Green Bay Packers: One Pro and Con for each Draft Pick

Green Bay Packers’ 2nd-4th Round Picks

2nd Round – Josh Myers – C – Ohio State

Positive

Josh Myers is very well fit to play in Green Bay’s heavy zone run scheme because he did a lot of it at Ohio State. He has great speed and quickness for a lineman and can get to his aiming points when he has to reach block on outside zones with a defender a gap away from him. He also helps himself out by taking good angles when he needs to get to someone that has an advantage over him.

Negative

He’s not a powerful blocker who’s going to drive guys off the line and open up big holes. He did do 29 bench reps, which puts him in the 75th percentile, but that doesn’t necessarily show up on tape. Trying to push around Big 10 defensive lineman is no easy task, but while he will get to his aiming points and even turn guys, he won’t be making any highlight reel blocks that a mauler type like Quinn Meinerz of Wisconsin-Whitewater would.

3rd Round – Amari Rodgers – WR – Clemson

Positive

The Packers finally have a slot receiver again! There’s been a big void in this offense in the two seasons since Randall Cobb left, and it’s been in the slot. They are fairly similar builds, with Cobb at 5’10” 192 pounds and Rodgers at 5’9″ 212 pounds. Of course, this offense has survived without a true slot guy, but this gives them another dimension to the offense that Matt Lafleur will enjoy working in. Last year, they ran a lot of crossing routes to convert third downs, and they were great at it, but we saw too many drops and receivers not playing off downfield blocks well, both of which can be remedied by Rodgers.

Negative

Contrary to what is usually the Green Bay Packers’ entire draft plan, they went with a player who doesn’t have elite athletic traits. His Relative Athletic Score came in at only a slightly above average 5.37, and his aggregate scores for speed, burst, and agility are all below average. He has good in-game speed and quickness but isn’t quite as explosive as some other receivers in this draft class.

4th Round – Royce Newman – OL – Ole Miss

Positive

Newman will provide the Packers offensive line with some great versatility. He played tackle at Ole Miss, but like Jon Runyan last season, he’ll probably make the switch to guard in the NFL. He’ll still have the possibility of playing outside and filling the spot in the event of an injury with 33 4/4 inch arms, which aren’t ideal but don’t completely disqualify him from playing outside for the Packers if he can show the ability needed.

Negative

The negative is that I don’t believe he has the ability to do it. He lacks strength, especially in the run game and gets off balance, and whiffs far too often. His 23 bench reps make him 30th percentile, and he doesn’t utilize the strength that he does have extremely well on the field. He also often plays too high, and speed rushers can duck underneath him while power guys can get into his chest and bull rush him.