Grade the 2016 draft

[3irty1]

Post your grades here rats. Either overall grade, or grade for each pick. Explanations optional.

Please submit all grades in emoji form.

[George Cumby]

B+

This was a quality over quantity draft. Ted apparently likes his team's depth and was specifically targeting certain positions. He no longer feels the need to gather draft picks the way he used to.

As Patler mentioned in another thread, Ted's use of free agency prevented the creation of new holes in the roster and filled the hole at TE.

Once again, the players drafted are a bunch of Ted types as I mentioned in a previous thread.

Good draft.

[gbgary]

oh...b+ i guess. tt certainly didn't go "the best player available" route and drafted for need. speed, high energy, toughness, brains, seemed to be a focus. let's hope they all pan out.

[texaspackerbacker]

C+ I don't see a star quality player in the bunch - but it's still early - who knows.

Clark B- I wish it hadn't been a D Lineman; Clark is at least not a big clod (apparently).

Spriggs B+ possibly a move toward size and strength

Fackrell B- I was hoping for a future Clay Matthews in the first round; I guess there's a slim chance Fackrell is that.

Martinez A- It sounds like he is good and ready to play/not a project - Maybe.

Lowery D+ Another D Lineman, and one with a low ceiling to boot - apparently

Davis C- I really didn't want the Packers to draft a WR; Davis, however, sounds like he might be a good one. Maybe they cut Davante Adams and keep him - yeah right.

Murphy C He sounds OK for a 6th rounder.

[Joemailman]

I'd say B+. I thought getting Martinez in 4th was really good value. As things developed Friday night, I was hoping TT would take him in the 3rd. Spriggs and Davis are the wildcards. If Spriggs can get stronger, he has the ability to be an upgrade at LT. Davis has the ability to give the Packers some much needed speed at WR.:: If not though, the Packers used a lot of picks on these guys. I like Clark better than a lot of people here. He'a only 20 years old, and may have some growing to do.

[Farley Face]

Clark: B+
Spriggs: C-
Fackrell: B
Martinez: B+
Lowry: B-
Davis: A-
Murphy: C

[red]

C

i like the two o-lineman picks, thats about it

[Patler]

Overall - A

It has nothing to do with my opinions on the players or comparisons to other players who might've been available at the time the picks were made. My grade is based solely on the following:

Each pick addressed a need or concern about the existing roster and the performances during 2015.

Each pick acquired a player that seemed well-regarded at that point in the draft.

There wee no unreasonable longshots. There were no luxury pics for a position without a need. There were no duplications, multiple picks addressing a single roster issue.

For those reasons, this draft is an "A".

[gbgary]

Each pick addressed a need or concern about the existing roster and the performances during 2015.

Each pick acquired a player that seemed well-regarded at that point in the draft.

There wee no unreasonable longshots. There were no luxury pics for a position without a need. There were no duplications, multiple picks addressing a single roster issue.

yup

[3irty1]

Kenny Clark
Grade:

I don't know how this pick manages to be boring. He already appears to have all the traits of the few guys who've actually thrived with us in the Capers era and he's the youngest NFL player I've ever seen. While the game is slowing down for him, he'll still be getting bigger and faster. I blame Raji, for making this pick feel contrived.

Jason Spriggs
Grade:

Good value at a need position and he's already giving the Bears the bird before he even set foot on the field. Its also a bit exciting to have a real physical specimen at OT.

Kyler Fackrell
Grade:

Guy in the athletic lengthy mold where Ted has managed to find guys who make much better pros than they ever were in college. Reason to believe he might have versatility too. But he's old.

Blake Martinez
Grade:

Fresh horse for the infamous ILB competition. We should get plenty of opportunities to see what he can do. Seems to have some coverage ability. Probably a good idea to give the Stanford guy the radio helmet.

Dean Lowry
Grade:

Goofy DE who gets described as "try hard" and "lunch pail" and "white" but proves a great athlete at the combine. Doesn't look like he could touch the top of his head.

Trevor Davis
Grade:

Wish we had this guy last year. Blazing fast with big gluey hands and the ability to track it over his shoulder. Has a kick returner's wiggle. Listening to Packers brass they seem proud of themselves with this one. Should dramatically up the level of competition in camp.

