Green Bay Packers: Mel Kiper Jr. releases an interesting mock draft
By Paul Bretl

In Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft, he has the Green Bay Packers making some unconventional selections in the first round.
While the Green Bay Packers have a number of positions that need to be addressed this offseason, there are a few, in particular, that are held in a higher priority than others. That would include finding a guard or tackle for the right side of the offensive line, a safety to solidify the back-end of the secondary, a consistent tight end, and of course, their biggest need, an edge rusher.
I don’t believe that there is anyone who would disagree with the fact that above all else the Green Bay Packers desperately need an impact edge rusher. However, in the latest mock draft of ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., he does not have the Packers taking an edge rusher in the first round, or any of the major positions of need for that matter.
In mock draft 2.0, Kiper has the Packers selecting wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown with the 12th overall pick. My initial reaction was this is far too soon to be taking Hollywood, but Kiper believes that adding a deep threat for Aaron Rodgers is a “no brainer”.
"“He (Brown) can fly, but he is also a good route-runner. The Packers were playing various late-round picks at receiver last season, so adding pass-catching options is a no brainer. And Brown would be a smaller deep threat for Aaron Rodgers.”"
There is no denying that Hollywood is an explosive player on the football field. Last season he hauled in 75 receptions, averaging 17.6 yards per catch and caught ten touchdown passes.
In addition to his straight-line speed that makes him so dangerous on the deep route, is Brown’s ability to change directions so suddenly, which makes him difficult to cover on shorter routes as well. But something to be cautious of is Brown’s size, he can be pushed around much easier and could struggle to make contested catches.
While he may not possess the raw talent that Hollywood has, the Green Bay Packers have Marquez Valdes-Scantling who has shown us that he can outrun most cover corners and provide Rodgers with that deep threat. Taking Hollywood at 12 seems like a reach to me.
By the time the Green Bay Packers were back on the clock with the 30th pick, all of the top edge rushers were off of the board already. So Kiper felt that the best option for the Packers would be inside linebacker Devin Bush from Michigan.
"“This is another match for need — starter Jake Ryan missed all of 2018 with a torn ACL and is not a free agent, which means there’s a void in the middle of the Green Bay defense. Bush is a bit undersized (5-11, 235), but he’s a terrific sideline-to-sideline linebacker. I gave the Packers a receiver with their first pick, but they could also be in the market for an outside linebacker, especially with Clay Matthews a free agent.”"
For Michigan last season, Bush totaled 66 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss, and also added 4.5 sacks, along with four pass deflections. He is a big-time tackler that can cover a lot of open space as Kiper noted above. But he is still a bit smaller than the prototypical inside linebacker and has room to improve with his coverage skills.
With Blake Martinez and last year’s third-round draft pick Oren Burks continuing to develop, I just don’t see Green Bay spending a first round pick on the inside linebacker position.
Next. Packers should sign a veteran quarterback. dark
These are solid players that the Green Bay Packers could end up drafting and could potentially step in to make an impact in 2019. However, given the current construction of the roster, at this point, I feel that there are bigger needs for the team to address with their first-round picks, other than wide receiver and inside linebacker.