Packers Draft Primer: 5 Prospects Who Fill a Need

The NFL Draft is one of the most exciting times of the offseason. It can offer fans a sense of security that their team is moving in the right direction, or signal that their team has no clue what's going on.

For the casual fans, the 1st round is obviously the most important part of the process. For others (like myself), the entire draft is like Christmas in April. Sifting through prospects, delving into team needs, and incorrectly mocking players to those teams are all apart of the experience. So without further ado, here are my 5 prospects (likely to be drafted in the 1st round) that fill an immediate need for the Packers.

The Pipedream Pick: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Safety

Touted by many experts as one of the safest picks in the draft, Minkah Fitzpatrick can seemingly play all 6 positions in the secondary. He'd be a 'plug and play' starter and would provide a versatile piece for new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine; similar to how Micah Hyde was used. However, with Ha Ha Clinton Dix already secured at the starting free safety position, Fitzpatrick would most likely be deployed as a nickel corner. If Minkah were to start slipping into the 10-12 range, you'd have to think that GM Brian Gutekunst would be extremely tempted to trade up to select the former Alabama safety. This would be one of the best-case scenarios, considering the losses of Morgan Burnett and Damarious Randall. This may not seem so crazy considering the amount of QBs projected to go in the top 5.

Pro comparison: Malcolm Jenkins

Potential: Perennial Pro-bowler

The Maybe Pick: Tremaine Edmunds, Linebacker

Tremaine Edmunds is essentially a unicorn. Standing at nearly 6'5", weighing 253 lbs, you just don't see the size and speed combination that Edmunds offers. He can cover, stuff the run, and even rush the passer. His athletic profile itself warrants spending a top 10 pick, based on potential alone. That being said, Edmunds still has a lot to learn, and often times relies on his athleticism to bail him out. For that reason only, it may be in the Packers' best interest to look elsewhere, as they may not have the time allowed to develop Edmunds into the player he could be. Nonetheless, the Virgina Tech product has one of the highest upsides in the entire draft class, and could see himself selected in the top 10 come late April.

Pro Comparison: Brian Urlacher

Potential: Future All-pro

The Realistic Pick: Marcus Davenport, Defensive End

Marcus Davenport: a name that almost nobody knew until the past 6 months. Davenport, who played for Texas San Antonio, made a name for himself during the Senior Bowl in January (seen above), and has seen his stock rise throughout the process. With a huge frame at 6'6", 265 lbs, Davenport has the size and athleticism to play in any scheme in the NFL. He could certainly see his name called by the Packers come pick 14, and would fill a colossal void at a position in major need of depth. With Clay Matthews set to turn 32 years old, and Nick Perry's inconsistency from time to time, Davenport would make an immediate impact as a rotational edge rusher. I could see him developing similar to how the Vikings brought in Danielle Hunter a few years back.

Pro Comparison: Ziggy Ansah

Potential: Future Pro-bowler

The Surprise Pick: DJ Moore, Wide Receiver

A prospect who has seen his stock rise in the past couple of weeks, DJ Moore is a physical wide receiver who would play on the outside, opposite Davante Adams. The Packers held a formal meeting with Moore at the NFL Combine, and with the release of Jordy Nelson, there's a clear need for a new Z receiver with Randall Cobb playing the majority of his snaps from the slot. Standing at 6' even, Moore is a bulky receiver who can hold his own against press coverage. His athletic profile is incredible, and he could provide a deep threat for a team that lacks speed. Moore could improve as a route runner, but he's a heck of a player nonetheless, and was a huge weapon for Maryland this past season.

Pro Comparison: Pierre Garcon

Potential: 10 year-starter

The Underrated Pick: Leighton Vander Esch, Linebacker

Leighton Vander Esch is a day 1 starter at mike linebacker no matter where he gets drafted. If you watch any of his film, you'll see a technician at his finest. He always seems to be around the ball, and his instincts allow him to make plays that only the best can execute. His measureables are something rarely seen in a player his size, which is an excellent combination to his superior knowledge of the game. If Green Bay drafts him, he'd likely assume a starting role next to Blake Martinez, or stand out as a sub-package specialist. Whether in coverage or defending the run, Vander Esch will make an immediate impact on a defense looking for a leader, much like he was at Boise State.

Pro Comparison: Luke Kuechly

Potential: Future Pro-bowler

 

Minnesota Vikings Free Agency Round-up: A Rival's Perspective

The Minnesota Vikings had one of their best seasons ever in 2017. A season that almost nobody foreshadowed, the Case Keenum-led squad trudged all the way to the NFC Championship game, where they fell to the eventual Super Bowl champs.

