Needs be damned, Ted Thompson adds another corner, WR
By Phil Watson
With most of the experts—and most of Packer Nation—looking for the Green Bay Packers to address their biggest need at inside linebacker, general manager Ted Thompson continued to perplex during the second night of the NFL Draft on Friday.
More from Green Bay Packers
- Packers Week 14 Rooting Guide: Best Outcomes for Playoff Odds
- What to Know: Packers reportedly sign RB Kenyan Drake
- Packers Rookie Ladder After Massive Win Over Chiefs
- What to Know: Packers claim CB David Long off waivers
- Packers Week 13 Playoff Update: Green Bay Controls Their Own Destiny
The Packers selected Miami (Ohio) cornerback Quinten Rollins in the second round and Stanford wide receiver Ty Montgomery in the third round of the draft in Chicago.
As far as the whole linebacker thing, Thompson said he is aware of the issue.
“We’re going to address that just like we address all other positions and try to make it as strong as we can,” Thompson told reporters via the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Rollins was Green Bay’s second consecutive choice in the secondary, joining first rounder Damarious Randall of Arizona State, who went in the first round.
Rollins, a former basketball player at Miami, adds more depth to a secondary that lost starter Tramon Williams to the Cleveland Browns and nickel back Davon House to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency.
Taken 62nd overall, Rollins played just one season at Miami after a sterling four-year career for the RedHawks on the basketball court, where he finished second all-time with 214 steals.
With a year of eligibility remaining, Rollins tried out for football last spring and wound up as a starter and with a scholarship. He was the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year—an impressive leap from not having played since high school.
Rollins had seven interceptions—which led the MAC—and 72 tackles last season, including four for loss. Rollins had nine passes defensed and forced a fumble and one of his interceptions was returned for a touchdown.
Like Randall, who played baseball before settling on football, Rollins is the type of multisport athlete Thompson likes.
Despite his lack of experience, ESPN.com rated Rollins as exceptional in ball skills and in run support, while noting average instincts and coverage skills.
But it’s worth pointing out that an aggressive player who can play physical and is willing to tackle could help the Packers’ moribund special teams unit as well.
While wide receiver certainly wasn’t a huge need for the Packers, what with Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb under contract for the next four years and with 2014 second-round pick Davante Adams breaking out late in his rookie year, Montgomery is also an exceptional return man who will likely take over those duties in 2015.
ESPN.com says Montgomery is at his best with the ball in his hands, whether after the catch or in the return game, with a blend of vision and elusiveness combined with great balance.
Montgomery was a consensus All-American as a junior in 2013 as an all-purpose player, and had 61 catches for 604 yards and three touchdowns to go with 144 rushing yards and a score on 23 carries as a senior. He wasn’t used as much on special teams as a senior, averaging 25.2 yards on 17 kickoff returns and 19.8 yards on 12 punt returns, bringing two back for touchdowns.
Oct 25, 2014; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal wide receiver Ty Montgomery (7) rushes for a big gain during the third quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Stanford Stadium. Stanford won 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
As a junior, he averaged 30.3 yards per kickoff return on 36 attempts and scored two touchdowns. He had five special teams scores in four years for the Cardinal.
For his career, Montgomery had 172 receptions for 2,125 yards and 15 touchdowns—10 as a junior—and rushed for 334 yards and four touchdowns on 39 career carries.
He scored 24 touchdowns in all for Stanford.
At nearly 6-feet and 221 pounds, one Packers scout said Montgomery was like a larger version of Cobb.
“Yeah, he’s more like a Cobb,” West Coast scout Sam Seale told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “He’s a bigger Cobb, but he’s a wide receiver. For four years at Stanford, he lined up all over the field. But from scouting him the last four years I think he’s a wide receiver.”
Thompson liked him—obviously.
“I think he’s a very dynamic player,” Thompson said. “Certainly, he’s got strong hands. Good, quick hands. He’s very versatile. He does have a lot of return cred from returns in his career. So a guy like that is a pretty good fit for what we’re trying to do.”
And as for the whole inside linebacker thing?
“I think it’s fine,” Thompson said. “I don’t know, I have confidence in the fellas that we have.”
Live Feed
Just Blog Baby
Whether that means we’ll see more of Clay Matthews on the inside of the defense next season or not, Thompson wouldn’t say.
“I wouldn’t care to tell you whether we’re going to address anything in the draft or not,” Thompson said. “This thing is a long way from being put to bed.”
The Packers go into the final day of the draft Saturday with the 129th overall pick in Round 4, the 166th overall pick in the fifth round, three picks in the sixth round—Nos. 206, 210 and 2013—and a seventh-round selection at No. 247 overall.
Will any of those be a linebacker?
Stay tuned.