Green Bay Packers Draft Targets

The NFL Draft combine concluded Tuesday with many of the top draft prospects showcasing their talents in front of NFL teams.

The Green Bay Packers have many needs in the draft, especially on defense. Now it is time to talk about players the Packers may have on their draft day big board.

Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville: Safety is a huge need for the Packers in 2014 and Pryor could fill that need instantly. Pryor is a hard-hitting safety that Green Bay lacks compared to the top defenses in the league. Pryor is known for being a hitter that will attack running backs. In coverage he is an instinctive player with athleticism to track down the ball.

Photo courtesy of standingosports.com

Photo courtesy of standingosports.com

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama: Another safety to monitor is Clinton-Dix out of Alabama. Clinton-Dix is projected as the top safety in the draft and would immediately start for Green Bay. Although not as physical as Pryor, Clinton-Dix is better when it comes to coverage, something the Packers struggled with in 2013 with no interceptions from the safety position.

Ra’Shede Hageman, DL, Minnesota: Defensive line could be needed for Green Bay if they do not re-sign B.J. Raji or Ryan Pickett and Hageman could be a fit. Hageman is billed at 6′ 6″, 318 pounds, and is one of the top athletic linemen in the draft class. Hageman is known more for his pass rushing ability, which the Packers need to succeed as a defense.

C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama: Green Bay needs to find an athletic inside linebacker and if Mosley is available when Green Bay picks, he would be tough to pass up. Mosley would immediately start over A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones and become the team’s best linebacker. He has the skills to be a three down linebacker with ability to stop the run, pressure the quarterback, and go into coverage.

Chris Borland, ILB, Wisconsin: Borland is a player that lacks size compared to other linebackers, but makes up for it with his great football instincts. Borland has the ability to find the ball wherever it is, whether in coverage or attacking the run. Borland will be a player that Packers may look at as a possible second round pick.

Kyle Van Noy, LB, Brigham Young: Van Noy is a prospect Packers fans should keep an eye on. Even with drafting Nick Perry in 2012,Van Noy is a rising prospect Green Bay could draft to put opposite of Clay Matthews or play inside. Van Noy is described as a playmaking linebacker, and would improve the pass-rush on defense, something Green Bay lacked last year even with Matthews and Perry.

C..J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa: Many of the top prospects to look at are on defense but there are some on offense. Tight end is a position that Green Bay may address if they do not resign Jermichael Finley or Andrew Quarless. Fiedorowicz is a TE they will not pick in the first round, but a prospect to look at in the third or fourth round. He is a strong blocking tight end with the ability to stretch the field catching the ball. He is a possible pick due to general manager Ted Thompson’s history of drafting players out of Iowa.

The draft is a couple months away with many prospects stock rising and falling. Ted Thompson’s draft philosophy has always been drafting the best player available and it is possible one of these players could be that pick.

Marty Kauffman

mkauf036@uwsp.edu

 

About pointer

Avatar

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*