Packers 2021 draft class

[wist43]

Burks is a core ST player; that's why he's still on the team. Not much return on that investment, but they're trying to milk it for what it's worth. Smart guy, athletic, but not instinctive and that's an issue. Barnes has the best instincts of the off ball LBs and he's ok. I think McDuffie is a ST piece, maybe a depth piece, and likely replacement for Burks when his contract ends. I don't have high expectations for him, but you never know. He's kind of a Joe Thomas type and could be productive in small samples, but I'm skeptical he'd hold up at his size and am not sure about his instincts.

BC has cranked out some decent LBs, and he was the leading tackler... but I think that's a product of their defensive scheme.

I don't mind taking flyers on athletes in the 7th round and UDFA, but Burks was a 3rd rounder, and as I mentioned this year there were an unusual number of highly rated players that went undrafted b/c of reduced scouting and workouts due to covid.

PFF had Uphoff as a 3rd rounder and he went undrafted... there were quite a few guys like that - some CB's we could have used.

If McDuffie replaces Burks on the roster, that's well enough I guess.

[bobblehead]

This was the way you're supposed to conduct a draft. I don't know if Gutekunst knew how bad he fucked up last year, and wanted to make up for it this year or impress Rodgers or what, but somehow, good sense was used. You don't suppose those ongoing negotiations with Rodgers resulted in some Rodgers input, do you? hahahaha

Since Rodgers isn't talking to Gutes and wants him fired...no I do not.

[Joemailman]

I'm fine with a CB in rd1, I just would have preferred Campbell, but with Jenkins still there, and JOK... I would have gone with one of them.

I'm fine with an interior lineman in rd 2, except i would have preferred Creed.

Like the Rodgers pick, like the Newman, Hill, and Mcduffie picks as well.

Slaton is worth a flyer.

Slaton weighed in at 326 at rookie minicamp. Good news.

[texaspackerbacker]

I kinda like him as heavy as possible hahahahaha. Better a big solid blob like Gilbert Brown or Howard Green than a big soft lump getting pushed all around like Raji.

[bobblehead]

Changed my mind on McDuffie... watched more tape - think he's going to have a hard time sticking. Plays small, takes bad angles, poor technique in his coverage responsibilities.

Watched more tape of Newman too... he's got a chance to be a good player. Has a habit of getting his hands outside too much, but that can be coached up, and he's got the tools to develop.

I think I saw an article where they comped Newman's pro day to Bulaga's and it was near identical in size and every drill. That bodes well at least.

I also look at Charles and I see a little Micah Hyde in him. Just not a good enough athlete...until buffalo takes my advice, moves him to safety and then he is an all pro.

[Jaire]

REAL QUESTION

WHO in here would have picked Stokes over Christian Barmore ? or did we just go Need ? Need is what I thought we did round 2 for sure over BPA

Yeah. That's a big miss imo. Stokes is round 2. Barmore is a low round one guy. We just don't get many chances at those guys. And the need was equal imo.

The draft was salvaged (early prognostication) with Royce, Slaton, & Hill later but I'm still shaking my head at the first two picks. There were a lot of solid dbs in round 3. The back end is not as important as the DL (esp when you have 2 solid safeties and an all pro shut down corner). We struggled to get pressure against the very stout TB line. We struggled much more against the best front 7 since the Denver & Seattle teams that won Super bowls. Considering we lost in the trenches in the NFCCG (& amazingly still had a shot to win), that's where we should have gone. I've been screaming for RT & DL for 4 years.

On the good side Keke & now Slaton seem much better picks than past drafts where we failed miserably at picking DL except Clark who was a no brainer along with KC's even better pick.

Anyways, Royce and Slaton take away some of the sting. Myers seemed desperate to me.

Everything is fixed if AR comes back. More so if Gute is fired: there is no way to me the future is bright with this FO. Brandon was right here though too spammy

[SudsMcBucky]

Barmore is the guy I wanted when the thread was made prior to the draft. However, if they insisted on taking a CB in R1, from everyone I talk to down here in GA, Stokes is a great pick. They all like him much better than the guy the Jags took at the top of R2.

