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For the last couple of years I've held myself to just one mock draft so here is mine for 2014. Typically I wouldn't take the time to do this until right before the draft but they pushed it back on me and I don't want to wait. Here is my example from last year and here is the year before. With my mock drafts I typically make my decisions based half on what I think we should do and half on what I think Ted thinks we should do.
Pick #21
Louis Nix III | NT | Notre Dame
6'2" 331 lbs
The Packers seem to have lost a lot of beef last year with Jolly and Pickett. Raji is on just a 1 year. Nix doesn't just fill a need though, he's a steal at 21. He has the ability to control a man or a gap and be that tree trunk centerpiece in the middle of our 30 front to put the numbers advantage in our favor. Nix may just spell and backup Raji and contribute as a rotational player in 2014 but in 2015 and beyond he's a critical piece at 0 and 1 tech. Hilarious guy as well, should get a lot of camera time and be a fan and locker room favorite.
Pick #53
Donte Moncrief | WR | Mississippi
6'2" 221 lbs
Moncrief is one of the more underrated receivers in this draft. His stride on a football field is like Ken Griffy Jrs swing or Morgan Freeman's voice. Moncrief is smooth and smooth is fast. He builds up speed in a way where guys just don't see it coming and gets safeties to take poor angles. Like all good Ted-WR's, Moncrief explodes out of his cuts and does the small things well. He's got a head fake that can break ankles. His hands aren't elite but good and does have a bad habit of body catching from time to time.
With a consistent running game, move-the-chains guys like James Jones and Boykin provide diminishing returns. Guy who can excel in the vertical passing game can take this offense to another level. When was the last time you saw a Packers WR catch it over their shoulder and outrun the secondary?
Pick #85
CJ Fiedorowicz | TE | Iowa
6'5" 255lbs
Fiedorowicz is probably going to be in at least half of all Packers mock drafts, it just makes too much sense. He fills a need, is projected in an area of the draft where the Packers have two picks, and is a part of an Iowa pipeline that's worked out really well for us in recent years.
Pick #98 (compensatory)
Prince Shembo | LB | Notre Dame
6'1" 253 lbs
Another guy who is criminally underrated. Shembo played on the left, on the right, and in a 2-point and 3-point stance for Notre Dame. He's got some good experience in coverage. He looks the part of an elite pass rusher and has the measureables as well (26 reps on 33" arms, 38.5" vertical) but is really more of a relentless dirty work player. If he can put together his tools he can be a special pass rusher but even if he doesn't he's a very nice versatile and durable guy to have around.
Pick #121
Ross Cockrell | CB | Duke
6'0" 191 lbs
Cockrell is a terrific football player who can tackle and play physical without getting too grabby. He doesn't always play up to his size and I didn't originally think he'd be an option for Ted because of his lack of timed speed but supposedly he managed sub 4.4 times at his pro day yesterday. He plays fast enough to work the boundary is physical enough to play the slot. Smart player with great eyes, probably lacks the length to play safety but could free up Hyde to focus on it.
Pick #161
Tre Boston | FS | North Carolina
6'0" 204 lbs
Just as fans are starting to organize torches and pitchforks, Ted addresses the safety position after patiently waiting until the 5th round to do so. Boston is a converted cornerback who is still learning the vision lines as a safety but has considerable upside and enough athletic ability and ball skills (13 picks) plus a physical playing style to make a coach comfortable throwing him into the fire as a rookie. The competition between him and Hyde should produce a solid football player.
Pick #176 (compensatory)
Dri Archer | WR/RB/KR | Kent State
5'8" 173 lbs
This seems like an odd choice for the Packers but might actually make quite a bit of sense. Archer has a gear that other players just don't have and instantly provides a 5th or 6th WR who can handle return duties. It'd be interesting to see what McCarthy would try to do with him on offense as well.
Pick #197
Devon Kennard, LB, USC
6' 3" 250 lbs
Kennard is a very intellegent and versatile player with a ton of athletic ability. Its hard for me to predict he'll be around but I think this draft is just that deep. Kennard has played DE, ILB, and OLB. Constantly changing positions and torn pectoral muscles have made him not as productive as one would hope for such a highly recruited guy. His eclectic experience in a big program has made him into a guy perfect for a team looking to become more versatile on defense. Perhaps one that loves USC linebackers.
Pick #236
Ryan Groy | OL | Wisconsin
6'5" 316 lbs
When Ted falls asleep at night he dreams about big versatile offensive linemen with short shuttles under 4.60 and 3-cones under 7.60. Groy might be mentioned by name in Ted's dream journal because he can play anywhere on the line including center, has even played FB, and had a SS of 4.47 and a 3-cone of 7.49. If he were more of a finisher Ted might start writing love songs. He is a great guy to have coming off the bench or in competition with Tretter.
