I am liking the Josh Boyd pick more and more as I learn about his level of play. This from Zach Kruse at BR:
"WWith an obvious short- and long-term need along the defensive line, the Green Bay Packers decided one dip into the positional pool wasn't enough during the 2013 NFL draft.
Four rounds after taking UCLA defensive end Datone Jones, the Packers called on Mississippi State's Josh Boyd at No. 167 in the fifth round.
The double-dip wasn't surprising. Depth worries and looming contract statuses ensured the Packers would enter this year's draft with a priority of adding bodies to the defensive line.
At 6'3" and 310 pounds, Boyd is a wide body capable of contributing to the rotation next season.
Here's how Boyd fits in Green Bay.
Role: Rotational two-down run-stuffer
Anyone who watched even a few minutes of the Packers' playoff exit in San Francisco this past January could identify run defense as a clear weakness in Green Bay.
At least some of those struggles could be attributed to the Packers' draft in 2012, when they took two defensive linemen—Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels—who were expected to help bolster the pass rush. Neither Worthy, who struggled at times as a rookie, nor Daniels, more of a situational pass-rusher, contributed much in terms of run-stopping.
Adding a big body like Boyd will help in that area next season.
Possessing good length and functional strength in his 310-pound frame, Boyd should be a capable two-down run-stuffer for the Packers next season.
Boyd might not be much of a factor as a pass-rusher (just 8.5 career sacks in three years of starting experience), but Dom Capers can take him off the field in obvious passing downs for the likes of Daniels, Worthy (when healthy) and Mike Neal.
Double-teams in the run game shouldn't be a problem for him, as Boyd posted 32 reps of 225 pounds at the NFL combine. That power will make him capable of holding the anchor point in the base defense as a potential 5-technique or nose tackle.
Stacy Revere/Getty Images
While Boyd likely won't be asked to be anything more than a rotational player as a rookie, down the road expectations may rise.
The Packers have five defensive linemen who will be free agents following the 2013 season, including veteran Ryan Pickett. All five won't move on next spring, but it's reasonable to expect the Packers to lose some depth up front.
And Pickett, who will turn 34 in October, can't be counted on to play at a high level as a run-stopper forever. He could regress starting next season, and Boyd might be the one called on to replace him.
All these factors make it less than surprising that general manager Ted Thompson decided to double-dip on defensive linemen.
Jones can be the disruptive, three-down player the Packers need right now, while Boyd can fill in as a rotational player in 2013 before potentially playing a much bigger role down the road."
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1620948-josh-boyd-to-packers-how-does-defensive-lineman-fit-with-green-bay Also this video reaction to the pick:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1621058-josh-boyd-to-the-green-bay-packers-instant-video-reaction
And this explains some of his drop off in his Senior year after a really great Junior year at MSU:
"For each of the past three years, Mississippi State has had at least three players taken in the NFL Draft. Defensive tackle Josh Boyd became the third this year when he was selected late in the fifth round by Green Bay on Saturday.
Boyd was the 34th pick of the round, 167th overall. On Friday, former Bulldogs Darius Slay and Johnthan Banks were both taken in the second round.
It’s the first time since 1999-2001 that State had at least three players drafted three consecutive years. Under coach Dan Mullen, who’s been at the helm four years, MSU has had 12 players drafted by NFL teams.
After a strong junior season in which he recorded career highs in tackles (51), tackles-for-loss (8.0) and sacks (5.5), Boyd saw his numbers go down as a senior without former linemate Fletcher Cox – a first-round pick last year – by his side.
The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Boyd had 33 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks last season.
“For a big guy, he’s got some pretty nimble feet,” Packers defensive line coach Mike Trgovac told the Milwaukee Journal.
Read more: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal - Packers select DT Boyd"
http://djournal.com/view/full_story/22391524/article-Packers-select--DT-Boyd?instance=secondary_stories_left_column