One of the most unpredictable drafts in recent memory – thanks in large part to the coronavirus – is now less than 36 hours away. Here are 10 final thoughts heading into the big event:
1) The Packers need to find a No. 3 quarterback, and Feleipe Franks could be worth considering in the late rounds. The former starter at Florida and Arkansas is nowhere near ready to play in the NFL, but his physical skills are intriguing. If GM Brian Gutekunst is going to draft a QB to not play for the foreseeable future, he might as well take one with size, mobility, and a strong arm.
2) It’s silly to worry about Rondale Moore’s lack of height. Is 5-foot-7 short for a wide receiver? Yes, but that would only matter if the former Purdue star were a wide receiver. He’s not. He’s a game-changer who’ll be able to impact an offense without ever having to run a route deeper than 15 yards. But just in case you’re wondering, he can run routes deeper than 15 yards. In fact, he adjusts well to the ball in the air and often makes difficult catches look routine.
3) Kadarius Toney is worth the 29th pick in the draft, but it’s difficult to imagine him in Green Bay. The fast and explosive wide receiver had multiple off-the-field issues while at Florida, including one involving an airsoft gun that got him suspended for the season opener in 2018. He also performs music under the name Yung Joka, and while there’s obviously nothing wrong with rapping, all of this together just doesn’t make him feel like a future Packer.
4) If his medicals check out – he underwent knee surgery in December – it’s hard to imagine Landon Dickerson not being drafted in the latter part of round 1. The former Alabama star is one of the best centers to come out of college in years. He’s incredibly strong and probably athletic enough to be a quality guard at the next level. His personality and play style would be a terrific fit with the Packers, who would have to at least consider him at No. 29.
5) Anybody who thinks offensive tackle Liam Eichenberg isn’t worth the 29th pick either hasn’t watched him play and/or had no idea what they were watching. The former Notre Dame star is going to be a 10-year starter in the NFL and is one of the safest picks in the entire draft. That said, it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising to see Texas’ Samuel Cosmi and Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood, a pair of flashier but less effective players, get picked ahead of him.
6) If Gutekunst thought Rashan Gary was worth the 12th overall pick in the 2019 draft, he’d have to at least consider edge rusher Jayson Oweh at No. 29. The former Penn State star will need some time to learn how to play outside linebacker – he didn’t put on a football uniform until his junior year in high school – but his speed, natural bend, and explosiveness are pretty rare. It’s difficult to imagine this kind of raw potential lasting until Friday.
7) Jamin Davis should be the top choice for any team looking to find an inside linebacker who fits in today’s NFL. The former Kentucky star is a fluid athlete who’ll be able to match up in coverage against any tight end and even some wide receivers. Tulsa’s Zaven Collins gets more love in mock drafts, but he looks and plays like an outside linebacker. And let’s please stop comparing Collins to Leighton Vander Esch, whose college tape was much more impressive.
8) Drafting Trevon Moehrig at No. 29 is pretty unlikely, but it shouldn’t be completely discounted. He’s a really good player and a more natural free safety than Darnell Savage. Adding the former TCU star would give the Packers the option of using Savage more in the slot. Simply put, Moehrig could make the defense better at two positions.
9) Caleb Farley is a top-15 talent, but drafting him at No. 29 would still be a gamble. Undergoing a pair of back surgeries before taking a snap in the NFL is a big deal. The Packers definitely shouldn’t trade up for the former Virginia Tech star. Gutekunst would be much better off staying put and selecting Florida State’s Asante Samuel Jr.
10) Since Gutekunst didn’t use free agency to fill any of the holes on the roster, it would make sense for him to keep his fourth-round picks for a change. This is one of the deeper drafts in recent memory, and there won’t be a huge difference in talent between the 90th pick and the 150th pick. The Packers choose at 135 and 142 in round 4.[yop_poll id=”8″]
I hope you are planning your “If I Was the GM” post, probably my favorite thing you write.
I’ll post my “If I Were The GM” story sometime next week.
Great analysis just spot-on. Thanks