The Green Bay Packers are just two years removed from their fourth Super Bowl victory and are coming off of their second-straight NFC North Division title. Despite their recent success, the Packers need help at quite a few positions. Their spot near the end of of each round allows the Packers to draft the best player available that also fits a need. It's a tough situation and is a test of the front office's ability to evaluate talent deep into the draft; something Ted Thompson and company have excelled at in recent years.
In the end, this could all change very easily; but as of right now, this is how I see the Packers’ draft shaping up from start to finish.
*denotes an underclassman
1. (26th overall pick) Barrett Jones, Center, Alabama
Green Bay is in desperate need of a center, Evan Dietrich-Smith clearly isn’t the answer and with Jeff Saturday retiring; the Packers have no depth at the position. Jones is a big (6’4” 305 pounds) physical center that can dominate in both the passing and running games. Playing in a pro-style offense at Alabama, Jones did a great job blocking the SEC’s best defensive lineman and linebackers both at the line and downfield. Jones can step in and take over as the starting center from day one for almost any team in the NFL and would go a long way to help solidify the Packers’ offensive line.
2. (55th) Phillip Thomas, Free Safety, Fresno State
Morgan Burnett and M.D. Jennings are both good safeties, but both are much better suited to play strong safety with their big hit/over-the-top style of play. The Packers are in dire need of a talented safety that excels at man and zone coverage, as well as against the run, and Thomas is exactly that. The 6’1” senior possesses great awareness and hands and takes smart angles to close on the ball carrier quickly. Thomas would instantly solidify an already talented secondary.
3. (88th) Kwame Geathers*, Nose Tackle, Georgia
B.J. Raji is not a good nose tackle and is much better suited for a 4-3 scheme with an additional tackle along the defensive front. For the Packers to find true success in the 3-4, they need a big nose tackle in the middle that can occupy double teams, stop the run and collapse the pocket; and Geathers provides just that. At 6’5” 350 pounds, Geathers is a mountain of a man that will have no problem occupying double teams and plugging up the middle. He has great awareness for sniffing out the run early and can disrupt the pocket with his size.
4. (123rd) Jordan Mills, Offensive Tackle, Louisiana Tech
Green bay has talented right tackle Bryan Bulaga and starting left tackle Derek Sherrod, but not much else in terms of depth at the position. When Bulaga went down with a season-ending injury, it really crippled the offensive line and Sherrod doesn’t appear to be the answer for protecting Aaron Rodgers’ weakside. Mills, the 6’5” and 318 pound senior tackle from Louisiana Tech., played primarily right tackle in college and did a great job against the run and pass, but has publicly said on numerous occasions he can play on either side of the line. Mills would provide Green Bay with depth in the event of an injury and could compete with Sherrod this summer for the starting left tackle job.
4. (Comp. 133rd) Joe Kruger*, Defensive End, Utah
Jerel Worthy has shown promise when he’s healthy, but C.J. Wilson, Ryan Pickett and Mike Neal aren’t getting the job done. Kruger, the 6’7”, 280 pound junior from Utah, would be a great fit and infusion of talent for the Packers’ defensive line. In his junior year at Utah, Kruger had eight tackles for a loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and a pass broken up. He does a good job of containing blockers and drawing double-teams, which would allow Clay Matthews or Nick Perry to blitz freely around the outside. Kruger also does a great job of using his size to disrupt passing lanes, and could develop a J.J. Watt-like affinity for swatting down passes.
5. (161st) Mychal Rivera, Tight End, Tennessee
With the possibility that the Packers will be looking to move on from tight end Jermichael Finley in the near future, they need to replace his output and playmaking ability. The 6’3” Rivera is a slightly smaller version of Finley; he possess receiver-like speed, great route running abilities and above-average hands. If the Packers do indeed part ways with Finley, Rivera would be the perfect replacement, and will make an impact from day one.
6. (194th) Keenan Davis, Wide Receiver, Iowa
As it currently stands, the Packers look to start next season without Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and Finley. They still have a ton of talent at the wide receiver position, but Green Bay still obviously needs to add depth in the event of injury. Davis had a great senior season at Iowa, hauling in 50 catches for 713 yards and four touchdowns. At 6’2” and 215 pounds, Davis isn’t the fastest receiver ever; but with above-average route running skills and hands, he’ll make a great possession and red-zone threat for Rodgers.
7. (232nd) Dustin Hopkins, Kicker, Florida State
Mason Crosby serious regressed in 2012, missing 12 field goals after only missing ten in the last two seasons-combined. Hopkins is another big, strong-legged kicker and went 47-57 in the last two years. Hopkins might not make the team, but he will push Mason Crosby to fix his issues and return to form during training camp and into the preseason. If Crosby continues to struggle, Hopkins could make the team as Green Bay trades or cuts Crosby.