2012 NFL Draft: Why Green Bay Packers Must Draft Nick Perry

The Green Bay Packers are in desperate need of a player who can put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and that is what USC defensive end Nick Perry does best. 

Green Bay's defensive futility was well-publicized this season. The secondary took the brunt of the criticism because the unit set an NFL record for passing yardage allowed, but the pass rushers were culpable as well.

Opposing teams felt comfortable assigning two of three blockers to Clay Matthews while allowing the remaining lineman to match up one-on-one with other rushers.

The Packers need an impact player who can consistently beat single blockers and force double teams.

Here are five reasons why Nick Perry is the right man for the team.

5. Versatility

Nick Perry has the ability to play both defensive end in a 4-3 scheme and outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

Perry lined up at defensive end during his career at USC, but was a smaller, quicker player relative to others at the position.

His quickness and speed would allow him to make a smooth transition to linebacker in Dom Capers' defense. 

The junior unquestionably has the required pass-rush skills to strike fear in opposing quarterbacks, but also flashed unexpectedly good pass-defense skills during his career with the Trojans.

ESPN's draft profile on Perry says, "Surprisingly shows good awareness for passing lanes when dropping into coverage."

His versatility would make him a perfect fit in a Packers defense that likes to line up with a lot of different looks.

4. Another USC Pass-Rusher

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller projects Nick Perry going to the Miami Dolphins with the ninth pick in the upcoming draft, while ESPN's Todd McShay has him taken by the Tennessee Titans with the 20th pick. Either way, the Packers have the 28th pick and would almost certainly have to trade up to pick Perry.

The last time the Packers traded up in the first round, they chose a pass-rushing linebacker out of USC named Clay Matthews, and that has worked out pretty well so far.

Green Bay badly needs a pass-rusher to take pressure off of Matthews, and the current Packers linebacker would welcome a fellow Trojan onto the defense.

Mathews would be an ideal mentor to Perry and could help him develop into a formidable sidekick.

3. Work Ethic

Nick Perry did not take a traditional path to football stardom and had to work extremely hard to get where he is today.

Perry grew up in a tough area of Detroit and played basketball for much of his childhood.

He played Pop Warner as a kid, but chose to focus mainly on basketball until high school, when he gave football another shot. The talent was clearly there for Perry to succeed in football, but a lot of work needed to be done.

Perry persevered through a tough childhood in Michigan. When talking about his hometown in an interview, Perry said, "Every corner you went around it was trouble. That was Detroit. I had to get out of there, one way or another."

His outlet was football, and he worked tirelessly to increase his speed, strength and size. His effort earned him a scholarship to one of the top programs in the country.

Now that he is headed to the NFL, the Packers would be smart to bring him back to the Midwest.

2. Great Talent, but Room to Improve

The Green Bay Packers are a perfect fit for Nick Perry because the team would give the former Trojan time to improve his technique and become a complete linebacker.

General manager Ted Thompson has built a loaded roster by drafting talented players and allowing the coaching staff to fix holes in their games.

Perry fits the profile of a player with immense raw talent that would benefit from improved fundamentals. His ESPN draft profile states, "Flashes a spin-move but needs to show a wider array of pass rushing moves."

Green Bay outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene is the perfect person to teach Perry some new jukes to get past blockers. Greene was an All-Pro outside linebacker under Dom Capers as a player and has been instrumental in helping Clay Matthew flourish in his first few years in the NFL.

Perry has a ton of talent, and the Packers, more than any other team, can help him make the most of it.

1. Prototype for the Position

Nick Perry has prototypical size and speed for a 3-4 outside linebacker.

"I'm a created player that you make on the video games," Perry once said jokingly to a reporter.

Perry is 6'3" and 250 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds. His statement, while said in jest, is absolutely true.

He is a fluid athlete with incredible power and quickness who has every necessary tool to be a 10-sack-per-season type player. 

If the Packers are able to grab Perry in the upcoming draft, he will be a force opposite Clay Matthews. The two would form one of the best outside linebacker tandems in the league, and the Green Bay defense would improve rapidly.