Packers Mock Draft: Instant Contributors Green Bay Can Find in Every Round

Free agency is winding down and compensatory picks have been awarded, which means it's time to take stock of Green Bay's draft needs once again in another mock draft. 

This seven-round Packers mock draft includes 10 picks; in addition to the two sixth-round compensatory picks, this mock predicts a trade out of the first round, as general manager Ted Thompson moves to where he sees the value on the board and picks up an extra fourth-round selection in the process. 

Needs have not really changed for Green Bay through free agency, though whether or not they re-sign B.J. Raji and/or Letroy Guion will determine how high they address the defensive tackle position. For now, I've assumed one of those players returns to Green Bay. Other positions addressed include inside linebacker (twice), cornerback, tight end and quarterback. 

In this mock, I've also tried to identify players that can contribute for Green Bay this year. For some, that may mean starting games, while for others, it may only mean snaps on special teams. But overall, I have tried to select players in all seven rounds who, based on their skills and the Packers' needs, have a legitimate shot of making the 53-man roster.

Round 1

Evan Siegle/Associated Press

The Pick: No. 30

The Selection: Trade

If there is one thing general manager Ted Thompson does not do, it is reach for a player. And while time may prove the Packers could be very successful in Day 1 by drafting a player like UCLA inside linebacker Eric Kendricks or Florida State cornerback P.J. Williams in Round 1, it's very possible that Thompson doesn't have many of these prospects rated as first-rounders on his board. 

Pick No. 30, meanwhile, is in an excellent one for Green Bay to dangle for teams looking to get back into the first round. The reason why Thompson could be looking to trade out of the first—a preponderance of prospects on the Round 1/Round 2 bubble that could go in either round—is the same reason other teams will want to move up and get their guy. 

There are a few potential partners in this trade, but I've pinpointed the New York Jets. A starting-caliber pass-rusher is probably a bigger need for them than quarterback, but if they don't take Marcus Mariota at No. 6, they don't take him at all. 

Thus, the assumption for this mock is that New York selects Mariota sixth overall and then moves back into the first round to take outside linebacker Eli Harold at No. 30. Green Bay, in turn, receives New York's No. 37 pick in Round 2 as well as No. 104 in Round 4.

Round 2

John Raoux/Associated Press

The Pick: No. 37 (via New York)

The Selection: Stephone Anthony, ILB, Clemson

If it's instant contributors the Packers are looking for, and at the right value, there's no selection more perfect than Clemson inside linebacker Stephone Anthony in the second round. 

Of the inside linebackers available in this class, Anthony is one of the best fits for Green Bay; he has better size (6'3", 243 pounds) than nearly any other prospect at the position and can get downhill to make a play on the ball as well as drop back into coverage. 

Few inside linebackers, at the prospect or current pro level, excel against the run and in pass coverage. It's a rare prospect who can do both well, and of this class, the two who look the best are Anthony and Eric Kendricks. 

Anthony, initially a mid-round projection by many analysts, began climbing draft boards after his combine performance, where he was a top performer in the 40-yard dash (4.56 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (4.03 seconds). 

However, his film supports a second-round projection. What the Packers have been missing in the middle is speed, size and consistent tackling. Anthony's film shows a fast player who wraps up his tackles, and NFL.com's Lance Zierlein notes he "has speed to chase to the sidelines and finish the play." 

In his best season, Anthony had 131 stops, 13.5 tackles for loss and four sacks over 13 starts. He was the Tigers' leading tackler in 2013-14. 

Tony Pauline of TFY Draft Insider reported that the Packers are "very high" on Anthony and that he is a "favorite of Dom Capers." That's why Thompson could move to where Anthony fits on the board and grab him there. Anthony could easily win the starting job next to Sam Barrington in training camp. 

The Pick: No. 62

The Selection: Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut 

In Round 2, Green Bay addresses its two biggest positions of need by drafting an inside linebacker and cornerback consecutively. 

Because of the risk in using a first-round pick on a cornerback, one of the hardest positions to develop in the NFL, the Packers use a smarter pick on a starting-caliber player in Connecticut's Byron Jones. 

