5 Hidden Gems the Green Bay Packers Should Have Noticed at the Combine
Very few NFL prospects can escape the reach of the media if they've received a combine invite, but there are nevertheless players each season who benefit from increased exposure.
Green Bay Packers fans already know the top prospects at the positions the Packers are expected to address in the 2015 NFL draft; names like inside linebackers Denzel Perryman and Benardrick McKinney and tight end Maxx Williams have been in play for weeks.
But the Packers' draft board is incredibly deep, and undoubtedly there are many prospects general manager Ted Thompson and his team of scouts are watching fans have yet to notice. Players at multiple positions who either hadn't received a lot of buzz prior to the combine or who needed the combine to improve their draft stock impressed over the weekend.
Let's take a look at five hidden gems the Packers should have noticed at the combine.
Stephone Anthony, ILB, Clemson
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Clemson inside linebacker Stephone Anthony certainly isn't an unknown prospect, but prior to the combine, CBSSports.com had Anthony rated as a fourth-round prospect and fifth overall among inside linebackers. His name wasn't being included in the discussion for potential second-round, starting-caliber inside linebacker prospects.
Now, however, Anthony could be taken as high as the second or third round, and the Packers could be a fit there, especially given that some of the prospects ranked ahead of Anthony, such as Miami's Denzel Perryman and TCU's Paul Dawson, had disappointing weekends.
Anthony was a top performer in the 40-yard dash, with a time of 4.56 seconds. Green Bay will notice that speed; the Green Bay linebackers' lack of speed in coverage has contributed to its subpar run defense.
His perceived lack of speed was one of the factors projecting him to the fourth round, but now teams will be forced to re-evaluate.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein writes that Anthony is a "steady, consistent tackler when he's squared up" and that he "has speed to chase to the sidelines and finish the play." The Packers could certainly use more consistent tackling.
Anthony's size (6'3", 243 lbs) is ideal for the position, given how it compares to Eric Kendricks' (6'0", 232 lbs) and Perryman's (just 5'11", 236 lbs).
Anthony started all 13 games for Clemson in 2013, with 131 stops, 13.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He led the team, which was the nation's top defense in 2014, with 73 tackles.
Craig Mager, CB, Texas State
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Texas State cornerback Craig Mager may be a sleeper no more after his combine performance, in which he was a top performer in both the 40-yard dash (4.44 seconds) and broad jump (130").
Cornerback is a position Ted Thompson can be expected to address in the early to middle rounds of the draft, as the Packers will likely be unable to re-sign both free agent cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Davon House. Prior to the combine, Mager was projected to be drafted in the fifth or sixth round by CBSSports.com, but his value may rise.
Ted Thompson will surely be keeping an eye on Mager. The Texas State prospect was a four-year starter who "plays with excellent fire and motor throughout the game" and "loves to hit," per NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, qualities Green Bay is always looking to add to its secondary.
"3 East West Shrine CBs who stood out: Damian Swann, Justin Coleman and Craig Mager
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) February 23, 2015"
One of the biggest reasons scouts had concerns about Mager at the NFL level was his speed; he's "not as fast as you want," an NFC director of player personnel said, via Zierlein, and teams have concerns about his deep speed. However, his 4.44-second 40 time demonstrates that he's capable of elite speed; the question now is whether it can translate to the field against top receivers.
If the Packers don't target a cornerback in the first few rounds, Thompson may want to keep Mager in mind.
Mike Hull, ILB, Penn State
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Penn State prospect Mike Hull, Linebacker U's latest product, was certainly not an unknown heading into the combine. But he continued the trend of underrated inside linebackers having surprisingly strong showings in his drills, while the projected leaders at the position weren't as strong as scouts expected them to be.
Hull was a top performer in the bench press (31 reps), three-cone drill (6.99 seconds) and 60-yard shuttle (11.52 seconds). His demonstration of strength was important, as scouts worry about his size (6'0", 237 lbs), per NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.
The Packers have already released middle linebacker Brad Jones, and inside 'backer Jamari Lattimore is a free agent. Add in the fact that A.J. Hawk's job may not be entirely secure, and it's possible Ted Thompson selects two inside linebackers in 2015.
If that's the case, after addressing the need in the first or second round, Thompson could come back to the position in the middle rounds; there, he will find Hull.
Hull was a fifth- to sixth-round projection by CBSSports.com prior to the combine. His performance over the weekend doesn't change his size or short arms, but he could be an intriguing prospect for teams that need depth at inside linebacker.
Whether Hull has the size and coverage ability Thompson is looking for is a question, but Hull is certainly another prospect on the board after the combine.
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Chris Conley, WR, Georgia
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Georgia wide receiver Chris Conley had a seventh-round undrafted free-agent projection by CBSSports.com prior to the combine, but the performance he turned in was perhaps one of the biggest surprises of the weekend.
Unbelievably, the underhyped Conley was a top performer in multiple combine events, including the 40-yard dash (4.35 seconds), bench press (18 reps), vertical jump (45") and broad jump (139").
As Josh Norris pointed out, his 45" vertical and 11'7" broad jump tied existing combine records that had been in the books since 2006 (though cornerback Byron Jones later broke the broad jump record with a jump of 12'3").
"#UGA WR Chris Conley 45" vertical: tied for best since 2006 among all positions 11'7" broad: tied for best since 2006 among ALL positions
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) February 21, 2015"
Analysts' biggest concerns about Conley have been his tendency to "be redirected and thrown off course by press coverage" and that he "won't flash the desired quickness and foot speed to get himself open underneath," in the words of NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.
However, he also played in a Georgia offense that emphasized the run, and perhaps his combine speed and jumping ability indicate a promising ability to improve his play against top cover corners.
Wide receiver isn't a position of need for the Packers; even though they released Kevin Dorsey, they have Jared Abbrederis returning from injury as well as Jeff Janis, Davante Adams, Jordy Nelson and, of course, Randall Cobb if they can re-sign him.
Still, Thompson may want to take a flier on a receiver in the later rounds, and Conley should have caught his attention.
Brandon Bridge, QB, South Alabama
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It's unclear if Ted Thompson will be looking to draft a quarterback in 2015, but backups Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien are both free agents. If Thompson is looking for developmental prospect, he had to have noticed the performance that South Alabama's Brandon Bridge put on at the combine.
Bridge is the very definition of a hidden gem; in fact, he's a diamond in the rough. Though his mechanics and touch are unrefined, he has a cannon for an arm.
"South Bama QB Brandon Bridge has a very live arm. Best way to describe his release: dip & whip. Drops ball down/then has quick whip delivery
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 18, 2015"
Bridge wasn't a top performer in any combine drills, though he had a respectable 4.72-second 40 time. But he was unbelievable when he showed off his arm in the throwing drills.
"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."
Still, he's the ultimate project. His footwork is messy, and his accuracy in the intermediate game is questionable. But if Thompson is interested in a late-rounds project, he will have taken note of Bridge.
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