Potential Targets For Packers: Inside Linebackers
By Anthony Nash
When the 2015 season kicked off for the Packers, it seemed as if they finally had a bit of depth in defensive positions such as outside linebacker. With guys like Jayrone Elliot, Mike Neal, and Nick Perry all healthy, the team could afford to push Clay Matthews inside, a position the team desperately needed performance in. While Matthews’ performance wasn’t terrible, it’s been clear this offseason that Coach McCarthy wants his superstar pass rusher back outside, and that means getting some much needed production out of the inside linebacker position.
While players like Sam Barrington and Jake Ryan will still be on the team in 2016, it’s not a guarantee that they will do anything that makes the team much better. Barrington was unfortunately out for pretty much all of last year, and Jake Ryan is still a work in progress.
While the rest of the defensive unit might benefit from some depth, ILB is certainly not one of those positions. If the team wants to be able to move Matthews back outside and continue to get production inside, they’ll have to look elsewhere. Thankfully, there seems to be some options this offseason that may help fill that missing piece.
FREE AGENTS
Derrick Johnson (2015 Team: Chiefs)
A player like Derrick Johnson fits the prototypical bill that Ted Thompsons free agents usually do: not only is he a veteran player (Johnson will be 34 in November) with minimal off the field issues, he’s also a player who, should he sign with Green Bay, won’t demand as much money as other star linebackers. Skills wise, Johnson can certainly still play, and his surprising comeback from an Achilles injury shows just how tough he is. Pro Football Focus graded him as a top eight linebacker in both run defense and coverage, two things that are in great need of upgrade for Green Bay.
Danny Trevathan (2015 Team: Broncos)
Hey, a guy can dream, can’t he? In a free agent market that features quite a list of talented inside linebackers, Trevathan is certainly right at the top. Unfortunately, he might just be out of Ted’s wallet range, as the young linebacker is most likely looking at a pretty nice payday come next week. While he didn’t play all three downs last year, he’s a player who’s been consistently great in stopping the run and is one of the highest ranked linebackers in terms of tackling efficiency. While it may be a pipe dream, it wouldn’t hurt to look at him.
Jerrell Freeman (2015 Team: Colts)
Much like Derrick Johnson, Freeman is someone who will be “old” come next season (he’ll be 30 in May). Despite a pretty poor campaign in 2014, Jerrell turned things around last year and improved not only his tackling, but his run defense–just in time for free agency. He might not command as much money as Johnson and Trevathan, and he’s been a decent player in coverage, but you might worry about which player you’re getting: the new and improved Jerrell, or the 2014 “not-that-great-at-all” Jerrell.
DRAFT
If for some reason the Packers don’t go after any of the free agent linebackers, they won’t exactly be out of luck. As you’re all well aware, Ted loves to develop his team through the draft, and this years class of inside linebackers might just be as good as it gets. Let’s take a look at three prospects who, if selected, would be welcome additions to the defensive squad:
Reggie Ragland (ALA)-6’1″ / 247 lbs / 4.72 40 yard dash
Projected: Early – Late 1st
At the beginning of the draft season, it might have been nothing more than a dream for Green Bay to land Ragland at 27, but thanks to an average showing at the combine, it might not be completely crazy to think he can end up a Packer. Ragland is an explosive player. He is a bonafide elite run stopper who can time snaps and shoot gaps with the best of them. In 2014, he recorded 163 tackles, 29 TFL, 14 sacks, and 6 forced fumbles in what was one of the best seasons for any college linebacker ever.
Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame) – 6’3” / 229 lbs / N/A 40 yard dash
Projected: 1st – 2nd
Had Jaylon Smith not suffered a gruesome injury in one of his last college games, he wouldn’t even be on this list…because he’d be gone 25-26 picks ago. Now that we’ve heard his entire 2016 season might be gone, he might not get taken in the first round at all. However, if Green Bay should find him on the board, he’d be a player that’s definitely worth the investment. Prior to his injury, Smith was one of the best defenders in the country and won the Butkus award as the nations top linebacker. He’s a player who has all the traits of a player who can in either a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. A future three-down starter, Jaylon is capable of covering passes and defending the run as a quick, instinctive and consistent player.
Scooby Wright III (Arizona) – 6’0” / 239 lbs / 4.90 40 yard dash
Projected: Late 1st – Late 2nd
In 2014, Wright racked up 160 tackles and 31 TFL to go along with 15 sacks. That alone is insane production, but sadly we never got to see much else from him. Wright was limited to just 3 games in his 2015 season due to injury. Regardless, he is a player that is extremely active on the field and shows the ability to read plays, which only adds to his elite instincts when it comes to stopping the run. In his last game in Arizona, he flashed his abilities with 3.5 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks, and luckily for Green Bay, he might even still be there on the second day of the draft.
Nick Kwiatkoski (WVU) – 6’2” / 243 lbs / 4.73 40 yard dash
Projected: Late 1st / Early 2nd
Besides having a pretty badass last name (pronounced quit-KOW-ski), Nick would bring something the Packers desperately need from their linebackers: explosive tackling. Kwiatkoski is a former safety who played at three different linebacker spots in his college career and racked up an impressive 275 tackles. Another linebacker who’s skilled at timing, he’s someone who’s going to be an aggressive hound for the ball and could even become a star on the special teams unit.