Green Bay Packers bring in just 11 for pre-draft visits
By Phil Watson
Some teams are going for volume in advance of next week’s NFL Draft in Chicago. The Green Bay Packers appear to be honing things with a razor focus.
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According to a very unofficial list of pre-draft visits compiled by NFLDraftScout.com, as reported by CBSSports.com, the Packers have met with just 11 players as of Tuesday morning.
That compares to the 43 the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have brought in for workouts and/or private meetings.
The Packers currently hold the 30th selection in the first round and have nine total picks in the draft, which will go from April 30-May 2.
Green Bay’s main needs appear to be at cornerback, inside linebacker and tight end. One cornerback worked out for the Packers, Marshall’s Darryl Roberts.
No inside linebackers were on Green Bay’s list, but they did have private visits with tight ends Jesse James of Penn State and Matt LaCosse of Illinois.
Other players who had have contact with the Packers leading up to the draft include:
- Offensive tackle Blaine Clausell of Mississippi State (private visit)
- Wide receiver Adrian Coxson of Stony Brook (private visit)
- Wide receiver R.J. Harris of New Hampshire (private visit)
- Defensive tackle Darius Kilgo of Maryland (private visit)
- Wide receiver Jordan Leslie of BYU (private visit)
- Defensive tackle Joey Mbu of Houston (workout)
- Quarterback Bryce Petty of Baylor (private visit)
- Fullback Aaron Ripkowski of Nebraska (private visit)
The Packers lost starting cornerback Tramon Williams to the Cleveland Browns and key backup Davon House to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency.
Nov 22, 2014; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini tight end Matt Lacosse (11) celebrates a touchdown with running back Donovonn Young (5) in the second quarter of the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
Casey Hayward appears to be the frontrunner to take Williams’ spot in the starting secondary opposite Sam Shields, but most of Hayward’s playing time has been in the slot, rather than the outside, but the same holds true for Micah Hyde, who has spent more time at safety than corner.
Green Bay also has Demetri Goodson, a sixth-round pick last year that did not play a down on defense in 2014.
The inside linebacker cupboard is bare, so it’s interesting to see what general manager Ted Thompson has in mind, considering none are on the visitors list thus far.
The Packers cut veterans A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones in February and did not make an offer to free agent Jamari Lattimore, who signed with the New York Jets.
Sam Barrington, who started seven games last season—including the postseason—would appear to have the inside track (pardon the pun) for one of the spots and Clay Matthews could see more situational work inside, as well.
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Richard Rodgers, a third-round pick last year, appears to be the best of the tight ends on the roster and turned into a key target for fellow California product Aaron Rodgers late in the season. Andrew Quarless is what he is—a decent veteran who won’t do anything to kill the offense, but won’t do anything to wow anyone either.
The Packers also have Justin Perillo, who was mostly inactive as an undrafted free agent last year.
Brandon Bostick was released after his special teams gaffe on an onside kick in the NFC Championship.
But I would count myself in the #InTedWeTrust crowd; he’s had more hits than misses, particularly in the area of finding diamonds in the rough in the mid- to late rounds and as undrafted free agents.
And, well, there’s that whole deciding to draft Aaron Rodgers thing that sorta leaps out at you.