NFL Draft 2011: 7 Risky Picks That Could Pay off Huge for the Green Bay Packers
The 2011 NFL Draft is less than three weeks away and there is a ton of speculation about who the Carolina Panthers will take with the first overall pick. Will they look for their quarterback of the future in Blaine Gabbert or Cam Newton? Will they look for a dominate defensive player like Da'Quan Bowers or Marcell Dareus? Will they shock everyone and take A.J. Green or Patrick Peterson with the first pick?
What most people aren't talking about is who the Green Bay Packers are going to take with the 32nd pick in the first round. The Packers are defending Super Bowl Champions and appear to be an early favorite to repeat. They were bombarded by injuries throughout all of last year, but Aaron Rodgers and company still took care of business.
This year the Packers will have a target painted on their chests for the entire season, as teams will try to dethrone the defending champions. Ted Thompson has been fantastic with his draft picks in recent years and this year should be no different.
Here is a look at seven players that the Packers could draft with the last pick in the first round. Each player would be considered a rather risky pick, but the potential of each of these players could be huge for the Packers.
Ryan Williams, RB
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The Packers lost Ryan Grant to a season ending injury in the first game last year. Their running game never recovered during the regular season and this was evident by the fact that Aaron Rodgers was tied for the team lead in rushing touchdowns. However, James Starks played well in the postseason, amassing 315 yards and finally giving Green Bay a much needed running game for their playoff run.
Ryan Williams was a highly recruited player from Virginia coming out of high school. During his redshirt freshman season, Darren Evans went down with a season ending injury and Ryan Williams was called upon to step in. He did just that and rushed for over 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns. Although he had a disappointing sophomore season, he showed plenty of potential during his freshman campaign to declare for the NFL Draft. He has great vision and is a powerful running back, and even though he lacks that elite speed that teams are looking for in a top tier running back, he has the ability to find the hole and hit it hard and quick. He has also shown that he can be a threat in the passing game.
Although some might say that with the return of Ryan Grant and the emergence of James Starks, the Packers are set at running back, having a player like Williams who can both run and catch could be huge for the Packers offense.
Jonathan Baldwin, WR
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The Packers boast one of the better receiving corps in the NFL. Greg Jennings is quietly becoming one of the top receivers in the league. Donald Driver continues to be an efficient second option, even though his numbers were down quite a bit last year. Throw in James Jones, Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley, and it is easy to see why the Packers passing game is feared by most NFL defenses.
Jonathan Baldwin might be the most athletic receiver in this year's draft. He is a huge receiver at 6'5" and when you combine that with his speed and leaping abilities, you have a Randy Moss-type downfield threat. He had a huge sophomore season where he averaged nearly 20 yards per reception, and though his numbers dipped quite a bit this year, some might place that blame upon the poor quarterback play in Pittsburgh. Other than his freak athletic ability, Baldwin needs improvement in a number of areas such as route running and being able to consistently catch the ball.
With Donald Driver getting older and the possibility of James Jones leaving in free agency, the Packers could use another receiver. Jordy Nelson has improved each season, but he looks like he would best be used as a slot receiver. Baldwin would give Rodgers another deep threat to take pressure off Greg Jennings.
Derek Sherrod, OT
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The Packers offensive line allowed Aaron Rodgers to be sacked a league leading 50 times in 2009. Even though the line improved in 2010, allowing only 38 total sacks, there is still room for improvement, especially considering Rodgers recent concussions. They got a great rookie season out of Bryan Bulaga and are hoping that he continues to improve during his second season.
Derek Sherrod is not the most athletic offensive tackle in the draft, but his ability translates into being able to play either guard or tackle in the NFL. He started three years at left tackle for Mississippi State and although he isn't the strongest or most athletic lineman in the draft this year, his combination of both these skill sets should translate into him being a quality offensive tackle. He is a mature player who would be ready to step in from day one and contribute.
