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2016 NFL Draft Central: Green Bay Packers
Round 1: Pick #27 (27th overall) – OLB Kamalei Correa– Boise State
NEEDS at OLB: The Packers have an aging Julius Peppers manning the right end of the defensive line but the other side needs permanent solution. Clay Matthews has been splitting time shifting from outside to the inside. Green Bay might put Matthews inside again and if the Packers do, that will leave the recently re-signed and underwhelming Nick Perry handling the left outside linebacker duties. In any case, the Packers need to get younger in that position.
STRENGTHS: Correa can explode right out of the gate. He’s deceptively quick as he sports a 6’3”, 243-pound frame. He is a vicious heat-seeking missile, able to see the ball and get to it while shedding opposing linemen.
Round 2: Pick #26 (57th overall) – ILB B.J. Goodson– Clemson
NEEDS at ILB: This goes back again to the Clay Matthews situation. Drafting an inside linebacker may provide the Packers a clearer picture of how they want to utilize Matthews or better yet, how their defensive line will look like in the immediate future.
STRENGTHS: Goodson is unafraid of taking contacts and has zero conscience in dishing out nasty ones, too. He can be quick in detecting plays and processing the appropriate action to get inside the pocket or stop a rusher.
Round 3: Pick #25 (88th overall) – TE Jerell Adams– South Carolina
NEEDS at TE: The Packers signed eight-year veteran Jared Cook this offseason and while that’s a good move in terms of giving the position depth, Green Bay may still want to add another tight end just in case Cook doesn’t pan out or either him or Richard Rodgers gets injured.
STRENGTHS:Adams possesses some pair of sticky hands and that trait paired with a solid vertical makes him a viable target for Green Bay. More than his pass-catching skills, Adams can also do more after snaring down balls, as evidenced by his average of 6.9 yards after the catch last year.
Round 4: Pick #27 (125th overall) – WR D.J. Foster– Arizona State
NEEDS at WR: Jordy Nelson’s injury last year was a big blow to the Packers’ passing game but now that he’s back, it seems like Green Bay is all right in the wide receiver position. However, James Jones is now a free agent and the Packers aren’t likely to bring back the soon-to-be 32-year-old James Jones. A young blood would be more beneficial in the long term.
STRENGTHS:Foster will bring elite versatility to whichever team will land him in the NFL Draft. Foster’s athleticism allowed him to play both wide receiver and running back in college. He arrived in Tempe as a running back, but had little problem taking over the lead wide receiving role last year. His speed along with his ability to evade tacklers allow him to slip through cracks on opposing teams’ defenses.
Round 4: Pick #33 (131st overall) – NT D.J. Reader – Clemson
NEEDS at NT: The premature retirement (or hiatus) of B.J. Raji definitely stunned the Packers, but at least Raji’s decision came in the same year when the NFL Draft is brimming with elite nose tackle prospects. Letroy Guildon is currently the main replacement for Raji but like some other pieces on the Packers’ defensive line, is susceptible to being moved into another position. For the record, Raji was signed originally by general manager Ted Thompson as a defensive end.
STRENGTHS: Not a lot of people can move with noticeable dexterity while packing 327 pounds of flesh. Reader, however, does that with ease. Apart from that, Reader can steamroll opposing linemen particularly when single covered.
The Packers have nine picks in the 2016 NFL Draft:
- Round One – #27 overall
- Round Two – #57 overall
- Round Three – #88 overall
- Round Four – #125 overall
- Round Four – #131 overall
- Round Four – #137 overall
- Round Five #163 overall
- Round Six #200 overall
- Round Seven #248 overall
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