Mock Draft thread

[Guiness]

I think I've seen every position mentioned except TE, S, and QB.

Well, that's as good a reason to guess that order as anything else. You probably just nailed what we take in the first 3 rounds.

Could we carry 5 TE's next year?

[woodbuck27]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/607626-2011-green-bay-packers-7-round-mock-draft

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Who Will the Green Bay Packers Take With Their Picks?

By Ian Hanley (Featured Columnist) on February 13, 2011...You can follow me on Twitter @IanHanley75

With the Super Bowl celebrations mostly out of the way, the Packers and their fans can set their sights on this April's draft, which, barring a labor agreement between the NFL owners and Players Association, will be the only off-season excitement NFL fans get for awhile.

Admittedly it is a little early to be looking at the players teams will be drafting in April. Players will rise and fall based on their performances at their school's pro days and the NFL Combine. In the next couple of months, players who look like a first or second round pick could fall to the late rounds or may not get drafted at all, and players that few have even heard of will skyrocket up draft boards and be picked in the early rounds.

Complicating matters further for Packer fans is Ted Thompson's draft philosophy. Thompson truly does choose the best player available, and with the Packers having the last pick in most rounds, I think it is highly likely that Thompson will make some picks early on that surprise a lot of Packer fans.

All of that being said, here is a look at some of the players that could help the Packers make a run at back to back championships.

Click LINK please.

[packrulz]

TT has actually drafted quite a few offensive lineman already, they supposedly are grooming Newhouse at LT and McDonald at C, unless a guy like Pouncey dropped I doubt TT will draft an offensive lineman. Ron Wolf used to draft DB's every year, I could see TT taking a DB like Jimmy Smith, especially since he played on special teams. A guy like Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue or J.J. Watt, DE, WI, would be tempting too, if he lets Jenkins go. Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland is a dynamic kick returner with good size and speed I like, he could be a deep threat WR that we could use.

[Iron Mike]

Ijalana's a bit more of a developmental guy, I imagine they'd give him a look at LG right away though. He's got all the tools you could want: he's physical enough to play OG, and athletic enough to play OT. Kick step needs work, which is why you start him inside, but his pad level is outstanding.

I think M3 just got wood.

[vince]

Wes Bunting from NFP's ranking of 3-4 OLBs. He also ranks NT's and 3-4 DEs here.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Ranking-the-top-34-prospects.html

Top rush linebackers

1. Von Miller: Texas A&M (6-3, 237)
Lacks great size, but is simply the most natural pass rusher in this year’s draft.

2. Robert Quinn: UNC (6-5, 268)
Is a better fit as a 4-3 DE in my view, but looks fluid enough in space to make the move as a 34-rush guy if need be.

3. Akeem Ayers: UCLA (6-4, 255)
His size makes him a perfect fit for the position and he does have some experience rushing the passer.

4. Justin Houston: Georgia (6-3, 258)
He’s more explosive off the edge coiled up in a three-point stance, but with the needs for 34 rush backers, Houston should definitely get a long look in round one.

5. Aldon Smith: Missouri (6-4, 258)
Much like Quinn, he seems like a better fit with his hand on the ground, but has the natural athleticism to get a long look standing up as well.

6. Martez Wilson: Illinois (6-4, 250)
Was at his best this season when Illinois allowed him to create havoc off the edge and rush the passer.

7. Dontay Moch: Nevada (6-2, 229)
Possesses an explosive first step, good fluidity when asked to change directions and is the type of guy who you just let pin his ears back and go.

[woodbuck27]

Dontay Moch, DE/LB, Nevada 6'1" 230 lbs looks a tad hairy.

[packrulz]

Green Bay Packers draft needs start at outside linebacker
BY PETE DOUGHERTY • PDOUGHER@GREENBAYPRESSGAZETTE.COM • FEBRUARY 19, 2011

The Green Bay Packers are coming off a Super Bowl win with a talented young roster at most positions.

They don’t necessarily need an immediate starter in this year’s NFL draft, though they might end up with one if they take an outside linebacker with a high pick.

Instead, General Manager Ted Thompson will be drafting to restock his roster with new young players who will help replace the inevitable personnel losses, to free agency and age, to come in the next couple of years.

The Packers have all seven of their own picks in the 2011 draft, beginning with the last pick of the first round (No. 32 overall), plus a compensatory pick at the end of perhaps the third or fourth round for losing defensive end Aaron Kampman in free agency last year.

Following is a look at their greatest areas of need heading into the spring scouting season, which kicks off this week with the NFL scouting combine beginning Thursday in Indianapolis.

Outside Linebacker

After Thompson didn’t draft one last year – and that was a surprise – it’s all but a given this year he’ll select someone to possibly start opposite Clay Matthews in defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme.

Last year, after Brad Jones’ season ended because of shoulder injury in Week 7, undrafted rookie Frank Zombo and street free agent Erik Walden deserved credit for playing well enough to help win a Super Bowl. But this critical playmaking position demands more resources.

Jones flashed some pass-rush ability as a rookie in 2009 but has had durability issues his first two seasons and wasn’t as effective rushing when he played in 2010. Zombo and Walden proved competent – Walden is the more sudden rusher of the two – but it’s still a big step to being a playmaker.