Chad Clifton is getting old and it might be time for the Packers to start grooming a player to take over for Clifton. Sherrod certainly has the skill set and work ethic to be that player, but the fact that he doesn't excel at any one aspect of the game could scare teams away from using a high pick on him.
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Cameron Heyward, DE
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Cullen Jenkins and Ryan Pickett both struggled with injuries during the course of the 2011 season. Jenkins came back at full strength and had a fantastic postseason, but Pickett's play during the season showed that the defensive line could benefit from another quality starter and more depth. Neither Jarius Wynn or C.J. Wilson showed enough last year in their limited time on the field to be considered the answer in Green Bay.
Cameron Heyward is a big, powerful, and intimidating defensive lineman. He had an impressive career at Ohio State where he was a three year starter for the Buckeyes. He has the ideal size for the NFL at 6'5" and 288 pounds. He isn't an elite pass rusher, but he has a quick first step and plays well against the run. The biggest knock on him is his lack of athleticism, but that could be overcame with proper training in technique.
Dom Capers plays an extremely aggressive style of defense where pressure on the quarterback is key. B.J. Raji, Cullen Jenkins and Clay Matthews have all proved to be able to get to the quarterback with frequency. Even though Heyward isn't the best pass rusher, he is a big body that would take up space to allow for players like Matthews to get to the quarterback. His run defense would also be an upgrade for the Packers.
Martez Wilson, ILB
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The loss of Nick Barnett early in the season showed the Packers just how thin they are at the inside linebacker position. They drafted A.J. Hawk with the fifth overall pick in the 2006 draft hoping that he would become a dominating force for them. He hasn't been a complete disappointment, but he certainly hasn't lived up to his high draft selection. Desmond Bishop played well in replacement for Barnett, but adding another quality inside linebacker would certainly help.
Martez Wilson is a incredible football specimen. He has the speed of a cornerback with the body of a linebacker. He is a powerful hitter and possesses the speed to close on players in the open field. He is still an extremely raw player at his position, but could develop into a real star with the right tutelage. One area where he might surprise people over time is in his blitzing ability. When you combine his size and speed, he could be a force coming off the edge.
The Packers defense was one of the best during the 2010-11 season, but adding a player with Wilson's high ceiling of potential could separate them from other defenses.
Justin Houston, OLB
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Clay Matthews was one of the best defensive players in the league in just his second year. However, opposite Matthews, the Packers don't have another quality outside linebacker. Neither Frank Zombo or Erik Walden were the answer for the Packers, so picking an outside linebacker with their first pick in the draft seems like a high possibility.
Justin Houston was a combine workout warrior and impressed everyone in Indianapolis with his impressive blend of speed, strength and size. He has a great burst of speed coming of the edge, but needs to become more than a one trick pony at beating offensive lineman. Some question his work ethic due to his lack of consistency at Georgia.
Houston has all the tools to be another dominate pass rusher for the Packers, but he also has the chance to be a combine stud and NFL dud.
Jimmy Smith, CB
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The Packers have a great group of cornerbacks in Tramon Williams, Charles Woodson, and Sam Shields. Williams and Shields both had incredible postseasons and look to have bright days ahead of them in the NFL. Charles Woodson won the Defensive Player of the Year during the 2009-10 season and continues to be one of the best play making corners in the league. However, Woodson's age is becoming a factor and he has proven to be more effective blitzing the quarterback and playing the run than pure man-to-man coverage.
Jimmy Smith has the ideal size, speed, athleticism and cover skills to be a press corner in the NFL. He made plenty of plays during his career at Colorado even though quarterbacks were weary to throw in his direction. The best thing he has going for him was how well he matched up with A.J. Green, a lock to go in the top 10 in this year's draft. He has all the skills you want from a premier cornerback in the NFL, but he was inconsistent too often at Colorado. He doesn't seem to have the drive to be the best and settles for less than the best.
The Packers don't really need a cornerback right now, but adding a player with Smith's upside and physical tools could be huge as Woodson continues to age.
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