2017 NFL Draft: Green Bay Packers Post-Free Agency 7-Round Mock Draft
After a quiet free agency period, the Green Bay Packers have one final opportunity to fill their positional needs during the 2017 NFL Draft.
Coming off an impressive 2016 campaign, there's a lot to like about this Green Bay Packers team. While they suffered some painful losses this offseason, they did make a couple of quality additions during 2017 NFL free agency.
Still, there are a few more areas of need for the Packers as the market begins to dry up. A couple of positions on both sides of the ball need an influx in talent. As luck would have it, the 2017 NFL Draft is just around the corner, bringing with it the perfect opportunity for Green Bay to make the necessary additions to get over the hump this upcoming season.
At this moment, the Packers own eight picks (their seven original picks and one compensatory) with which to do some damage. GM Ted Thompson has always done a great job of finding talent via the annual draft, and this year's results should be no different. Even with picks landing at the end of their respective rounds, Green Bay will likely walk away from the 2017 NFL Draft as winners.
So, without further ado, let's take a look at my seven-round mock draft for the Packers. Keep in mind that this isn't necessarily a hard prediction for how their picks will pan out, but instead a commentary on the team's current needs and the current stock of the mentioned prospects.
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Forrest Lamp
Guard, Western Kentucky
Last season, the offensive line was one of the Packers' strongest units. Unfortunately, the group was gutted during 2017 free agency, leaving them without two of their starters. Now, Green Bay is faced with the task of rebuilding the interior of their front five through the draft.
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Sure, they have a decent backup plan at center in Corey Linsley. However, at this moment, the right guard duties will likely go to either Don Barclay or 2016 second-rounder Jason Spriggs. Both can hold the position down, but that doesn't mean either is who the Packers actually want starting on a weekly basis.
Protecting Aaron Rodgers should be priority No. 1, which is why Forrest Lamp makes sense on Day 1. The Western Kentucky product is a fast riser with seemingly limitless potential. He played all along the offensive line for the Hilltoppers, making him a versatile weapon for the Green Bay front five.
Lamp provides plenty of athleticism and power along the interior, but has experience on the outside as well. He's talented to step in from the get-go at right guard, but flexible enough to slide out to tackle if injuries pile up. If he's still on the board at No. 29, the Packers shouldn't hesitant to pull the trigger on the potential-laden blocker.
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D'Onta Foreman
Running Back, Texas
By all accounts, the Packers made a considerable run at re-signing Eddie Lacy this offseason. Although he eventually opted to join the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay may be better off in the long run considering Lacy's weight and health issues in recent years.
Plus, if they truly are bent on fielding a big back in 2017, there's an option during the draft who seems like a capable replacement. Yes, I'm talking about D'Onta Foreman, a tremendous runner out of Texas with the tools to develop into one of the better power backs we've seen in years.
I must admit, though, that some improvement is needed before we can start having that conversation. Foreman possesses excellent athleticism for his size, but tends to avoid using his bulldozing abilities more often than he should. His impact as a pass blocker is also a huge work in progress, which could limit his effectiveness on third down.
All in all, though, the potential is there for him to replace Lacy with little talent lost. He's a punishing runner who's a load to bring down once he gets to the second level. If he can improve his third-down abilities and use his size to his advantage, he could quickly assert himself as the lead back in Green Bay.
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Howard Wilson
Cornerback, Houston
Heading into free agency, cornerback was expected to be one of the Packers' top priorities. Unfortunately, they missed on some of the best talent available like A.J. Bouye and Stephon Gilmore despite rumored interest. Now, they must hope they can address the position in April.
Things could be worse, though, considering the 2017 draft class is loaded with cornerback talent. That's why I opted to avoid the position until the third round, at which point there should still be a number of high-upside prospects on the board. I'm guessing Howard Wilson will still be there for the picking as well, which makes him an ideal fit for Green Bay.
Wilson sports the size and length that teams covet in today's NFL. Although still a bit raw after only starting one season at Houston, the physical traits are there for him to develop into a starter in the near future. The ball skills and playmaking abilities in coverage also have to be tempting for interested parties.
Most of Wilson's weaknesses (mainly, discipline in coverage) can be worked out one way or another. A couple years of learning in a subpackage role could bring out the best in the former Cougar, who has all the makings of an exceptional starter in the NFL.
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Alex Anzalone
Inside Linebacker, Florida
I'm a firm believer that the Packers need some more help at inside linebacker heading into 2017. While Blake Martinez looks like a long-term starter, upgrading on Jake Ryan wouldn't be the worst idea in the world. And moving Clay Matthews back inside shouldn't be an option.
