Way, Way Too Early Draft Crushes

[The Shadow]

Cooper DeJean DB
Quinyon Mitchell DB
Tyler Nubin S
Malik Mustapha S
T'Vondre Sweat DT
Blake Fisher OT
Cooper Beebe G
Tykee Smith S

[run pMc]

For players who will likely be available to GB:

Tyler Nubin S
Travin Wallace LB
Junior Colson LB
TeVondre Sweat DT
Ray Davis RB (I worry a little about his age and pass pro)
Jawhar Jordan RB


Guys I also like but wouldn't call them crushes
at IOL, Jackson Powers-Johnson is fun but probably not a match for MLF offense. Zach Frazier looks pretty good.
I also like Kamren Kinchens at S and at RB I like Marshawn Lloyd and Trey Benson.

Cooper Beebe and Graham Barton I've only seen a little but they look pretty good.

[bobblehead]

Given where a bunch of our picks fall my early crushes are Kinchens and DeJean. And if they snag Jordan Morgan in there somewhere I won't be upset either.

[Fritz]

My crush:

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/4d/e7/c7/4de7c704e4964b4ab9765a96b2766c70.jpg

[Joemailman]

#25: Taliese Fuaga - OT - Oregon St.
Cooper DeJean - CB - Iowa
Quinyon Mitchell - CB - Toledo

#41 Graham Barton - IOL - Duke
Kamari Lassiter - CB - Georgia
Kamren Kinchens - S - Miami
Tyler Nubin - S - Minnesota

#58 Edgerrin Cooper - LB - Texas A&M
Javon Bullard - S - Georgia
Jeremiah Trotter - RB - Clemson
Trey Benson - RB - Florida St.

#88/91 Zak Zinter - IOL - Michigan
Junior Colson - LB - Michigan
Brealen Allen - RB - Wisconsin
Audric Estime - RB - Notre Dame

[Fritz]

Waiting for Harv's comparison of Nubin and Kinchens.

Also, Zak Zinter - that kid can fucking PLAY. If he slides a bit because of his injury, take him. Take him. He can play. He's a baller.

[The Shadow]

I find it interesting that Gutes shied away on the usual 'Packer Measureables' last year on a couple of choices - Karl Brooks & Jayden Reed - and hit big on both. Will this trend continue?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Waiting for Harv's comparison of Nubin and Kinchens.

Also, Zak Zinter - that kid can fucking PLAY. If he slides a bit because of his injury, take him. Take him. He can play. He's a baller.

For the first time since 2019 I will not be doing any draft research. I just have too much going on. I know if I start, I will get obsessed with it.

[bobblehead]

My crush:

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/4d/e7/c7/4de7c704e4964b4ab9765a96b2766c70.jpg

If I'm correct, her name is Jordan Morgan and I mentioned her.

[Deputy Nutz]

For the first time since 2019 I will not be doing any draft research. I just have too much going on. I know if I start, I will get obsessed with it.

Lil' bitch ass ho

[Deputy Nutz]

Harv has always been my draft crush.

[KYPack]

Keep em coming, men.

You boys are all I read for Packer Pix.

I don't know how you do it, but I'm glad you do.

[Travbrew]

Agreed...got one of my crush, so how do you insert a pic (not url) from your computer?

[Frozen Tundra]

I'm not a mod or admin here, but let's see if this works...

https://imgur.com/a/VO59bEH

Edit: obviously not. I thought uploading an image to imgur and then inserting the URL for that specific uploaded image might accomplish the goal.

Since it didn't work, I'll only charge you 5 bucks

Tried a couple more back doors too. Must be some way, but I don't know it yet. Good luck.

I take back what I said earlier, you don't owe me anything. It's your loss really; i was trying to post a cute picture of a pallas cat who was either drunk or had a toothache. And now you'll never be able to see it.

[Fritz]

Agreed...got one of my crush, so how do you insert a pic (not url) from your computer?

When you are posting, click on the third icon from the right - if you hover over it, it'll say "insert image." Click on it, and paste the image URL in it. Unless it's a million miles of URL, it should work. Then you can post pictures of your draft crushes, like this:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DdPoy_9U0AA3Hul.jpg:large

Some of you old-timers will remember this one.