For any team, the quarterback is the most important position on the field. They're the heart and soul of an organization. That's why, when Sam Bradford showed up on the injury report after week 2, many Vikings fans went into panic mode. Teddy Bridgewater, who was coming off a horrific knee injury himself, was in no position to be the starter, and the only other option was a journey-man QB whose previous best season came in 2016 with the Jeff Fisher-coached Los Angeles Rams. Heads up, Jeff Fisher is no longer in the league.



Long-story short, Case Keenum showed up and basically said, "I'm the captain now.", on his way to a magical season. Even after the week-in and week-out chatter of "Is Case going to start this week?" from the national media, he still performed at the highest level. Nonetheless, he slowly gained coach Mike Zimmer's trust, and even earned the game ball after a 34-17 blowout of the Buccaneers (see below).

Capping his career day with a victory speech. https://t.co/9bHrlkUec9 pic.twitter.com/9M3uCtpAyR

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 24, 2017

But you know all about that, so let's get on to the free-agency side of things.

Keenum would agree to a 2-year $36 million deal with the Denver Broncos earlier this offseason, which was a domino effect of the Vikings' marquee signing (you've probably heard): Kirk Cousins. Before I get to Cousins, I'd like to briefly talk about Keenum, and what he can bring to the Broncos. Since signing Peyton Manning in 2013, GM John Elway (who is largely considered a top 10 QB all-time) has missed on several free agent signings.

Here's why I think Keenum is different: 1) He has mobility. He can escape trouble when the pocket collapses, and make spectacular plays that are reminiscent of the 'Minneapolis Miracle'. 2) He has good accuracy when surrounded with the right talent. Keenum posted a career-best 67.6% completion percentage last season. 3) He's a natural leader. If you've ever seen Keenum talk about his teammates, coaches, and overall work ethic, you'd know he loves the game. Teammates will gravitate toward him as a player. 4) Finally, he's in a position to succeed. He won't be expected to come in and save the franchise. Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders aren't bad weapons to work with, and the Broncos have some great draft capital for the upcoming NFL Draft. And, oh yeah, he's not Brock Osweiler.

Keenum pictured with GM John Elway (left) and Head Coach Vance Joseph (right)

That brings us to the biggest signing of the offseason, and arguably of the past 20 years. That's right, I went there. Kirk Cousins, the first player to ever sign a fully-guaranteed contract in NFL history, is the biggest signing of the past 20 years. If you're a Packers fan, this is the exact signing that you didn't want to see.

Remember that Case Keenum guy we just talked about, who brought the Vikings to the NFC Championship? What do you think Kirk Cousins can do in an offense that includes the likes of Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Laquon Treadwell, Kyle Rudolph, Dalvin Cook, and Latavius Murray? Cousins put up three straight 4000 yard seasons with some not-so-stellar talent with the Redskins. Not to mention the fact that he was playing with an 8th-string running back last season - let that soak in for a moment. Washington essentially put Cousins in the worst situation, just so they wouldn't have to pay him a large sum this offseason. The gamble clearly blew up in their face, and Cousins is laughing all the way to the bank.

Cousins is presented at his first Vikings press conference.

So, here's why Kirk Cousins is the biggest signing in forever: he's a proven starter. Stop there. That alone warrants signing him. How many times in the history of the NFL have we seen a starting QB hit the open market, whose under 30 years old, with no injury history, above average stats, and proven leadership qualities.

I'll answer that: once. His name is Kirk Cousins. That's why I don't blame the Vikings one second for signing him to the first fully-guaranteed contract ever, at 3-years, $84 million. When a starting-caliber QB who could potentially bring you to your first Super Bowl win hits free agency, you take him. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Hell, even if Alex Smith hits the market, you take him. That's how rare this situation is.

