Stupidly Early Mock Draft

[Maxie the Taxi]

My IDEAL draft wish list at this early point in time. My criteria were as follows:
* Increase team speed
* Allow the Packers to become an elite pass rushing defense
* Improve OL and better protect AROD
* Improve our ability to stretch the field vertically, both from the TE and WR positions
* Add a fast, tough ILB who will enable Clay to move back to OLB
* Improve 3rd down and Red Zone offense by adding a pass catching, change of pace RB
* Improve our KR and PR games
[Scouting analysis from NFL Draft Tracker]

1. DE KEVIN DODD 6'5" 277 LBS, 4.86 SEC 40 YD
CLEMSON
Strengths Relentless competitor with NFL-*ready frame. Refuses to give offensive lineman a play off. Not content to be around a play, wants in the action. Won't lay on blocks and able to improve his position after contact through footwork and strength. Never drops eyes from ball location and is able to unhinge from blocks quickly to make a play when the ball enters his patch of grass. Extremely instinctive and well-coached. Snuffs out screens, bootlegs and shovel passes almost every game. Takes his contain responsibility very seriously. Insane production spike from last year to this season. Saw his quarterback pressures go from three to 46 and he was credited with 12 sacks in 2015 season. Athletic upfield burst with desired bend and hip flexion to corner the edge. Has length and leverage to become an effective speed-*to*-power rusher. Wore Alabama out with three sacks and two tackles for loss. Tape shows a player who played his best football at the end of the year.

VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APlMJ6uxUeg

NFL Comparison Michael Bennett


2. DT VERNON BUTLER 6'4" 323 LBS,
LOUISIANA TECH

Strengths Long-*armed knee-bender who can play the role of low man at the point of attack. Plays with strong hands and good arm extension and can ?peek*a*boo? both gaps as he reads which hole the running back heads for. Impressive stack and shed timing and power. Able to eat up double teams and keep his linebackers clean when asked to. Excellent athleticism. Can make plays all along the line of scrimmage. If blocker doesn?t finish, Butler will work himself back into the play. Able to coordinate hands and feet smoothly and has change of direction and closing burst to become a dominant pass rusher from inside. Can slide from gap to gap as a pass rusher and is a perfect fit for twist-*based defense. Generally attacks gaps with forward lean and ability to corner the edge when he has his man beat. Can stutter-*step into pass rush to disrupt offensive lineman?s timing or generate a speed-*to-*power bull rush that can severely dent a pocket. Gives consistent effort and plays like a lead dog looking to eat.

VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltL6872vGzs

NFL Comparison Muhammad Wilkerson


3. OLB DEION JONES 6'1" 222 LBS, 4.59 SEC 40 YD
LSU

Strengths High-twitch, well-muscled athlete with tapered waist and powerful trunk. Quick lateral slide from gap-to-gap mirroring running back. Speed to chase from sideline to sideline. Accelerates off his spot and into his target preferring to wrap up and drive hips through the tackle. Brings pop behind his pads. Trustworthy. Handles his run fits and isn’t looking to be a hero. Bouncy feet enable sudden change of direction. Willing to step into hole and deliver a blow to pulling guards or iso *blocks. Has strength at point of attack to squeeze the edge against tight ends. Able to defend passes or pick them off in coverage. Special teams demon on cover teams. Maintained focus and team-*first attitude despite being unable to crack starting lineup until his senior season. He played primarily on special teams in 2012 (23 tackles, three for loss) and 2013 (15 tackles) before seeing more time on defense as a junior (27 tackles, 3.5 for loss). Then came Jones’ chance to start with Alexander moving on to the NFL. He became permanent team captain and defensive MVP after leading the team with 100 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss.

VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwNB_QfeoPc

[Darron Lee gets pushed all over the field and is tenuous as a tackler. Jones is a load. Not as proficient in coverage as Lee, but that should improve with experience and coaching. With Jones as our ILB, Clay can go back to OLB.]