So why not take a flier on a mid-round talent like Alex Anzalone? If it wasn't for the injury issues that have plagued his collegiate career, the former Gator may have been much higher on most big boards. It makes sense to take a shot with him, even if he is an injury waiting to happen.
When healthy, Anzalone is the perfect mix of size, speed and athleticism at linebacker. He flies around the field, making plays as a run defender, pass rusher and cover man. While some of the finer points of his game need some work, all of the physical tools are there for him to emerge as an every-down linebacker at the next level.
Over the last two seasons, Anzalone has only managed 10 appearances while battling shoulder and arm injuries. However, if his medical checks turn out okay leading up to the draft, he could end up being one of the biggest steals of the 2017 NFL Draft.
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Tyler Orlosky
Center, West Virginia
The drafting of Lamp in the first round was a great start. However, the talent available at center still leaves something to be desired. Instead of settling on Linsley as the starter, the Packers could consider bringing in some competition via the draft.
Tyler Orlosky fits the bill as a mid-round pick with starter upside. While not a complete prospect by any means, the three-year starter for the Mountaineers shows enough on film to warrant a flier as competition for a spot atop the depth chart. At the worst, he's a solid No. 2 for the next decade.
Orlosky shows good strength and hand work, allowing him to stand toe-to-toe with some of the strongest interior defenders out there. Unfortunately, his lack of athleticism and movement skills may limit him at the next level. It's definitely not a deal breaker, but could force some teams to shy away from him in the later rounds.
Either way, the Packers need more depth at center. Going into the season with only Linsley and Jacob Flores at the position shouldn't be an option. While Orlosky is no solve-all, he offers enough overall talent to push for the starting job sooner rather than later.
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Jadar Johnson
Strong Safety, Clemson
Don't get me wrong—the Packers have a quality starting safety duo in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Morgan Burnett. However, with the departure of Micah Hyde via free agency, the team is suddenly lacking significantly in the depth department.
Luckily for Green Bay, the 2017 draft class offers an array of options to fill that sizable hole in their secondary. It's not like the mix of Marwin Evans and Kentrell Brice can really be relied on heading into the 2017 campaign. Hence, the selection of Jadar Johnson at the end of the fifth round.
The Clemson product had a breakout year in 2016 after spending the first few years of his college career playing behind the Tigers' other star safeties. When he finally got an opportunity, though, he didn't take long to make the most of it. In his first and only year as a starter, he earned first-team All-ACC with the help of 61 tackles, five interceptions, seven passes defended and two forced fumbles.
His lack of experience will concern some teams, as will his inconsistent presence as a run defender. However, with his athletic frame and instincts in coverage, it's easy to him developing into a quality playmaker for the Green Bay secondary.
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D.J. Jones
Defensive Tackle, Ole Miss
Right now, the Packers don't have a ton of depth along the interior of the defensive line. Their best nose tackle, Letroy Guion, is scheduled to be suspended for the first four games of the season. Behind him, there isn't much in terms of talent beyond Brian Price.
If they plan on sporting a fortified defensive front this season, more bodies are needed at nose tackle. I'm sure they could use someone like Kenny Clark on the inside until Guion's return in Week 5, but having more options wouldn't hurt. The draft should provide them a few opportunities to add said depth.
One late-round option who could be a realistic target for the Packers is D.J. Jones. The former Ole Miss standout can be a dominant presence at times at nose tackle. While there are concerns about his tendency to wear down as the season progresses, it's hard to deny that he can make an impact based on the film.
If Jones can improve his conditioning and show a better motor, he could be a real asset for Green Bay. The mix of athleticism and explosiveness he possesses for his size is rare, which makes him an intriguing Day 3 prospect for the Packers.
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Tashawn Bower
Outside Linebacker, LSU
After losing Julius Peppers and Datone Jones this offseason, the Packers could use some more bodies on the edge. They currently have significant depth at outside linebacker with Jayrone Elliott and Kyler Fackrell, but another developmental talent or two wouldn't hurt.
That's where a player like Tashawn Bower could come into the picture. While not a big name by any means, the former LSU outside linebacker possesses plenty of raw upside and athleticism. Given time to develop in an NFL system, it's not crazy to imagine him paying dividends somewhere down the road.
Now if you look at Bower's production, it's a tad discouraging. Through four seasons in Baton Rouge, he managed only 5.5 sacks while starting in only seven games. However, it makes sense when you consider he was buried on an LSU depth chart loaded with top-tier talent.
Bower is a long shot, that's for sure. The Packers, however, are fond of their projects on the edge, and the former Tiger shows significant upside. While opportunities would be limited in Green Bay as well, there's a decent chance some NFL coaching could turn Bower into a capable contributor in two or three years.