[Joemailman]

Probably no CB in college football faced as many of the top WR's in the country as Stokes did the last 2 years playing in the SEC. I think that plus the upside that goes with his speed made the Packers rate him a bit higher than the draft prognosticators. I see Stokes as an upside pick. Myers and Rodgers are low floor picks. Very little bust risk there who are great fits for what the Packers do.

[Upnorth]

Pre draft stokes was not on my radar as I only read the media's top cb opinions.
Post draft I dont know how he made it to us. When you combine upside with his level of competion he is better than I knew.
Him being abke to develop as a number 2 facing worse players than he is used to covering gives him time to learn.

I am so stoked for stokes (stoked is a 80's term for excited that was used in Saskatchewan when I was a teen)

[Joemailman]

Pre draft stokes was not on my radar as I only read the media's top cb opinions.
Post draft I dont know how he made it to us. When you combine upside with his level of competion he is better than I knew.
Him being abke to develop as a number 2 facing worse players than he is used to covering gives him time to learn.

I am so stoked for stokes (stoked is a 80's term for excited that was used in Saskatchewan when I was a teen)

Are you as stoked as this guy?

[Upnorth]

Are you as stoked as this guy?

I can't even, yes

[Jaire]

Looking again at the NFCCG, this draft was very tilted toward that game.

Gute was zoned in on CB and went to every single top cb work out in person. Stokes was the biggest risk cb picked in round one and a bit of a gamble. Not where I would have gone, especially with all the dbs we missed out on in recent past. This seems definitely a draft geared toward winning right now. I would have preferred a more BVA approach as usual. Just a philosophy that works out better on long and even short term.

[texaspackerbacker]

I don't see that Stokes is that much of a risk. You can either go with potential or with college performance when you draft. Stokes arguably is the best of both - his excellent size and speed as well as the fact that nobody in all college FB covered big time receivers remotely as well as Stokes. I have to confess, before the draft I was looking at the Northwestern guy as the best choice. But I'm extremely glad now that we got Stokes. It had to be a great Corner in the first round, and I'm satisfied we got the best.

We got what should be an instant O Line starter and maybe instant star in the second round. And we got a unique kind of WR that we didn't have and probably needed (plus kick returner) in the 3rd. Newman in the 4th seems solid and versatile. Slaton is exactly the kind of D Lineman I was hoping for - much more like Gilbert Brown and much less like damn Lowry and Lancaster. I have hope that St. Jean might actually be better than Chandon Sullivan. Hill seems like a late round bargain. Drafting a Badger O lineman is almost always a good idea. McDuffie? Who knows? If everybody else performs to expectations, they can afford to miss on him.

[Jaire]

I'm finally feeling better about the draft. Should be interesting. A lot of contribute-now guys along with last year's class and vets that are just peaking, this year is the AR's best shot

[Jaire]

I don't see that Stokes is that much of a risk. You can either go with potential or with college performance when you draft. Stokes arguably is the best of both - .....

Ok. Agreed. This pick makes complete sense now that I finally looked into him in depth (AR sidetrack really took me out of the draft).

This is a Ron Wolf (Al Davis protege) pick. I didn't believe the 4.2 speed but it's legit. Sam Shields is his floor, very good pair with Alexander. Never gave up a pass over 20 yards in SEC, still learning the position but has solid play already with lots of room for improvement. In hindsight Stokes is candy GB cannot pass on with a need at CB2. No wonder they thought they lucked out.

This can bring the secondary close to the 2010 level which clearly, at the subconscious level at least, is steering secondary draft choices since 2019. So much better than the many whiffs for years. Excited for the 2ndary.

I'm officially on the stoked band wagon. This whole team is primed to dominate this year and we're already one of six plays away from beating the most stacked NFC team (Bucs) in many years. The dline could use a couple more bodies. But two new WRS, three catchers peaking, restocked line, Gary emerging. Dillon. Deguara. Rooks that will contribute. It's like a double draft class with the guys that will 1st play this year.