Green Bay Packers Mock Draft: 7 Round Predictions, Post Combine
The 2015 NFL Scouting Combine is wrapping up, and as a result it's possible to now more accurately predict which prospects will be available in each round, as well as which players the Green Bay Packers may target with their draft selections.
The Packers are slated to pick at the 30th position throughout the draft and currently have their own selection in each round, for seven total picks. This mock draft does not attempt to predict compensatory picks, which will be awarded sometime next month, but OvertheCap.com projects that Green Bay will receive two sixth-round and one seventh-round compensatory pick(s) for the losses of Evan Dietrich-Smith, James Jones and Marshall Newhouse.
This early mock draft seeks to work out, in a general sense, which positions Green Bay will be targeting in April. It does not purport to predict exactly which prospects the Packers will select; it's a bit too early for that.
This mock also assumes that the Packers retain their original draft position in each round, but of course it's possible—even likely—that general manager Ted Thompson ("Trader Ted") moves around the board.
Round 1: Jordan Phillips, NT, Oklahoma
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Oklahoma's Jordan Phillips already had a first-round projection before the combine, and his performance over the weekend did nothing but help his case. There are many ways Ted Thompson could go with the No. 30 pick, but if Phillips is still on the board, don't be surprised to hear his name called by Green Bay.
Shoring up the run defense has to be the Packers' top priority this offseason. That can certainly be accomplished by adding a talented inside linebacker, something many would like to see Thompson do in Round 1 rather than select a defensive tackle.
But the value of the inside linebacker pool in this year's class seems to be falling away from No. 30, meaning the Packers could still grab a starting-caliber inside linebacker in Round 2. Selecting a massive run-stuffer like Phillips in Round 1 to anchor the line would also go a long way toward strengthening Green Bay's No. 23 run defense in 2014.
With B.J. Raji and Letroy Guion's contracts set to expire next month, compounded by Raji's torn bicep and Guion's legal troubles, it's unclear whether the Packers will bring either back.
At 6'6" and 334 pounds, Phillips has the natural size to play the nose in the NFL, with the diagnosing skills required of the position. But he doesn't sacrifice athleticism for size; NFL.com's Lance Zierlein writes that he is "athletic with nimble feet and pursuit speed of a man much lighter."
Many were surprised that an athlete with Phillips' size was able to post a 30.0 inch vertical jump and a 7.88 second cone drill at the combine, per NFL.com.
The big question about Phillips heading into the draft is the status of his back, after he missed much of the 2013 season with a back injury that required surgery. He spoke on that at length at the combine, saying "there's no problem with my back" and that he is "100 percent ready to go," via Acme Packing Company.
"Oklahoma DT Jordan Phillips formally interviewed with #Packers. Met entire staff, including Jerry Montgomery -- who coached Phillips at OU.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) February 21, 2015"
Phillips formally interviewed with the Packers at the combine, per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. He met with the entire staff, including his former coach at Oklahoma, Jerry Montgomery, now the Packers' defensive front assistant.
Having a coach on-staff already familiar with Phillips will certainly help his chances of being selected by Green Bay in Round 1.
In their most recent (pre-combine) mock drafts, both Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks of NFL.com mocked Phillips to the Packers at No. 30.
Round 2: Stephone Anthony, ILB, Clemson
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Prior to the combine, CBSSports.com had Clemson's Stephone Anthony rated as a fourth-round prospect and fifth overall among inside linebackers. That's partly why many were dumbfounded when NFL Media Analyst Charles Davis mocked Anthony to the Packers with the 30th overall pick on February 10.
After an impressive Senior Bowl and combine performance, Anthony may still not quite have made his way into the first round, but it's definitely possible that Ted Thompson sees the value for him at No. 62 in the second round.
The relative rankings of the prospects at the inside linebacker position were muddied up, rather than clarified, after the combine. Prior to the draft, NFL.com's Mike Mayock's inside linebacker rankings were TCU's Paul Dawson, Mississippi State's Benardrick McKinney, Miami's Denzel Perryman, UCLA's Eric Kendricks and Anthony, in that order.
