By: Marques Eversoll
Armed with the 21st overall pick in an incredibly deep and talented NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers are in prime position to get better. The defense has already gotten better with the signing of Julius Peppers, but there’s more work to be done.
If I were Packers general manager Ted Thompson – and I’m certainly nowhere Thompson in terms of talent evaluation – I’d be looking to move down in the first round to add more picks, while still landing an impact player with my top pick. It all comes down to who is still on the board when the Packers are on the clock, but the team would surely welcome an early run on quarterbacks and offensive linemen, considering the Packers are sitting pretty at both spots.
With four picks in the first 100 selections, the Packers have some flexibility in terms of moving up for a player they want, if they so choose. Two weeks away from the NFL Draft, let’s take a look at whom the Packers could land in the Top 100.
31. Packers (via trade) – DS Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois (5-11 193)
Clearly in need of a starting safety, the Packers will have to decide when to pull the trigger. Louisville’s Calvin Pryor and Alabama’s HaHa Clinton-Dix are grabbing the headlines and the first-round buzz, but give me Northern Illinois’ Jimmie Ward over both of them. Moving down to the end of the first round or early second round, the Packers could still be in position to add a starting-caliber safety and pick up another draft pick in the process.
This trade – No. 21 to Denver for Nos. 31 and 63 – would be a home-run move for the Packers, who look to make as many picks on the first two days as possible. Ward may get a couple head-scratching reactions on draft day, but he’s the real deal.
53. Packers – TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington (6-6 262)
With Jermichael Finley’s future in Green Bay in doubt, the Packers could use some stability at the position. Andrew Quarless has filled Finley’s shoes when forced into the lineup, and Brandon Bostick could potentially fill a larger role in the offense, but Seferian-Jenkins has a chance to be special.
His production took a dip in 2013 due to subpar quarterback play, but ASJ was an absolute beast in 2012, catching 69 passes for 852 yards and seven scores. The tight end battle would still likely carry the label of “training camp competition,” but Seferian-Jenkins would be the odds-on favorite to bump Quarless from the No. 1 offense.
63. Packers (via trade) – OLB Trent Murphy, Stanford (6-5 250)
Having already added Peppers to the front seven, the Packers look to get even better in the pass-rushing department by drafting Murphy. After racking up 32.5 sacks in his four years at Stanford and 25 in his final two seasons, Murphy is a NFL-ready pass rusher and could step in opposite Clay Matthews from Day 1 if needed.
In two years with the Packers, Nick Perry has shown flashes but not much more. Matthews, Murphy, Perry and Peppers, along with Mike Daniels, Mike Neal and Datone Jones would give Dom Capers and the Packers some options on passing downs.
85. Packers – WR Robert Herron, Wyoming (5-9, 193)
Don’t be surprised to see Herron go much higher than people expect. This draft class has as many as 15 wide receivers that could make a significant impact in their first year, but Herron has another dimension that most don’t.
In his first couple seasons, he could serve as the team’s primary return man, but he certainly has the potential to be a lot more than that. While undersized, Herron is a natural slot receiver who clocked a 4.29 in the 40-yard dash. Greg Jennings left for Minnesota a year ago and James Jones went to Oakland this offseason; Jarrett Boykin is capable of stepping into a larger role in 2014, but Herron would provide a spark to an already talented corps of wide receivers.
98. Packers (Compensatory) – ILB Yawin Smallwood (6-2 246)
At some point, the Packers have to address the inside linebacker position. Over the final 13 games of last season, A.J. Hawk played all but 10 defensive snaps. And while 2013 was likely his best as a professional, Hawk isn’t a guy you want playing all three downs in a perfect world.
Smallwood wouldn’t be asked to start from Day 1, but he has sideline-to-sideline ability and could potentially crack the rotation and gives the Packers an option to take Hawk off the field on passing downs. Smallwood would come off the board as early as the third round, so getting him at No. 98 overall would be a nice value pick.
You can hear Marques on SportsLine Monday through Friday 4:00-6:00pm, and on the Saturday Morning Showcase at 8am. You can follow him on Twitter @MJEversoll or email at [email protected]
