Beast's Pre-FA Mock Draft
Trying to use a reasonable trade, based on the rumored compensation for Rodgers, it sounds like it's going to be a 2nd this year and conditional pick next year that could go up to a 1st (and I threw in some other odds and ends).
Also maybe the biggest surprise was I also tried S Savage in the deal based on a rumor long ago that Savage could be traded to help offset Rodgers dead cap by freeing up about $8 million, also because I feel like Savage is not a great fit for S in a super heavy zone defense which we are sticking with and Jets could use an athletic coverage Safety.
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You have insufficient rights to see the content.Edge Murphy: There are enough top talented DL that one of them is likely to drop (or there will be a great QB, OL or DB option that drops if they're all taken). I don't think Myles Murphy will be the one that drops, but if he does, I'm taking him. On the downside he hasn't really developed since his freshman year, but I feel like Clemson asks their DL to be too conservative which stops their growth but PFF compares Murphy to Packers OLB Gary as they might not be ready right away, but they have mega potential if you can develop them.
TE Washington: Honestly, I'm going to be slightly surprised if he falls out of the 1st round as he has the highest potential of any TE, even if he's not nearly as developed as many others in the receiving game. But some TE should fall here and Packers should consider them. Though Washington has had some issues staying healthy and he's not as ready to go as others, even with that huge potential, but generally, teams seem to draft for potential.
C/OG Tippman: Huge Center that can clearly play OG and he's extremely experienced and surprisingly athletic... some have said he moves like a TE in the open field. High potential and can work any scheme. I'm looking at him for C and RG.
S Battle: Not as athletic as some others but probably the highest talent floor of any Safety not going in the 1st round and extremely smart and you might not want him in man coverage but extremely heavy zone coverage might be perfect for him.
CB Ricks: I like how one PFF called him the octopus CB, but injuries the last two years limited him making his freshman year his best year but he was amazing as a freshman. He does not have the preferred speed but he has long arms and knows how to use them extremely well to knock passes away all day long, and again, want him for playing in zone. Very smart. If his run defense was a bit better, I think I'd want him in the slot as you aren't tricking him often in the pass game.
S Robinson: Like Battle above, Robinson is clearly one of the most well rounded but maybe try to keep them out of deep man coverage but for zone I think they're great, and Robinson is also great at staying off blocks when coming down attacking the run game.
WR Mingo: I felt like I needed to pick a Safety, I went with Mingo because he's big 6'2" 225, he's physical, has played a lot as a large slot WR (which the wide zone offenses are very well known for and the Packers really haven't had that guy other than Adams and Tonyan) and he ran a 4.46 which isn't special until you remember he's 225 lbs and for that size that's sort of impressive.
DT Turner: I'm not sure Turner will be on the Packers draft boards, as usually they like the huge NTs types, but they did draft DT Wyatt in the first round, but would they want two attacking DTs?. Turner is a bit smaller at 6'2" 290 lbs, but he's also quick as a whip at times, penetrating with quickness is his bread and butter, but he's also shown amazing hussle chasing the ball carrier down from behind when most DTs would of pulled up and waited for the play and has caused a few fumbles that way, and he also has played on STs.
WR Kuntz: I don't care that he's 6'7" 255lbs, Pat McAfee was more stout than him, and Jimmy Graham is more physical than him and Graham is a WR to me and so Kuntz is a WR to me... I'm not asking Kuntz to block someone unless he has at least 30 lbs on the guy and he still might not do an amazing job. So if I'm being honest, Kuntz has a high bust potential... but this is a late 5th round pick and while Kuntz is probably going to bust, if he improves in a couple of key areas, and basically red shirts two years, he also has the potential to be a big boom...
With the exception of the 3 cone drill, Kuntz at 6'7" 255lbs beat WR Davante Adams, in every single combine event including better 40 yard dash times than Adams and James Jones. He can naturally outreach most DBs jumps, knows how to use his body to wall off defenders. This is a moderate to small risk, that will probably bust but potential could be a very good pick.
TE: Mallory is not an online blocker either, but more of an H-back, in a straight line he's very athletic running the fastest 40 time for TE this year. But struggles to keep up the athletism more you ask him to change direction, but still, LaFleur schemes TEs open for catch and runs and Mallory could maximum those, so he clearly would have a role even if a limit one as the Packers try to coach him into being more well rounded.
QB Cunningham: More of a running QB than a true QB, Cunningham is electric running the ball and has a strong arm but has a whole lot to learn about footwork and passing, so he'd be competing for QB3 not backup, but the Packers do have Tom Clements whom seemed to have Rodgers and Love develop.
S Merriweather: Seems like a solid S, nothing special but Iowa players are usually extremely well coached and that seems to be true for Merriweather.
DL Stills: I don't think Stills will fall this far, but he's been playing as an unsized DT at 6'3½" and under 275lb DT, and I was going to switch him to be an edge player as I think he could make it as a good backup Edge player, but apparently he's gained weight and was been weighing in at over 285lbs and 291 at the east/west shine all star game. As a DT, Stills is a penetrator using quickness and quick hands to put pressure on guys with very little power to stop double teams which is why he's rated so low and why I was going to move him to edge as he'd be a heavy edge at 275lbs, but still have his quickness, though he doesn't eat up enough ground to be a speed edge, but I thought he could be a good large but quick edge.
Also Stills has family history in the NFL, brother DT Darius hasn't made an NFL team nor PS but was in training camp with the Chiefs, father LB Gary spent 10 years in the NFL mostly with the Chiefs/Ravens and made one probowl, Uncle S Ken spent 5 years with the Packers, and cousin WR Kenny spend 9 years in the NFL with many teams.