Here's what Cousins brings to the Vikings after six seasons:

Year	G	GS	QBrec	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	Int	Lng	Y/A	AY/A	Y/C	Y/G	Rate	Sk
2012	3	1	1-0-0	33	48	68.8	466	4	3	77	9.7	8.6	14.1	155.3	101.6	3
2013	5	3	0-3-0	81	155	52.3	854	4	7	62	5.5	4.0	10.5	170.8	58.4	5
2014	6	5	1-4-0	126	204	61.8	1710	10	9	81	8.4	7.4	13.6	285.0	86.4	8
2015	16	16	9-7-0	379	543	69.8	4166	29	11	78	7.7	7.8	11.0	260.4	101.6	26
2016*	16	16	8-7-1	406	606	67.0	4917	25	12	80	8.1	8.0	12.1	307.3	97.2	23
2017	16	16	7-9-0	347	540	64.3	4093	27	13	74	7.6	7.5	11.8	255.8	93.9	41
Car	62	57	26-30-1	1372	2096	65.5	16206	99	55	81	7.7	7.5	11.8	261.4	93.7	106

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table

So what type of season can we expect from Cousins? It may be a little too early to tell, as we should get a much clearer picture of the roster after the draft. But for the purposes of this article, I'll contrive a few guesses. My analysis:

    

   The things he does well: 

•       Overall accuracy 
•       Quick release
•       Timing Throws
•       Play-action fakes
•       Mobility in the pocket

An example of Cousins' stellar accuracy.

   The things he could work on:

•       "Bone-headed" interceptions, decision making
•       Inconsistency in his play - (4 TDs 300 yds one game, 1 TD 3 INTs the next)
•       Ability to improvise
•       Holding the ball too long
•       26-30-1 career record as a starter

An example of Cousins' poor decision making.

     Ceiling: 12-4 record, 68.5% comp rate, 4400 yds, 32 TDs, 10 INTs, 5 rush TD

     Floor: 9-7 record, 63.0% comp rate, 3700 yds, 23 TDs, 16 INTs, 1 rush TD

     Realistic: 11-5 record, 66.5% comp rate, 4100 yds, 25 TDs, 10 INTs, 3 rush TD

Other notable players signed by the Vikings:

• Sheldon Richardson, Defensive Tackle
• Kai Forbath, Kicker
• Trevor Siemian, Quarterback (acquired via trade)
• Tom Compton, Offensive Guard

Sheldon Richarson is a former pro bowler coming off a season in which he was traded from the Jets to the Seahawks, due to off-field concerns. He signed a 1-year, $11 million ($8 m guaranteed) contract on March 16. Richardson was drafted by the Jets in the 1st round of the 2013 draft, and promptly took home NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Not long after, he was selected to his first pro bowl in 2014, and was a force to be reckoned with the next few years. He was traded to the Seahawks before the 2017 season.

An example of what Vikings fans can expect from a motivated Sheldon Richardson (#91). 
Here, he bull-rushes the left guard while tracking the QB the entire time. 
As QB Alex Smith escapes the pocket, Richardson 
dis-engages from his blocker to seal the edge.

Richardson will be looking to cash in next year after signing a 1-year prove it deal with the Vikings. The gamble could certainly pay off, as his contract right now is mainly based off of his potential. His ideal position with the Vikings will be as a 3-technique defensive tackle.

Just picture it now: Danielle Hunter, Sheldon Richarson, Linval Joseph, and Everson Griffen all on the same defensive line. It really doesn't get much scarier than that. Follow that up with star linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, and a back-end that includes Harrison Smith (who I believe to be the best safety in football) and Xavier Rhodes (arguably the best corner in football), this could be one of the best defenses of the past 20 years. Yes, even better than last year's defense. The names mentioned don't include their outstanding depth either, which includes excellent role players such as Trae Waynes, Mackenzie Alexander, Andrew Sendejo, Ben Gedeon, and Brian Robison.

Next, that brings us to the all-important kicker, a position in which the Vikings have been relatively cursed for the past 20 years. Of course, Ryan Longwell was a good placeholder for a few years, but we all remember the Blair Walsh debacle in 2015, and years earlier with Gary Anderson's infamous 38-yard miss in the 1998 NFC Championship game (Anderson had gone 35 for 35 in the regular season).

It seems like the Vikings have finally found their kicker, though - at least for now. They re-signed Kai Forbath to a 1-year deal (compensation TBD), after going 32 for 38 on field goals in 2017, and a perfect 15 for 15 in 2016. After bouncing around the league since being drafted, it looks like Forbath has finally found a home.

Kai Forbath ponders his thoughts during a pre-game warm-up.

The Vikings also agreed to trade for former Broncos QB Trevor Siemian - presumably to compete for the backup QB spot this offseason. The Vikings sent a 2019 5th round pick, while receiving Siemian and a 2018 7th round pick (#225 overall) from the Broncos. Siemian isn't a bonafide starter, but he doesn't need to be - he serves as a great backup option who can come in for 2 or 3 games when called upon. Many people forget: you don't need your backup to win a game, you just need them to not lose it.

A 7th round draft choice in 2015, Siemian has a career record of 13-11 as a starter.

