NFL Draft 2011: Several Players the Green Bay Packers Might Avoid in the Draft

Jimmy Smith, Jonathan Baldwin Among Players the Green Bay Packers Might Avoid in the 2011 NFL Draft

Every draft season, there are plenty of names that fans and experts alike attach to certain teams in their mock drafts. 

Currently, prospects like Brooks Reed, Muhammed Wilkerson and Akeem Ayers are the hot names tied to the Green Bay Packers.

While mock drafts are the talk of the process, rarely do you hear of names that certain teams should avoid in the draft.

Here are several prospects that the Packers should avoid in the first round of the NFL draft. 

CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado

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AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 10: Cornerback Jimmy Smith #3 of the Colorado Buffaloes picks up the loose ball which was knocked out of the hand of quarterback Colt McCoy of the Texas Longhorns as he rolled out in the second quarter on October 10, 2009 at Darrell K

When talking about Smith, there are clearly two sides of the coin. 

On one side, Smith is the third-best corner in this draft and has the potential to be a very good football player in this league. 

He's also a terrific athlete. At 6'2", 210 pounds, Smith ran the 40-yard dash at the combine in 4.46 seconds and put up 24 reps on the 225-pound bench press. 

On the other side, however, are some troubling character concerns. At Colorado, Smith failed one drug test and had two alcohol related arrests. 

He also inexplicably skipped the Senior Bowl, and the Denver Post states that Smith might "want to be a celebrity more than a good NFL cornerback."

All that equals a scary package to take in the first round. The Packers also don't have a glaring need at cornerback, and "I before team" talk is especially concerning. 

As the Packers proved in 2010, it takes an entire team on the same page to win a championship. Any deviation from that formula should be taken with extreme caution.

RB Mikel Leshoure, Illinois

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 20: Mikel Leshoure #5 of the Illinois Fighting Illini runs past Bryce McNaul #51 of the Northwestern Wildcats on his way to a 339 yard rushing performance during a game played at Wrigley Field on November 20, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois.

Like Smith, Leshoure comes into the NFL as a dual edged sword. 

After rushing for nearly 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns last season at Illinois, it's clear that Leshoure has the talent to be a starting running back in the NFL. 

He'd also fit the Packers running scheme and could make Ryan Grant expendable after the 2011 season. 

However, Leshoure doesn't have a clean sheet from his time at Illinois. In 2008, Leshoure broke his jaw in a fight with a teammate and missed a significant chunk of time.

A year later, he was suspended for breaking team rules. 

Everybody makes mistakes, but why take the risk on a player where the Packers already have two bonafide starters? 

Any Big Name Quarterback

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew

With Aaron Rodgers entrenched as the starting quarterback for the Packers, this selection probably goes without saying. 

If the Packers feel that backup Matt Flynn is on his way out next season however, they could possibly take a quarterback higher than expected.

It's a different situation in 2011, but the Packers did take Brian Brohm in the second round of 2008 when no backup was firmly in place behind Rodgers. 

However, they should avoid many of the big names if they start free-falling in April. 

Cameron Newton, Jake Locker and Blaine Gabbert will be long gone, but the Packers should also forget about taking Ryan Mallett or Christian Ponder.

Mallett has serious character issues and Ponder hasn't been able to stay healthy. If the Packers want to pick their next backup quarterback (and trade piece), finding him in the later rounds is the best choice. 

G Danny Watkins, Baylor

Watkins began his collegiate football career at Butte Community College—the same place Aaron Rodgers got his start—and he was a solid player at left tackle once he transferred to Baylor. 

He projects to be a better guard prospect in the NFL, but that kind of versatility is always a positive—especially to the Packers. 

However, there are some concerns with Watkins. He's only been playing football for four total years, and he could face a steep learning curve once he gets to the NFL. 

Maybe more importantly however is the fact that Watkins will be 26 years old during his rookie season.

He doesn't have many miles on him yet, but it's possible that Watkins will only give you four-to-six good years in the NFL. 

It's a win-now league, but is a guy that raw in experience and old in age worth a high selection?

LB Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue

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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - SEPTEMBER 20: Quarterback Dan LeFevour #13 of the Central Michigan Chippewas is tackled by Ryan Kerrigan #94 of the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 20, 2008 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/

Kerrigan was a dominant force in the Big Ten this past season, and he has the skill set of a first round pick. 

Owner of 33 sacks during his career at Purdue, Kerrigan found ways to get to the quarterback with strength and hustle in college. 

However, if the Packers are looking for a rush linebacker in their 3-4, Kerrigan probably isn't the guy. 

He isn't an explosive athlete off the edge, and he will likely struggle when asked to drop into coverage as a linebacker. 

Kerrigan is surely a good football player, but he's more Aaron Kampman than Clay Matthews in a 3-4 defense. 

Kendrick Ellis and Marvin Austin

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CHAPEL HILL, NC - NOVEMBER 07: Marvin Austin #9 of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches on against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Kenan Stadium on November 7, 2009 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

While there's a pretty good case for the talent level of both Marvin Austin and Kendrick Ellis being in the first to second round range, both come with some serious baggage. 

Austin was suspended for the entire 2010 season for breaking numerous NCAA rules, and his passion and work ethic has been questioned by NFL scouts. 

Ellis was dismissed from South Carolina after reportedly failing several drug tests and wound up at Division 1AA Hampton to finish out his college career. 

If both players played up to their potential, there would be no qualms about the Packers taking them high in this draft. Both could be disruptive forces on the defensive line of Green Bay's 3-4. 

However, with all the outside concerns, the Packers would be wise to avoid them completely in the draft. Both evoke too many reminders of Albert Haynesworth and Shaun Rogers to take the risk.

WR Jon Baldwin, Pittsburgh

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 26: Jonathan Baldwin #82 of the Pittsburgh Panthers watches as teammate Dion Lewis #28 fumbles the ball at the goal line against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game on December 26, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (

There's no doubting that Baldwin could become one of the draft's steals if he lives up to his potential. 

Baldwin, who is 6'5", 230 pounds, showed off a 42-inch vertical leap at the combine and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds. Think Jermichael Finley, but at the receiver position. 

However, with all that potential comes some danger signs.

Baldwin was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment in 2009, and he's rarely dominated the college game like his athletic frame should have. 

He's also been charged with words like "lazy" and, more recently, "selfish" after lashing out at Pittsburgh about his lack of production during his senior season. 

The Packers could very well be in the market for a first-round receiver, but Baldwin might be a player they decide is too risky that high.