Pick #21
Louis Nix III | NT | Notre Dame
6'2" 331 lbs
The Packers seem to have lost a lot of beef last year with Jolly and Pickett. Raji is on just a 1 year. Nix doesn't just fill a need though, he's a steal at 21. He has the ability to control a man or a gap and be that tree trunk centerpiece in the middle of our 30 front to put the numbers advantage in our favor. Nix may just spell and backup Raji and contribute as a rotational player in 2014 but in 2015 and beyond he's a critical piece at 0 and 1 tech. Hilarious guy as well, should get a lot of camera time and be a fan and locker room favorite.
Pick #53
Donte Moncrief | WR | Mississippi
6'2" 221 lbs
Moncrief is one of the more underrated receivers in this draft. His stride on a football field is like Ken Griffy Jrs swing or Morgan Freeman's voice. Moncrief is smooth and smooth is fast. He builds up speed in a way where guys just don't see it coming and gets safeties to take poor angles. Like all good Ted-WR's, Moncrief explodes out of his cuts and does the small things well. He's got a head fake that can break ankles. His hands aren't elite but good and does have a bad habit of body catching from time to time.
With a consistent running game, move-the-chains guys like James Jones and Boykin provide diminishing returns. Guy who can excel in the vertical passing game can take this offense to another level. When was the last time you saw a Packers WR catch it over their shoulder and outrun the secondary?
Pick #85
CJ Fiedorowicz | TE | Iowa
6'5" 255lbs
Fiedorowicz is probably going to be in at least half of all Packers mock drafts, it just makes too much sense. He fills a need, is projected in an area of the draft where the Packers have two picks, and is a part of an Iowa pipeline that's worked out really well for us in recent years.
Pick #98 (compensatory)
Prince Shembo | LB | Notre Dame
6'1" 253 lbs
Another guy who is criminally underrated. Shembo played on the left, on the right, and in a 2-point and 3-point stance for Notre Dame. He's got some good experience in coverage. He looks the part of an elite pass rusher and has the measureables as well (26 reps on 33" arms, 38.5" vertical) but is really more of a relentless dirty work player. If he can put together his tools he can be a special pass rusher but even if he doesn't he's a very nice versatile and durable guy to have around.
Pick #121
Ross Cockrell | CB | Duke
6'0" 191 lbs
Cockrell is a terrific football player who can tackle and play physical without getting too grabby. He doesn't always play up to his size and I didn't originally think he'd be an option for Ted because of his lack of timed speed but supposedly he managed sub 4.4 times at his pro day yesterday. He plays fast enough to work the boundary is physical enough to play the slot. Smart player with great eyes, probably lacks the length to play safety but could free up Hyde to focus on it.
Pick #161
Tre Boston | FS | North Carolina
6'0" 204 lbs
Just as fans are starting to organize torches and pitchforks, Ted addresses the safety position after patiently waiting until the 5th round to do so. Boston is a converted cornerback who is still learning the vision lines as a safety but has considerable upside and enough athletic ability and ball skills (13 picks) plus a physical playing style to make a coach comfortable throwing him into the fire as a rookie. The competition between him and Hyde should produce a solid football player.
Pick #176 (compensatory)
Dri Archer | WR/RB/KR | Kent State
5'8" 173 lbs
This seems like an odd choice for the Packers but might actually make quite a bit of sense. Archer has a gear that other players just don't have and instantly provides a 5th or 6th WR who can handle return duties. It'd be interesting to see what McCarthy would try to do with him on offense as well.
Pick #197
Devon Kennard, LB, USC
6' 3" 250 lbs
Kennard is a very intellegent and versatile player with a ton of athletic ability. Its hard for me to predict he'll be around but I think this draft is just that deep. Kennard has played DE, ILB, and OLB. Constantly changing positions and torn pectoral muscles have made him not as productive as one would hope for such a highly recruited guy. His eclectic experience in a big program has made him into a guy perfect for a team looking to become more versatile on defense. Perhaps one that loves USC linebackers.
Pick #236
Ryan Groy | OL | Wisconsin
6'5" 316 lbs
When Ted falls asleep at night he dreams about big versatile offensive linemen with short shuttles under 4.60 and 3-cones under 7.60. Groy might be mentioned by name in Ted's dream journal because he can play anywhere on the line including center, has even played FB, and had a SS of 4.47 and a 3-cone of 7.49. If he were more of a finisher Ted might start writing love songs. He is a great guy to have coming off the bench or in competition with Tretter.
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