Green Bay Packers Draft Picks: Results, Analysis and Grades
The 2016 NFL draft kicked off at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, and it's a day Green Bay Packers fans have barely been able to wait for.
Because the Packers, under general manager Ted Thompson, primarily build the team through the draft, free agency just doesn't hold the same import for Green Bay as it does for other teams.
The draft is truly where the Packers franchise begins to take shape.
The Packers hold the 27th selection in Round 1 of the draft. As they make their selections in each round, this article will be updated to include analysis and grades for each pick through Round 7, so make sure to check back in after each round.
Packers' Picks
1 of 8The Packers hold nine overall selections in this year's draft, including two fourth-round compensatory picks.
Approximately no one was surprised when, in late April, Ted Thompson confirmed that the Packers would continue to employ a best-available-player draft strategy.
"We try to draft the best player available," Thompson said, per Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I say this every year and everybody says, 'Yeah, right.' We think it's important to stay focused and try to take the best player."
The board could fall a number of ways up until No. 27, and don't rule out the possibility that Thompson could trade down. Check back for a real-time update of the Packers' selections as they are made.
Round 1, Pick 27: Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA
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Packers general manager Ted Thompson's head must have been spinning when he found himself on the clock at No. 27 overall and had the option to take inside linebackers Myles Jack or Reggie Ragland or get the run on defensive tackles started.
Ultimately, Thompson decided to do the latter, selecting UCLA defensive tackle Kenny Clark from among a group of available defensive linemen that included Alabama's A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama's Jarran Reed, Ole Miss' Robert Nkemdiche, Louisiana Tech's Vernon Butler and Baylor's Andrew Billings.
Thompson trusted his board, but many had those other players ranked higher than the Bruin.
The fact the Packers didn't call in their pick until about a minute remaining on their clock suggests Thompson was fielding trade calls but clearly didn't like what he was being offered.
Still, it's hard to help but wonder if Thompson could have traded down into the early second round, still gotten his guy in Clark and walked away with an additional pick to boot.
But Clark was clearly the guy for the Packers, and there's no denying he'll be able to contribute right away.
How does Clark fit with the Packers? He's scheme-versatile, having played defensive end, defensive tackle and nose tackle for the Bruins.
While it seems like a no-brainer that Clark will slide into the starting nose tackle role B.J. Raji vacated, he could also give Mike Daniels some help on the defensive line.
The former high school wrestling champ plays low to the ground and has honed his tackling fundamentals.
Clark finished second on the Bruins in tackles (75) in 2015 and will help the Packers shore up a leaky run defense.
Grade: B
Round 2, Pick 48: Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
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The Packers may not have made huge waves in free agency, but Ted Thompson made up for it in Round 2 on Friday, moving up nine spots to target Indiana offensive tackle Jason Spriggs.
The Packers moved up to the No. 48 overall pick, trading with the Indianapolis Colts and, as Ryan Wood of the Press Gazette noted, giving up their own selection at No. 57 as well as their original fourth-round pick (No. 125) and seventh-round pick (No. 248).
The Packers are in a unique position when it comes to offensive linemen. They have their starting five set for 2016, in left tackle David Bakhtiari, left guard Josh Sitton, center Corey Linsley, right guard T.J. Lang and right tackle Bryan Bulaga all returning this year.
However, Bakhtiari, Sitton, Lang and reserve lineman JC Tretter will all become free agents after the season, and the three starters rank near the top of the league at their respective positions. The Packers may be able to re-sign two of the three starters, but re-signing all three is nearly impossible.
Jumping up to select Spriggs was an astute move by Thompson. It gives the Packers options so they don't experience a drop-off in offensive line play to start the 2017 season.
And Spriggs himself, who was projected as a first-round talent by many analysts, is a fantastic fit for the Packers offense.
At Indiana, Spriggs played in a zone-blocking scheme like the one Green Bay employs and is also adept at playing in a similarly uptempo offense.
A former tight end, Spriggs is athletic and quick, having run a 4.94-second 40-yard dash. Much like the New England Patriots use left tackle Nate Solder as an eligible receiver, Spriggs could engage in some similar trickery with Green Bay.
Spriggs was a four-year starter for the Hoosiers. In 2015, he allowed only two sacks in 431 pass attempts, per CBS Sports.
Aaron Rodgers has to be happy about that.
Grade: A-
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Round 3, Pick 88: Kyler Fackrell, OLB, Utah State
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Once again, Ted Thompson drafted with an eye to the future in Round 3, as he supplemented the Packers' pass-rusher stable with Utah State outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell.