That's almost guaranteed to change after the combine, where Kendricks was more impressive than thought, possibly moving himself up into the first round, while Perryman's and Dawson's performances may result in their falling. McKinney will likely remain a first-round prospect, and Green Bay should not trade up to get him.
"Per Scout: NFL absolutely LOVE #Clemson LB Stephone Anthony. Size, Speed, Leadership. Likely he goes before Paul Dawson.
— Mike Loyko (@NEPD_Loyko) February 23, 2015"
Anthony was a top performer in the 40-yard dash, with a time of 4.56 seconds per NFL.com. That kind of speed should get the Packers' attention; their linebackers' lack of speed over the middle when dropping into coverage has been a problem for years. Anthony's speed was one of the biggest questions keeping him at a fourth-round projection; now, knowing he can motor could lead to teams bumping him up their draft boards.
Anthony's 6'3", 243-pound frame (with a wingspan of 65") is ideally suited for the inside, especially in comparison to his somewhat undersized classmates in Kendricks (6'0", 232 lbs) and Perryman (who came in at just 5'11" at the combine).
Of Anthony's strengths, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein writes that the linebacker is a "steady, consistent tackler when he's squared up" and that he "has speed to chase to the sidelines and finish the play" and is "able to cover tight ends in passing game."
Anthony started all 13 games for Clemson in 2013, with 131 stops, 13.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Part of the nation's top-rated defense in 2014, he led the team with 73 tackles.
Zierlein (and others) have worried about Anthony's ability to diagnose plays and his propensity for taking high-risk chances, but these are all coachable traits. Anthony's athleticism and size at the position, in addition to being a sure tackler (something the Packers defense has struggled with) with the speed to chase down ball-carriers makes him an ideal match for Green Bay's needs in the middle.
Judging by the Twitter reaction after Anthony's performance and his rising stock, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Thompson select him at No. 62.
Round 3: Jesse James, TE, Penn State
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Yes, the Packers selected tight end Richard Rodgers in the third round of the 2014 draft, and his spike in development in the second half last season was promising.
But Green Bay released tight end Brandon Bostick in February, and the team will want to bring in a player to compete with Rodgers and Andrew Quarless in training camp, as well as strengthen the depth at the position. Penn State's Jesse James could surprise them by proving himself a starting-caliber prospect, which would allow the Packers to successfully use two-tight end sets in 2015.
James, a third-round projection prior to the combine, was more than impressive in his drills. He was a top performer in the bench press (26 reps), vertical jump (37.5 inches), broad jump (121 inches) and 60-yard shuttle (12.15 seconds), per NFL.com.
James' 10'1" broad jump was the best among all tight ends at the combine, per NFL.com. He also had the 10th best vertical leap by a tight end since 2006, per NFL draft analyst Mike Loyko.
His 4.83-second 40-yard dash result was only sixth among tight ends, but it's good enough for someone with James' 6'7", 261-pound frame. His soft hands were on display during the catching drills, which supports his list of college records: He set a Penn State record for touchdown receptions over his career, with 11. That kind of red-zone production is exactly what the Green Bay Packers need out of an in-line tight end, as well as someone to utilize in the seam.
James "shows a feel for when he comes open in the seam and will turn quickly to find the throw," writes NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.
Rodgers' development toward the end of 2013 may keep the Packers from using a high pick on a tight end, but in the third round James would be a welcome addition to challenge the existing group at the position.
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Round 4: Doran Grant, CB, Ohio State
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Packers cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Davon House are both set to become free agents on March 10, and Green Bay likely won't be able to afford to bring back both of them.
However, the veteran Williams is a proven starter, while House desires to play (and be paid) as a starter, so presumably whichever players the Packers re-sign will play on the outside opposite Sam Shields.
That means the Packers may not need to address the cornerback position until Round 4, where they can draft a rotational player to complement Casey Hayward. National champion Ohio State's Doran Grant could be a great developmental selection in the fourth round.
