Official 2023 NFL Draft Thread

[run pMc]

Not sure about the dire need for edge. With Gary going down it gave a couple of young guy the ability to get valuable game reps. Preston is above average, getting up there in age. You can always add edge rushers because every team needs them, but I like what I saw from Engabare and if Smith doesn't come back then I would think the Packers would have to draft an edge player. I would like to see Quay Walker used more off the edge though. I think he could actually be a special player on the edge or in space. There is a lot going on in the middle for him trying to see through all the traffic.
The issue I have is that Gary and Preston Smith are basically small defensive ends without the ability to actually give much in the way of coverage so if they are in the game most likely they are rushing and you probably want them to since they are your best pass rushers but then the offensive line and QB can usually pin point who the 4 rushers are. The two DTs and the two stand up ends. its not brain surgery for christsakes.
I like the combination of Reed, Wyatt, and Clark as the 3 for 2 in the Packers nickel scheme and those three should get the majority of the reps in the Packers base 3-4. The rush schemes are ridiculously simplistic.

Yeah I wonder about their scheme with the OLBs. I know they like Preston and Gary's size - basically they like the OLBs to be 6-5 270 pound monsters -- seems like basically they are running a 4-3 with how they lineup and rush.

I think they need both an EDGE rusher and a 5-tech DE, and could see them taking both early. I wouldn't call the need for EDGE 'dire', but it's supposedly a good year for EDGE - so it makes sense, especially since the best pass rushers go earlier. Lowry shouldn't be back, Reed likely won't. I have zero faith in J.Ford becoming anything, and he's basically NT3 anyway. Slaton, Clark, Wyatt and one or two DL to round that group out. I think they should have 5 DL so they don't wear down as much against running teams, but then again they usually only play 2 DL at a time. If they can find a 5-tech DE who can play the run and rush the passer then you've really got something (assuming Barry knows what to do with them).

I also wonder if having a 'smaller' guy like a Will McDonald occasionally come in to rush (or drop) would shake things up. Might give them more speed on the edge. Quay can also blitz - I saw them run some cross blitzes or occasionally rush 5... Barry rarely calls blitzes but unless they improve the pass rush with talent he may have to. After Gary's injury they were either manufacturing pressure via blitzes or just getting lucky against garbage OL's.

Big difference between MIN's 3rd string C and DET's Frank Ragnow, and it showed.

[HarveyWallbangers]

There a bunch of big EDGE rushers at the top of this draft. Pick #15 might be a sweet spot to get an EDGE in the mold that the Packers like.

Murphy and Wilson will probably be gone by pick #15 though.

Myles Murphy = 6'5" 275
Tyree Wilson = 6'6" 275
Isaiah Foskey = 6'5" 265

Others of note:

Felix Anudike-Uzomah = 6'4" 255
Lukas Van Ness = 6'5" 275
Andre Carter = 6'7" 260
Zach Harrison = 6'6" 265
Keion White = 6'5" 286 (although at that size, he's probably too big for 3-4 OLB)

This seems like an usually big EDGE class.

[RashanGary]

There a bunch of big EDGE rushers at the top of this draft. Pick #15 might be a sweet spot to get an EDGE in the mold that the Packers like.

Murphy and Wilson will probably be gone by pick #15 though.

Myles Murphy = 6'5" 275
Tyree Wilson = 6'6" 275
Isaiah Foskey = 6'5" 265

Others of note:

Felix Anudike-Uzomah = 6'4" 255
Lukas Van Ness = 6'5" 275
Andre Carter = 6'7" 260
Zach Harrison = 6'6" 265
Keion White = 6'5" 286 (although at that size, he's probably too big for 3-4 OLB)

This seems like an usually big EDGE class.

Hey man, good call on Tom. And the RB in Denver a year ago. And Watson. Looking forward to your draft content this year!

[Fosco33]

With Gary back - is edge the biggest need?

I don’t trust Bahk to stay healthy and think another young tackle could be good.

Or a Safety

[Joemailman]

Edge may not be the greatest immediate need, but you can never have enough good pass rushers and Gary may not be ready to go at start of next season. Remember Packers drafted Gary right after signing P and Z Smith. If Packers draft Safety in the 1st they need to make sure the player is really suited to play safety, and not slot corner like Savage. I'm okay with drafting OT if there's one they really like.

