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We're going to draft another NDSU kid, aren't we? Gute likes NDSU (Billy Turner, Christian Watson, a practice squad OL last year, a practice squad TE earlier this year, I won't mention Darius Shepherd). This kid is from Spencer, Wisconsin. He's the top rated FB in the draft. Projected to go in the 5th round, and I've heard Kyle Juszczyk comparisons. Think Josiah Deguara, but with better carrying ability. He played RB, FB, and TE at NDSU--and he lined up all over the formation. I like this kid as a late round pick for the Packers.
https://nfldraftblitz.com/2022/10/19...-dakota-state/
Unfortunately, he hurt his shoulder near the end of the season. He won't participate in the Senior Bowl, and he may not be ready in time for the combine.Quote:
Hunter Luepke is one of the most versatile offensive players entering this class. I do not doubt that he will dominate the competition at the Senior Bowl. He’s used as a running back, full back, H-back, and tight end, and he is a very effective receiver at every level on the field. He held just two offers out of high school, from North Dakota State and Northern Iowa.
Hunter Luepke scouting notes
Pros:
* Incredible body control. Very measured athlete.
* Very strong runner between the tackles. Has solid contact balance between staying upright. He Breaks tackles routinely and keeps his legs churning at all times.
* Acceleration is good.
* Natural receiver. More than capable receiver at multiple levels of the field. He has the ability to work the sideline as well while making catches.
* Solid route-runner. Is more of an H-Back in a fullback’s body.
* Ran a complex route tree at North Dakota State.
* Very solid run blocker.
* Solid in pass protection. Stout blocker. Locks up his edge quickly and effectively.
Cons:
* I would expect Luepke to test as a low-end running back, somewhere in the 4.6-4.7 range. It’s good speed, and if you’re not careful, you’ll lose him.
* Doesn’t change direction well with the ball in his hands. He’s focused on staying north/south.
You can see how versatile he is in this game against Arizona (#44). He played RB, FB, and TE--and had 18 carries for 115 yards and 2 TDs, 3 receptions for 65 yards and 1 TD (almost 2 TDs receiving).
On another note: NDSU's LT Cody Mauch (#70) could be a 1st round pick this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OQQut9wMxw
I'm not overly impressed with this year's class of RBs--outside of Bijan Robinson (more of a top 20 player than a top 10 player for me) and Jahmyr Gibbs (who I love, reminds me of Jamaal Charles). One sleeper that I like is Roschon Johnson of Texas. Right now, he's the consensus #13 RB, but he'd be in my top 5 right now. He sat behind Bijan, but he's just a really good all around RB. Bigger back who has a bit of elusiveness and burst; pretty good vision, balance, and power; good pass protector and flashes some solid hands.
OL and TE more than anything. The main downfall of this team was red zone offense.
Would you switch spots with the Bears. Fields of Young (your choice) and 100M dollars and no bad contracts. They’re in a good spot to build something special. If you trust the GM, that is.
Green Bay has the 15th pick, thanks to Washington, Detroit and Seattle all winning.
15th pick in the draft,
Where the Packers could use the draft to upgrade positions of weakness
Safety - Probably to most inept group of safeties I have seen in Green Bay. I have always thought that Green Bay puts a high price on dynamic and intelligent football players at the safety position. This is currently not what the Packers have. Savage is at best a slot corner/Nickel guy because he lacks intelligence and is a less than average tackler. Amos is an average football player at best and paired with Ford you have two roll down safeties because neither are good enough in deep coverage to play both at the same time.
OT - Yikes! It was good to see #69 back in the fold after a difficult last two years, but they need an offensive tackle on the right side that can protect against pass rushers. Obviously the last game against Detroit was brutal. I like Tom but he still looks like he needs to add a bit of strength and he might grow into a starter in the next couple of years. He can play multiple positions which nice.
LB - Currently I am not a fan of Walker. I think he makes plays because he is just super athletic but he has no real idea how to be a box linebacker. His foolishness during the season also tells me he needs a lot of maturing as a professional athlete. He currently lacks the ability to make the simple run reads and pass reads needed to be a good linebacker. Please don't count tackles because too many of them come after a 5+ yard gains. Campbell just doesn't do it for me, he has the exact opposite issue as Walker, not athletic enough to make plays off his reads.
TE/FB - Lewis can't last much longer in this league. I like DeGuara in the hybrid role but I haven't seen the athleticism out of him to warrant his 3rd round selection. I am sure Tonyan will be better another year removed off of ACL.