Grant was the full-time starter opposite Bradley Roby on the championship-winning Buckeyes team in 2014 and led the team in passes defended (14) with 63 tackles and five interceptions. He supplemented his national championship with with First Team All-Big Ten honors.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein writes that Grant is "intelligent on field" and "rarely fooled by route concepts." Grant wouldn't need to play immediately in Green Bay's secondary but could be useful as a rotational player.
The Packers could also choose to address corner in a higher round, but that may mean sacrificing the type of prospect they could walk away with at defensive tackle, inside linebacker or tight end.
Round 5: Austin Shepherd, OT, Alabama
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The Green Bay Packers had one of, if not the, best offensive lines in head coach Mike McCarthy's tenure in 2014. While they haven't yet re-signed right tackle Bryan Bulaga, by all indications given McCarthy and Thompson's comments at the combine they want to.
Alabama offensive lineman Austin Shepherd could provide needed insurance behind that stalwart offensive line, because as great as the starters on it are, it could use a little more depth.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein sees Shepherd as an NFL backup with the potential to become a starter, which is all the Packers need at this point. Zierlein writes that Shepherd is a "good lateral mover with ability to mirror in pass protection and redirect to get hands on moving target," and he's "instinctive and plays with good timing," all qualities teams look for offensive linemen to possess innately because they are hard to teach at the pro level.
Shepherd started every game for Alabama at right tackle over the last two seasons, but as CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler notes, he's probably better suited inside at guard in the NFL.
Round 6: Brandon Bridge, QB, South Alabama
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The Packers aren't looking to draft Aaron Rodgers' eventual successor just yet.
Even so, backups Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien are both free agents, which leads Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to surmise that Ted Thompson may draft a quarterback in 2015 for only the second time in seven years.
And who better to develop this year's top developmental quarterback, South Alabama's Brandon Bridge, than the Packers, renowned for Mike McCarthy's quarterback school and their ability to develop quarterbacks?
Bridge is incredibly raw, but there's tons of potential there. Though few had heard of him prior to the combine, he made people take notice with his cannon of an arm. It prompted NFL Network's Mike Mayock to quip, "This kid's got a whip."
Bridge didn't lead any of the categories at the combine, but he had a respectable 40-yard dash of 4.72 seconds, per NFL.com (higher than Bryce Petty and Jameis Winston). Where he really shined, of course, was in the throwing drills. In fact, he may have one of the most elite arms in this class.
"Has enough arm to make off-balance intermediate and deep throws that few (if any) in this draft can make," wrote NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. "Can drop deep ball into a bucket with accuracy and had a completion of 42 yards or more in eight of his 11 games in 2014."
What is keeping Bridge projected to the late rounds, however, are his mechanics. His footwork is messy, his touch is off and his accuracy in the intermediate game is questionable.
But "that size, arm and athleticism are definitely traits worth taking a chance on," Zierlein writes, and he could be an extremely intriguing prospect for Green Bay, especially if he can learn behind Aaron Rodgers and refine his mechanics in McCarthy's quarterback school.
Dunne wrote an in-depth piece on Bridge's raw potential just before the combine that's definitely worth checking out.
Round 7: Devante Davis, WR, UNLV
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Devante Davis had a seventh-round projection prior to the NFL combine, and while his performance over the weekend won't override his tape, a team like the Packers can feel comfortable taking him in the late rounds and at the least, he'll land on the practice squad.
Given the fact that the wide receiver stands at 6'3" and weighs 215 pounds, he had an impressive performance in the 40-yard dash, running it in 4.57 seconds. What the combine confirmed about his tape, however, is that he's a red-zone threat who uses his hands well.
"Outstanding awareness with diligent footwork near sideline and back of the end zone," NFL.com's Lance Zierlein writes. "Runs a subtle, effective deep post."
Davis is comfortable running back-shoulder fade routes, which he would enjoy doing with a Packers quarterback throwing him the ball in training camp if he got that chance.
Though the Packers are set at receiver if they re-sign Randall Cobb and pair him with Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, Jared Abbrederis returning from injury, Jarrett Boykin and the developing Jeff Janis, they did just release Kevin Dorsey and could use another late-rounder to replace his presence on special teams.
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