Identifying the Green Bay Packers' 5 Likeliest 1st-Round Draft Targets
We are just a few hours away from the start of the 2015 NFL draft in Chicago. The first round will commence tonight.
Packer Nation is wondering who Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson might select in the first round.
Well, he might not select anyone, as Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel speculates in this story.
That may indeed be what Thompson will do. It didn't work out too bad for him in 2008, when he also had the 30th pick in the first round.
Thompson traded that pick to the New York Jets and in return received the 36th and 102nd picks in the draft.
The 36th pick was used to take Jordy Nelson; No. 87 has had a pretty good career in Green Bay so far, huh?
But if Thompson does decide to pull the trigger and make a selection, I'm going to list five players who I believe have a chance to have their names called tonight when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announces the Packers' selections.
Inside Linebacker Stephone Anthony (Clemson)
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I have done five mock drafts for the Packers, and in two of them, including yesterday's final mock, I had the Packers selecting inside linebacker Stephone Anthony of Clemson in the first round.
Why? Inside linebacker is the biggest need for the team. Sam Barrington proved last year that he deserves to start this year, but who will be the other starter?
Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted that Clay Matthews wants to get back to playing outside linebacker in 2015 after playing inside a bit last year. McGinn also mentioned that the Packers are high on the progress of Carl Bradford.
Bradford was drafted in the fourth round last year based on his productivity at Arizona State, but the Packers looked at Bradford at outside linebacker for most of training camp last summer, where he struggled. It wasn't until late in camp that the Packers moved him inside.
Still, the Packers need to draft at least one inside linebacker in this year's draft after releasing both A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones and allowing Jamari Lattimore leave via free agency.
The obvious choice is the 6'3", 243-pound Anthony. He has the size you are looking for at inside linebacker, plus the speed to be a cover linebacker on passing downs, based on the 4.56 40-yard dash he ran at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Plus, he was productive at Clemson, where he had 330 tackles, 34.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, three interceptions, 13 passes defended and five forced fumbles in his career as a Tiger.
Finally, Anthony grew up a fan of the Packers, as he told Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "There was just something about Brett Favre."
In addition to that, Anthony also said that playing for the Packers would be "a dream" for him.
Inside Linebacker Eric Kendricks (UCLA)
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In my third mock draft this year, I had the Packers taking inside linebacker Eric Kendricks of UCLA. What is there not to like about Kendricks?
In 2014, the 6'0", 232-pound Kendricks had 149 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble and three interceptions. In addition to that, he won the Butkus Award and the Lott Trophy for his play this past season.
It's also important to know that UCLA runs a 3-4 defense, like the Packers.
Kendricks ran a 4.61 in the 40 and recorded 38 inches in the vertical jump at the combine.
Recently, NFL scout Chris Landry gave Bleacher Report his opinion on Kendricks.
"Eric is a little under 6'1". He's 232. He's very instinctive," Landry said. "He's got really good feet to slide and chase. Doesn't have the great size to attack down hill.
"If you remember Wesley Woodyard, who played for the Broncos, he's a similar type of player. I think he's a 4-3 'Will.'"
That comment made me pause a bit. It's one thing to be an undersized inside linebacker playing in the 3-4 in college, but it's different in the NFL, where the players are bigger and faster.
Still, Sam Barrington is just 6'1" and 240 pounds and has done OK in the Packers' 3-4 system.
The key is that Kendricks can do the two things that the Packers need from an inside linebacker: stuff the run and cover on passing downs.
Inside Linebacker Benardrick McKinney (Mississippi State)
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In my fourth mock draft, I had the Packers trading up in the second round and selecting inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney of Mississippi State.
The 6'4", 246-pound McKinney had a nice year in 2014 for the Bulldogs with 71 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks and one forced fumble.
McKinney also has nice speed and great leaping ability as evidenced by his performance at the combine, where he ran a 4.66 in the 40 at the and recorded 40.5 inches in the vertical jump.
McKinney was not asked to cover much in college in the passing game.
A couple of months ago, Landry gave B/R his take on McKinney: "I really like the Mississippi State kid a lot. He's more physical. He's not as good in space. But I think he's really physical at the point of attack.
"To me, he's more of a 'Sam' (strong-side) guy who can play over a tight end. He's a really good run defender. And I think he has some ability as a rusher off the edge. I think he has some versatility in the 30 (3-4) or 40 (4-3) front."
"We'll see what they do with that first pick," Landry added last week. "It's going to be interesting at [No.] 30. You are getting second-round value there.
"Maybe someone like [inside linebacker] Benardrick McKinney or Jalen Collins at corner. But it's going to be interesting to see as you get closer. You've got about 18 or 19 first-round grades, so picking at [No.] 30, is a guy going to drop, or are they going to move back?
"All those things come into play when you are picking late in the draft."
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Cornerback Kevin Johnson (Wake Forest)
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In my fourth mock draft, I had the Packers selecting cornerback Kevin Johnson of Wake Forest in the first round.
The 6'0", 188-pound Johnson had 190 tackles, seven interceptions, 35 passes defended, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his career as a Demon Deacon. He also started for four years.
"Kevin Johnson of Wake Forest I like a lot," Landry said. "If he was a little bit bigger he would really be a high pick. He's a slender guy. He's got good cover skills. He has good body control. He's got some height to him. I think his on-the-field demeanor is very good."
At the combine, Johnson had a solid workout, as he ran a 4.52 in the 40 and leaped 41.5 inches in the vertical jump.
Johnson's height is where is needs to be for Thompson to consider selecting him in the draft. Why?
Thompson has never drafted or signed a cornerback who was shorter than 5'11".
If Johnson is still available at No. 30, there would have to be a really good player still on the board for the Packers not to select him.
Cornerback Jalen Collins (LSU)
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I did not have LSU cornerback Jalen Collins in any of my mock drafts.
Still, the Packers should be interested in the former Tiger, even though Collins started only 10 games in his career at LSU and had just three picks over that time.
So why would the Packers still be interested? Because of his size and speed. The 6'1", 203-pound Collins ran a 4.48 in the 40 at the combine.
Landry has seen Collins play quite a bit, as he lives in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, area.
"Collins is a guy who is another one of those one-year-wonder guys," Landry said. "He's got rare size, speed and flexibility.
"He just had a little injury on his foot and had it noticed at the combine, and he got it fixed. I just came back; we had the LSU workout this morning at the pro day, and I just saw him over there and just spoke with him a little bit ago. The surgery went well, and he's going to be ready for minicamps.
"But this guy's got great length and can play press or off-man coverage. In terms of production, he doesn't have a lot. He actually was benched for two or three games this year, and not for off-the-field issues. So, his best football is ahead of him.
"He's going to be taken, and I expect him to (go) in the first round. Just because there is not a lot of quality at the top (at the cornerback position) and he's got the freakish ability with the height, long arms and speed."
Last week, Landry said that he could see the Packers taking Collins at No. 30.
Plus, Albert Breer of NFL.com reported last Friday that Collins failed multiple drug tests while at LSU.
How that will change Collins' draft status remains to be seen. Thompson has given players second chances before.
You can be sure that the Packers will do their due diligence in checking out Collins and his history of drug use. If they are satisfied with their inquiries, Collins has a chance to become a Packer tonight.
All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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