Click on a link to check out their draft profile and throw up a comment. Collectively, how do you feel about this draft class?

1st Round (12th Overall) DE Rashan Gary 

1st Round (21st Overall) DB Darnell Savage Jr 

2nd Round (44th Overall) G Elgton Jenkins  

3rd Round (75th Overall) TE Jace Sternberger 

5th Round (150th Overall) DE Kingsley Keke 

6th Round (185th Overall) CB Ka'dar Hollman 

6th Round (194th Overall) RB Dexter Williams 

7th Round (226th Overall) ILB Ty Summers 

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First, I have a proven track record of being wrong on my draft evaluations in the past....repeatedly and consistantly....from Tony Mandarich to Oren Burks, who I thought would start and dominate day one.

With those caveats...here goes....some thoughts re-posted from other threads.

Overall:[list]

It is a very athletic group[*]Clearly there is some development that needs to be done near term, so Gutey must trust the staff[*]Clearly, the staff had a helluva lot of input. I like it, because these guys are going to sink and swim together[*]They must feel Burks/Josh Jones are going to be seeing alot of time at LB...they better have a big jump[*]I am a huge Pettine fan and so must the organization be, as we are drafting to his schemes...dare I say to very specific need[*]They are counting on Allison and some of our youngsters to step it up...you gotta gamble somewhere[*]As Buckeye pointed out, we may very well see huge turnover at guard....fine with me.[*]The drafting and defense seem to me to be New England like, with tons of flexible players.[/list]Since everyone at Lombardi Avenue seems to be on the same page....I am good with it.

Specifically:[list][*]I think we could have gotton Gary lower, i.e. traded down and net kept a fourth rounder[*]LOVE the safety (see above, which means he'll suck)[*]Getsy clearly has the ear of the organization as at least two guys were linked to him[/list][*]Although not the specific guys I wanted, I am happy we are trying to upgrade the guard play.

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Where's Savage?
#21

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Buckeye...it shows on my viewing of Z2C's post

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Being a non expert who does not sit and watch hours and hours of tape on hundreds and hundreds of players, I am overall satisfied with the draft. There will always be questions. Why did they take this player. Why didn't they take that one.

Above all I would love to sit in the draft room and listen to their conversations.

I mentioned it in another post, I find it very convenient that positions of need dovetailed so well with the BPA.

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[list]

I'm completely divided on the Gary pick. One minute I'm worried about his shoulder and lack of refinement, then I watch a clip and fall in love with his speed and athleticism. Regardless, Gutey wouldn't have drafted him if Pettine didn't think he could do something with him and that's enough for me at the moment.

While it came at a high cost, I absolutely love Savage as a future starting FS. Dude plays like a heat seeking missile. With a steady vet like Amos alongside him, I think the bumps in the road with this guy will be minimized

Was hoping we could grab one of the OTs that fell out of the first round at #44, but I like Jenkins in the middle with the ability to play G or C if Linsley gets hurt.

Sternberger looks like the seam busting threat we haven't had since Finley went down against the Browns in 2013. Him and Graham should be able to be big bodied targets in the red zone if LaFleurs scheme works as advertised. And that's probably all he'll be doing this year given how rookie TEs work.

Keke looks like a real intriguing piece. Surprisingly athletic and quick given his build.

Was happy with the drafting of Hollman as I wanted a day 3 pick for depth at CB. Another burner in the secondary and will contribute on ST if he makes the cut in training camp.

Williams might be the best value pick in this draft class. Looks like a guy who can immediately plug a role (#2 RB). Also happy with this pick as a I wanted a day 3 pick for depth at RB.

Summers looks like the typical 7th rounder: good camp fodder and will be a ST guy if he makes the team

In general & misc:

Gutey is clearly getting guys that Pettine wants

Gutey is also big on speed and athleticism

With the additions of Savage, Hollman and Amos on top of King, Alexander and Jones, we have some real speed in our secondary and they don't look afraid to hit. No more Haha's, Peprahs or MacMillians here. That said, some of them are on the small side and durability might be an issue

I still stand by my assessment that this D-Line could be a monster  this year.

Montravius Adams might be in trouble, esp if Mo Wilkerson is brought back (supposedly offered a one year deal that's pending on a physical)

Not looking good for McCray, Taylor and Spriggs either . Personally, I think there's going to be a blood-letting of Thompsons guys at the end of training camp

I'm officially dubbing Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith as Z-Smith and P-Smith. Also, I'm dubbing Jamaal Williams and Dexter Williams as J-Williams and D-Williams (or J-Will and D-Will for short).

Sternberger, Keke and D-Will are One Year Wonders of sorts. Sternberger from transferring, Keke from switching positions and D-Will from only playing one year.

While I like St. Brown and MVS, I admit I'm worried about the WR position. Outside of Adams, there's no real proven commodity.

Speaking of thin positions, there's the ILB spot. It's somewhat mitigated with sub packages and using Jones in the box but it remains an eye sore.

I think the RB group will be a darkhorse on offense this year. Aaron Jones and D-Will look like a nice 1-2 combo and will allow J-Will to settle in as a nuts and bolts/little big of everything guy.

Outside of trading up for Savage, Gutey seemed to get the guys he wanted at the spots where we drafted. #steelyeyedassassin

Did you know that Savage is a Savage Jr? Meaning there's a Savage Senior?! Sounds like a guy who eats meat uncooked and is tougher that a coffin nail.

The Packers subreddit on reddit is trying to dub our secondary as the Legion of Zoom. I can get behind this idea.

Does Keke love us ?

With our current depth at ILB, it almost makes me wish we had AJ Hawk back. Almost.

[/list]

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I was really hoping for an ILB and a WR, and was hoping they would be higher end picks. These are really the only two positions that I am really concerned about on our roster at this point in time.

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WR could be an issue, but we've got Allison and Kumerow in case the young 'uns don't step it up. That's what they're there for. The worst case scenario.

However I do expect them to take that 2nd year jump, especially Jmon, who has the potential to be Davante 2.0. MVS could be a Donald Driver type dude.

So if the rooks step forward, we're good. If they don't, we're just ok. Out of the three, at least two will come on strong, imo. This offense will play to their strengths.

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Okay, so here is who I was hoping we would draft at the actual selected positions.
1st 12th - DE Brian Burns
1st 21st - DE Montez Sweat
2nd 44th - WR A. J. Brown
3rd 75th - TE Jace Sternberger


I really had no actual thoughts about the other ones. And to be honest, I know NOTHING about the players other than what I've read and found online so my "preference" picks are crap shoot. So, if somehow those first three turn into Hall of Fame players, it was purely luck. And if they turn out to be complete washouts, that's more accurately depicting my knowledge of college players.

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