Random Packer Draft Musing of the Day

[The Shadow]

Ok, like many of you, I've pored over the 3 draft guides I've purchased, read various posts, and studied many mock drafts.
I think - today - I would be quite happy to see Ted trade the #28 down into the early 2nd round IF he was able to slide UP that low 2nd round pick in return.
I think drafting Vinny Curry & Bruce Irvin with the 2 picks might be intriguing. I would groom Curry as a DE; perhaps his first year as a 3rd down pass rush guy (he's a bit light right now for fulltime duty). If Capers feels that Irvin could be viable as an OLB opposite Clay, we'd have 2 terrors off the edge.
This opinion subject to change within the next 20 minutes.

[sheepshead]

Any GM that is able to trade out of the first round, should.

[ND72]

Ok, like many of you, I've pored over the 3 draft guides I've purchased, read various posts, and studied many mock drafts.
I think - today - I would be quite happy to see Ted trade the #28 down into the early 2nd round IF he was able to slide UP that low 2nd round pick in return.
I think drafting Vinny Curry & Bruce Irvin with the 2 picks might be intriguing. I would groom Curry as a DE; perhaps his first year as a 3rd down pass rush guy (he's a bit light right now for fulltime duty). If Capers feels that Irvin could be viable as an OLB opposite Clay, we'd have 2 terrors off the edge.
This opinion subject to change within the next 20 minutes.

I like that, I'm on board with it! Curry and Irvin I think are gonna be good players.

[sharpe1027]

I love the idea of trading for an early second and move up of the other second. It is not like we have a top 10 pick.

[gbgary]

in today's pass-heavy nfl, speedy pass-rushing defensive players are going to be picked over quickly. if we don't get one when we can we'll miss out. we don't want a repeat of last year defensively. tt should try to move up if he can...but that's just me.

[mraynrand]

Any GM that is able to trade out of the first round, should.

maybe you should stop musing

[sharpe1027]

in today's pass-heavy nfl, speedy pass-rushing defensive players are going to be picked over quickly. if we don't get one when we can we'll miss out. we don't want a repeat of last year defensively. tt should try to move up if he can...but that's just me.

You have a valid point:

Jared Allen -- 22 Sacks -- Rd. 4
DeMarcus Ware -- 19.5 Sacks -- Rd. 1
Jason Babin -- 18.0 Sacks -- Rd. 1
Jason Pierre-Paul -- 16.5 Sacks -- Rd. 1
Aldon Smith -- 14 Sacks -- Rd. 1
Terrell Suggs -- 14 Sacks -- Rd. 1

That being said, there's no magical difference between the first and second round and the Packer's pick is basically already a second rounder. Trading up to a meaningfully high spot would be expensive.

[Lurker64]

From what I can tell the talent pool is fairly flat from 15-35. I wouldn't be in favor of moving up, or moving down without knowing specific circumstances. I mean, if a player you have a top 10 grade on is still available at 22, say, you trade up, but and if 10 players you have a second tier grade on are available at 28, then you can trade back to 37 no problem.

But ahead of time? I just don't like the idea.

I'm also not sure that grooming Curry as a DE is a weird idea. He's definitely more OLB sized than DE sized.

[Guiness]

Draft day trades should be interesting to watch. With the rookie salary structure having been realigned, I think first round picks will go up in value, especially mid to late round picks. The financial commitment you have to make to the respective players has gotten closer together, so it doesn't cost as much, financially, to move up and get a player you have rated a little higher.

Andrian Clayborn go 4yrs, $8.2m as the 20th pick of the first round, Da'Quan Bowers got 4yrs, $3.85m as the 20th pick of the second round.

In 2010, the 20th of the first round got 5yr, $13.1m, 20th of the second got 4yr, $3.8m.

In the past, a GM might have to consider how much more of the cap a guy is going to chew up, less so now.

[sharpe1027]

Great point Guiness. Everyone's draft position valuations have to be completely overhauled. If first round picks are of higher value, does that encourage more trades or does it encourage more teams to hold onto their high picks?

[red]

i still have no clue where certain guys are going in round one. nick perry was a last first round pick a month ago. then he started shooting up right before the combine to like a top 10 pick. now it seems like he's starting to settle back a bit. i would love him

there is actually 4 or 5 olb's that i would love to get, also a handfull of 3-4 de's that i would like to get. like crick

there's a pretty good chance we can get 2 guys from that list with our first two picks and greatly improve our d

with that said, i fully expect TT to take a wr and either a TE or QB with our first 2 picks just because that would be the farthest thing from my mind with those picks

[Joemailman]

Been hearing a lot of talk lately about Kendall Reyes (DT Connecticut) as a possible Packer pick. Anyone have any particular thoughts on him? Gil Brandy has him rated 33 overall.

[Guiness]

Micheal Brockers didn't do himself any favours at the combine, and could be around when we pick? Don't know where he plays though, 6'5" 300lbs, doesn't seem like a 3-4 DE to me.

[Brandon494]

Micheal Brockers didn't do himself any favours at the combine, and could be around when we pick? Don't know where he plays though, 6'5" 300lbs, doesn't seem like a 3-4 DE to me.

If Brockers somehow dropped to us it would be a steal, he definitely has the skills to play DE in the 3-4. I'm seeing a lot of boards having us take Nick Perry out of USC though.

Overview

Nick Perry was a top defensive end recruit out of Detroit that Pete Carroll was able to cherry-pick to USC, and his impact playing the "elephant" position within Caroll's defense as a freshman will encourage many teams to consider drafting him as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. As a sophomore and junior he continued to develop into an elite pass rushing prospect, and has the size and athletic ability to be successful working against NFL tackles at the next level. He is a physically put together athlete with a good motor and extremely uncommon balance, and has late first round value.

Analysis

Strengths

Perry has a very strong base and balance that helps him work against tackles and keep momentum towards the backfield regardless of his initial move. He is reminiscent of current Pittsburgh OLB's Harrison and Woodley, players who can set the edge with a strong, powerful base and are capable of winning using a direct bull rush. Perry plays with good leverage in all that he does and has surprising athleticism for his size. He has a good burst off the ball and a natural feel for disrupting plays. He chases laterally down the line well and is a sound tackler when he reaches the ball. He can beat tackles with power or quick gap penetration, and has developed his hands and spin moves over time. He has fluid hips and feet in the open field and looks capable of playing from a two point stance in an outside position. He will be reliable even as a rookie to set the edge and defend the run with strength.

Weaknesses

Perry can get tied up on double teams often and have trouble when working against lineman in a tight area. This would bode well for a move to outside backer, where he can rush with more space and better set up his pass rush moves. He is projected by many to move to OLB in the NFL, and it remains to be seen if Perry can cover and move well in space to the flats, as he wasn't asked to do it often at USC. Perry is a thick player but still a bit of a positional tweener, and doesn't quite have the strength of most defenders his size. He could have trouble against the bigger, stronger offensive tackles in the NFL who can neutralize his leverage and power.

[sharpe1027]

He is projected by many to move to OLB in the NFL, and it remains to be seen if Perry can cover and move well in space to the flats, as he wasn't asked to do it often at USC.

Thanks Brandon. I am intrigued. If, however, he struggles with coverage, does that mean Matthews rushes less and covers more? I'd be OK with that if for no other reason than it makes the defense less predictable.