4. OLB AARON WALLACE 6'3" 240 LBS, 4.64 SEC 40 YD
UCLA

Strengths Well*-built with good muscular definition. Slightly pigeon-toed with explosive burst upfield to threaten tackles. Quick-*twitch athlete. Plus lateral quickness and good knee bend in his play. Has enough juice to be a true edge rusher. Can dip and trim the corner with a tight turn. Finished this season with seven sacks and 17 pressures despite playing less than 60 percent of the snaps. Holds a solid edge against tackles and has the strength and potential to own tight ends at point of attack. Shows agility in space to cover. Has experience as 3*-4 rush linebacker and 4*-3 WILL and SAM. Showed massive improvement over the course of the season. Was playing his best football at the end of the year.

[Wallace has great bloodlines. Reminds me of Clay.]

4a. G JOE DAHL 6'4" 304 LBS
WASHINGTON STATE

Strengths Has started at guard and tackle and could be considered emergency tackle in a pinch. Decent flexibility in his lower half. Uses wide base as run blocker. Despite playing in pass-happy offense, shows ability to fire out with pop into defender and get some initial push as drive blocker. Good grip to maintain his initial block. Has hand quickness to move inside. Does a nice job of shifting weight to challenge inside moves. Coaches rave about his work habits and ability to retain information. Added weight and then muscle to his frame over last two years. Works his tail off to recover when beaten in pass protection. Constantly looking for work and will cave in pass rusher engaged with his teammate.

NFL Comparison T.J. Lang


4b. OT KYLE MURPHY 6'6" 305 LBS
STANFORD

Strengths Has good feel for the position. Very aware in pass protection seeking out blitzes and twists and takes consistent angles up to the linebackers in the running game. Once he gets moving in space, is able to open up his hips and run with a relatively athletic gait. Plays with strong hands and good placement that can snatch and latch if he gets there first. Makes low pad level a priority in run game. Is usually low man and will use good leg drive or snap hips to secure the block. Adequate change direction in space. Patient second level blocker allowing the block to come to him. Outstanding work with teammate Joshua Garnett with combo blocks and double teams. Doesn’t lean in pass protection and can gain decent ground with his kick *slides.


5. RB TYLER ERVIN 5'10" 192 LBS, 4.41 SEC 40 YD
SAN JOSE STATE

Strengths Short-*strider in tight confines with ability to make sudden directional change. Despite lanky frame, doesn?t run with any fear between the tackles and doesn't look to bounce runs unnecessarily. Combines smoothness with quick reaction time to avoid traffic in the backfield and slalom his way through shifting, fluid creases along the line of scrimmage. Plus lateral escapability. Quality hands and can function as pass catcher with some matchup potential. Very good play speed and can punch the gas to top speed quickly. High-*knee runner who can gain yardage in chunks if run fits break down. Scored three touchdowns on kickoffs over freshman and sophomore year and has returned kicks all four seasons. He led the team in rushing in 2014 (888 yards, four scores) and 2015 (1,469 yards, 13 touchdowns). Ervin's likely to play a rusher/receiver/returner role in the Dexter McCluster mold on Sundays, as he caught 73 passes for 642 yards the past two seasons in addition to his rushing work. His ability as a kick returner (2,374 career yardage, three scores) should also earn him credit.

VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4eLC2APXRc

[Is an experienced and elite KR and PR.]

6. WR KOLBY LISTENBEE 6'0" 197 LBS, 4.39 SEC 40 YD
TCU

Strengths Able to win deep against man coverage. Averaged 19 yards per catch and 16 yards at the point of the catch in 2015. Natural hands. Doesn't typically have to fight the ball and shows very good concentration to eyeball throws into his hands. Adequate ball tracking and makes late adjustments on deep throws. Good hand fighter to free himself to be catch*-ready. Has second gear to run under throws. Adjusts well to low throws and can go dig them out.

VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD-vX71On44

[Fast! He should slide to a later round because he's less well known than others in the WR class despite outrunning all of them at the Combine. His lack of experience will put some teams off. Better than James Jones now. Will give Adams and Janis a run for their money.]