[jklowan]

IMG_0670.jpg

[Travbrew]

Oh well...can't get it work

[Frozen Tundra]

When you are posting, click on the third icon from the right - if you hover over it, it'll say "insert image." Click on it, and paste the image URL in it. Unless it's a million miles of URL, it should work. Then you can post pictures of your draft crushes, like this:




IMG_0670.jpg

He's trying to paste the image directly into his post, not link the picture.

[Upnorth]

My crush:

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/4d/e7/c7/4de7c704e4964b4ab9765a96b2766c70.jpg

excellent pick, wonder how she is in the trenches.

[MadtownPacker]

IMG_0670.jpg
That is the correct tag to use but you need a valid image link that ends with jpg, gif, bmp etc. There is no uploading images feature enabled so you can use images from your drive.

Should look like this:
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/4d/e7/c7/4de7c704e4964b4ab9765a96b2766c70.jpg

As mentioned you can click on the posting toolbar, the picture frame with a tree in it. That brings a pop up where you can enter the link or URL. That puts the correct IMG tag on it and should show up once you submit.

[Deputy Nutz]

A guy I am pretty intrigued by is Safety James Williams out of Miami. The guy is 6-4 230 pounds. I am always have questions on big safeties, they just never seem to become great dudes in the secondary. Why I am intrigued is that apparently he has some skill with man coverage. He has the size and athleticism to run with big TEs. He should also have more of impact in the run game, and can be added to the pressure packages as well.

[SudsMcBucky]

A guy I am pretty intrigued by is Safety James Williams out of Miami. The guy is 6-4 230 pounds. I am always have questions on big safeties, they just never seem to become great dudes in the secondary. Why I am intrigued is that apparently he has some skill with man coverage. He has the size and athleticism to run with big TEs. He should also have more of impact in the run game, and can be added to the pressure packages as well.

yeah, he's a guy I've made mention of here previously. I keep seeing him pop up in my mocks in the 3rd round.

[ThunderDan]

Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee

He would be a great addition to the backfield.

[call_me_ishmael]

A guy I am pretty intrigued by is Safety James Williams out of Miami. The guy is 6-4 230 pounds. I am always have questions on big safeties, they just never seem to become great dudes in the secondary. Why I am intrigued is that apparently he has some skill with man coverage. He has the size and athleticism to run with big TEs. He should also have more of impact in the run game, and can be added to the pressure packages as well.

That feller there is a linebacker. A big boy at that. Aaron Rouse was about that size too IIRC. Hopefully this dude can ball!

[run pMc]

Yeah, Williams was a safety who is bulking up to play LB. Haven't watched him much but I get Day 3 vibes from him.

[Deputy Nutz]

Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee

He would be a great addition to the backfield.

I like him.
I would also consider spending the Packers second 2nd round pick or if possible a 3rd round pick on Bucky Irvin from Oregon. He does remind me of an Aaron Jones type back, not real big but good vision and can make the cut and get down hill with authority. I think Irvin has more talent than Jones in making guys miss and catching the ball out of the backfield

[The Shadow]

What do you guys think of safety Cole Bishop. After watching his tape, I'm not sure about him as a pure safety, but with a little added weight he might be a useful addition at LB.

[Joemailman]

What do you guys think of safety Cole Bishop. After watching his tape, I'm not sure about him as a pure safety, but with a little added weight he might be a useful addition at LB.

I just don't see him getting big enough to play LB. Packers need more than one safety. If Packers draft him (3rd round probably), I would think strong safety is probably his best position.

[run pMc]

I just don't see him getting big enough to play LB. Packers need more than one safety. If Packers draft him (3rd round probably), I would think strong safety is probably his best position.

Haven't watched him much, first impressions are he's a box safety and probably a Day 3 guy. You can do a lot worse but IDK if he moves the needle a lot. Who knows, maybe he's Reed Blankenship 2.0

[run pMc]

Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee

He would be a great addition to the backfield.