Kyle Murphy
Grade:

Another smartypants from Stanford to compete for the jobs of our backup OL who underperformed when needed last year. Certainly looks the part and seems like good value. Probably the new Barclay.

[HarveyWallbangers]

3irty1 pretty much nailed it for me.

[Maxie the Taxi]

I don't know about no damn emojis, but I do have some training camp room assignments to recommend:

Kyler Fackrell and Clay Matthews -- This is a no brainer. Fackrell needs to lose his Mormon nice guy image and grow some fangs. A few weeks with the Claymaker and Fackrell will be breathing fire and growing hair through his helmet.

Kenny Clark and Mike Daniels -- Another no brainer. Daniels is a Jersey boy playing his football in the Midwest. Daniels will show the namby-pamby kid from UCLA how to play defense like a "buzz saw." Just keep Clark way the hell away from Datone Jones!

Dean Lowry and Julius Peppers -- Probably another natural arrangement. Both guys are about the same size. Peppers started out as a DE. If half of what Peppers knows rubs off on Lowry, we'll have a probowler on our hands.

Trevor Davis and Aaron Rodgers -- We all know that Arod won't throw to any new turds unless he trusts them...alot! So what better way to generate trust between these two guys than to put Davis in a position to overhear Arod's phone calls to Olivia?

Jason Spriggs and TJ Lang -- Spriggs is got the body type just not the attitude. Lang has a mean streak from here to Chicago. After rooming with Lang for a few weeks, Spriggs will be in the mood to tear the facemask off of Nkamakin Suh.

Kyle Murphy and Josh Sitton -- Murphy's got a lot to learn before he can contribute and Sitton has the best incentive in the world to train him no matter how long it takes. Sitton doesn't want to play OT ever again.

Blake Martinez and Dom Capers -- Who else? If Martinez is going to play ILB and wear the wired helmet, he's gonna have to learn the defense backwards and forwards. Who better to learn it from if Wist can't spend a few weeks away from home?

[woodbuck27]

Here's what Chad Reuter (NFL.Com) put down as a Grade for the Packers. In the LINK at the bottom of this post...you can see how the Packers Grade by Reuter, compares to every other NFL team:

Green Bay Packers

Draft picks: Kenny Clark (No. 27 overall), Jason Spriggs (No. 48 overall), Kyler Fackrell (No. 88 overall), Blake Martinez (No. 131), Dean Lowry (No. 137), Trevor Davis (No. 163), Kyle Murphy (No. 200)

Day 1 grade: B+
Day 2 grade: B
Day 3 grade: B+

Overall grade: B+

The skinny:

" There wasn't much question that the Packers were going to bolster their front seven with their opening pick. Another no-brainer will be fan comparisons of the careers of their selection, Clark, and two available Alabama studs: linebacker Reggie Ragland and nose tackle Jarran Reed.

Green Bay desperately needed help at the tackle position, and trading up for Spriggs filled that hole. It was an atypical move for Ted Thompson, giving up a mid-round choice for a nine-spot move upwards. Fackrell has good potential to help rush the passer on the outside.

The Packers needed an inside linebacker, and they got one with athleticism and intelligence in Martinez. Lowry is a five-technique who will be part of the rotation. Davis is a probable returner who showed the best hands at the combine. Murphy gives more depth at the tackle, though fans are hoping the team gets a good tight end as an undrafted free agent." Chad Reuter


NFC Teams:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...-for-nfc-teams


AFC Teams:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...-for-afc-teams

[mraynrand]

fans are hoping the team gets a good tight end as an undrafted free agent." Chad Reuter

[MadScientist]

Clark - A - The best NT in the draft. The big man fills a big need
Spriggs - D - Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane. Definitely not worth trading up to get the second coming of Alan Barbe. If the Packers had a good O-line coach, I might be more hopeful of this pick.
Fackrell - C - Old and coming off an injury
Martinez - A- - Good value pick at a position of dire need.
Lowry - A- - 296 pounds and runs a 4.85!? That and high motor are worth a late 4th easily.
Davis - B+ - Speed and return ability, but which returning WR does not make the team?
Murphy - C - Needs strength and coaching to be a player, so he won't amount to much here.

Overall C+ Not a great draft, but not likely to be a disaster.

[Fritz]

I don't know about grades, but I like the positoinal holes that were filled (I also recently wrote this very comment about Holly Halston).