7. TE TANNER MCEVOY 6'6" 231 LBS, 4.57 SEC 40 YD
WISCONSIN

Strengths McEvoy runs faster than any TE that attended the Combine. He's got size, speed, athleticism, has played receiver, catches the ball well and has excellent vision and moves as a ball carrier. He can line up inside or outside. I see him in the role of a third-down and red zone target and if he puts on some weight and learns to block, who knows. I do know he's willing to do whatever it takes to play. He's got courage and he's tough. Rather than list the reasons he could play TE for the Packers, I'd rather hear reasons why he couldn't.

VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4ojKBcmAWQ

[pbmax]

7. TE TANNER MCEVOY 6'6" 231 LBS, 4.57 SEC 40 YD
WISCONSIN

Strengths McEvoy runs faster than any TE that attended the Combine. He's got size, speed, athleticism, has played receiver, catches the ball well and has excellent vision and moves as a ball carrier. He can line up inside or outside. I see him in the role of a third-down and red zone target and if he puts on some weight and learns to block, who knows. I do know he's willing to do whatever it takes to play. He's got courage and he's tough. Rather than list the reasons he could play TE for the Packers, I'd rather hear reasons why he couldn't.

To start, let me say I actually would be happy if he landed on the Packers as a #7. Especially in the seventh round, ever more if he was one of two seventh round picks available after trades.

But his downside is this: He never played TE in college. Despite his marvelous athletics, he had trouble making an impact at WR due to his duties as safety. So he is changing positions and is a huge project. He is probably 2 years on the PS.

He was not a truly hard nosed safety, so it remains to be seen how he takes to blocking. He has rarely blocked. Projecting him to TE right now means that teams would treat him as a WR and substitute accordingly. He would not add to the run game and we don't know if he can beat NFL coverage.

He weighs 231 pounds. He needs a minimum of 20 pounds on that frame. Maybe he gets away with fifteen (but did anyone think DJ Williams was big enough at that weight?). What does that do to his speed?

On the plus side: Put him in a cowboy hat, hope for an accelerated learning curve and he could be Jay Novacek.

[Patler]

To start, let me say I actually would be happy if he landed on the Packers as a #7. Especially in the seventh round, ever more if he was one of two seventh round picks available after trades.

But his downside is this: He never played TE in college. Despite his marvelous athletics, he had trouble making an impact at WR due to his duties as safety. So he is changing positions and is a huge project. He is probably 2 years on the PS.

He was not a truly hard nosed safety, so it remains to be seen how he takes to blocking. He has rarely blocked. Projecting him to TE right now means that teams would treat him as a WR and substitute accordingly. He would not add to the run game and we don't know if he can beat NFL coverage.

He weighs 231 pounds. He needs a minimum of 20 pounds on that frame. Maybe he gets away with fifteen (but did anyone think DJ Williams was big enough at that weight?). What does that do to his speed?

On the plus side: Put him in a cowboy hat, hope for an accelerated learning curve and he could be Jay Novacek.

. and DJ Williams was 4" shorter, if McEvoy is really 6'6". He will probably need to add at least 30 pounds of good muscle to hold up at TE.

[woodbuck27]

To start, let me say I actually would be happy if he landed on the Packers as a #7. Especially in the seventh round, ever more if he was one of two seventh round picks available after trades.

But his downside is this: He never played TE in college. Despite his marvelous athletics, he had trouble making an impact at WR due to his duties as safety. So he is changing positions and is a huge project. He is probably 2 years on the PS.

He was not a truly hard nosed safety, so it remains to be seen how he takes to blocking. He has rarely blocked. Projecting him to TE right now means that teams would treat him as a WR and substitute accordingly. He would not add to the run game and we don't know if he can beat NFL coverage.

He weighs 231 pounds. He needs a minimum of 20 pounds on that frame. Maybe he gets away with fifteen (but did anyone think DJ Williams was big enough at that weight?). What does that do to his speed?

On the plus side: Put him in a cowboy hat, hope for an accelerated learning curve and he could be Jay Novacek.

Damn I'd hate to get into your objective field of sight.

TE TANNER MCEVOY needs an agent that tries very hard to give him a try out in any CFL TC.