On first watch I thought he was a concussion waiting to happen. YouTube shows him both giving and receiving some hard shots, but he's got a lot of talent and potential. I'm starting to come around on him. In a stable with Jones and another RB he could be something. He runs violent and has very good speed.

in other news: Dane Brugler is reporting that Cooper DeJean will not test at the Combine, as he's still recovering from a late season leg injury. Probably helps him slide down into the 20's; my guess is Quinyon Mitchell and the 2 Alabama corners leapfrog him.

[Frozen Tundra]

On first watch I thought he was a concussion waiting to happen. YouTube shows him both giving and receiving some hard shots, but he's got a lot of talent and potential. I'm starting to come around on him. In a stable with Jones and another RB he could be something. He runs violent and has very good speed.

in other news: Dane Brugler is reporting that Cooper DeJean will not test at the Combine, as he's still recovering from a late season leg injury. Probably helps him slide down into the 20's; my guess is Quinyon Mitchell and the 2 Alabama corners leapfrog him.

I heard some draft guy interviewed the other day speaking very highly of Quinyon Mitchell, but the scouting reports I've read say his strength is playing off coverage. Better fit for a zone scheme, where he can watch the route develop in front of him. Hopefully we've seen enough of that crap here for one lifetime.

[Joemailman]

If people are thinking the Packers are going to be playing press man all the time, they're mistaken. Everybody plays zone. You can play zone in a much more aggressive way than we saw with Joe Barry.

[bobblehead]

I heard some draft guy interviewed the other day speaking very highly of Quinyon Mitchell, but the scouting reports I've read say his strength is playing off coverage. Better fit for a zone scheme, where he can watch the route develop in front of him. Hopefully we've seen enough of that crap here for one lifetime.

Nothing wrong with that style if you are put in a position to succeed. That is exactly the kind of safety we need to be honest. A guy who is smart and can watch it unfold, then accelerate and make a play. I still like DeJean in that role, but just like everyone here says "why make tom a guard when he is a good tackle", DeJean can be a good CB so I'm not sure anyone wants to make him a safety.

[texaspackerbacker]

If people are thinking the Packers are going to be playing press man all the time, they're mistaken. Everybody plays zone. You can play zone in a much more aggressive way than we saw with Joe Barry. Exactly, and I hope they do play that more aggressive style of zone a LOT - because our best D games last season were when we played a lot of umbrella zone, and also because I don't have much confidence in Jaire to get back to being a shutdown Corner.

[Frozen Tundra]

If people are thinking the Packers are going to be playing press man all the time, they're mistaken. Everybody plays zone. You can play zone in a much more aggressive way than we saw with Joe Barry.

True, but press is going to be Hafley's bread and butter. It's his religion. I've googled some seminars he's given over the last few years on defensive backs, and saw a Youtube video of him talking to his players at Ohio State. He sounded like George C. Scott in the opening speech in "Patton" - "attack, attack, attack!" His defense is centered on harrassing, frustrating, and interfering with every single thing the recievers try to do; punch him at the line, keep your hands on him, block his path, fight him every single step of his route so that he can't run his planned route, make it so that only a perfect pass can beat the coverage, and the QB has to choose between throwing a risky pass he doesn't want to throw or not throwing the ball at all.

Obviously we won't see that on every play, but it's what he's going to keep going back to on the majority of pass plays. If you're taking a CB in the first round, when there are still a lot of players to choose from, it seems smarter to take one whose strengths fit the coverage you're going to be using the most often.

But that's just my opinion. I don't have a lot invested in it.

[Deputy Nutz]

Actually just watched footage of Cole Bishop. I think he moves really well. I don't think he as instinctive as a Hunter Woehler from the Badgers, but he has a real fluid back pedal and understands positioning as a deep safety whether that's in the post or playing Cover 2. He is a good effort guy, chases stuff down and has a burst doing it. Its all a real crap shoot until after the combine on some of these guys. I like the safety class this year. One guy I keep coming back to is Calen Bullock of USC. He has some range as a deep safety. His tackling isn't top notch, but he can get over the top in a hurry.

