Is this an unusual high-rsik/high-reward draft?

[woodbuck27]

nick already gained about 10-20 pounds of beef heading up to the draft trying to show he had the size to be a 4-3 DE. at the combine he weighed in at 271, during that season he weighed between 250-260

as for people saying he said he wanted to be a DE. he's a video from the question and answer session at the combine. he's asked if he would rather be a 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB. he answers be saying that he would rather be a 4-3 DE with his hand in the dirt, but as long as he's rushing the QB it doesn't matter to him

in this video from his pro day he talks about he would be find playing either position. he also talks about how he only had a little bit of experience at dropping into coverage, but he did have some

Nice work.

Yes.... I believe Nick Perry weighed about 270 lbs before the draft.

Let me see...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Perry_(American_football)

Pre-Draft Measurables: 271 lbs

red ...You've got me in a spin over an option of Damontre Moore and #26. If I pick him then LOL Dom and TT have to work it all out on the Nick Perry ?.

Damontre 'Damonster' Moore is a solid option 'still' for my Mock. I simply have to convince myself that DT Sylvester Williams is off the board @ # 26.

Straight up??

Who is your best option @ #26 red?

[Bretsky]

I thought the issue with Perry was more that he had said several times that he didn't think he wanted to play OLB in a 3-4. Some also questioned his effort, He might not be what the experts see as a perfect fit for it, but many good ones aren't for one reason or another. Perry has enough athletic ability to do OK at it. Lots and lots of NFL players are not perfect fits for their positions.

There were several Net articles out there indicating that Perry was thought to be better suited as a DE in the 4-3. they were articles all of the draft whack jobs read and perhaps take too literally. Several of us commented that we'd doubt TT drafts him because he's thought of as an ideal fit in the 4-3 and much to learn and skills to develop in the 3-4. Those words disappeared once we drafted him.

[Patler]

And yet others saw aspects of his game that might make OLB a better option for him:

Overview

Many teams will consider drafting Perry as an outside linebacker in a 3-4. As a sophomore and junior at USC he developed into an elite pass-rushing prospect, and has the size and athletic ability to be successful working against NFL tackles. He has late first-round value.
Analysis
Strengths
Perry has a very strong base and balance that helps him keep momentum toward the backfield regardless of his initial move. Perry plays with good leverage and 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 has fluid hips and feet in the open field. 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 and has trouble in a tight area. This would bode well for a move to outside backer, where he can rush with more space. It remains to be seen if Perry can cover in the flat. He's a thick player but still a bit of a positional tweener, and doesn't quite have the strength of most defenders his size.

[denverYooper]

And yet others saw aspects of his game that might make OLB a better option for him:

Many of those points would seem to make him a perfect fit opposite Clay, and we saw some of his disruptive ability (he got flagged a couple of times because his hits looked violent -- a la Luck -- but on review turned out to be textbook).

I honestly think that if he has a healthy year opposite CMIII, Packers fans will be pretty happy with that pick by the end of the season.

[Smeefers]

Many of those points would seem to make him a perfect fit opposite Clay, and we saw some of his disruptive ability (he got flagged a couple of times because his hits looked violent -- a la Luck -- but on review turned out to be textbook).

I honestly think that if he has a healthy year opposite CMIII, Packers fans will be pretty happy with that pick by the end of the season.

Agreed. it's incredibly difficult for a player to come out of college and immediately make a meaningful impact on the field. The speed of the game isn't something that just affects QB's. You also have to understand that there's no easy opponents for this guy. Every team they go up is filled with college all stars. I think the man will grow into his role. Having seen him play, I believe he has all the talent to become a very good OLB.

[Patler]

I would really have liked to see more of him last year. He was just beginning to be noticed when he got hurt. By year end, he might have made an impact, because he did have a play now and then that made you notice him. Just needs to do it more regularly.

[run pMc]

Leave Perry at OLB...think of him as being like PIT's Lamarr Woodley, who goes 6-2 265# as an OLB.

Speaking of PIT, if Jarvis Jones is there, I wouldn't be surprised if they take him. If you think about it, their needs mirror a lot of GB's, only moreso: they lost Mendenhall, Harrison, Wallace; Hampton is on his last legs and Polamalu isn't far behind, and they need OL help.

Sorry about the digression...
You can't put Perry at DE in a 3-4 base, and I think GB has better options in nickel-rush packages. IIRC, Perry later clarified that he preferred 4-3 DE because it was what he played most at USC and was most comfortable doing, but would play where ever a team drafted/needed him. I'm hoping for good things from Perry this year, having a full offseason to be healthy and work at OLB.

[Carolina_Packer]

...It's not like 'Fantasy football'. A teams draft team has to pay tremendous respect to due diligence. That job is fricken' enormous. Having determined that fact. There's little to excuse if a GM screws up. Do your homework .... ace the test ... your draft will, over time, more than pass.

It's not any different than any other year as it's simply another year. Again.... It's in the work and quality of your Scout/Draft team.

Well, because the Packers don't really do much in free agency, it necessitates them being on their game when drafting, probably even more so than other teams. Obviously, nobody is going to get them all right; nobody ever does. There must be a bit more pressure to draft well because it's the team's primary means of infusing talent. There's generally less instant gratification as you might see on a team that picks up more high-profile/expensive free agents. They way the Packers do it, there's more cost certainty. For the Packer players, you're going to be developed, get a good shot at contributing earlier than players on some other teams, and see if you belong before getting a big money deal. That's what keeps them from having a lot of "dead money", and keeps them from making a lot of costly cap mistakes. They'd rather cook than do take out.