I do notice that most of these guys tested really well - the one thing that stands out is the speed. Frackwell or Factwell or whoever that is turns out to have decent speed. Martinez is the god of my favorite drill, the 3 cone, and Davis is the speed demon that so many on this board wished for (albeit a project).

So I like it at this point. And I expect two UDFA's to make the team, too.

[pbmax]

Clark:

19 turning 20 this year? He could become a monster as he still has time to grow. Unlike other need picks (thanks BJ!) Packers had the pick of the NT litter at 27. Their record with DL early isn't fantabulous, but given they had the first NT off the board, I am hopeful they projected this right.

Spriggs:

Physically everything you want in a left tackle but not yet showing all that talent on the field. Clifton was more accomplished though by no means a devastating blocker. Wahle was unfinished and astoundingly athletic. He needs to deliver more of his ability on the field but the Packers have made this work before. He's athletic like they prefer and you have to think his pass blocking will be ahead of his run blocking, which will help keep Rodgers upright. I get a whiff a Colledge when I read that he can whiff on inside rushes. We'll see.

Fackrell:

The new LeRoy Butler. I'm serious. Rush the passer with speed from edge, stout though not an anchor like Perry, has safety experience and has demonstrated fluidity in coverage. Mr. Fix-It. He's a Swiss Army Knife, Batman's utility belt and restarting your computer all at once. Everyone else was looking for hybrid safety/ILBs like the dude from the Cardinals. Ted showed those new to coveting athleticism that they know nothing. Will be third to Matthews and Peppers in number of spots he lines up. Would cause John Madden's Reggie White position tracker to breakdown. Meet your safety/Elephant hybrid. A Selephant.

Martinez:

If he turns up in early camp reports as being the least bit athletic compared to his compatriots, I will literally start to cry. He has instincts that I am not sure Ryan has had the time to develop being new to position.

Lowry:

Finally, a showdown between Patler and I about whether arm length can make the player. Either this guy stinks or I have to repost all of Patler's material followed by a +1 for a week.

Davis:

Someone paid to write about the NFL said the closest thing to Emmanuel Sanders or Mike Wallace in this draft. Given the track record of the Packers and drafting receivers, I am beyond excited. The only pitfall is that he has had some issues with his hands. But his testing at the Combine and Pro Day apparently showed his hands weren't completely useless. A legit speedster would make this offense frightening to behold.

Murphy:

Meet your new Right Tackle. I think he sticks. Stanford is a good training ground these days.


Overall

I don't like need based drafts. Ted had bad luck with them in 2011 and 2012. Difference here is that unlike Worthy types, these players seem to fit the profile that have had success before with Green Bay. And Clark should have a very good shot at excelling based on youth, position match, available reps and the first NT off the board.

[3irty1]

Lowry:

Finally, a showdown between Patler and I about whether arm length can make the player. Either this guy stinks or I have to repost all of Patler's material followed by a +1 for a week.

I think Patler at least agrees that you need arms. Lowry is maybe the first player I've watched where you really notice the lack of length. So many impact plays seem to slip through his alligator arms. Its not just the arms either, its the combination of short arms, wide chest, and long torso. He's shaped like three midgets in a trench coat. To finish plays his sternum has to touch who he's trying to tackle which leads to lots of lunging and an inordinate amount of time on the ground for a guy as athletic as he is.

[Fritz]

I think Patler at least agrees that you need arms. Lowry is maybe the first player I've watched where you really notice the lack of length. So many impact plays seem to slip through his alligator arms. Its not just the arms either, its the combination of short arms, wide chest, and long torso. He's shaped like three midgets in a trench coat. To finish plays his sternum has to touch who he's trying to tackle which leads to lots of lunging and an inordinate amount of time on the ground for a guy as athletic as he is.

That's some funny stuff right there.

[pbmax]

I think Patler at least agrees that you need arms. Lowry is maybe the first player I've watched where you really notice the lack of length. So many impact plays seem to slip through his alligator arms. Its not just the arms either, its the combination of short arms, wide chest, and long torso. He's shaped like three midgets in a trench coat. To finish plays his sternum has to touch who he's trying to tackle which leads to lots of lunging and an inordinate amount of time on the ground for a guy as athletic as he is.

Agreed, both of us do accept that you need arms. This will just help narrow down how long they need to be.