[Deputy Nutz]

True, but press is going to be Hafley's bread and butter. It's his religion. I've googled some seminars he's given over the last few years on defensive backs, and saw a Youtube video of him talking to his players at Ohio State. He sounded like George C. Scott in the opening speech in "Patton" - "attack, attack, attack!" His defense is centered on harrassing, frustrating, and interfering with every single thing the recievers try to do; punch him at the line, keep your hands on him, block his path, fight him every single step of his route so that he can't run his planned route, make it so that only a perfect pass can beat the coverage, and the QB has to choose between throwing a risky pass he doesn't want to throw or not throwing the ball at all.

Obviously we won't see that on every play, but it's what he's going to keep going back to on the majority of pass plays. If you're taking a CB in the first round, when there are still a lot of players to choose from, it seems smarter to take one whose strengths fit the coverage you're going to be using the most often.

But that's just my opinion. I don't have a lot invested in it.

Press man can turn into Cover 2 and Cover 2 can look a lot like press man. Ohio State used to love sitting in cover 1 tempting teams to beat them with better athletes outside. It rarely happened until the College Playoffs because Ohio St has had some phenom type corners in the college ranks. College is so much different than the NFL. You can't breath on a receiver in the NFL after 5 yards. It really limits how aggressive you can get with the outside receivers. You can't live in one type of coverage in the NFL, the receivers and QBs are too good and will pick it apart. It's not even so much about multiple coverages its disguise and changing who has what zones.

[texaspackerbacker]

This sort of a relief to me. Press man coverage is great if you have shutdown Corners and/or adequate Safety coverage. Press man with a single high Safety, even a good one, is a disaster waiting to happen.

[run pMc]

I heard some draft guy interviewed the other day speaking very highly of Quinyon Mitchell, but the scouting reports I've read say his strength is playing off coverage. Better fit for a zone scheme, where he can watch the route develop in front of him. Hopefully we've seen enough of that crap here for one lifetime.

I heard Mitchell did very well at the Senior Bowl and might be CB1. Sounded like he held up in man coverage against those receivers just fine.
Agree with Joe that Hafley won't be in press man all the time, but we'll definitely see it more than with Barry.

As others have mentioned, every team plays zone, usually the majority of coverage is some kind of zone. It will be interesting to see how much zone Hafley calls, what kinds of zone he calls, and how it's disguised. (Execution is another question) I didn't get a sense that Barry disguised his coverages a lot, there were times it felt like it was varying degrees of prevent defense.

[Fritz]

True, but press is going to be Hafley's bread and butter. It's his religion. I've googled some seminars he's given over the last few years on defensive backs, and saw a Youtube video of him talking to his players at Ohio State. He sounded like George C. Scott in the opening speech in "Patton" - "attack, attack, attack!" His defense is centered on harrassing, frustrating, and interfering with every single thing the recievers try to do; punch him at the line, keep your hands on him, block his path, fight him every single step of his route so that he can't run his planned route, make it so that only a perfect pass can beat the coverage, and the QB has to choose between throwing a risky pass he doesn't want to throw or not throwing the ball at all.

Obviously we won't see that on every play, but it's what he's going to keep going back to on the majority of pass plays. If you're taking a CB in the first round, when there are still a lot of players to choose from, it seems smarter to take one whose strengths fit the coverage you're going to be using the most often.

But that's just my opinion. I don't have a lot invested in it.

Punch 'em in the nuts!

[run pMc]

Punch 'em in the nuts!

Is that the new "Bite Em In The Kneecaps"?

[Fritz]

It's even more effective than that!

If Guter drafts nothing but safeties, corners, linebackers and offensive linemen, I will be just fine.

[run pMc]

Don't forget running backs, they need someone better than Emanuel Wilson or Patrick Taylor.

And before someone says "they're fine" or "re-sign Dillon", try to remember how many explosive plays those guys had, and then think about how many Jones had despite missing half a season. You need to replicate Jones, not keep JAGs.

[Joemailman]

Don't forget running backs, they need someone better than Emanuel Wilson or Patrick Taylor.

And before someone says "they're fine" or "re-sign Dillon", try to remember how many explosive plays those guys had, and then think about how many Jones had despite missing half a season. You need to replicate Jones, not keep JAGs.

Agreed. There's some pretty good ones between rounds 3-5.

