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2010 NFL Featured Columnist Mock Draft: The Green Bay Packers Take...
March 15, 2010
NOBODY...
Although it's not an option in this Mock Draft, if the Packers were to arrive at pick #23 and Sam Bradford has not been selected, it's time for a good old-fashioned quarterback auction.
Who needs a quarterback out there? I'm talking to you, St. Louis. And you, Washington. Helloooooo Buffalo! Anyone else looking for a franchise quarterback bargain?
Step right up folks, and claim your quarterback. All you need is an early 2nd round and early 3rd round draft pick.
But barring such an unlikely scenario, lets look at who has not been selected that could be of interest to the Packers:
OT Charles Brown, USC
OT Bruce Campbell, Maryland
RB Jahvid Best, California
LB Sergio Kindle, Texas
LB Jerry Hughes, TCU
CB Devin McCourty, RU
DE Carlos Dunlap, DE
S Taylor Mays, USC
Looking at the value board over at DraftTek.com, that's a heck of an interesting group.
I'll start by eliminating two players right off the bat, Taylor Mays and Jahvid Best. As far as Taylor Mays goes, there are just too many questions about him and spending a #1 pick on a safety is not something many NFL GMs like to do.
Jahvid Best, for all his speed and playmaking ability, has some serious warts. He can make people miss, but if a defender gets a hand on him, he's not breaking any tackles.
He runs with no power at all and was taken off the field on downs when the possibility of having to help with the pass blocking was there. He has also had too many injury issue the last two years. Too many warts for a first round pick.
Moving on, recent developments at 1265 Lombardi Ave. have forced me to re-evaluate the Packers primary need. With Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher both signed for at least another 2 years, the Packers don't need to reach in the first round for a possible year-one starter at left tackle.
That means the Packers can look for a promising tackle in rounds two or three that has positive upside but needs some seasoning, perhaps a Roger Saffold or Jason Fox or Jared Valdeheer.
Their next most pressing need would appear to be a cornerback, where the uncertainty surrounding Al Harris, Pat Lee, Brandon Underwood and Josh Bell screams out for some cornerback depth. After all, SOMEONE has to push Jarret Bush off of this roster - PLEASE!
But after Joe Haden and possibly Klye Wilson, is there another cornerback that is a sure-fire round one value? No. Are there a plethora of good CB prospects that will be available in rounds two through four? Yes.
So selecting a cornerback with this pick would be a reach for the Packers. I happen to like Devin McCourty a lot, he's fluid, blankets receivers, a tough tackler, a kick returner and kick blocker specialist. He's a versatile guy that can contribute in multiple ways, but probably not a future All-Pro. So, he's a reach at pick #23.
Almost as big of a need as cornerback for the Packers would be adding a pass rusher on the left side. Carlos Dunlap has the size and athletic ability to be a prototype 3-4 left DE.
With Johnny Jolly headed for a court date and an uncertain future, the Packers may consider a guy that scouts and defensive line coaches are drooling over. While his production has not been what you might demand from a first round pick, any NFL DL coach with confidence in his teaching abilities would love the opportunity to coach the physical speciment that is Carlos Dunlap.
But in the final analysis, the best way for the Packers to create the fierce pass rush Dom Capers covets, would be to find a bookend OLB for Clay Matthews on the left side.
That leads us to two players; Sergio Kindle and Jerry Hughes.
Either player would be a boost to the Packers pass rush. But which one would be the most complete player and has Pro Bowl potential? I think Kindle is that player hands down.
Hughes was a sack machine, but is a bit undersized, has had little experience in pass coverage or at LB, and has struggled against the run.
Kindle has played the hybrid DE/LB elephant position at Texas, has great lateral movement and fluid change of direction skills. A star running back as well as linebacker in high school, Kindle possesses elite athleticism, maybe even more so than his Texas teammate from last year, Brian Orakpo of the Washington Redskins.
To these eyes, Sergio Kindle looks like another Clay Matthews.
Sergio Kindle Highlights:
Jerry Hughes Highlights:
Combine videos can be seen here (notice how much more fluid Kindle looks):
So, as stated earlier, if the Packers were to find themselves in the position this mock draft puts them in, a Sam Bradford auction for more picks would be in order. Trading down into the early second round would still get them one of the players listed above, plus an early third round pick. With four picks in rounds two and three, the Packers could fill multiple needs at OT, LB, CB, S or RB.
But for the purposes of this mock draft...
With the 23rd pick in the NFL Draft, the Packers select: Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas.
Here are the selections leading up to this pick:
22. Patriots Select Jared Odrick
21. Bengals Select Jermaine Gresham
19. Falcons Select Sean Weatherspoon
18. Steelers Select Mike Iupati
17. 49ers-pick-17-trent-williams" target="_blank">49ers Select Trent Williams
16. Titans Select Brandon Graham
15. Giants Select Earl Thomas
14. Jonathan Dwyer to the Seahawks
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Jersey Al Bracco is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com. You can find more of Jersey Al ’s articles on several sports web sites: NFL Touchdown , Packers Lounge , Packer Chatters , & Bleacher Report .