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Packers CB Davon House

Every NFL season begins with a blank slate and ends with a long list of newly-minted star players.

Last season, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick may be the prime example of a player that took the next step and pushed his team to the next level, as San Francisco won the NFC and advanced to Super Bowl XLVII.

Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas went from being an afterthought in a Tim Tebow-led offense in 2011 to being one of the most dangerous offensive players in football in 2012. Thomas ranked fourth in the NFL with 1,434 receiving yards.

And in Green Bay, a pair of Packers wideouts enjoyed breakout years of their own.

After showing flashes of brilliance as a rookie in 2011, Randall Cobb exploded onto the scene last season, leading the team with 80 catches and 954 receiving yards. Cobb is the odds-on favorite to lead the team in both categories in 2013.

Fellow receiver James Jones enjoyed a breakout season of his own. Jones set career highs in all three major categories, catching 64 passes for 784 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Playing in an offense with Aaron Rodgers under center, any receiver could become the team’s “go-to guy” on a week-to-week basis. But Jordy Nelson had his coming-out party in 2011, and Jones and Cobb had their last year. So unless one of the Packers young, unproven receivers can take a step forward and join the rotation, this year’s breakout player may be on the defensive side of the ball.  Read more... (1330 words + 1 image, estimated 5:19 mins reading time)

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Morgan Burnett and Nick Collins

When the Packers were forced to release Nick Collins prior to the 2012 season, they were left with a gaping hole at the most important position in the secondary.

Collins, a three-time Pro Bowler, was among the best safeties in football at the time he suffered a career-threatening neck injury in 2011, while his counterpart, Morgan Burnett, was coming off a season-ending injury of his own in his second NFL season.

Burnett’s rookie year (2010) ended in week four, and Collins’ 2011 season–and possibly career–ended in week two. Those six games comprised the entirety of the Collins/Burnett Era at safety for the Packers.

In 2010, the Packers selected Burnett with the 71st overall pick in the third round. Three years later and entering the final year of his rookie contract, Burnett may be poised to fill Collins’ shoes as the team’s key defensive playmaker.

Athletically, Burnett compares favorably to the former second-team All-Pro safety.

At the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine, Burnett put up impressive numbers in the tests that best measure a player’s range at the safety position. He clocked a 6.87 in the three-cone drill, leaped 11 feet-8 inches in the broad jump, posted a 39.5-inch vertical jump and rushed out to a 1.57 10-yard split.

Burnett tested better than Collins in nearly every category, but Collins, a college cornerback, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds, which trumped Burnett’s 4.51.  Read more... (807 words + 3 images, estimated 3:14 mins reading time)

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Packers GM Ted Thompson

It’s been said over and over, but while the 2013 NFL Draft lacks star power at the top, it’s extremely deep in rounds two and three. So that should make for an exciting Day 2 tonight.

You’ll notice plenty of first-round talent on the board between picks 33-62. There are even some players in the third round that had a shot at being selected in round one.

For the Packers, I’d be quite surprised if they don’t add a skill position player at some point today. Whether it’s running back, wide receiver, or both, the Packers should have plenty of options to add an impact player on Day 2. There wasn’t a single running back selected in round one, so Eddie Lacy, Giovani Bernard, Johnathan Franklin and Le’Veon Bell are all still on the board. There’s a very good chance that one of those players will fall to the Packers at No. 55.

Sorry, Mel Kiper, but Montee Ball is not a first-round talent, and I don’t think he’ll be selected in the second round at all.

But if the Packers have their choice between several running backs, they’ll probably have to decide what’s more important: Do they a running back that would play immediately, or grabbing a wide receiver to groom for the future? Of course, they could go for a more immediate need and go with a safety or center, but I believe the value will be better at the end of the third round at those positions.  Read more... (1180 words + 1 image, estimated 4:43 mins reading time)

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2013 NFL Draft

Yin and Yang… Some of these picks should make you smile, some should make you cringe. Based on comments by someone with 40+ years of scouting experience, here are some guys that should make you jump for joy if your team drafts them and others that might cause you to lock yourself in your room for a few months. Again, the comments are not mine… Here goes:

Yin –  You should smile

Sheldon Richardson – Best DL in the draft
Datone Jones – Under Capers, WOW factor will come out in that kid…
Lane Johnson – best OT in the draft
Chance Warmack – best player overall in the draft
David Bass – Robert Mathis / Zach Thomas type
AJ Klein – Jonathan Vilma-like…
John Simon – Mike Vrabel clone
Mike Catapano – Aaron Kampman clone
Jamie Collins – will make some team VERY happy
JJ Wilcox – Best safety in the draft (really…)
Dwayne Gratz – This year’s Casey Hayward
Zach Sudfeld – Super Sleeper
Jesse Williams – on cusp of being a JJ Watt clone
TJ McDonald – like Morgan Burnett
Tank Carradine – nickname says it all
Brian Schwenke – favorite center…
Kevin Minter – best ILB in the draft
DJ Hayden – Best CB in the draft
EJ Manuel – Best of an uninspiring bunch
Stedman Bailey – like a Dodge truck – RAM tough
Gavin Escobar – best pass catching TE – the nextTony Gonzalez
Knile Davis – a gamble (injuries) but worth a late shot
Philip Thomas – like him better than Eric Reid.
Brandon Williams
Jasper Collins
Le’Veon Bell
Gio Bernard
Brandon Williams
Ryan Griffin – best late round QB
Cooper Taylor – sleeper
Michael Hill – sleeper (resembles Arian Foster)
Nick Williams – sleeper
Edmund Kubila
Charles Johnson – Late round bargain
Logan Ryan – late round bargain
Steve Williams – late round bargain
Corey Fuller – late round bargain
Rodney Smith – late round bargain
Khaseem Greene – plays like hair on fire, ala CM3
Michael Ford – late round bargain
Mike James – late round bargain
John Boyett – UFA steal – PUP until healed  Read more... (639 words + 3 images, estimated 2:33 mins reading time)

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As the 2013 NFL Draft is about to begin, here are some things that have been whispered into my ear as well as some of my own opinions and predictions.

   Read more... (318 words + 2 images, estimated 1:16 mins reading time)

1. Whisper: If there is one player the Packers would consider trading up for, it’s Sheldon Richardson. 49ers talking to Jets about the same thing…
2. Prediction: The Packers will draft a running back and/or wide receiver between Rounds two and four.
3. Opinion: If a trading partner can be found (49ers? Pats?) Packers should trade back a bit and pick up another third rounder.
4. Whisper: Top running back on the Packers’ board is Johnathan Franklin, UCLA.
5. Whisper: I was told to “expect a surprise” in the first round by the Packers. No more details than that, unfortunately. Trade up? Kevin Minter (who they love)? Robert Woods? Tank Carradine?
6. Prediction: There is no way the Packers come out of this draft without taking a running back.
7. Opinion: Two mid-round safeties the Packers should be going after are JJ Wilcox of Georgia Southern and Duke Williams of Nevada.
8. Whisper: Packers have done “a ton of research” on Kevin Minter, Stedman Bailey, Johnathan Franklin, Le’Veon Bell, JJ Wilcox, Dwayne Gratz, AJ Klein, Ryan Griffin.
9. Prediction: Johnathan Franklin or Le’Veon Bell will be a Green Bay Packer.
10. Opinion: Seriously hoping Ted trades down and amasses 4 picks in the top 100…

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UCLA DE Datone Jones

One week until the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. That’s seven days. One-hundred and sixty-eight hours. However you want to look at it.

Last week, I posted a mock draft and said that I never project trades. But this time, I’m breaking one of my own rules because there’s one that simply makes too much sense.

Many picks remain unchanged from last week, but I’ve done some reshuffling starting at No. 5 overall with the Detroit Lions. You can expect something similar next week for my final mock draft before the action kicks off next Thursday night.

Enjoy and comment away.

1. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M

(Last: Same) No surprise at the top for the Chiefs. It will likely be either Joeckel or Eric Fisher, but I have Joeckel rated slightly higher, due in part to playing against better competition at Texas A&M. They can move Branden Albert to right tackle and plug Joeckel in on Alex Smith’s blind side.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Geno Smith, West Virginia

(Last: Same) It’s going to be Smith or Dion Jordan at No. 2 for the Jaguars. Between now and the draft, I’m sure there will be some rumors thrown out there that the Jags have their eye on other players, but don’t be fooled. If they’re comfortable with Blaine Gabbert at quarterback, they’ll go with Jordan. I’m not a Gabbert guy.

3. Oakland Raiders: DT Sharrif Floyd, Florida  Read more... (2942 words + 1 image, estimated 11:46 mins reading time)

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Ted Thompson covets his draft picks. Who might he target in a trade-down?

Packers general manager Ted Thompson covets his draft picks like nothing else. He often trades down, gets the player he’s targeting and adds late-round picks in the process.

And at first glance, this draft appears tailor-made for Thompson.

The Packers hold the 26th overall pick in this year’s draft, and the team will certainly have plenty of options at that point. Perhaps Thompson would consider moving up if a player falls to a certain point in the draft, but in my opinion, moving down is a much more likely scenario.

There are a few scenarios in which I think the Packers would be wise to stay at No. 26 and make their pick. In the unlikely event that Kenny Vaccaro or Jonathan Cyprien fall to the Packers, either player would be a great pick. If Datone Jones is available at 26, he would also be an option.

But this year’s draft lacks star power at the top, and rounds two and three figure to be loaded with NFL-ready talent, especially at some of the Packers’ positions of need. Let’s take a look at five potential targets if the Packers trade out of their first-round pick.

#1) DE Margus Hunt – Southern Methodist

The Packers have a handful of guys on the defensive line that are effective in one specific area. Mike Neal is a solid pass rusher in the nickel, C.J. Wilson and Ryan Pickett are stout against the run, while B.J. Raji is probably the Packers’ best all-around defensive lineman.  Read more... (1357 words + 1 image, estimated 5:26 mins reading time)

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