[Maxie the Taxi]

To start, let me say I actually would be happy if he landed on the Packers as a #7. Especially in the seventh round, ever more if he was one of two seventh round picks available after trades.

But his downside is this: He never played TE in college. Despite his marvelous athletics, he had trouble making an impact at WR due to his duties as safety. So he is changing positions and is a huge project. He is probably 2 years on the PS.

He was not a truly hard nosed safety, so it remains to be seen how he takes to blocking. He has rarely blocked. Projecting him to TE right now means that teams would treat him as a WR and substitute accordingly. He would not add to the run game and we don't know if he can beat NFL coverage.

He weighs 231 pounds. He needs a minimum of 20 pounds on that frame. Maybe he gets away with fifteen (but did anyone think DJ Williams was big enough at that weight?). What does that do to his speed?

On the plus side: Put him in a cowboy hat, hope for an accelerated learning curve and he could be Jay Novacek.

All true. He's a Jeff Janis project. However, having been a QB and WR, he's likely to be a rapid learner. Moreover, I don't see the need for him to be anything other than a situational TE at the start. Use him where his height, speed and ball carrying ability can create a mismatch and complement DickRod's game. Jermichael Finley played at 6'5" 247 lbs and wasn't much of a blocker. I think McEvoy is stronger and more athletic than Finley. Probably smarter and more dedicated too. He should be able to play a Finley-type game with the Packers soon enough with work, study and experience.

[pbmax]

All true. He's a Jeff Janis project. However, having been a QB and WR, he's likely to be a rapid learner. Moreover, I don't see the need for him to be anything other than a situational TE at the start. Use him where his height, speed and ball carrying ability can create a mismatch and complement DickRod's game. Jermichael Finley played at 6'5" 247 lbs and wasn't much of a blocker. I think McEvoy is stronger and more athletic than Finley. Probably smarter and more dedicated too. He should be able to play a Finley-type game with the Packers soon enough with work, study and experience.

If he can catch the ball high, he would be a brutal red-zone weapon.

[BZnDallas]

If he can catch the ball high, he would be a brutal red-zone weapon.

If we could add Hunter Henry in the 1st and McEvoy in the 7th we would certainly be a lot taller and faster on the offensive side of the ball. Hunter while learning the pro game himself could probably help Tanner learn the TE basics. Tanner could also be a tweener and that other option at WR we've been discussing. Fill two spots with a 7th round pick sounds like a TT thing to do. Then if they ever had to cut Abby, we'd still have the token Badger on the O.

[woodbuck27]

My IDEAL draft wish list at this early point in time. My criteria were as follows:
* Increase team speed
* Allow the Packers to become an elite pass rushing defense
* Improve OL and better protect AROD
* Improve our ability to stretch the field vertically, both from the TE and WR positions
* Add a fast, tough ILB who will enable Clay to move back to OLB
* Improve 3rd down and Red Zone offense by adding a pass catching, change of pace RB
* Improve our KR and PR games
[Scouting analysis from NFL Draft Tracker]

1. DE KEVIN DODD 6'5" 277 LBS, 4.86 SEC 40 YD
CLEMSON
Strengths Relentless competitor with NFL-*ready frame. Refuses to give offensive lineman a play off. Not content to be around a play, wants in the action. Won't lay on blocks and able to improve his position after contact through footwork and strength. Never drops eyes from ball location and is able to unhinge from blocks quickly to make a play when the ball enters his patch of grass. Extremely instinctive and well-coached. Snuffs out screens, bootlegs and shovel passes almost every game. Takes his contain responsibility very seriously. Insane production spike from last year to this season. Saw his quarterback pressures go from three to 46 and he was credited with 12 sacks in 2015 season. Athletic upfield burst with desired bend and hip flexion to corner the edge. Has length and leverage to become an effective speed-*to*-power rusher. Wore Alabama out with three sacks and two tackles for loss. Tape shows a player who played his best football at the end of the year.

VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APlMJ6uxUeg

NFL Comparison Michael Bennett

He's a solid Candidate.