Why Stephone Anthony Should Be the Green Bay Packers' Ultimate NFL Draft Target

In the 2014 NFL draft, general manager Ted Thompson of the Green Bay Packers was interested in a couple of inside linebackers to fill a big need for the team defensively.

One of those linebackers (C.J. Mosley) was drafted by the Ravens before the Packers had an opportunity to select the former Alabama star at pick No. 21 in Round 1. The Packers then selected safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who also was a member of the Crimson Tide. 

The selection of Clinton-Dix also filled a big void for the Packers on defense.

In the third round, Thompson hoped to get a shot at linebacker Chris Borland of the Wisconsin Badgers with one of his two picks in the round, but the 49ers picked him with the 13th selection in that round before the Packers had a chance to select him.

Both Mosley and Borland had outstanding rookie seasons and both made the NFL All-Rookie team, as did Clinton-Dix.

Even though Thompson selected a very nice 2014 draft class for the Packers, which included Clinton-Dix and center Corey Linsley on the All-Rookie team, the Packers did not select a "pure" inside linebacker in the draft.

The Packers did select Carl Bradford, who played defensive end at Arizona State in the fourth round, and tried him at outside linebacker most of training camp. That experiment did not work out, so the Packers moved Bradford to inside linebacker where he looked more comfortable.

But because the transition was a work in progress, Bradford did not see any action in 2014, even though he did make the final 53-man roster.

The Packers also signed Joe Thomas as a unsigned rookie free agent at inside linebacker and he ended up on the practice squad.

The missing addition of an inside linebacker bit the Packers hard in 2014, as both starting inside linebackers, A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones, took a big step back in their play. Hawk was noticeably slower and ineffective, while Jones was often mistake-prone and also committed a number of very key penalties over the course of the season.

After Week 8, the Packers were ranked dead last in the NFL in stopping the run. Changes had to be made, especially at inside linebacker. The Packers decided to move outside linebacker Clay Matthews inside on early rushing downs, plus they increased the snaps for second-year inside linebacker Sam Barrington.

Over the second half of the 2014 season, that change helped the Packers get much better in stopping the run.

It also led to the Packers releasing both Hawk and Jones this offseason.

It also means that the Packers need to find an answer at inside linebacker in 2015, although players like Bradford and Thomas will get their chances to compete for playing time at the position along with Barrington, who looks to be one starter.

The situation at inside linebacker is a lot like the situation was at safety for the Packers in 2014 before the draft. Head coach Mike McCarthy talked about that situation as as he addressed the media at the recent NFL Scouting Combine.

"I think the inside linebacker position probably can be compared to where we were last year at the safety position," McCarthy said. "Obviously we had a number of moving parts there, so we'll see what this process that we go through as far as player acquisition and how that affects it.

"I really like the steps that Sam Barrington made. I thought he made a huge jump. And that's what you look for. He's a second-year player that needed to take a big step and Sam did that."

Now it's time to find some help to work alongside of No. 58. The Packers would prefer to keep Matthews on the outside, so the best options are by drafting a playmaking inside linebacker in Round 1 with the 30th pick.

To me, there are five players who can fit that description in this draft. They are Denzel Perryman of Miami, Eric Kendricks of UCLA, Stephone Anthony of Clemson, Benardrick McKinney of Mississippi State and Paul Dawson of TCU.

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NFL Media Draft Analyst Mike Mayock lists these five players as the top inside linebackers in the 2015 draft.

I agree with Mayock's list, but I disagree about the order.

I had the Packers taking Perryman in my first mock draft that I put out. Perryman is very good at stopping the run and was okay in coverage responsibilities as a member of the Hurricanes.

But he lacks the speed of both Kendricks and Anthony, who would both be better suited to be the cover linebacker when the Packers play their nickel and dime schemes.

I like the 6'0", 232-pound Kendricks a lot. The former UCLA Bruin won the Butkus Award and the Lott Trophy for his play in 2014. He led the country in solo tackles and had 149 overall. He also had 11.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks, one forced fumble and three interceptions last year.

I had a chance to talk with NFL scout Chris Landry about Kendricks about a month ago. He also liked what he saw out of the one-man tackling machine.

"Kendricks is another good player that I like a lot," Landry said. "I think he's a physical point-of-attack guy and a downhill run defender and I think he plays well in space."

Kendricks didn't hurt himself at the combine either, as he ran a 4.61 in the 40.

While I share Landry's sentiment about Kendricks, I like a player who is rising quickly up the draft boards more. That would be Anthony.

I had an opportunity to talk with Landry again last week, and he was also high on the former Tiger.

"I love Anthony," Landry said. "I think he's really an instinctive player and I like him a lot."

Although Kendricks was fast at the combine, the 6'3", 243-pound Anthony was even faster. Anthony ran an exceptional 4.56 in the 40. He also leaped 37 inches in the vertical jump and had a very nice 4.03 time in the 20-yard shuttle.

Anthony was overshadowed by another linebacker at Clemson, Vic Beasley. A number of mock drafts, including those of Bucky Brooks, Charles Davis and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, all have Beasley going in the top 10 of the draft as a matter of fact.

One will also note that Davis also has the Packers taking Anthony with the 30th pick in the first round. I believe that would be a wise choice.

Anthony has the prototypical size at inside linebacker, plus has the speed to go from sideline to sideline and to drop into coverage.

In 2014 for the Tigers, Anthony had 75 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles. In his career at Clemson, Anthony had 330 tackles, 34.5 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks, three interceptions, nine passes defended and six forced fumbles.

Like at Clemson with Beasley, Anthony would be surrounded by talent on the outside with Matthews and Julius Peppers with the Packers. I believe he and Barrington would become a run-stopping force for the Packers.

Anthony would also become the cover linebacker that the Packers desperately need.

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Bottom line, the Packers need to shore up their biggest weakness as a team in the upcoming draft. That's what they did in 2014, when they selected Clinton-Dix to help out at safety.

Not only did No. 21 have a solid rookie season, but his presence allowed Morgan Burnett to have perhaps his best year ever with the Packers at the other safety spot.

The biggest weakness for the Packers going into the 2015 season is at inside linebacker. That is why they have to focus on improving the depth and talent at the position.

Adding a player of the caliber of Anthony would certainly address that situation, and his addition would make the entire linebacker group get even better.