The Packers plan to move Clay Matthews back outside in 2016, while Nick Perry, Julius Peppers and Jayrone Elliott will all be free agents in 2017. Mike Neal left in free agency this year.
Thompson made sure that a current strength does not become a weakness in 2017 by addressing it early.
Fackrell is a natural fit for defensive coordinator Dom Capers' scheme, having played at 3-4 outside linebacker through his college career at Utah State.
The pass-rusher could have been a late first or early second-round pick if not for a season-ending ACL tear in 2014, a disappointing development after a standout 2013 in which he had a team-high 13 tackles for loss and 82 tackles, five sacks and a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.
But Fackrell had a bounce-back year in 2015, leading the nation with five fumble recoveries, leading his team with 15 tackles for loss, setting a Utah State record with 12 quarterback hurries and adding four sacks.
Fackrell uses his length and lateral quickness to find success as a pass-rusher, and he also played on the special teams coverage unit at Utah State.
Grade: A
Round 4, Pick 131: Blake Martinez, ILB, Stanford
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Ted Thompson finally went after the Packers' much-needed inside linebacker with the Packers' first of two selections in Round 4, selecting Stanford's Blake Martinez.
The Packers can start Sam Barrington at middle linebacker, but what they really needed from a prospect this year is a Will linebacker who can drop into coverage.
For the most part, Martinez can be that player. There were questions about his speed when he ran a 4.71-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in February, but he impressed at Stanford's pro day with a 4.62-second result, per CBS Sports.
Martinez was highly productive at Stanford, leading the Pac-12 with 141 total tackles in 2015.
The former team caption is also a locker room leader known for his willingness to help the team, be that by playing on special teams, dropping into coverage or defending the run.
Pro Football Focus gave Martinez the highest grade among all linebackers in this class in coverage, which is excellent news for a team that desperately needed a three-down linebacker to add to its front seven.
Grade: B+
Round 4, Pick 137: Dean Lowry, DE, Northwestern
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You didn't think Thompson was done upgrading the Packers front seven, did you?
With the team's second selection in Round 4, the GM once again went back to the defensive well, this time selecting Northwestern defensive end Dean Lowry.
One of the biggest knocks on Lowry is his short arms (31"), but he's a high-motor player who gives his full effort on every play.
That matters more than you might think, especially for a rotational player who doesn't need to start on every snap.
In 2015, Lowry had 46 tackles, 13.5 for loss, and three sacks. And, as NFL.com's Lance Zierlein points out, Lowry "had as many tackles and more tackles for loss than Joey Bosa."
As a rotational defensive end, Lowry can give Mike Daniels the help he needs up front and defend the run. While he's not going to be the best pass-rusher on defensive line, he can be used as an interior rusher in sub-packages.
Grade: B
Round 5, Pick 163: Trevor Davis, WR, California
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The Packers finally added a skill-position player in the fifth round with wide receiver Trevor Davis out of Aaron Rodgers' alma mater, California.
Davis is majorly athletic. He was a top performer in four drills at the NFL combine: the 40-yard dash (4.42 seconds), vertical jump (38.5 inches), the three-cone drill (6.60 seconds) and the 60-yard shuttle (10.94 seconds).
Yes, you read that 40 time correctly. It's no surprise Davis is a speedy returner, specializing in kickoff returns. In 2014, he had 40 receptions for 672 yards and two scores and 686 kickoff return and 45 punt return yards as well.
However, despite his upside in the return game, Davis doesn't play with a lot of finesse, and given that the Packers like to run four- and even five-wide receiver sets, it's hard to imagine him getting a place on the 53-man roster as a receiver over someone like Ty Montgomery or Jeff Janis.
Many analysts didn't think Davis would be drafted, instead signing as an undrafted free agent.
Still, it will be interesting to see what Davis can do in rookie minicamp and then in training camp.
Grade: C+
Round 6, Pick 200: Kyle Murphy, OT, Stanford
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With his final selection in the 2016 NFL draft, Ted Thompson opted to continue reinforcing the offensive line with tackle Kyle Murphy out of Stanford.
The Cardinal began his career at right tackle before shifting over to the blind side, improving in his pass protection in the process.
While he's not ready to start in the NFL yet, he could make strides with some time in an NFL weight room and perfecting the fundamentals of kick slides and playing low with offensive line coach James Campen.
"I don't think you can play him for at least a year until he gets stronger," an anonymous AFC general manager told NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. "He's a good run-blocker but I don't know if he's strong enough to play on the right side or quick enough to play left."
However, Murphy provides much-needed depth at the tackle position, and the Packers have the luxury of developing him for a year.
Grade: B-
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.jpg?w=600 "Draft Grades Roundup 🔠")