Jones is a talented, versatile player who can compete with Casey Hayward for the starting job on the outside. At Connecticut, Jones converted from safety to cornerback in 2013 and started all 12 games at corner, finishing with 60 tackles and a team-high three interceptions. 

In 2014, Jones missed the final five games of the season with a shoulder injury, but not before posting two interceptions (including one returned 70 yards for a touchdown) and four pass breakups. 

Jones burst onto the scene at the combine, where he was a top performer in every category in which he participated, with a 44.5-inch vertical jump, 147-inch broad jump, 6.78-second three-cone drill, 3.94-second 20-yard shuttle and 10.98-second 60-yard shuttle. His broad jump set a combine and world record. 

His size (6'1", 199 pounds), athleticism and ball skills would allow Capers to get creative with Jones. Lombardi Ave's Dan Dahlke spoke to Jones about his versatility and the similarity of the Huskies and Packers defenses. Jones' response was as follows:

"

Our 2011 and 2012 defense at UConn was similar to the style of the Packers defense. We would send defensive backs on blitzes and require our outside guys to man up without backside help. I believe I would fit perfectly in a system like this because I’ve already played in a similar defensive scheme and I’m more than capable of fulfilling any of the duties asked of the defensive backs.

"

Jones could not only be an instant contributor in Green Bay's defense, but he'd allow Capers to keep his scheme creative and complex. 

Round 3

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

The Pick: No. 94

The Selection: Jeff Heuerman, TE, Ohio State

The Packers selected tight end Richard Rodgers in the third round last year, and though his season got off to a slow start, his development in the second half 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. As much as Rodgers came on in the passing game, he struggled with blocking, especially run blocking. 

Moreover, drafting a complete tight end would let Green Bay run the two-tight end sets it has featured in the past when the personnel has allowed. 

Heuerman was underutilized at Ohio State; don't let his stat sheet color his potential as a prospect. In his productive 2013 season, he was the No. 3 weapon on the team with 26 receptions for 466 yards and four touchdowns along with a team-high 17.9 yards per catch. However, he was limited in 2014 with a foot injury. 

In terms of athleticism and skills, however, Heuerman is one of the more complete tight ends in the class and could be both a pass-catching threat and a solid blocker at the NFL level. His height (6'5"), weight (254 pound) and arms (33.25") support his characterization as a "strong finisher as a ballcarrier with excellent toughness, refusing to go down after the catch," per CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler. 

Drafting Heuerman would give Aaron Rodgers another red-zone threat as well as provide the Packers with the ability to run two-tight end sets with Heuerman as an in-line blocker and Richard Rodgers split out wide. 

The bottom line, according to Brugler, is that "Heuerman has the versatility to line up inline, backfield and in the slot and should have a much better NFL career than in college if he stays healthy." 

Heuerman met with the Packers at the combine, and his high school athletic director at Barron Collier, Ken Andiorio, said that the Packers sent him a questionnaire about Heuerman, according to the Naples Daily News' Adam Fisher. 

In my first mock draft, I had Penn State tight end Jesse James in this spot. However, James could now potentially still be on the board in Round 4, so it seems less likely Ted Thompson would use the No. 94 pick on him. 

Round 4

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Pick: No. 104 (via New York)

The Selection: Henry Anderson, DE, Stanford

With an extra pick in Round 4 from their earlier trade with the New York Jets, the Packers decide to boost the defensive line and take Stanford defensive end Henry Anderson. 

At 6'6" and 294 pounds with 33.5-inch arms, Anderson is built like a 3-4 defensive end as long as he puts in some work in the weight room; he also lined up at tackle at Stanford as well as the nose. However, the thought here is not that Anderson comes in to be a backup at nose tackle, but to be a rotational defensive lineman, which means he could see some snaps in 2015. 

Anderson was named first team All Pac-12 in 2014 and led the team in tackles for loss (15) and sacks (8.5). Equally as impressive as his size are his athleticism and quickness off the snap, demonstrated by his 7.20-second three-cone drill time and 4.19-second 20-yard shuttle, a top performer in both. 

Mike Daniels and Datone Jones project to be the starting defensive ends in the base 3-4 defense, but with Josh Boyd listed as the primary backup for both, adding some depth on the line can only help. In sub-packages, he gives Capers options against the run as well as in rushing the passer.

