We’ve passed the real money demarcation now and left it in the dust. The teams at this level have every real reason to believe that not only will they be playoff teams next seasons, but they are a few ball bounces away from making and winning a Super Bowl.
The Green Bay Packers were, literally, one play away from at least an NFC Championship game appearance and I have little doubt they would have put up a better fight against the Panthers than the Carson Palmer-led Arizona Cardinals. Green Bay wasn’t at full strength last season with the ACL injury to Jordy Nelson in the preseason just the beginning. They didn’t draft with the possibility of disaster on the horizon at a position so important to their offense. This year they better and my Perfect Mock Draft for the Packers does just that.
To see every team’s Perfect Draft click here.
Round 1, Pick 27 – Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
2015: 56 catches, 781 yards, nine touchdowns, 6-foot-3, 212 pounds
People can talk about Thomas’ 4.57 40 at the combine all they want, Thomas is a tremendous potential NFL wide receiver and one the Packers can’t afford to let fall through. When Nelson went down last season their offensive capability plummeted because all they had was smaller fast receivers. What they need is a big-bodied guy with a 35-inch vertical jump that can outmuscle defenders for tough, contested balls. Thomas is a star and he won’t be on the board when the Packers pick in the second round. None of the best wide receivers will be.
Round 2, Pick 57 – Kyler Fackrell, OLB, Utah State
2015: 82 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, five sacks, four fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, 6-foot-5, 245 pounds
Fackrell can play inside or outside linebacker in Dom Capers’ 3-4 system. His a tough player and came back to put up these numbers after tearing his ACL in 2014. He’s an unselfish guy too and played special teams. Fackrell has tremendous speed, putting up a 4.62 at his pro day to go with his 34.5-inch vertical jump. His 10-yard split was 1.61 seconds which means if he’s can slip by a blocker, a quarterback won’t even have the chance to put down his back foot before getting smashed.
UPDATE – Round 3, Pick 88 – Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State
Round 4, Pick 125 – Eric Striker, OLB, Oklahoma
2015: 67 tackles, 17.5 for a loss, seven sacks, one interception, three passes defended, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, 5-foot-11, 227 pounds
Striker is built more like an inside linebacker and that could very well be where he should end up in the Packers’ scheme. Striker had the production for Oklahoma against NFL-talent opposition and hasn’t missed an All-Big 12 team since he was a freshman. His speed, intelligence and ability to sneak into the backfield should make him a role player for the Packers from the first day.
Round 4, Pick 131 – Hassan Ridgeway, DT, Texas
2015: 45 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, 3.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, 6-foot-3, 303 pounds
The Packers had one decent defensive tackle, B.J. Raji, on the roster over the last decade and now he’s gone. Will Ridgeway be the guy? Maybe, maybe not, but there’s no way he could be less effective at the position than the other bums they’ve trotted out on the field over the last few seasons. Ridgeway’s size and ability to eat up blockers alone should at least keep Green Bay’s linebackers free to make plays.
Round 4, Pick 137 – Ronald Blair, DE, Appalachian State
2015: 71 tackles, 19 for a loss, 7.5 sacks, one interception, one defensive touchdown, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, 6-foot-2, 284 pounds
Blair is a hard worker who knows his own value. He literally had a zero star rating coming out of high school and stepped on the field at Appalachian State as a freshman, winning the starting defensive end job outright and earning an FCS Freshman All-American nod. Blair is a perfect hybrid-style lineman that the Packers need. He can line up at the end, or move inside using his strength and athleticism against guards and centers that should be about his same size.
Round 5, Pick 163 – Ben Braunecker, TE, Harvard
2015: 48 catches, 850 yards, eight touchdowns, 6-foot-3, 250 pounds
The Packers’ tight ends had a big drop (literally) whenever Richard Rogers wasn’t on the field and it’s time to look for a guy who can add big play capability to that position. Braunecker averaged 17.1 yards per catch for the Crimson last season. His 4.68 40 is as good as any tight end’s in this draft class and his 35.5-inch vertical is one of the best. He should be a redzone machine for the Pack and his Harvard smarts should make adapting to an NFL playbook no problem at all.
Round 6, Pick 200 – Darrell Greene, OG, San Diego State
2015: Started 25 consecutive games, 6-foot-3, 321 pounds
The Packers need some depth in the interior of the offensive line and Greene should be a good start. Greene got in some trouble for failing a drug test and that made his draft position drop. Green Bay is a good place to go for Greene to not only learn the NFL position, but find the discipline he needs to stay in the league.
Round 7, Pick 251 – Matt Skura, Center, Duke
2015: First-team All-ACC, 6-foot-3, 305 pounds
David Cutcliff is one of the best offensive minds in college football, still revered and beloved by Peyton and Eli Manning today. Cutcliff taught Skura how to play center and he became the best snapper in the ACC. Draft this kid.
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