great measurable and could be used at guard early in his career as he learns the pro game.
OLB Kamalei Correa, Boise State: A few mocks had him going to Green Bay in the first round. Played defensive end in college but projects more to a linebacker. Not expected to make it Round 3. Had 11 tackles for loss and 7 sacks in 2015.
LB Su’a Cravens, USC: Although he played in a 3-4 defense at USC, he is thought by many to be a better fit in a 4-3. With his experience at safety and smaller size, he could be used like Deone Buchannon is with Arizona, a safety playing linebacker. Had 15 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks as an OLB for the Trojans in 2015.
RB Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech: Dixon turned a lot of heads in the draft process not only with his running skills but his pass-catching ability. He’d be a great third-down back in the Packers’ system, adding another potential receiver to Aaron Rodgers’ arsenal. He is expected to be a third-round pick.
DE Kevin Dodd, Clemson: Doubtful he’d make it all the way down to the Packers pick in Round 2, so he might be a trade-up candidate. Had 23.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks last season. Was thought by many to be a first-round pick.
DE/OLB Kyler Fackrell, Utah State: Fackrell played in a 3-4 defense in college and is expected to be drafted by a team which uses that scheme (hello, Green Bay). Highly productive in college and is thought to eventually be a three-down player who can also excel on special teams. Had 15 tackles for loss and 12 QB hurries, a school record, in 2015.
DL Javon Hargrave, South Carolina State: Hargrave might have the most upside of any defensive tackle in the draft — a 315-pounder with a burst. Coming off a season in which he had 22 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks and 11 QB hurries, Hargrave held his own at the East-West Shrine Game. Might need some time to develop, but could be a steal.
RB Derrick Henry, Alabama: Are the Packers sold on the Eddie Lacy-James Starks combination? Drafting Henry would pair him with another Alabama alum in Lacy, but also put the other two backs on notice. Henry is much like Lacy and Starks, though, a bigger back, so he’d be a longshot for the Packers more than likely.
TE Hunter Henry, Arkansas: Again, a player who some mocked to Green Bay. Yes, the Packers did sign Jared Cook in the offseason, but the Packers need a longer-term solution at tight end. Henry had 51 catches for 739 yards last season for the Razorbacks and is considered by most to be the top tight end in this year’s draft class.
TE Austin Hooper, Stanford: If not Hunter Henry in the second round then perhaps Hooper in the third. Stanford has produced a number of tight ends lately. Plus, there’s not a lot of quality tight ends in this draft. Hooper had 34 catches and 6 touchdowns in 2015.
RB Jordan Howard, Indiana: Howard ran for over 1,200 with Indiana in 2015 (after transferring from UAB). He only caught 11 passes and then ran a sub-par 4.59 40 at his Pro Day, yet there is decent buzz about him and could be a Round 3 selection.
LB Myles Jack, UCLA: Many experts had him as the top player in this year’s draft, however injury and durability issues saw him drop out of the first round. There is so much upside here that someone will take the chance. It seems doubtful he’ll make it to Green Bay’s pick in the second round.
OLB Jordan Jenkins, Georgia: Likely an outside linebacker but at 6-foot-3 and nearly 260 pounds perhaps also could play defensive end in the 3-4. Had 10.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks in 2015. Expected to be taken in the third round.
LB Deion Jones, LSU: The outside linebacker is considered to be a three-down player, although some see his future as a safety. Had 100 tackles, 13.5 for loss and 5 sacks in 2015 for LSU. Expected to be selected in the second round.
OT Kyle Murphy, Stanford: The projections on Murphy are all over the place, from the third round to the sixth. But if you are looking for a future tackle, he has the size and pedigree.
OLB/DE Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State: Another player some had mocked to Green Bay in Round 1. It seems doubtful the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year will make it down to the Packers’ pick. A premier pass-rusher as there is in the draft.
RB C.J. Prosise, Notre Dame: Rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2015 — his first season as a running back. He might need some time to further develop his running skills, but he doesn’t have much tread on his tires and could be a good complement to Green Bay’s current backs and eventually be the No. 1 guy.
LB Reggie Ragland, Alabama: Many mock drafts has the Packers selecting Ragland in the first round. However, it was reported by NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport that he got a medical red flag for an enlarged aorta. That could have caused him to slip out of the first round. Another possible trade-up candidate for Green Bay.
DT Jarran Reed, Alabama: Projected by some to be Green Bay’s pick in the first round. He won’t make it to the third round, so unlikely the Packers will go back-to-back defensive tackles — unless they think Reed can play defensive end as well, which many feel is possible.
LB Joe Schobert, Wisconsin: Played outside linebacker at Wisconsin but many think he’ll be an inside linebacker in the NFL. Had 18.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 2015. Would be a definite contributor on special teams as well. Packers haven’t been known for taking Wisconsin players in recent years, although bucked the trend with Jared Abbrederis a couple of years ago. Could be a Round 3 selection, but also could slip into Day 3.
LB Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame: A knee injury cost Smith the chance to be a top-10 pick. Now, a team drafting Smith likely will sit him out a year and hopes he recovers and becomes the player everyone thought he’d be pre-injury. Most think he’ll be a third-round pick.
DE/OLB Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky: A tremendous pass rusher, but could be considered a risk thanks to numerous failed drug tests at Ohio State which saw him have to play at the FCS level in 2015. Recorded 22.5 tackles-for-loss and 11.5 sacks at EKU.
OT Jason Spriggs, Indiana: Was thought by some to be a first-round draft pick. Easily the best tackle left on the board. If Green Bay wants to upgrade the line immediately, it might have to look to deal up to get Spriggs.
OL Joe Thuney, North Carolina State: Extremely versatile — he can play anywhere along the offensive line. Might be more of a Day 3 pick in the fourth round, but if he’s available to Green Bay in Round 3 it could be a guy to pull the trigger on to help upgrade the line. Would be taking a chance on him being there for the Packers in Round 4.
TE Nick Vannett, Ohio State: Wasn’t really used much in the passing game at Ohio State, but showed good hands when used. While Green Bay might want a more prolific pass-catcher, this is not a deep tight end draft class.
DL Jihad Ward, Illinois: Did not have the most productive senior season, but a very athletic player (a former WR/S) who can play either inside or outside in a 3-4 defense. Expected to go on Day 2, but could fall to the third round.
OG Cody Whitehair, Kansas State: Another player who was mocked in the first round, at least in early mocks. He likely isn’t a player Green Bay would trade up for, but if he continues to slide to the No. 27 spot in the second round he might be hard to pass up.
LB Scooby Wright, Arizona: Doesn’t have the measurable, but the kid just makes plays. After a fantastic 2014 season (163 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, 6 forces fumbles), Wright was limited in 2015 due to injuries. He could be the inside linebacker that moves Clay Matthews back to the outside. Could be a Day 2 or Day 3 pick.
