Sunday, April 29, 2012

Sunday Funday - 2012 Green Bay Packer Draft Picks

Welcome to my third annual review of the Green Bay Packers draft (2010 and 2011). One of my only qualms with Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson is that he usually trades back instead of moving up in the draft.  The Packers had a number of defensive needs so fortunately this year Thompson bucked his trend of trading back and actually traded up in the draft.  Its obviously way too early to tell but the 2012 NFL Draft reminds me of the 2009 NFL Draft when Thompson traded up to add Claymaker.  This year Thompson traded up three times:

#1) Packers traded the 59th pick and the 123rd pick to the Eagles for the 51st pick.  The Packers used the 51st pick to draft Jerel Worthy (DT/DE, Michigan State) while Vinny Curry (DE, Marshall) went 59th and Brandon Boykin (CB, Georgia) went 123rd.  I like all three guys.  I would probably rather have Curry and Boykins than just Worthy but there is no way the Packers could predict that Boykins would still be available at the end of the 4th round.

#2) Packers traded the 90th pick and the 163rd pick to the Patriots for the 62nd pick.  The Packers used the 62nd pick to draft Casey Hayward (CB, Vanderbilt) while the Patriots drafted Jake Bequette (DE, Arkansas) with the 90th pick and traded 163rd pick back to the Packers.

#3) Packers traded the 197th, 224th, and 235th pick to the Patriots for the 163rd pick.  The Packers used the 163rd pick to draft Terrell Manning (LB, N.C. State) while the Patriots drafted Nate Ebner (S, Ohio State) with the 197th pick, Alfonzo Denard (CB, Nebraska) with the 224th pick, and Jeremy Ebert (WR, Northwestern) with the 235th pick.

Congratulations to the eight players drafted by Thompson in the 2012 NFL Draft, today is truly a Sunday Funday for all of them:

1st Round (28th Overall): Nick Perry, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker
School: USC (Pac-12)
Height: 6'2¾"
Weight: 271 lbs
Arm Length: 33.0"
Hand Size: 9.4"
40-yard Dash: 4.64 seconds
3-Cone Drill: 7.25 seconds
20-yard Dash: 4.66 seconds
225-pound Bench Press: 35 reps
Vertical Leap: 38.5"
Broad Jump: 124.0"
Wonderlic: 29 out of 50
Other Possible Picks: Harrison Smith (SS, Notre Dame), Courtney Upshaw (OLB, Alabama), or Derek Wolfe (DT/DE, Cincinnati)
Analysis: Still feels odd to write Pac-12 instead of Pac-10.  The 2011 Green Bay Packers gave up the most passing yards per game in NFL history.  The simple solution would be to add a cornerback but pressuring the quarterback has a positive waterfall effect on the entire defense.  That is a long way of saying I fully support adding Perry, one of my 2012 NFL Draft crushes, because I fully expect him to make the entire defense better because now Claymaker has a legitimate pass rushing threat at the other outside linebacker position for the for the first time in his career.


Second Round (51st Overall): Jerel Worthy, Defensive Lineman
School: Michigan State (Big Ten)
Height: 6'2⅜"
Weight: 309 lbs
Arm Length: 33.0"
Hand Size: 9.3"
40-yard Dash: 5.08 seconds
3-Cone Drill: 7.6 seconds
20-yard Dash: 4.56 seconds
225-pound Bench Press: 28 reps
Vertical Leap: 28.5"
Broad Jump: 107.0"
Wonderlic: 20 out of 50
Other Possible Picks: Devon Still (DT/DE, Penn State), Pete Konz (C, Wisconsin), or Vinny Curry (DE, Marshall)
Analysis: Let the comparisons of Ryan Pickett and Worthy start.  Trust me, if Worthy is 75% as productive as Pickett the Packers hit a home run with this pick. When Kendall Reyes (DT, UConn) went 49th overall to the San Diego Chargers, the Packers sensed there might be a run on defensive lineman.  Thompson wisely traded up to take Worthy.  As I said in my preview of Day 1 of the NFL Draft for the Packers, although Worthy didn't put up huge numbers in college, he is an effective pass rusher that takes up ton of space.  That is exactly the type of player the Packers thought they were getting in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft in Mike Neal, which I guess is why they let versatile defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins leave before the 2011 season.  With Mike Neal continuing to look like Justin Harrell 2.0, the Packers desperately needed an impact defensive lineman like Worthy.


