Position Review: Wide Receiver

Wide Receiver Class
Early-round talent: B-
Mid-round: A-
Late-round: C+
Overall grade: B

Position Review: Guard
Guard Class
Early-round talent: A
Mid-round: B+
Late-round: C+
Overall grade: A-

Position Review: Inside Linebacker

Inside Linebacker Class
Early-round talent: A
Mid-round: D
Late-round: D-
Overall grade: C-

Every year, I think we get really involved in the free agency...only to be *let down* by Ted Thompson's lack of hitting the market.

Originally Posted by: Yerko 

1st round.
I have been convinced by the greats of this board that this pick MUST BE a defensive lineman. Will I be mad if its not? No. With that said, a 3rd name will be added for my enjoyment of watching others squirm.
Three names make sense to me here.
Jesse Williams- DT from Alabama
Jonathan Jenkins- DT from Georgia
Eddie Lacy- RB from Alabama
With news of Worthy not being ready for the 2013 season and Pickett on the back 9 of his career, a defensive lineman just makes more and more sense. These are both bigger bodies than some of the DTs in this draft. Eddie Lacy will be a valuable choice and his "shelf life" is nothing to be concerned about. Of course, if Lacy is picked...this ruins the rest of my choices.

2nd round.
I wouldn't mind seeing the Packers going one of three routes here (all 3 names would most likely have to be a trade-up). The small emergence of EDS at center might allow the Packers to go elsewhere with this pick, hopefully safety. If they don't think EDS can carry the load at center, they push for one this round. The recent news of Finley's chances of not being a Packer next season opens up tight end. Do not rely on what the Packers have now. That spells trouble.
Three names...
Matt Elam- S from Florida
Barrett Jones- C/G/OT from Alabama
Tyler Eifert- TE from Notre Dame
These names may not even be on the board by the time the Packers are making a choice at #52. Makes this interesting. Do the Packers move up to grab one of these names? If not, more options later on...imo.


3rd round.
If a center is not chosen in the 2nd, I'd think center is an option here and might have to be a trade-up to get the name mentioned. Other two routes, runningback and wide receiver. Both units could use an extra body. Runningbacks can't stay healthy and receivers are losing Greg Jennings.
Travis Frederick- C from Wisconsin
Le'Veon Bell- RB from Michigan State
Justin Hunter- WR from Tennessee
Frederick is that big body center the Packers need to establish their run game. I really wish the small timer, Quinton Patton (LTech), was available here but I see too much info on him going early. Two names above help both units out

4th round.
Dependent on the other choices in previous rounds, 4th round can be spent pretty much anywhere. You could ask for a defensive linemen at this point, but you are most likely getting a work-in-progress type player here. Going back to defensive tackle and adding MLB.
Sylvester Williams- DT from North Carolina
Jon Bostick- MLB from Florida
I believe that the MLB position is a position of need. At this time the Packers have AJ Hawk as their best option available to play. Desmond Bishop and D.J. Smith coming off major injuries are concerning. If Jon Bostick is available here, it would be a great choice and help with the MLB woes.

5th round.
If a safety is not selected yet. I'd like to see the Packers pursue one here and have a competition with the young guns already there. Also, if a specific name is available here, I wouldn't mind the Packers taking a chance, even though they might be set at said position.
Zeke Motta- S from Notre Dame
Tyrann Mathieu- CB from *LSU
More options for the backfield. Motta can bring some competition to the Jennings/McMillian mix. Mathieu is a big time reach but the kid can play football. With our corners pretty much set, Williams play has declined since his injury and it was said that 2013 will be an open competition. Why not? Also brings on a special teams role (bye bye Jarrett Bush and take Cobb off returns). Also, Mathieu's play reminds me of a young Charles Woodson. Just sayin'

6th and 7th should be filled with work-in-progress linemen. It can be offense or defense.

Originally Posted by: Yerko 

They better draft that Leon Sandcastle!

Originally Posted by: JustinAVA182 

My first round my favorites are...
Ziggy Ansah, DE, BYU - he's tall and has ridiculously long arms (think Jason Pierre-Paul). He's raw, but he would be an ideal 5-tech. In the Capers/Lebeau scheme, you want two beefy guys and a leaner, lengthy guy (like the Steelers have in Brett Keisel, who is only 285). Ansah played some snaps at NT at BYU despite being 280 ish. When I first started pimping Ansah, he was viewed as a third-round-ish guy. He has been steadily rising (despite being quite raw), and now, after a strong Senior Bowl performance, is viewed as a mid-first. We would likely need to move up to get him.

My real favorite - and might actually be there at #26 - is Jonathan Cooper, OG, from UNC. He's a beast, fast, nimble and a nasty attitude. I think his upside as a Center is unreal. I may be the only one who thinks this way, but in our system, I see a perennial Pro Bowler and possibly HoF. I know it's very early in the process, but I'm that high on him. Cooper was at #59 on NFL Draft Scout's rankings when I took an interest. He climbed up to the mid-teens. Then as the underclassmen declared, his projection came back to within what may be our range.


The third guy on my first round list is Eric Reid, FS, LSU. He has slipped some on the online mock boards. If their speculation is correct, we could fall back into the early second and still grab him. He would be a nice one-high type safety that we have missed since Nick Collins went down.

Originally Posted by: JustJeff 

Cooper has SKY ROCKETED up draft boards even more now since the combine. The dude is a stud and imo, will have a better career than the highly noted Chance Warmack (he will still have a good career). This is where the combine comes into play. Warmack was slow, fat (fatter than he usually is) and out of shape and looked average in on-field drills. Cooper came in with 30 POUNDS of additional good weight, excelled in all tests and on-field drills.

Who do you pick between the two if they are on the board and your team is up and in need? Cooper is also noted as being smart so he can take command of an offensive line at the center position.

Originally Posted by: Yerko