Per CBSSports.com's Rob Rang, "Anderson varies his pass rush speeds and chops with hands to create space and slip into the backfield. He's more flexible than he looks and uses his long arms to lasso ball-carriers."

Anderson had a dominant performance at the Senior Bowl practices, which Packers.com draft analyst Tony Pauline attended. "If you’re a GM that needs a versatile defensive lineman, you left practice with a smile on your face,” Pauline said (via Packers.com's Vic Ketchman). Pauline also noted that Anderson showed a lot of power. 

The Pick: No. 129

The Selection: Ramik Wilson, ILB, Georgia

Green Bay currently has a few players on the roster who can compete at the inside linebacker position in training camp, including outside linebacker convert and 2014 rookie Carl Bradford and undrafted free agent Joe Thomas. There's also, of course, Clay Matthews, though ideally his snaps on the inside will be limited to third downs; Green Bay still needs a starter opposite Barrington.

To provide more competition and improve the depth chart, Green Bay could circle back to the position in Round 4 with Georgia's Ramik Wilson. 

After becoming a starter in 2013, Wilson led the SEC in total tackles (133), with 11.0 tackles for loss and four sacks, earning All-SEC first team honors. Like Anthony, Wilson has good size for the position (6'2", 237 pounds). He demonstrated better speed at his pro day than at the combine, putting together 40-yard dash times of 4.62 seconds and 4.68 seconds compared to 4.77 in Indianapolis. 

Wilson is one of the most productive tacklers to come out of the SEC in recent years, leading the conference with 243 total tackles from 2013-14. That would certainly boost Green Bay's run defense.

Though he possesses the ability to chase ball-carriers downfield, he often came off the field on third downs at Georgia. He could compete for snaps on first and second down for Green Bay, with Anthony or Matthews being better options in passing situations.

Wilson interviewed with the Packers, among other teams, at the combine.

Round 5

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

The Pick: No. 166

The Selection: Malcolm Brown, RB, Texas

The Packers have met with running backs Jay Ajayi of Boise State (combine), Dominique Brown of Louisville (East-West Shrine Game) and Texas' Malcolm Brown (East-West Shrine Game), per Walter Football's Walter Cherepinsky, as they look to bolster the position after letting DuJuan Harris enter free agency. 

The value and the position seem to match up in Round 5, where Green Bay can take Malcolm Brown in the last few picks of the round, assuming he'd be off the board by the time they were on the clock again in Round 6.

Eddie Lacy, James Starks and Rajion Neal are the only three halfbacks currently on the Packers roster, and given Starks' injury history and Lacy's bruising style, they'd do well to add another weapon to share snaps and keep Lacy fresh.

Brown is a versatile weapon for a fifth-round projection, able to catch passes out of the backfield as well as keep his feet moving for extra yards in the box. 

Expectations were extremely high for Brown coming out of high school as the nation's top running back recruit, but teams need to judge him on what he has demonstrated on the field, not expectations. For instance, Brown had three straight 100-yard games in 2013 and led the team in rushing in 2014 with 708 yards. He also improved his combine 40-yard dash speed (4.62 seconds) at his pro day (4.52 and 4.50 seconds). 

Per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, Brown "possesses the size, toughness and ability to play on all three downs and that will catch the eyes of teams looking for depth at running back." Those qualities could make him an excellent mid-round addition to Green Bay's backfield. 

Round 6

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

The Pick: No. 205

The Selection: Ellis McCarthy, NT, UCLA

If the Packers don't re-sgn B.J. Raji and/or Letroy Guion to start at nose tackle in 2015, they will have to address defensive tackle much earlier than this. But assuming they make at least one of those moves, and with Mike Pennel already on the roster, No. 205 could be an ideal spot to draft a player to develop as a backup and potential future starter. 

McCarthy has the ideal size to play the nose (6'5", 338 pounds). He might have been projected to go higher than Round 6 were it not for struggles with his weight and injuries at UCLA, which limited him to just eight starts in his career with the Bruins. It also means he could have more in the tank that hasn't yet been shown on film, making him a potential steal here. 

Among his highlights, McCarthy "possesses the core strength to anchor against double-teams and has long, strong arms to latch on and drag ballcarriers to the ground," per Rob Rang of CBSSports.com. 

