AllGreenBayPackers.Com

I actually got my first shot writing for AllGreenBayPackers.com when Al allowed me to post my draft rationale on his site and 3 years later I’m continuing the tradition.  As before I’m not going to be assigning draft grades or projections, I agree with the idea that grading picks now is something akin to being graded on a test you haven’t taken.  In this article I want to point out some more broad observations I noticed during the draft

Aaron Rodgers dictated the Packers 2013 draft: And Clay Matthews III to some extent as well.  Simply put the Packers are now in a mini-rebuilding year, not due to a lack of talent but due to a lack of money.  While Rodgers’ $110 million and Matthews’ $66 million contracts were both necessary and in my opinion great deals for the Packers, let’s not kid ourselves and think that the Packers are going to be awash with saved money over the next couple years, Rodgers and Matthews are still two of the highest paid players in the NFL and that will have financial ramifications down the road; maybe not as bad as Joe Flacco and DeMarcus Ware bad, but Ted Thompson probably isn’t going to be able to keep everyone he wants.  This is why I think this is the start of a mini-rebuild; teams typically trade down and stockpile draft picks in order to stock the team with young, cheap players who can be the foundation long term and perhaps become stars.  Read more... (1368 words + 1 image, estimated 5:28 mins reading time)

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On the Waterfornt – Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando in “On the Waterfront:” You don’t understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let’s face it.

One thing about getting so heavily involved in research for the NFL draft is that you get emotionally attached to certain players. You call them “my guys” or “my sleepers” or “my late round steals.” As the draft unfolds, these players are always on your radar. As the Packers pick approaches,’ you’re eagerly hoping and praying they will still be available so the Packers can take “your guy” and justify your belief in how “perfect” he is for the Packers.

The reality of the situation is, these two separate worlds (NFL GM reality & Draftnik Fantasy) only occasionally intersect to deliver what you want. This year’s draft was worse than usual for this draftnik. The previous two years, the Packers drafted several of “my guys.” Derek Sherrod, Randall Cobb, Lawrence Guy, Nick Perry, Casey Hayward, BJ Coleman. In all, it was a pretty good haul. This year I got Datone Jones and Johnathan Franklin (but not where I expected him) and then no other player remotely on my radar.

But it’s not my loss, it’s theirs. They could have been Packers. They coulda had class. They coulda been contenders. They coulda been somebody, instead of bums, which is what they are, let’s face it.  Read more... (715 words + 3 images, estimated 2:52 mins reading time)

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Packers GM Ted Thompson made a total of four trades during the 2013 NFL Draft.

With the 2013 NFL Draft now in the books, let’s take a look at what “Trader” Ted Thompson did with his eight original picks to turn them into eleven total selections. He made a total of four trades, three of which being “down” and the final one being a trade “up.” Overall, he gained eight picks for the price of five, netting three.

Below I’ve detailed each of the trades, as well as updated what the draft board looked like at that moment. Picks in bold are the ones that were added during the trade, while the struck-through selections were already made by that point.

Original Draft Picks:

1. Round 1, 26 (26)
2. Round 2, 25  (55)
3. Round 3, 26 (88)
4. Round 4, 25 (122)
5. Round 5, 26 (159)
6. Round 5, 34 (167) [comp.]
7. Round 6, 25 (193)
8. Round 7, 26 (232)

Trade #1 (DOWN):

Gave the San Francisco 49ers No. 55 (Rd. 2) for Nos. 61 (Rd. 2) and 173 (Rd. 6).

1. Round 1, 26 (26): Datone Jones, DE
2. Round 2, 29  (61)
3. Round 3, 26 (88)
4. Round 4, 25 (122)
5. Round 5, 26 (159)
6. Round 5, 34 (167) [comp.]
7. Round 6, 5 (173)
8. Round 6, 25 (193)
9. Round 7, 26 (232)

Trade #2 (DOWN):  Read more... (553 words + 1 image, estimated 2:13 mins reading time)

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UCLA RB Johnathan Franklin

Entering the final day of the 2013 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers were slated to make ten selections. But when it was all said and done, the Packers added only nine players to the team.

Their first two selections of the day were offensive linemen David Bakhtiari and J.C. Tretter.

Bakhtiari was a three-year starter at Colorado, and I had a late-second to early-third round grade on him entering the draft. He was a tackle at the college level but will probably play guard at the NFL level. The Packers drafted Bakhtiari with pick No. 109 in the fourth round.

