NFL Draft 2011: 10 Pass Rushers the Green Bay Packers Should Target in Draft

The Green Bay Packers need another pass rusher who can complement Clay Matthews.

They should try to address this need in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Plenty of pass rushers should be available this year, as the OLB and DE positions are deeper than in any other draft I can remember.

The pass rusher can come in the form of an OLB to line up opposite Matthews or in the form of a DE, someone who can come in on passing downs to give Ryan Pickett and Cullen Jenkins a rest.

Or, maybe the Packers can draft a DT with a nose for the QB to get some pressure up the middle when B.J. Raji is taking a breather.

Here are 10 players that the Green Bay Packers could draft to fill their pass rush need.

10. Clay Nurse, Illinois

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CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 02: Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes avoids a tackle attempt by Clay Nurse #97 of the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Champaign, Illinois. Ohio State defeated Illinois 24-13. (Photo by

Nurse had a strong senior season for a disappointing Fighting Illini team.

His fellow lineman, Corey Liuget, is generating most of the buzz, but Nurse deserves some credit too.

He’ll be good value if the Packers can get him with one of their seventh round picks.

9. Karl Klug, Iowa

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IOWA CITY, IA - NOVEMBER 20: Defeisive lineman Karl Klug #95 of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes close in for the tackle on quarterback Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes as he drive the ball towards the goal line during the first half of play a

Klug is another guy who has been overshadowed by a fellow defensive lineman.

Adrian Clayborn gets most of the credit for Iowa’s strong defensive line play, but Klug is the guy working behind the scenes while generating little buzz.

He finished 2010 with six sacks, and he should be available in the seventh round if the Packers want him.

8. Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 03: Quarterback Jacory Harris #12 of the Miami Hurricanes drops back to pass as defensive end Jeremy Beal #44 of the Oklahoma Sooners gets past offensive lineman Matt Pipho #65 at Land Shark Stadium on October 3, 2009 in Miami

Beal has had some pretty bad offseason workouts.

But, the fact is that he produced results on the field.

He had 11 sacks in 2009 and nine sacks in 2010.

I'll judge his draft stock based on his results on the field, not his offseason workouts.

He might be available as low as the fourth round now. It should be hard for the Packers to pass on him if he falls that far.

7. Dontay Moch, Nevada

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 09: Dontay Moch #55 and Colin Kaepernick #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack hold up the trophy after they beat Boston College in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park on January 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezr

Moch is a guy with second round talent.

The Packers might be able to take him with the last pick in the second round, but it's risky.

They might be better off if they trade out of the first round into the mid-second round, where picking Moch would be a better value.

For a guy who had 29 sacks in his college career, it should be worth it.

6. Sam Acho, Texas

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 5: Quarterback Zac Lee of the Nebraska Cornhuskers is sacked by Sam Acho #81 of the Texas Longhorns at Cowboys Stadium on December 5, 2009 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Acho should be around at the end of the second round.

He's a big guy (6-foot-3, 258 lbs.) who would be a good speed rusher as a 3-4 OLB.

Lining him up alongside Clay Matthews would make both of them more effective.

5. Jabaal Sheard, Pittsburgh

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CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 04: Jabaal Sheard #97 of the Pittsburgh Panthers tackles Zach Collaros #12 of the Cincinnati Bearcats during the Big East Conference game against at Nippert Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Pittsburgh won 28-10.

Sheard is a guy who looks like he could be a very effective 3-4 DE.

He had nine sacks in his senior year at Pittsburgh.

Adding him to a potent defense like Green Bay's would open up more rushing lanes for Matthews and the other linebackers.

4. Allen Bailey, Miami

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - SEPTEMBER 17: Defensive lineman Allen Bailey #57 and linebacker Colin McCarthy #44 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrate after scoring a safety against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Land Shark Stadium on September 17, 2009 in Fort

Bailey is a prime candidate for a guy the Packers could trade out of the first round to select.

Bailey will be selected towards the top of round two, so trading the 32nd pick might move the Packers into the right range to get him.

He's another candidate to play a 3-4 DE.

He's also versatile enough that he might be able to shift to OLB from time to time as well.

3. Brooks Reed, Arizona

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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 05: Defensive end Brooks Reed #42 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrates after stopping the USC Trojans on the final play on December 5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Arizona won 21-17. (Photo by Ste

Reed is generating a lot of buzz lately.

He's being compared to Clay Matthews for more reasons than his long blond hair.

His competitiveness and motor would make him an excellent addition to the Packers.

They'll likely need to use their first round pick to get him though.

Trading down into the early second round might prevent them from drafting Reed.

2. Justin Houston, Georgia

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ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 21: Justin Houston #42 of the Georgia Bulldogs against the Kentucky Wildcats at Sanford Stadium on November 21, 2009 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

I've seen Houston projected as high as a mid-first round pick to as low as a mid-second round pick.

The No. 32 pick held by the Packers seems like a good value for Houston.

He finished a strong 2010 season with 10 sacks.

1. Cameron Heyward, Ohio State

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 13: Cameron Heyward #97 of the Ohio State Buckeyes chases after quarterback Matt McGloin #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Heyward is currently projected as a late first round pick.

If he slips at all, the Packers should pounce.

A rotation of Heyward, Cullen Jenkins and Ryan Pickett at defensive end would be quite formidable.

And, when either Jenkins or Pickett get hurt (which they certainly will), Heyward can fill in for as long as necessary.