Second Round (62nd Overall): Casey Hayward, Cornerback
School: Vanderbilt (SEC)
Height: 5'11⅜"
Weight: 192 lbs
Arm Length: 30.2"
Hand Size: 9.0"
40-yard Dash: 4.57 seconds
3-Cone Drill: 6.70 seconds
20-yard Dash: 3.90 seconds
225-pound Bench Press: 19 reps
Vertical Leap: 34"
Broad Jump: 119.0"
Wonderlic: 16 out of 50
Other Possible Picks: Trumaine Johnson (CB, Montana), Josh Robinson (UCF, CB), or Brandon Brooks (Miami of Ohio, G/T)
Analysis: The Packers took three defenders with their first three picks for the first time since 2004 when they took Ahmad Carroll, Joey Thomas, and Donnell Washington.  Let's hope 2012 is not a repeat of 2004, otherwise the rampant optimism for Perry, Worthy, and Hayward joining the Packers will quickly turn to disappointment.  Hayward is apparently a complete ball hawk, which means he will fit in well in Green Bay since they've had one of the opportunistic secondaries for the last five years. This pick was really a three horse race between Hayward, Johnson, and Robinson.  As I said in my preview of Day 2 of the NFL Draft for the Packers, I probably would have taken Johnson just because he is a few inches taller than Hayward or Robinson but for the mere fact that Thompson traded into the second round to get another defender, I am going to trust his judgment.


4th Round (132 Overall): Mike Daniels, Defensive Tackle
School: Iowa (Big Ten)
Height: 6'0½"
Weight: 291 lbs
Arm Length: 32.4"
Hand Size: 9.1"
40-yard Dash: 4.86 seconds
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-yard Dash: N/A
225-pound Bench Press: 27 reps
Vertical Leap: 36.5"
Broad Jump: 124.0"
Wonderlic: 28 out of 50
Other Possible Picks: Josh Chapman (DT, Alabama), Malik Jackson (DE, Tennessee), or Zebrie Sanders (OT, Florida State)
Analysis: Not often do teams have two picks in a row.  Daniels was the first of two consecutive picks and the Packers took their sweet time getting their names submitted because "the pick is in" flashed on the bottom of the screen for what felt like 15 minutes.  Leaving all that aside, watch out C.J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn, it looks like a three-horse race between you guys and Daniels for the last defensive lineman roster spot.


4th Round (133rd Overall): Jerron Mcmillian, Safety
School: Maine (CAA)
Height: 5'11⅛"
Weight: 203 lbs
Arm Length: 30.5"
Hand Size: 9.3"
40-yard Dash: 4.56 seconds
3-Cone Drill: 6.69 seconds
20-yard Dash: 4.22 seconds
225-pound Bench Press: 17 reps
Vertical Leap: 36.5"
Broad Jump: 120.0"
Wonderlic: 15 out of 50
Other Possible Picks: Robert Blanton (S, Notre Dame), Josh Norman (CB, Costal Carolina), or Bradie Ewing (FB, Wisconsin)
Analysis: Opinions are all over the board on Mcmilliam.  Todd McShay had Mcmillian rated as a non-drafted free agent while Mel Kiper Jr. claims that he had a 4th or 5th round grade on him.  The one thing we do know is that Mcmillian was a good tackler in college so if he can continue that in the NFL, Morgan Burnett might be able to turn into the ball-hawk at safety with Mcmillian doing the dirty work on the back end.  People are trying to make Nick Collins comparisons because Mcmillian is an athletic tackler from a small college.  Let's not forget that Collins was a second round pick and is undoubtedly one of the best safeties in franchise history so let's see Mcmillian make the team before we start comparing him to former safety Nick Collins.


