2015 Green Bay Packers Mock Draft: Early Offseason 7-Round Predictions
With the Green Bay Packers' season officially over, it's time to move on to the largest event of the offseason: the draft.
Under general manager Ted Thompson, the Packers have built primarily through the selection of college players, only signing three splash free agents during his career: Charles Woodson, Ryan Pickett and Julius Peppers.
Holding all seven of their original selections in the 2015 draft, we'll run a quick simulation on what to except from the team in the spring.
The team might have more picks on draft day, due to compensatory picks that are announced at the owners' meetings, but at this point, those are unknown commodities.
Jerel Worthy, a former second-round defensive lineman, was traded from Green Bay to New England late in the preseason for a conditional pick, but he was cut before the final rosters were announced—so it is assumed they will not receive an extra pick for him.
Sticking to the seven selections the Packers do own, we attempted to piece together a fairly conservative picture of a potential 2015 offseason.
First Round: Michael Bennett, DE, Ohio State
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This might seem like an odd selection at first, but the Thompson-era Packers have a specific approach early in the draft.
All of the team's first-round selections other than A.J. Hawk and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who both filled large needs and were considered the best players available, have been players at "premier positions"—offensive linemen, defensive linemen, pass-rushers and quarterbacks.
Michael Bennett would fit right into that category. Playing as an "Under" tackle in Ohio State's 4-3 defense, he was a quick penetrator.
He finished with 13 total sacks in the last two seasons, and he plays at what looks to be a much higher weight than his reported 280-pound range. It wouldn't be a surprise if he were around 310 pounds at the combine.
The senior didn't make this week's Senior Bowl—likely sitting out to preserve his draft stock up until the combine—which is why recorded measurements aren't available at this point.
"Add #OhioState DT Michael Bennett and TE Jeff Heuerman to the list of Senior Bowl dropouts. Taken off the roster today. Too bad
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 17, 2015"
In 2014, Datone Jones and Mike Daniels were the starting 3-4 defensive ends. Daniels has a contract year next season, meaning there is a possibility he can leave, though Green Bay should make it a priority to keep the Pro Bowl snub on its roster for the future.
Jones improved greatly from his rookie season to 2014, but he's still not a three-down player. Josh Boyd, a second-year player out of Mississippi State, comes in to spell him in run situations, as Jones is still a very light defensive end for the scheme.
Bennett could come in on the first day and start for the Packers opposite of Daniels, moving Jones into a rotational role, which could give Green Bay fresh legs on passing downs or while Bennett and Daniels take a breather. Boyd could still be a run-situation defensive end or even get a shot at nose tackle.
Second Round: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
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Only one year after taking California tight end Richard Rodgers during Day 2 of the draft, this selection might seem strange, but Maxx Williams can change the Packers offense.
Some are projecting the redshirt sophomore as a second-rounder, and if Green Bay should happen to go on the clock while he's still on the board, it'd be a slam-dunk selection.
Rodgers is the slated starter at this point, with Andrew Quarless coming off the bench. They're both solid, but neither scream "future tight end of your franchise for years to come." Williams does show that level of talent, leaping over and running through defenders consistently.
One way he could completely change the offense is his ability to play the "jumbo slot."
Packers fans don't want to think about it, but there's a decent chance slot receiver and No. 2 pass-catching target Randall Cobb leaves in the offseason, with so many teams with loads of cap space to throw at a receiver like Oakland, Jacksonville and Cleveland.
The jumbo slot is a position that spread offenses like the New Orleans Saints use, where either a big-body receiver or athlete tight end plays in the slot rather than a typically small receiver like Wes Welker or Cobb.
This creates an issue for defenses. Should they have a linebacker cover the obvious pass-catching threat? Should they use their slot corner, who is typically undersized? Should they move the boundary cornerback on him, creating a better matchup on the boundary receiver over a inferior cornerback?
There's a theory that covering a good tight end can do more damage than covering a good cornerback, as tight ends line up closer to the center of the field.
Since Jermichael Finley left Green Bay, there's been something missing from the Packers offense. Williams, with tremendous talent, could bring that aspect back to Lambeau Field.
Third Round: Jacoby Glenn, CB, Central Florida
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Many might know Central Florida as the school that produced third-overall pick Blake Bortles last season, but Jacoby Glenn deserves his fair share of fame for his performance in Orlando the past couple of years. After two seasons of All-American mention, the junior declared for the draft.
A 6'0" corner who can run with the best of them, Glenn is what the Packers look for in a starting boundary cornerback. Most attribute the Seattle Seahawks for the growing trend of tall cornerbacks, but Thompson has made a point for his entire tenure in Green Bay to avoid short defensive backs.
The Packers really have three boundary cornerbacks.
Sam Shields takes the top target of the opposing team. Tramon Williams is the second cornerback in base but moves to the slot in nickel, with Davon House coming off the bench as the boundary cornerback. Shields got locked into a long-term deal last offseason, but Williams and House are slated for free agency this year.
Williams, at his age, probably won't get another contract from the team, as the former star has already been removed from a full-time boundary role. The last time an aging corner was in the same spot with the team, it was Charles Woodson, who played hybrid slot and cornerback for a year before being released.
House might see a contract but is still a rotational player at this point. He's no sure starter, despite his young age, so the starting boundary cornerback opposite of Shields in 2015 might not be on the roster currently.
Casey Hayward and Micah Hyde are next on the depth chart, but they're almost exclusively slotbacks.