As a sophomore, when he started eight games, McCarthy had 31 tackles, including four for loss, and two sacks, earning him honorable mention all-conference honors. As a backup nose tackle and defensive end last season, he had 21 tackles and three sacks. 

With more rigorous conditioning in an environment like Green Bay, McCarthy could develop into a starting-caliber player. 

The Pick: No. 210 (compensatory)

The Selection: Corey Robinson, OT, South Carolina

Ted Thompson has selected an offensive lineman in each of his drafts since taking over at the helm in Green Bay, and though the line in 2015 could be the best of his tenure, depth is always essential. Injuries have proved that in the past. 

The Packers currently have veteran backups Don Barclay and J.C. Tretter for depth.  

Corey Robinson has massive size at 6'7" and 324 pounds, yet he is "surprisingly coordinated," per CBSSports.com's draft analysts. His arm length is an unbelievable 35.63", and he knows how to use it.  

Per NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, Robinson "uses length to redirect pass rushers beyond quarterback when beaten by speed." To stay at tackle in the NFL, he will have to improve his foot quickness, Zierlein writes, but he could also move inside to guard. 

Still, "Robinson could provide a club impressive value," per CBSSports.com. 

The Pick: No. 212 (compensatory)

The Selection: Brandon Bridge, QB, South Alabama

Matt Flynn is out, and Scott Tolzien is Aaron Rodgers' primary backup—for now. Green Bay re-signed Tolzien to a one-year, $1.35 million deal prior to the start of free agency—indicating their desire for him to take over the No. 2 spot this year—yet they can easily let him walk when he's up for a new contract this time next year, so he has to produce if called upon. 

Given the scares Green Bay has had at the quarterback position the last two seasons, one line of defense behind Rodgers is not enough, so expect them to add another player in April. Other teams may be hesitant to take a chance on Brandon Bridge, a raw prospect with an unbelievable arm, but where better to refine his skills than in Mike McCarthy's offseason quarterback school?

After all, it did wonders for Rodgers' mechanics. 

Bridge wasn't a top performer in the drills at the combine, but he had a respectable 40-yard dash of 4.72 seconds, per NFL.com (faster than Bryce Petty and Jameis Winston). Where he made people take notice was in the throwing drills. In fact, he may have one of the best 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."

But Bridge's sloppy mechanics are keeping him projected to the late rounds. His footwork is messy, his touch is off and his accuracy in the intermediate game is questionable. 

However, "that size, arm and athleticism are definitely traits worth taking a chance on," Zierlein writes. After all, mechanics are able to be corrected and refined over time, but arm strength is innate. 

Round 7

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

The Pick: No. 247

The Selection: Devante Davis, WR, UNLV

Ted Thompson has a unique ability to spot wide receiver talent in the draft, and the Packers cut Kevin Dorsey and lost Jarrett Boykin to free agency. The No. 1 through No. 3 spots are locked down by Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams, and Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis will be the next men up in four- and five-receiver sets. 

After that group, however, there is just former practice squad player Myles White. The Packers had 10 receivers on their offseason roster in 2014; they currently have six. Thompson could look to add another receiver late in the draft to push the current group in training camp and to serve as gunners on special teams. 

Devante Davis is an intriguing developmental prospect. 

For his size—6'3" and 220 pounds—he had an impressive 40-yard dash of 4.57 seconds. What the combine confirmed about his tape, however, is that he's a red-zone threat who uses his hands well. 

He improved on that speed at his pro day, running the 40 in 4.53 seconds, helping ensure that he'll get taken in the seventh round rather than as an undrafted free agent. 

Despite subpar quarterback play throughout his college career, Davis is second in UNLV history in career receiving yards (2,785) and 100-yard receiving games (11), third in touchdown catches (22) and fourth in receptions (186).

"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."

His size allows him to compete for—and, more often than not, come away with—the 50-50 balls. He's also "as good as you could ask for at tracking deep ball—never loses sight of it," per Zierlein. 

Thompson has taken a late-round receiver after addressing more pressing positions more often than not during his tenure in Green Bay, and unlike other prospects he could take in Round 7, Davis may actually get some snaps (special teams or otherwise) in 2015.