Packers: Final Seven-Round mock draft
By Brennen Rupp
The NFL Draft is tomorrow. That means mock draft season is almost over. Here is my final seven-round Green Bay Packers mock draft of the season. Be gentle.
27th pick: Five options: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State. Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson. Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson. Noah Spence, OLB, Eastern Kentucky. Vernon Butler, DL, Louisiana Tech.
If Ted Thompson has to pick between these five players that’s a good problem. He could add to an already talented secondary by drafting Apple, the physical and long corner. Or he could draft Alexander who plays with an attitude and could be Casey Haywards replacement in the slot. Dodd would improve the interior pass rush. Butler would be a perfect replacement for Raji.
In the end Spence is the pick. He’s a top 15 talent and appears to have put his off the field issues behind him. Spence would bolster the Packers pass rush and be the future running mate on the edge for Clay Matthews.
57th pick: Five options: Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech. Kentrell Brothers, ILB, Missouri. Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma, Sean Davis, DB, Maryland. Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn.
There were not a lot of attractive options in the second round with Deion Jones, Christian Westerman and Austin Johnson all going within five picks before the Packers pick. If this is how the scenario played out don’t be shocked if Thompson trades out. A trade up in the second round is not out of the question with two fourth round compensatory picks looming.
With this pick I’ll go with the tradition of Thompson taking wide receivers in the second round. Shepard is lightning quick. The shifty wide receiver could cause havoc for opposing defenses with Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball. He can also return punts. Jeff Janis, Jared Abbrederis and Davante Adams will be put on notice.
88th pick: Five options: Maliek Collins, DL, Nebraska. Jihad Ward, DE, Illinois. Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA. Sheldon Day, DE, Notre Dame. Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame.
IF Smith falls this far the Packers need to snatch him up with no hesitation. He’s a top five talent that could end up being the missing piece for the Packers defense and the entire team. He’s that type of playmaker when healthy. Even if he only comes back at 80 percent in 2017, he’s still a heck of an option at inside linebacker.
125th pick: Five options: Dean Lowry, DE, Northwestern. Scooby Wright, ILB, Arizona. Graham Glasgow, G, Michigan. Zack Sanchez, CB, Oklahoma. Ben Brauneker, TE, Harvard.
Dean Lowry is the pick. Lowry improved every season during his time at Northwestern. He’s a lunch box and hard hat type of guy. He recorded 13.5 tackles for loss in his final year. Lowry is very strong against the run, but won’t offer much in the pass rush department.
131st pick: Five options: Graham Glasgow, G, Michigan. Zack Sanchez, CB, Oklahoma. Ben Brauneker, TE Harvard. Adam Gostis, DE, Georgia Tech. James Cowser, OLB, Southern Utah.
Thompson adds another defensive lineman with Gostis. Gostis had his senior season cut short due to an ACL tear. Gostis has a quick first step and can collapse the pocket with his bull rush. He plays with an edge and has a relentless motor.
137 pick: Five options: Graham Glasgow, G, Michigan. Ben Brauneker, TE, Harvard. Blake Martinez, LB, Stanford. Nick Kwiatkoski, ILB, West Virginia. Joe Thuney, G, NC State.
The choice between Martinez and Kwiatkoski is a tough one. Both are aggressive against the run. Both have decent coverage skills. In the end Kwiatkoski is the pick. He’s a smart and physical linebacker. High motor with plus coverage skills and a special teams ace. Kwiatkoski and Jake Ryan give the Packers a solid duo at inside linebacker until Smith returns in 2017.
163rd pick: Sebastian Tretola, G, Arkansas, D.J. Reader, DT, Clemson. Tyvis Powell, S, Ohio State. Josh Ferguson, RB, Illinois. DeAndre Washington, RB, Texas Tech.
This pick would come down to Tretola and Reader. Does Thompson take Tretola in case he can’t re-sign both Josh Sitton or T.J. Lang? Or does he go with Reader to get a true nose tackle on the roster until Mike Pennel returns?
If the season were to start today Letroy Guion would be the starting nose tackle with not much depth behind him until Pennel returns from his suspension. Reader is the pick. He’s an athletic big man with good short area quickness. He plays with good leverage and bring a little spice to the interior pass rush.
200th pick: Jayron Kearse, S, Clemson. Darrell Greene, G, San Diego State. Deon Bush, S, Miami. Cole Toner, OL, Harvard. Anthony Fabiano, G, Harvard.
Toner is the pick. He’s got the versatility to play tackle or guard. His best position might be guard at the next level. He’ll need a year to polish his game but could possibly replace Sitton or Lang or J.C. Tretter as the top backup.
248th pick: Spencer Drango, OL, Baylor. David Morgan, TE, UTSA. Zack Sterup, OT, Nebraska. Brandon Williams, CB, Texas A&M. Ugonna Awuruonye, Campbell.
Drango is the pick. He can play tackle or guard. His back procedure is a big red flag. He also needs time to refine his game, but he could be a gem in the seventh round.