Drafting a player high doesn’t guarantee he’ll be any good, but if the Packers could find a quality individual rusher like Pittsburgh has with former second-round pick LaMarr Woodley opposite James Harrison, the league’s No. 2-ranked scoring defense from last season could become something to behold.

Offensive Tackle

Left tackle Chad Clifton bounced back surprisingly well from early-season knee problems and was remarkably sound even as a season’s worth of snaps accrued during the Packers’ stretch run. But he’ll be 35 this summer.

Maybe he has another solid season in him, or maybe 2011 is the year he breaks down. Even if the Packers think he’ll be fine, their degree of confidence can be only so high, and his time is running out.

Thompson drafted Bryan Bulaga in the first round last year as the left tackle of the Packers’ future. Bulaga had to play right tackle the final 16 games, playoffs included, because of Mark Tauscher’s season-ending shoulder injury. Bulaga held up fine on the right side, but based on quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ comments late in the season, the Packers still see Bulaga as a left tackle.

Tauscher’s distinguished career with the Packers appears to be over, and there’s no knowing whether Clifton will be a starter or a $5.75 million insurance policy. If the Packers bump Bulaga back over to the left side, they could go with third-year pro T.J. Lang on the right side, though he’s also a possible starter at left guard. They also have Marshall Newhouse, a fifth-round pick last year, as a developmental prospect at left tackle.

No matter. Thompson might again spend a high pick at tackle, either left or right, to provide more options for those key pass-blocking positions for now, and for a year or two down the road.

Cornerback

The Packers have one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL and two good young cornerbacks in Tramon Williams and Sam Shields.

Williams blossomed into a premier cover man last season. Shields went as an undrafted rookie from the bottom of the depth chart to a quality No. 3 corner and showed the talent to become a starter, maybe even a good one, soon.

But cornerback Charles Woodson, one of the team’s best players, is 34 and has to slow down some time. The Packers need to prepare for that day, even if it’s a couple of years down the road, and have a quality player ready to replace him.

Plus, as the Super Bowl showed when Woodson and Shields went down with injuries, cornerback depth is crucial. Pat Lee and Jarrett Bush gamely got the Packers through the fourth quarter, but that doesn’t mean they’d hold up for a stretch of games.

Wide Receiver

This position of strength could erode fast.

Donald Driver is a physical marvel but turned 36 earlier this month. His days of starting-caliber production can’t last forever.

James Jones’ contract is up, and depending on a new collective bargaining agreement, he’ll be gone in free agency if a team offers him a starter’s salary, whether that’s this year or next.

That means the Packers could be looking to replace one or even two receivers of note in the next couple of seasons.

They have only one possibility on the roster in Brett Swain, a seventh-round draft pick from 2008 who will have to make significant strides to win that kind of role. They might not need replacements for a year or two, but drafting one now provides the luxury of time to train him.

Punt-Kick Returner

The Packers’ return game has been mostly a dud during Thompson’s six-year tenure as GM. Maybe a drafted wide receiver or cornerback could fill this hole, but if not, it might be time to consider using a valuable pick on someone strictly for the threat to change field position in the return game.

[packrulz]

Rang's Big Board: Top 32 plus 10


By Rob Rang
Feb. 15, 2011
One of the most common questions I get this time of year is for clarification on my mock drafts. Readers want to know if I project who I believe their team should select or who I believe their team will select.

For mock draft projections, the latter is always the case. I have too much respect for the talent evaluators operating each of the NFL's 32 franchises to attempt advising them which players fit their team needs the best.

The Big Board, on the other hand, is strictly my ranking of the players available, regardless of position. If I was building a team from scratch with only the current draft class to choose from, this is the order in which I'd select them.

These rankings are based primarily on the games played during each prospect's career. However, these rankings will remain fluid until draft day as I review tape and take into consideration workouts, interviews and player health.

1. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU: Shutdown corner with the ability to impact the game as a returner, he's the safest player in the draft.

2. Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson: Hard to believe he's more impressive against run than pass considering he led nation with 15.5 sacks.

3. Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn: The most talented player in the draft, but I have concerns about his maturity and work ethic once he gets a multi-million dollar contract.

4. Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M: Answered only questions about his game by proving he's a legitimate 6'2 (and 5/8) and 237 pounds, as well as proving fluidity in coverage at Senior Bowl.

5. Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina: A more explosive pass rusher than Bowers; is viewed by some as a better fit as a 3-4 rush linebacker.

6. A.J. Green, WR, Georgia: Has to prove speed to move into my top five, but has a combination of hands and body control that have helped Larry Fitzgerald and Sidney Rice dominate when protected with solid QB play.

7. Marcel Dareus, DT/DE, Alabama: Strong, stout and quick, Dareus can play inside and out in either scheme.

8. Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska: Rare to see two corners with a top 10 grade, but Amukamara deserves it. Size, physicality to compete right away.

9. Julio Jones, WR, Alabama: Rare size, strength and physicality for position will make him an early standout. There is some Anquan Boldin-like toughness here.

10. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa: Stats say he struggled this season, but a closer look shows he did all of the little things well. I'd have no problem using a top-15 pick on him, especially for a team running a 4-3 alignment.

11. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama: Tough to assign a grade this high on any running back, but Ingram's rare combination of vision, balance, burst and low-center of gravity remind me of only one back -- Emmitt Smith.

12. Aldon Smith, DE/OLB Missouri: Was surprised to see him come out; as he would have ranked as an elite defensive prospect had he returned. Raw, but spectacular upside.

13. Cameron Jordan, DE, California: Showed everyone at Senior Bowl what I've been saying for months -- he's arguably the most versatile defensive lineman in a class blessed with them.

14. Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri: Size, arm strength, good accuracy and a quick release, he has all of the tools -- but wasn't consistent enough to land a top ten grade in my eyes.

15. Nate Solder, OT, Colorado: Solder's weak base and moderate strength are concerns, but his rare size (6-8, 314), athleticism and flexibility make him an ideal left tackle prospect.

16. Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida: Size, strength and the athleticism to block at the second level, Pouncey's ability to stand out against SEC competition make him an easy first round pick.

17. Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College: Not as athletic as Solder, but another true left tackle who played with greater strength at the Senior Bowl than I'd previously given him credit for.

18. Cam Newton, QB, Auburn: As I've said since January, Newton is going to wind up in the top 10. His orchestrated workout didn't answer any of the questions I have about him. Namely, whether he can adapt mentally from Gus Malzahn's relatively simple spread-option offense to an infinitely more complicated pro-style attack against infinitely more complicated defenses.

19. Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois: Penetrating three-technique defensive tackle who quietly rates behind only Fairley and Dareus on many teams' boards.

20. Tyron Smith, OT, USC: In terms of pure talent, Smith is this year's best tackle -- but his experience lies on the right side, his future lies on the left and scouts have questioned his maturity. I'll wait to outside the Top 20 for a gamble on greatness.

21. Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor: It is pretty hard to give a 26 year-old guard a first-round grade, but Watkins, with only four years of football, isn't beaten up and was very impressive at the Senior Bowl.

22. Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado: Legitimate top-15 talent, but off-field concerns. The fact that he didn't compete at the Senior Bowl drop him down my board.

23. Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin: A road grader with enough size, reach for pass protection, Carimi would be best off moving to right tackle.

24. Brandon Harris, CB, Miami (Fla.): Struggled against big receivers, including Notre Dame's Michael Floyd in the Sun Bowl, but boasts even quicker feet for coverage than Peterson or Amukamara.

25. Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA: Undeniably an elite athlete and one who may wind up drafted much higher than my ranking indicates, but Ayers' moderate instincts and tendency to over-run the play make him a gamble, in my opinion.

26. Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State: I'm admittedly higher on Sherrod than most, but see him as an ideal swing tackle capable of stepping in immediately and is well worth first round pick.

27. Muhammad Wilkerson, DL, Temple: The best defensive lineman no one seems to be talking about -- yet.

28. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue: Lots to like about Kerrigan's hustle and production, though his thinner lower body and marginal hand play are concerns.

29. JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin: The ideal defensive end for the 3-4, but may not have a fit in the 4-3, limiting his grade.

30. Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor: A top 20 talent athletically, but will have to answer questions about his suspension and transfer from Penn State to get drafted there.

31. Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland: Currently leads Kentucky's Randall Cobb in a tight race to be the third-ranked receiver in this class due to greater height, straight-line speed.

32. Aaron Williams, CB, Texas: One of the few bright spots for the Longhorns this season, the 6-1, 205 pound Williams has the size, speed and cover skills to warrant a look in the late first round.

Next 10

TE Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame
RB Mikel LeShoure, Illinois
WR Randall Cobb, Kentucky DE Cameron
Heyward, Ohio State (injury)
DT Stephen Paea, Oregon State (injury)
QB Jake Locker, Washington
C/OG Rodney Hudson, Florida State
QB Christian Ponder, Florida State
WR Jerrel Jernigan, Troy
QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas

I don't think TT has ever drafted a RB in the first round, but from what I've read, LeShoure could be considered first round caliber, Torrey Smith or Randall Cobb could be considered too. If he traded Flynn he could possibly draft Locker.

[Bretsky]

who is the best specialist in this draft ? Is there a knockout guy who is lights out on punts/kickoffs ? I have not been kepping track this year.

Last year I pimped Dexter McCluster pretty hard and I'd have been on board with Jacoby Ford.

Is there that lights out return guy and any projections on how high he will go ?

[packrulz]

Torrey Smith or Randall Cobb are the top returners, they're projected to go late first or early second round, I hope TT drafts a returner somewhere, we don't want Williams getting hurt returning punts.

[wootah]

I ruled out C, G, and TE simply because I suspect TT believes he can find good players at those positions after the 1st 2 rounds. That's not to say he won't draft an OT who ends up playing G, but I don't think he'll draft guys who played C or G in college in the 1st round.

I don't think he will draft a guy who played G in college

Don't be too sure. Steve Hutchinson was drafted while TT was in Seatle.