Official 2018 nfl draft thread

[red]

I thought Todd Thompson was demoted. No? Vander Esch looks like a player Todd would draft. No thanks. The Packers have more than enough slow, white or whitish ILBers with Hyde-awful coverage skills on their roster.

If the Packers are gonna draft an ILB, I'd prefer they draft Tremaine Edmunds or the Jamie Lannister-clone - 4.38 40 is impressive.

I was gonna say the same thing. We already have the whitest LB core on football

It’s like it’s our “thing”

[Joemailman]

40: Urlacher 4.61 Vander Esch 4.65 Edmunds 4.54

Broad: Urlacher 122 Vander Esch 124 Edmunds 117

Bench: Urlacher 27 Vander Esch 20 Edmunds 19

Vertical: Urlacher 34 Vander Esch 39.5 Edmunds N/A

3 Cone: Urlacher 6.94 Vander Esch 6.88 Edmunds N/A

60 Yd: Urlacher 11.10 Vander Esch 11.57 Edmunds N/A

Vander Esch's overall athleticism is pretty good. Assuming you think Urlacher was athletic enough.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Clay Matthews is finished and overrated to begin with...

Hater. Claymaker was awesome at OLB, and still is. Problem is, Claymaker's a hammy pull waiting to happen. Take away the injuries and the wasteful move to ILB for a couple a seasons, and Claymaker would be giving LT a run for his money as the GOAT OLB.

Move the Claymaker to ILB when he's 38, not while he's still awesome.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

I was gonna say the same thing. We already have the whitest LB core on football

It’s like it’s our “thing”

Or maybe it's only a Polar Bear thing? Gutekunst looks like a hipster. Whether he's an actual hipster remains to be seen.

I'm no racist, but I wouldn't mind an all-white LB crop if the unit is awesome. lol

[Anti-Polar Bear]

40: Urlacher 4.61 Vander Esch 4.65 Edmunds 4.54

Broad: Urlacher 122 Vander Esch 124 Edmunds 117

Bench: Urlacher 27 Vander Esch 20 Edmunds 19

Vertical: Urlacher 34 Vander Esch 39.5 Edmunds N/A

3 Cone: Urlacher 6.94 Vander Esch 6.88 Edmunds N/A

60 Yd: Urlacher 11.10 Vander Esch 11.57 Edmunds N/A

Vander Esch's overall athleticism is pretty good. Assuming you think Urlacher was athletic enough.

Guess time will tell.

But I'm betting Vander Esch career will be more like Ryan's than Urlacher's.

[pbmax]

Matthews has ceased to be a singular pass rush threat from OLB. He very rarely beats tackles anymore, and its been going that way for a while.

His motor, pursuit and speed are still fine. He's still a big plus on defense. He's not as good versus the run as Perry, but he has improved since the spinOrama fails versus Kaepernick.

His pass rush is fine as a second player, he is normally in the pocket and if someone moves the QB off his normal line, he will beat any blocker to the new path. But you need someone to scare the QB off his set and CMIII doesn't do that anymore. In hindsight its kind of predictable because his father was much the same way. Always close, but not dominant in pass rush.

Perry looked like he was going to be that disruptor, but he never has a full season with that kind of production. They have lots of pieces (Daniels is good too), but they need someone to wreak havoc with the pocket immediately and don't have it.

[wist43]

Guess time will tell.

But I'm betting Vander Esch career will be more like Ryan's than Urlacher's.

I think Vander esch's floor is much higher than Ryan's ceiling.

Ryan needs to be cut.

[wist43]

As for a difference maker at LB... I'm looking at Landry.

[Deputy Nutz]

Vander Esch can be a second round pick. His athleticism doesn't transfer on the film I just watched of him. I don't see him being an immediate upgrade over Martinez, sure he is better than Ryan, but you don't need to use the 14th pick in the draft to find a guy better than Ryan.

Roquan Smith isn't polished either, but his athleticism shows up on film. He can cover a back or even a slot receiver, but will get eaten up by blockers. He keeps himself involved in plays, has a motor. His arm tackles will cost him at the next level. His greatest attribute is that his speed allows him to make plays all over the field. He is not a plugger type of ILB. His athleticism will be a plus when looking at matchups against the opposition. He can stay on the field during passing downs.

[smuggler]

Sherman said that the system is broken if Shaqueem Griffin is drafted after the first three rounds. Is Richard Sherman dumb and/or brain damaged from CTE?

[Joemailman]

Denzel Ward ran 4.32 and 4.36.

Eisen ran a 5.97.

Orlando Brown had the slowest player time at 5.85.

[Joemailman]

Sherman said that the system is broken if Shaqueem Griffin is drafted after the first three rounds. Is Richard Sherman dumb and/or brain damaged from CTE?

Maybe he knows about Griffin because Griffins twin brother started 11 games for the Seahawks as a rookie last year.

[RashanGary]

Harold Landry looks good and performed good at the combine.

[Joemailman]

If Edmunds is not available I would be inclined to lean toward Landry. The supply of top Edge rushers is not very deep this year.

[wthigoot]

The Packers have holes at Tight End, Inside Linebacker, Offensive line, and Corner back.
The Packers have depth concerns at just about every position. QB, RB, WR, DL, OLB,

The Packers have a bunch of picks, but I wouldnt mind them trading back in the first round that would possibly pick up another 1st round pick or a combination of a 2nd round and a 4th round pick. The Packers don't have any play makers on defense any more. Clay Matthews is finished and overrated to begin with, and he is as close as the Packer get to having a play maker on defense. So taking a top flight defensive play at any position with the 14th pick would make just as much sense as trading the 14th pick in hopes of picking up another first round pick.

The Bills are the only team that drafts after the Packers that have two first round picks. So might not be possible

Like the trade possibilities with Buffalo.

Joemailman's 14 for 21 and 53 is good and a slight advantage for the Packers on the trade chart.

Have seen some mentions of:
Packers #1 (14) #3 (76) for Buffalo's #21 and #22 - larger advantage on the trade chart. Would be easier if Packers had got that comp 3rd for Lang instead of the 4th.

If Buffalo's QB is there and they are a little more desperate, maybe ask for another pick, or Tyrod Taylor. Taylor could be the vet QB backup next year. He's not a starter, but could get you through another bad stretch where Rodgers is missing.