Tretter started at left tackle the past two seasons at Cornell. He was a unanimous All-Ivy League First Team selection as a senior after beginning his college career as a tight end. He was a high school quarterback. With the Packers, Tretter will likely play on the interior of the offensive line.

Later in round four, Ted Thompson continued his trading ways by moving up for UCLA running back Johnathan Franklin.

Many scouts thought Franklin would be a second-round pick, and some even had Franklin and Eddie Lacy as the top two players at the position. My final rankings had Franklin as the No. 2 back in the draft, just ahead of Lacy and behind Giovani Bernard who was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals at the top of the second round.  Read more... (1824 words + 1 image, estimated 7:18 mins reading time)

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With their final pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Packers took South Florida OLB Sam Barrington.

With their final pick in the seventh round (232nd overall) in the 2013 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers select Sam Barrington, OLB, South Florida.

PLAYER DETAILS: 
Sam Barrington
OLB
South Florida
6’1″/246lbs

CAREER NOTES: From CBSSports:

2012 SEASON  Read more... (1167 words + 1 image, estimated 4:40 mins reading time)

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Kevin Dorsey, WR, Maryland

With their seventh round pick (224th overall) in the 2013 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers select Kevin Dorsey, a WR from Maryland.

PLAYER DETAILS: 
Kevin Dorsey
WR
Maryland
6’2″/207 lbs

CAREER NOTES:

(from CBSSports.com)

A talented fifth-year player who served as the No. 1 receiver for his final two seasons … an intelligent, polished receiver with excellent size and soft hands … a preseason All-ACC selection … fourth team preseason all-conference pick by Phil Steele … has overcome foot injuries to become a productive performer … played in 47 career games with 23 starts … voted one of four team captains at the end of the spring.

PRO DAY:

40-yd.: 4.47s … bench: 17 reps … vertical: 38″ … broad: 10’10″ … shuttle: 4.28s … 3-cone: 7.08s

SCOUTING REPORT:

(from NationalFootballPost.com)

Strengths:

• Initial quickness and smooth start from LOS lets him get down field quickly.
• Plants foot well on slant routes.
• Good hands and awareness to make plays on the ball.

Weaknesses:

• Does not get much separation.
• Unwillingness to block on run plays.
• Sometimes rounded out his routes – not crisp.

COMMENTARY:

The Packers have now selected two OL, two RBs, and Dorsey makes the second WR. He and the newly acquired Charles Johnson will definitely be battling for a spot on the roster, but it’s interesting to note that they both share a similar height and weight. Johnson’s Pro Day numbers were a little better than Dorsey’s, though. He’ll definitely need to work on his route running if he wants to make it in the Packers offense.  Read more... (308 words + 1 image, estimated 1:14 mins reading time)

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Charles Johnson, WR, Grand Valley St.

With their seventh round pick (216th overall) in the 2013 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers select Charles Johnson, a WR from Grand Valley St.

PLAYER DETAILS: 
Charles Johnson
WR
Grand Valley St.
6’2″/215 lbs

CAREER NOTES:

(from NFLDraftScout.com)

Johnson does have a red flag, having bounced around between different schools. He initially went to Eastern Kentucky, where he was suspended. He then attended Antelope Valley Community College (Calif.) in 2008, took a season off in 2009, and was at Grand Valley State starting in 2010. On the basis of his strong pro-day workout, Johnson could be selected as high as the fifth round in the 2013 NFL Draft.

(from Grand Valley St. sports profile)

2011: D2Football.com Honorable Mention All-American…Don Hansen’s Super Region 3 third-team…First-Team All-GLIAC…GVSU Offensive Skill Player of the Year…Caught 56 passes for 1,030 yards and 15 TDs…1,030 yards ranks fifth all-time for a single-season at GVSU, while his 15 TD catches is fourth…His 93.6 yards per game receiving was third in the GLIAC and 17th nationally…Ranked 10th in the GLIAC in receptions per game (5.09)…Averaged 18.4 yards per catch…Caught a TD pass in 9-of-11 games…Broke the 100-yard receiving mark five times…Caught six passes for 161 yards and one TD at Hillsdale (9/10), including a long TD reception of 71 yards…Hauled in eight passes for 158 yards and two TDs at Northern Michigan (10/8)…Recorded six receptions for 144 yards and two TDs vs. Ferris State (10/22)…Pulled down five receptions for 103 yards and three TDs at Northwood (11/5).
 Read more... (441 words + 1 image, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

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