WR No issues with the development of the young guys, and Lazard is good at what he does, he isn't a sure handed receiver and he is no burner on the deep ball stuff. Cobb is gone, so we need another cat that can sort of be a hybrid slot receiver that can block a little bit and truly has a nasty attitude, that will almost be more important than some kind of freak speed or athleticism.
QB Whether Rodgers stays or retires the Packers owe him 53 million in 2023 and that's a nut punch either way. I guess that's what happens when he can hold the organization hostage. I believe Love will be fine, I like his arm and it seems his feet have improved. Obviously it's hard to tell about how far he has come in his understanding and execution of the offense but I think in the bits we have seen he has the tools to get it done in 2023 if Rodgers retires. The Packers need a back up if Rodgers retires I would like to see the Packers invest in youth rather than pick up a veteran. Love doesn't need that added pressure of that if he is the starter in 2023.
Kicker - Crosby is done. Need to replace him without breaking the draft board.
Packers #15 picks:
1993: Wayne Simmons
1979: Eddie Lee Ivery
1958: Jim Taylor
1954: Bob Fleck
1952: Billy Howton
1949: Dan Dworsky
Good writeup Nutz. I mostly agree. I also think they need someone who can play 5-tech (I think Lowry is gone) and another EDGE/OLB player as well. Gary will not 100% and Preston is ok but his best years are behind him. Safety is a big one, as is figuring out slot defender although I think they will go with Savage there.
I think they will take a TE early also - Deguara is the only one under contract. Tonyan is 29, I think he's a nice player but his legs weren't there this year and he might be gone anyway.
OL had a bad game vs. DET. They've been pretty good in general but it depends on Bahk. They have some young players who could make a leap (C.Jones, R.Walker, Z.Tom, doubtful on Rhyan) but the depth is a concern. Newman could get you out of a game at RG, and I'd rather see Hanson playing for the Bears. Taking Myers over Humphrey is looking like a questionable choice at best. I could see them take a player mid rounds unless someone falls to them early.
WR - I think they need someone besides Watson to threaten the deep part of the field. He's been hurt a lot, and if he's hurt you better have a backup, or a backup plan. If Lazard stays he can play the big slot, but they will need another body at WR.
15th pick of the second round according to wikiland
edit, wait no
it was the 15th pick overall, which back then was in the second round (13 picks per round)
#66 was taken in the third round #36 overall and #68 was taken in the 4th with the 39th overall pick
now thats how you draft
Taylor was the 15th pick, which in 1958 was in the 2nd round.
Recent #15 picks:
2022: Houston - Kenyon Green
2021: New England - Mac Jones
2020: Denver - Jerry Jeudy
2019: Washington - Dwayne Haskins
2018: Oakland - Kolton Miller
I have no clue what to expect in the first, but I am convinced they go TE in the 2nd, probably trading up.
I like Dalton Kincaid, a bit of an oversized WR type, but he can run, get down the seam, has good hands, and can even get some YAC. Mayer is the most complete TE in the draft, but taking him in R1 feels rich to me.
Sam LaPorta or Tucker Kraft in R3-4? No idea, but I think TEs are risky picks. Take a while to develop, few really do, and you can sometimes develop a guy off the PS a la Tonyan.
I think they'll look at DL, EDGE or maybe a falling OT in R1. I suppose a DB is a possibility too, if they can play safety or in the slot (or they move Rasul to safety).
R3-4 will be when (if?) they start looking at a WR. Maybe Xavier Hutchinson?
One thing is for sure -- I'm glad they didn't trade their R2 for Chase Claypool.
I'm fine with bringing back the OL, as is. With Bakh and Jenkins healthy, it's a good group with some young guys who could still develop (Myers, Runyan, Tom). If they get rid of Bakh, then we'd need to look for another OT, but Bakh, Tom, Nijman, and Jenkins (if they get in a pickle) is fine. I'm a big fan of Tom though. Nijman is really good third OT.
We have plenty of quantity at TE. If you're not gonna take a sure thing superstar (such a thing may not exist at TE) in the first round, we don't really need another of what we have four or so of.
Myers has been probably the best we have in the OLine. Nijman did good against most pass rushers and wasn't horrible at run blocking. He had a bad game against a speed rusher last night, a guy that Tom was more suitable to match up with. Given the terrible uncertainty when it comes to drafting OLine early, I'd say just go with what we have - Nijman and Tom as the Tackles, Jenkins and Runyan as the Guards, and Myers. Arguably the line was as good pass blocking and a lot better run blocking when Bakhtiari was out anyway.
Good post from Nutz, but I'll add concerning the safeties that Amos is gone next year, isn't he? Realistically we need two safeties.