2018 NFL Draft: Packers have options on Day 2

Posted on April 27, 2018

By MARQUES EVERSOLL

The Green Bay Packers were busier than busy in the first round. General manager Brian Gutekunst moved down from 14 to 27, and back up to 18, and would up with Louisville cornerback Jaire Alexander as his first draft pick.

In the process of acquiring the New Orleans Saints’ first-round pick in 2019, the Packers parted one of their picks on the second day this year — No. 76 in the third round. So, as things stand, their only selection Friday is No. 45 in the second round. (But more moves could happen, as we witnessed Thursday night.)

Looking at the board of available players with the first 32 picks off the board, there’s a large pool of talent at positions of need for the Packers.

EDGE Harold Landry — Boston College

Landry was my guy for the Packers in the first round until Tony Pauline told us just before he draft that Landry was “falling,” due to some injury concerns. If that’s the case, who knows how far he’ll fall. If he’s picked early in the second round, and you’re a Packers fan, you should hope Landry landed in Green Bay because that’d be an absolute steal. Watch him as a junior, and you’ll ask yourself, “This is our second-round pick?” (In a good way.)

CB Josh Jackson — Iowa

I was admittedly higher on Jackson early in the draft process. As time went on, it became clear that he was a clear No. 3 behind Denzel Ward and Jaire Alexander, and closer to Isaiah Oliver and Mike Hughes in terms of the top cornerbacks in the draft. That being said, he’s got great value on the second day. Would you really be that surprised if the Packers went cornerback again?

(Note: The only way I won’t owe Bill Rabeor a bottle of Rumple Minze is if the Packers find a way to get Landry or Jackson. Stay tuned.)

CB Isaiah Oliver — Colorado

My guy Cody Bauer is as high on Oliver as anyone I’ve seen — as in, a top-ten prospect in the draft — and I’m on board. He’s big and physical, and would give the Packers a nice trio of young corners with Alexander and Kevin King already in the fold.

EDGE Lorenzo Carter — Georgia

If someone asked, “How do you want your edge rusher to look?” You would reply, “Lorenzo Carter.” Dude is 6-5, 250 and ran 4.47 in the 40-yard dash. He’s hard to evaluate because he didn’t run a 3-cone drill at the combine or his pro day, but he checks a lot of boxes.

WR Courtland Sutton — Southern Methodist

I’ve said for a while that I expect the Packers to pick a wide receiver before the second day of the draft is over. If Sutton falls to No. 45, I’d do cartwheels. And I can’t do cartwheels. He’d give the Packers a weapon that Aaron Rodgers hasn’t really had. Not because he’s better than Davante Adams or Greg Jennings or Jordy Nelson — just because he’s a different type of target. Think Alshon Jeffrey.

TE Dallas Goedert — South Dakota State

Big-time #DraftCrush on Dallas Goedert. After the Packers signed Jimmy Graham, I kinda stopped talking about it because it’d be an early pick spent on a guy that probably won’t play a whole lot as a rookie. That being said, rookie tight ends are rarely ready to play. Let him be the No. 2 behind Graham, and you could have something special in a couple years. Goedert could be a star.

OG Will Hernandez — UTEP

Big dude blocked for Aaron Jones in college. I’m not going to pretend like I know a lot more about this offensive lineman. But the Packers have question marks at this position.

WR Anthony Miller — Memphis

Just kinda feels like a fit with the Packers. I’ve seen him compared to Greg Jennings, and I can buy some of that comparison, but I think his best role will be closer to that of Randall Cobb. He’s not the fastest receiver, but he’s quick and he’ll compete for the football, despite his less-than-ideal size.

EDGE Josh Sweat — Florida State

If someone asked, “How do you want your edge rusher to look?” You could reply, “Josh Sweat” Dude is 6-5, 250 and ran 4.53 in the 40-yard dash. Sound familiar? He and Lorenzo Carter are both pretty damn impressive, athletically.

WR D.J. Chark — LSU

To start his NFL career, he’ll be asked to have a very simple role — run fast. That’s pretty much what he did at LSU. But if you’re of the belief that the Packers need a field-stretching receiver to blow the top off the defense, then Chark could be your guy. At the very least, his 4.34 speed at 6-3 200 would keep a defense on its heels.

TE Mike Gesicki — Penn State

He tested liike an absolute freak at the combine. Amongst tight ends, he basically posted the best number in every event except bench press — Dallas Goedert put up one more rep. I’d take Goedert over Gesicki, personally, but testing in the 97th percentile athletically is pretty intriguing.

CB Quenton Meeks — Stanford

Second round may be a little rich, but Meeks is another one that just seems like a Packer pick. His dad, Ron, was an assistant coach at the NFL level for a really long time. He’s 6-1 209, by all accounts has a great work ethic, and could sneak into the second day of the draft.

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