Finally, the Vikings signed guard Tom Compton on March 22 (terms undisclosed). Compton figures to be good depth to a much improved Vikings offensive line, just a year removed from being one of the worst positional groups on the team. Compton, drafted in 2012, has bounced around the league as a backup for much of his career. The signing may prove to be crucial, however, as longtime Vikings' guard Joe Berger retired just days ago after a 13 year career.

Final grades for each signing

Kirk Cousins: 9.9/10 (I can't give a perfect grade)

Sheldon Richardson: 8.5/10

Kai Forbath: 8/10

Trevor Siemian: 7/10

Tom Compton: 7/10

The Vikings have put together one of the most talented rosters of the past decade. From top to bottom, there's seemingly little to no weaknesses. Recognizing that their Super Bowl window is wide open, GM Rick Spielman scooped up Kirk Cousins the day before free agency even started. Anything short of a Super Bowl at this point should be considered a failure, in my eyes. Should the Packers have reason to be scared about the Vikings, going forward? You could make the argument, but as long as #12 is on the field, never count out the green and gold.

Packers Sign Much Needed Veteran Cornerback, Re-unite with Tramon Williams

Big news in Packer land today: they've signed a free agent cornerback. A move that many fans have been calling for, news broke on Twitter late Thursday afternoon that the Packers and CB Tramon Williams had agreed to a 2 year deal. Former Packers' wide receiver James Jones, who has been on the forefront of breaking Packers' news in the past week, tweeted this out:

REUNITED: Sources tell me CB Tramon Williams @HighRizer22 will be returning to the #Packers on a 2-Year Deal...He played there for 9 years and helped seal the #SBXLV victory...Much needed CB help is on the way @nflnetwork @NFL

— James Jones (@89JonesNTAF) March 22, 2018

As a Packer earlier in his career, Tramon was a 'corner'stone for nearly a decade, holding down one half of the field even when others were inconsistent. He left Green Bay after 2014 to sign with the Cleveland Browns, until he settled in with the Arizona Cardinals last season, where he had one of his best seasons to date.

Pro Football Focus, a football analytics website, ranked Williams as the 9th best cornerback in 2017, with a grade of 88.8 (scale of 0-100). He also allowed a league-best 1.0 passer rating when thrown at in man coverage. Let me repeat that: he allowed a 1.0 passer rating - throwing a pass at the ground would warrant a 39.6 passer rating. I don't know how those numbers are calculated, but that's pretty impressive. Tramon did just turn 35 last week, but his impact should still be felt in Mike Pettine's new defensive scheme, which will rely heavily on man coverage.

Tramon Williams allowed a 1.0 passer rating in man coverage! pic.twitter.com/1YJsxN6KO9

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) February 14, 2018

It was also announced that wide receiver Jordan Matthews had visited Green Bay on Thursday. Matthews, who was drafted by the Eagles in 2014, is a reliable receiver whose ideal role would be in the slot. With the loss of Jordy Nelson, Matthews would be a nice depth piece in the Packers' offense.

Former Bills’ and Eagles’ WR Jordan Matthews visited today with the Green Bay Packers, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 22, 2018

Packers' Early Free Agency Thoughts

The Green Bay Packers have signed a free agent. Stop there. Re-read that first sentence. To many Packers fans, free agency was something that didn't require much attention in the past. Former GM Ted Thompson, who served in the role from 2005-2017, was quick to avoid free agent acquisitions for many years. Of course, Thompson had his 'splash' signings with Charles Woodson and Julius Peppers, both of which were major contributors, but he was always known for his cornerstone draft-and-develop philosophy.

New GM Brian Gutekunst, who served as Director of Player Personnel the past two seasons, has certainly made a name for himself in his first few months at the helm. In a January press conference, Gutekunst stated the Packers would use 'every available avenue' to bolster the roster. He certainly wasn't kidding. Before free agency even started, it was reported by multiple media outlets that the Packers had interest in defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, as well as star tight end Jimmy Graham.
















After a lengthy visit with multiple coaches and player personnel on March 7, Wilkerson took his time deciding his fate. On March 13, the two parties agreed on a 1-year, $4.7 million deal, with $1.5 million guaranteed. Wilkerson also has the ability to earn another $2.75 million in incentives. The key part in the Wilkerson signing was his reunion with Mike Pettine, his former defensive coordinator at the New York Jets (and current Green Bay defensive coordinator). Pettine is thought to have had a large role in recruiting Wilkerson to the Packers.