Glenn has proven himself at the FBS level of college football, but bringing him in along with House to battle for a starting gig could be the perfect spot for Green Bay. Even if House is more NFL ready, Glenn could develop under the same program that made undrafted free agents like Shields and Williams into quality NFL starters.
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Fourth Round: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
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Cedric Ogbuehi was once thought of as a first-round offensive tackle.
Starring as a right tackle for the Texas A&M Aggies in 2013, he replaced Jake Matthews, the No. 6 overall selection in the 2014 draft, at left tackle. Just one year before, Matthews moved from right tackle to left tackle to replace Luke Joeckel, the second-overall selection in the 2013 draft.
Ogbuehi was going for the top-ten tackle three-peat.
Struggling at left tackle in his senior season, though, that seemed out of range. His best look at the professional level appeared like a high-upside zone-blocking guard or right tackle, as he still possesses unlimited athleticism but didn't do enough in pass protection to consistently win as a left tackle.
His poor season was capped with an ACL injury in the Liberty Bowl, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports.
"Top OL draft prospect Cedric Ogbuehi tore his ACL in the Liberty Bowl. Set to have surgery soon. Expected to be ready for training camp.
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) January 12, 2015"
Potentially missing the beginning of his rookie season will drop his draft stock.
Brandon Thomas, a left tackle from Clemson, tore his ACL last season in a workout with the New Orleans Saints, shooting his stock from the mid-first round to the late third, where the San Francisco 49ers snatched him up.
Green Bay's current right tackle is coming off the books. Bryan Bulaga, a former first-rounder, is slated to hit free agency after years of flipping between left and right tackle. If he does go, there's a large role needing to be filled for the team.
J.C. Tretter, a now third-year offensive lineman, played left tackle for Cornell but missed his 2013 rookie season and the beginning of 2014, when he was projected to start at center for the Packers. Returning from injury, he's been in a sixth offensive lineman role, coming in as an extra blocker at times.
Tretter might get a shot at right tackle, but having a safety net like Ogbuehi on the roster developing on the bench would be a great addition for the squad.
Fifth Round: Brandon Bridge, QB, South Alabama
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In the fifth round, the draft becomes more of a tossup. Teams begin to take upside players over guys who are ready to get their feet wet in live NFL action.
That's pretty much where this selection falls.
Aaron Rodgers is in no way going to be replaced soon, so the quarterback behind him should logically be one who is a developmental project, rather than one who's pushing for his starting spot. In 2014, Green Bay had Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien, both run-of-the-mill backups who were fairly consistent off the bench but don't prove much value going forward.
Brandon Bridge is the opposite of that. As raw as they come, he's got every tool in the book. At South Alabama, you might see him throw a 50-yard bomb while sprinting full speed sideways off one foot. He's got the arm and legs of Colin Kaepernick, which were good enough to get the four-year starter from Nevada drafted in the second round, but Bridge was just a one-year starter at South Alabama after transferring from Alcorn State.
He's the type of guy someone like Mike McCarthy could stash as the second or third quarterback on a team, putting him through his "Quarterback Academy" and ship off for a potential first-round pick. He's got that kind of skill.
Sixth Round: B.J. Finney, OC, Kansas State
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B.J. Finney was one of the risers at the past week's East-West Shrine game. Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox had some nice notes about him while covering the week's events.
"However, the announcers singled out Kansas State center B.J. Finney during the East-West Shrine Game broadcast because of the good things he accomplished in the week leading up to the game.
According to announcers Mike Mayock and Andrew Siciliano, Finney had an excellent week of practice with the West team. He showed both talent and poise during the game.
At 6'4" and 317 pounds, Finney has the size and build of a prototypical NFL center. He could likely also play guard at the next level.
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With Bryan Bulaga potentially leaving and backup center J.C. Tretter potentially moving to right tackle, there would be an open spot on the 53-man roster for a quality reserve player behind 2014 rookie starter Corey Linsley.
Seemingly perfect for the fit, Finney lumped in as a late-Day 3 selection is ideal.
The Kansas State center can also flex to guard, as Knox noted, which provides value for an offensive lineman, as the team isn't going to be able to have a true two-deep offensive line because of limitations on active players for game day.
Only 45 players can dress up, 25 being starters including special teams. That gives each team a 10-man split for backups on each side of the ball. Those 10 spots have to cover 11 positions on the two-deep, making malleable players of higher preference the lower on the roster they are.
Seventh Round: Terry Williams, NT, East Carolina
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At some point, the Packers will need to pick up a nose tackle.
Both B.J. Raji and Letroy Guion are slated to hit the free market, putting Green Bay in a pressure situation. One of those two needs to come back, but depth behind that nose tackle will also be wanted.
Terry Williams is a huge guy nicknamed "The Swamp Monster." With a rare frame of 6'1" and 353 pounds, he's exactly the type of defensive lineman you want playing 0-technique or 1-technique.
Heading into the Medal of Honor Bowl, Rotoworld's Josh Norris listed him as one of the top prospects at the all-star game.
"MOH Bowl this Saturday on NBCSN. Top prospects: ECU DL Terry Williams ECU WR Cam Worthy AUB S Whitehead AUB TE Uzomah UCF G Wilson
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) January 5, 2015"
Nowhere near starter level, Williams is a developmental player who can still see live action in limited amounts, spelling either Raji or Guion's base reps in 2015. A body is needed, so a spot is filled. That's more than most seventh-rounders can bring to the table.
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