Green Bay Packers: A Scout's Take Comparing Eric Kendricks and Stephone Anthony

On April 30, which is now less than two weeks away, the Green Bay Packers will have the 30th selection in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft.

Of course, all of that could change if the Packers decide to trade back or trade up.

But if the selection remains the same, I would expect general manager Ted Thompson and his scouting staff to select the best player available on their board at pick No. 30.

That is what happened in 2014, when the Packers selected safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix with the 21st pick of the draft in the first round. Besides being the best player on the board for the Packers last year, Clinton-Dix also filled the biggest need for Green Bay.

Could the same thing happen in 2015?

It might. But it all depends on where Thompson has graded out the various players on his draft board.

I don't believe there is any question that the biggest need for the Packers is at the inside linebacker position.

The Packers have been pretty obvious about the subject and the position. They released both A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones earlier this offseason, plus allowed Jamari Lattimore to leave via free agency.

The predicament at inside linebacker this year is very similar to what was going on at the safety position last year.

Head coach Mike McCarthy talked about that situation as as he addressed the media at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.

"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."

The pick at No. 30 could be the place to find Barrington's partner at inside linebacker.

The Packers could utilize Clay Matthews on the inside again at times like they did in the second half of the 2014 season, but the Packers would prefer to keep Matthews on the outside.

Plus, the team has younger options available like Carl Bradford, Nate Palmer and Joe Thomas at inside linebacker. Similar to the take by McCarthy talking about Barrington's improvement in 2014, all three of those players need to upgrade their play in 2015.

But in terms of the draft, which inside linebackers might help the Packers the most and still might be available at pick No. 30?

In my mind, there are two candidates. The two prospects would be Eric Kendricks of UCLA and Stephone Anthony of Clemson.

Both Kendricks and Anthony are very good in playing the run, plus both have the speed and athletic ability to be the cover linebacker that the Packers desperately need.

Both players also played four years in college and became starters as freshman.

In his career as a Bruin, Kendricks had 480 tackles, 26 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, 12 passes defended, five interceptions (one for a touchdown), three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries (two for touchdowns).

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Kendricks also won the Butkus Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy for his play in 2014.

In his career as a Tiger, Anthony had 330 tackles, 34.5 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks, nine passes defended, three interceptions and six forced fumbles.

Both players showed their athleticism at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Kendricks looked very swift, as he ran a 4.61 in the 40.

But Anthony was even faster, as he ran an exceptional 4.56 in the 40. Adding to that display, Anthony also leaped 37 inches in the vertical jump and had a very quick 4.03 time in the 20-yard shuttle.

Recently, NFL Media draft analyst Mike Mayock put out his latest position rankings.

Mayock had Paul Dawson at No. 1 in his rankings at linebacker, while Kendricks was second and Anthony was third.

While I'm a big fan of Mayock and his work, it's important to note that he is not a scout. That is why I try to get input from NFL scout Chris Landry as often as I can. Landry is definitely one of the best in the business and that is why he is a draft consultant to a number of NFL teams.

Landry gave me his take on Mayock's top-rated linebacker Dawson earlier this month.

This past Friday, I had another opportunity to talk with Landry on 620 WDAE's Steve Duemig Show. I wanted Landry to compare and contrast Kendricks and Anthony, plus give me his take on where they might get selected.

Landry started out talking about their grades.

"Well, I've got second-round grades on them," Landry said. "But you got to remember, and this time of year I have to repeat myself, but you are going to have as an average 18 first-round grades in any given year.

"So you start to do the number, 18, 19 or just round it off to 20, you are going to have a dozen players with high second-round grades who are going to go in the first round."

Landry talked about Kendricks first.

"Eric is a little under 6'1". He's 232. He's very instinctive. He's got really good feet to slide and chase. Doesn't have the great size to attack down hill.

"If you remember Wesley Woodyard who played for the Broncos, he's a similar type of player. I think he's a 4-3 'Will'."

Landry gave his take on Anthony next.

"Stephone Anthony is another guy who has a little bit more versatility," Landry said. "He's got a little bit more size and he runs a little better. He's 243 and 6'2⅝".

"He can play in the 4-3 or the 3-4 as inside guy. He's got speed. He's a little bit more of a flash player. He's a very effective blitzer. He's a little bit different in that regard that he can come on the blitz very well.

"He's really good on taking on [blockers] and using hands. Not real good on cover skills. I think instinctively, he's okay, but nothing special."

In terms of where Kendricks and Anthony might get selected, Landry talked about that next.

"I think both of them will play," Landry said. "Both of them will be second-round value guys who will begin to be considered [first round]. Certainly top of the second is where you would really like to take them.

"But I think late first round is not too early considering that you are going to be taking 6.4-type grades. I've got a 6.4 on Kendricks and a 6.0 on Anthony, but they are a little bit different as my synopsis suggests as to where they fit."

So, what does this all mean? Landry sees Kendricks as a better fit in the 4-3 as the Will or weakside linebacker. He also believes that Anthony could be a fit in the 3-4 as an inside linebacker.

From my standpoint, I happen to believe that Anthony is the better option for the Packers overall at inside linebacker. I wrote about that scenario several weeks ago.

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press/Associated Press

Does that mean the Anthony will be selected by the Packers at No. 30? Well, if you believe Tony Pauline of the TFY Draft Insider, Anthony might just be the choice.

This is what Pauline said he heard at the combine about the interest the Packers had in Anthony.

"

Staying with the Pack, I’m told they are very high on Stephone Anthony, who would fill a need at inside linebacker. Anthony had 16 official visits at the combine and the first team he met with was Green Bay. I was informed Anthony is a favorite of defensive coordinator Dom Capers.

"

Based on that information and the input of Landry, not to mention the track record of Anthony at Clemson, I think if the Packers do select an inside linebacker in the first round, the choice (providing he's available) will be Anthony.