Wilkerson’s first choice all along was to play for the #Packers. He took a one-year deal and will have a chance to prove he’s the player he was. #Packers should be getting a motivated player.

— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) March 14, 2018

So, why was Wilkerson released by the Jets in the first place? Reports surfaced during the 2017 season that he had been late to team meetings on multiple occasions, and was simply unmotivated to play the game of football. The Jets went as far as making him inactive for a couple games, and eventually released him this offseason. Wilkerson's poor attitude may be due in part to the Jets being a pretty crappy team in 2017, but some speculate that Wilkerson threw in the towel after being paid a hefty 5-year, $86 million deal with a whopping $53 million in guaranteed money during the 2016 offseason. Regardless of all this, Mo is certainly a talented player when he wants to be. With two double-digit sack seasons since being drafted in the 1st round in 2011, he could be a huge addition to a Packers defense in dire need of a consistent pass rush, especially at only ~$5 million.

    Wilkerson's upside: 10 sacks, 50 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles - Pro Bowl season
    Worst-case scenario: 3 sacks, 25-30 tackles, rotational depth player
    My grade on the signing: 9/10

On the same day, Jimmy Graham signed a 3-year, $30 million deal. The contract is somewhat incentive-based, as he only carries a $5.67 million cap hit for 2018 - which allows the Packers to cut ties after this season if they don't see what they like. Some people argue that Graham wasn't utilized correctly in Seattle's offense, and was responsible for too many blocking assignments, which isn't his strong-suit. Of course, Graham led all tight ends last season with 10 TDs, so could he really be that much better? At 6'7" 265 lbs, Graham will surely add a huge (pun-intended) redzone threat for Aaron Rodgers.

    Graham's upside: 12 TDs, 1000 yards, Pro Bowl season
    Worst-case scenario: 5 TDs, 400 yards, solid starter
    My grade on the signing: 8/10
   
So how did they have the cap space for these deals, you may ask?

Non-coincidentally, the Packers cut wide receiver Jordy Nelson just hours after the Jimmy Graham signing was announced. Nelson, who has been with the Packers since being drafted in 2008, was a mainstay in the offense ever since QB Aaron Rodgers took over. The two had seemingly been best friends ever since. Rodgers even took to social media later that day, proclaiming his praise for the former Packers star wideout.

Hard to find the right words today to express what 87 means to me. No teammate exemplified what it means to be a packer quite like him. From living in GB full time, his incredible contributions to the city, state, and region, to his consistent, reliable play on the field. Definitely a sad day and the toughest part of this business. There will never be another quite like white lightning. #leader #brother #friend #baller #loyal #champion #legacy #intact #stillcanplayball #backshoulder #1stSBTD

A post shared by Aaron Rodgers (@aaronrodgers12) on Mar 13, 2018 at 6:13pm PDT

Just days later, Nelson would sign a 2-year, $15 million ($13 million guaranteed) deal with the Oakland Raiders, and needless to say, it will be very strange not seeing #87 on the field in green and gold in 2018. His production will surely be missed, but the signing of Jimmy Graham functions essentially as a place-holder for at least this coming season. If there's any consolation in all this, the release of Jordy essentially paid for Wilkerson and Graham's contracts; their two contracts combined were almost equal to Jordy's contract after he was released.

The combination of Graham and Wilkerson costs the #Packers $10.41 million in cap dollars, almost exactly the same as the $10.25M they got from cutting Jordy Nelson.

— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) March 19, 2018

Finally, just hours ago, former Packers safety Morgan Burnett agreed to a 3-year, $14.5 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The #Steelers and former #Packers S Morgan Burnett, agreed to terms on 3-year deal worth close to $14.5M, source says. Finally a top safety off the board.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 20, 2018

Burnett had been a nice contributor for several years, and even called the plays on defense the past few seasons. The move almost assures that 2017 second-round pick Josh Jones will move to starting strong safety for the upcoming season.

Finally, if you watched any Packers games last year, you saw a key part on defense that was missing: cornerback. After a week of free agency, the Packers have yet to sign a free agent cornerback - and even traded one of their most consistent starters, Damarious Randall, to the Cleveland Browns. Gutekunst did put in an offer sheet for CB Kyle Fuller, but the Bears matched the offer just two hours later. The pickings are getting slim, but some decent corners still on the market include Tramon Williams (former Packer), EJ Gaines, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Ross Cockrell, Davon House (former Packer), Byron Maxwell, and Delvin Breaux. However, only time will tell where the Packers will go. Your move, Gutekunst.