6th Round (163rd Overall): Terrell Manning, outside linebacker
School: N.C. State (ACC)
Height: 6'2⅛"
Weight: 237 lbs
Arm Length: 32.2"
Hand Size: 9.2"
40-yard Dash: 4.79 seconds
3-Cone Drill: 7.18 seconds
20-yard Dash: 4.43 seconds
225-pound Bench Press: 22 reps
Vertical Leap: 32.5"
Broad Jump: 114.0"
Wonderlic: 23 out of 50
Other Possible Picks: George Iloka (S, Boise State), Emmanuel Acho (MLB, Texas), or Billy Winn (DT, Boise State)
Analysis: Seems like a versatile linebacker that can play any of the four linebacker spots in the 3-4.  A new-school Brandon Chillar if you will.  Although take my comparisons with a grain of salt because last year I claimed that Ricky Elmore would be Aaron Kampman 2.0, clearly I was wrong so I don't want to get to overexcited about Terrell Manning.  In fact I would be more excited about Manning if it didn't come at the expense of my Boise State draft crushes George Iloka (S, Boise State) and Billy Winn (DT, Boise State).  Finally A.J. Hawk better hold make sure he still has the compromising pictures of Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy because the Packers have a ton of young, cheaper inside linebacker options in D.J. Smith, Robert Francois, and Terrell Manning.


7th Round (241st Overall): Andrew Datko, Offensive Tackle
School: Florida State (ACC)
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 315 lbs
Arm Length: 33.7"
Hand Size: 10.0"
40-yard Dash: 5.32 seconds
3-Cone Drill: 7.71 seconds
20-yard Dash: 4.54 seconds
225-pound Bench Press: 20 reps
Vertical Leap: 29.5"
Broad Jump: 100.0"
Wonderlic: 25 out of 50
Other Possible Picks: Mike Harris (OT, UCLA), Josh Ogelsby (OT, Wisconsin), or James Brown (G/T, Troy)
Analysis: Is this Neckbeard 2.0 (Mark Tauscher) for the Packers?  Luckily the Packers have been investing high picks in offensive tackles the two years because after cutting Chad Clifton earlier this week, there will be a new full-time starting left tackle in Green Bay for the first time in over a decade.  I am sure the Packers will be working the phones to make sure a few "priority" non-drafted free agents come into camp to compete for backup lineman spots but they have a ton of quality depth at offensive tackle already so adding Datko feels like gravy or at the very least insurance in 2012 on Derek Sherrod's broken leg. On the plus side, the Packers got a guy that played a ton of games at left tackle for a big time program and fits well in the zone blocking scheme that the Packers use.  The only reason Datko fell to the 7th round was the injury issues. If Datko can get healthy, this pick will be the steal of the draft.


7th Round (243rd Overall): B.J. Coleman, Quarterback
School: Chattanooga (Southern)
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 233 lbs
Arm Length: 31.5"
Hand Size: 10.3"
40-yard Dash: 4.95 seconds
3-Cone Drill: 7.07 seconds
20-yard Dash: 4.38 seconds
225-pound Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Leap: 29.5"
Broad Jump: 109.0"
Wonderlic: 25 out of 50
Other Possible Picks: Chandler Harnish (QB, Northern Illinois), Kellan Moore (QB, Boise State), or Case Keenum (QB, Houston)
Analysis: I like Thompson following the Ron Wolf model of taking developmental quarterbacks late in the draft.  Best case scenario the Packers develop Coleman into a serviceable back-up.  Worst case scenario they threw away the 243rd pick.  I am sure there will be one or two Matt Flynn comparisons since the 7th round is the same round the Packers drafted Flynn.  Let's not forget that Flynn won a national championship in college, while Coleman could barely stay healthy long enough to get on the field.  One other footnote to Coleman, he might help lay the ground work for having Favre return to Green Bay for a proper retirement ceremony sooner rather than later because they share the same agent (Bus Cook).  Not only that, Favre has done extensive one-on-one work with Coleman leading up to the draft.  Heck if this pick was merely Ted Thompson's way of extending an olive branch to Favre it will go down as one of his better picks of the 2012 NFL Draft.


As we we all know, the 2011 the Packers went 15-1 in the regular season but lost at home in the Divisional Round to the New York Giants because of their porous defense.  Normally the Packers don't draft for need but clearly the Packers needed to add a number of defenders.  If even two or three of the defenders above turn into NFL starters then the 2012 NFL Draft will go down as the greatest defensive drafts in franchise history.


Related Posts:
- Quick Thoughts - 2012 NFL Draft Day 2 Packers Preview
- Quick Thoughts - 2012 NFL Draft Day 1 Packers Preview
- Cheesehead Sports Nut's 2012 First Round NFL Mock Draft
- Sunday Funday - 2011 Green Bay Packer Draft Picks
- Sunday Funday - 2010 Green Bay Packer Draft Picks

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