1 51 Trey Benson Florida State 6'0" 221

2 61 Blake Corum Michigan 5'7" 210

3 72 Jonathon Brooks Texas 6'0" 207

4 78 Bucky Irving Oregon 5'9" 194

5 83 Will Shipley Clemson 5'10" 205

6 93 Audric Estime Notre Dame 6'0" 227

7 107 Braelon Allen Wisconsin 6'2" 235

8 138 MarShawn Lloyd USC 5'9" 210

9 143 Frank Gore Jr. Southern Miss 5'7" 199

10 160 Cody Schrader Missouri 5'9" 214

11 162 Ray Davis Kentucky 5'9" 205

12 167 Emani Bailey TCU 5'9" 207

[Fritz]

Don't forget running backs, they need someone better than Emanuel Wilson or Patrick Taylor.

And before someone says "they're fine" or "re-sign Dillon", try to remember how many explosive plays those guys had, and then think about how many Jones had despite missing half a season. You need to replicate Jones, not keep JAGs.

I did forget - thanks for the reminder. Yes, they need to draft a couple RB's.

But please, not Blake Corum. He scored a lot of touchdowns because he got a lot of carries, and really, to me, was not super strong nor shifty nor did he have awesome vision. Got rode hard and put away wet.

[Joemailman]

I'm playing favorites because I follow Notre Dame, but I'd be really happy if Packers could get Estime with one of their 3rd round picks.

[The Shadow]

The PFF draft sim sure hates Edgerinn Cooper & Cooper Beebe.

[Fritz]

I'm playing favorites because I follow Notre Dame, but I'd be really happy if Packers could get Estime with one of their 3rd round picks.

So in your Estimetion he's pretty good, huh?

Man, I'm on fire right now.

[Deputy Nutz]

The PFF draft sim sure hates Edgerinn Cooper & Cooper Beebe.

The one game I watched of Cooper's he did nothing.

[SudsMcBucky]

The PFF draft sim sure hates Edgerinn Cooper & Cooper Beebe.

One thing I've noticed is that there's a HUGE difference on who's available and where people are picked between PFF and Pro Football Network sims, which are the 2 I mess around with the most.

[run pMc]

I've mostly been using this, since it's a consensus draft board based on hundreds of other sites and their player rankings.

https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/big-boards/2024/consensus-big-board-2024?pos=ALL

PFF has rankings that sometimes get weird. I use their sim occasionally, but mostly I like the writeups and explanations of why they do or don't like a guy.

[run pMc]

I did forget - thanks for the reminder. Yes, they need to draft a couple RB's.

But please, not Blake Corum. He scored a lot of touchdowns because he got a lot of carries, and really, to me, was not super strong nor shifty nor did he have awesome vision. Got rode hard and put away wet.

I liked Corum LAST year, and then he got hurt. Now I think he's got a lot of use, and maybe overexposure. He's ok. Don't really want Gute to pick him and doubt he will. I could see them get a guy to be a Jones clone, and a guy to play the bigger back Dillon role. Gute said they want a bigger back, and Emanuel Wilson is bigger but I think they can do better than him. Maybe that means Troy Benson or Brealon Allen on Day 2, but it could just as easily mean taking a guy like Kendall Milton or Dillon Johnson in R6.

I don't think Corum is destined to be a Packer, and I'm fine with that. Hopefully that's not a reverse jinx. Then again, I said I didn't want Gary or Love (thought the picks were too risky) and look what happened there.

[Bretsky]

I did forget - thanks for the reminder. Yes, they need to draft a couple RB's.

But please, not Blake Corum. He scored a lot of touchdowns because he got a lot of carries, and really, to me, was not super strong nor shifty nor did he have awesome vision. Got rode hard and put away wet.



Who was the last Michigan draft pick you really really disliked Fritz ? :)

[Fritz]

Who was the last Michigan draft pick you really really disliked Fritz ? :)

Harlan Huckleby!

[Bretsky]

Harlan Huckleby!

Nobody likes that guy :)

[bobblehead]

Given where a bunch of our picks fall my early crushes are Kinchens and DeJean. And if they snag Jordan Morgan in there somewhere I won't be upset either.

Not where I wanted him, but I'm thinking 10 year starter at RG