[SudsMcBucky]

Why do I feel like the Packers drafting yet another D player in the first round is throwing good money after bad. And by keeping Barry as DC, we're never going to be good on that side of the ball anyway. Just go all-in on offense and try to win shoot-outs.

[Deputy Nutz]

Packers have to be creative with there pass rush schemes and they are not. It has nothing to do with Gary or Smith because they are both very good edge rushers.

Yes, their nickel defense sets up more like a 4-3 with "hybrid" Edges and instead of a Sam linebacker you have an extra defensive back. The idea was to steal an extra defensive back with still having 4 defensive line type bodies and 2 inside linebackers. Your 7th run defender would be a safety or depending on how you play your 5th defensive back.

Gary and Smith can't really be considered outside linebackers. They don't do outside linebacker type stuff in their nickel package which is what they play 85% of the time. I don't think any team team actually plays the majority of snaps out of traditional defenses any more.

With looking at the roster, I would say that the Packers like most teams in the NFL are always willing to invest early in the draft on pass rushers and coverage players. Take the best player available if you are the Packers and I don't think you can go wrong.

Someone said Will McDonald name, very athletic pass rusher that played in a scheme at Iowa St that didn't always set him up to be super productive. He struggles with the mental side of the game so asking him to be multiple might be asking a lot if he couldn't do it in college.

[run pMc]

Keion White = 6'5" 286 (although at that size, he's probably too big for 3-4 OLB)

I was looking at him as possibly a 5-tech, given Lowry is 6-6 295.

there are a number of EDGE guys that fit what GB likes

Packers have to be creative with there pass rush schemes and they are not.

This is true and it drives me crazy. Their schemes are too vanilla. I think that's on the coaches.

[run pMc]

From Mike Tanier:

According to Sports Info Solutions, quarterbacks averaged a 48.8% completion rate and 5.97 yards per attempt when pressured, with a 3.3% interception rate. When not pressured: a 70.2% completion rate, 7.44 yards per attempt, a 1.9% interception rate. Read those splits again. Pressure is the single biggest external factor impacting quarterback performance

Turns out pass rush matters, go figure.

[Deputy Nutz]

You can run a timer in your head when you watch just about any NFL game. If a Qb drops and stays in a clean pocket and is afforded more than 5 seconds to throw the ball its usually a down field completion. The middle of the field will always open up, and then you add in comeback routes and its damn easy for NFL caliber Qbs.

[run pMc]

I'm just going to say go BPA. I do think they'll go DL/OLB in R1 though. Pass rush matters.

With how variable defenses can be year-to-year, I wonder if they'd be better off making stronger investments on offense. They need more playmakers than Watson and Jones. Outside of them they don't really have anyone.

[Joemailman]

I think they go BPA out of DL/S/Edge/OT/WR/TE.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think they go BPA out of DL/S/Edge/OT/WR/TE.

They aren't going TE at #15--especially for an average athlete like Mayer. I doubt they go S--unless they trade down. This draft looks strong at EDGE and DL. I suspect that's where they go--although you can never rule out a 1st round OT for the Packers. It doesn't look like a great year at OT.

[Joemailman]

They aren't going TE at #15--especially for an average athlete like Mayer. I doubt they go S--unless they trade down. This draft looks strong at EDGE and DL. I suspect that's where they go--although you can never rule out a 1st round OT for the Packers. It doesn't look like a great year at OT.

I tend to agree. But after he took an ILB at #22 last year, you can't be too sure.

[Fritz]

There a bunch of big EDGE rushers at the top of this draft. Pick #15 might be a sweet spot to get an EDGE in the mold that the Packers like.

Murphy and Wilson will probably be gone by pick #15 though.

Myles Murphy = 6'5" 275
Tyree Wilson = 6'6" 275
Isaiah Foskey = 6'5" 265

Others of note:

Felix Anudike-Uzomah = 6'4" 255
Lukas Van Ness = 6'5" 275
Andre Carter = 6'7" 260
Zach Harrison = 6'6" 265
Keion White = 6'5" 286 (although at that size, he's probably too big for 3-4 OLB)

This seems like an usually big EDGE class.

Why do people so often capitalize "edge" rusher as EDGE rusher?

I see it all the time, not picking on you - it's just that I see it in your post, like so many others.

I mean, we don't write SLOT corner. I just wonder why it's done that way.