The Green Bay Packers added eight players over the weekend and it is an interesting bunch. They were able to address their needs on defense, special teams and even backup quarterback. To me this class has boom or bust potential with no real standout player like the Packers have had in the previous two years with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Eddie Lacy.
Since I’m not qualified to really grade these picks, I’ll just give you my take based off what I have read about them since Saturday. First off is Damarious Randall. Going back and looking at all the pre-draft rankings I found him projected to go anywhere from Number 20 to Philadelphia to not being selected until the fifth round. He looks like a Tramon Williams clone if you ask me. I can’t see him making a Clinton-Dix type impact this year because he needs to get bigger in the weight room and learn how to play outside corner (yes, I called it “outside” corner, not perimeter corner, or boundary corner).
I actually think Quentin Rollins may have a better chance to pay this year than Randall even though he only played one year of college football. Rollins is probably headed to safety because of his speed not being the best and could very well replace Morgan Burnett at some point. His extreme competitiveness got him selected in the second round. Will it be enough to carve out a career in the NFL?
Ty Montgomery could have the biggest impact of any of the picks this year because of his return ability, arguably the best in college football last year. The Packers had the worst kickoff return unit in the league last so it won’t be hard to improve it Just think how nice it would be to give Aaron Rodgers an extra ten or 20 yards each drive.
Jake Ryan, the inside linebacker from Michigan will be given every opportunity to start, but head coach Mike McCarthy make it very clear the Clay Matthews will still be alternating between the inside and outside position, so Ryan’s snaps may be determined by how well he plays in coverage.
Brett Hundley was an interesting pick that says more about Scott Tolzien than anything else. Tolzien has been given every opportunity to backup Rodgers but just has not gotten any better even with a full offseason in McCarthy’s quarterback school. I fully expect Hundley to beat out Tolzien for the number two job which could mean Tolzien’s days in Green Bay are numbered.
The last three guys, fullback Aaron Ripkowski, NT Christian Ringo and TE Kennard Backman are likely practice squad players. They are certainly developmental players but if I were to pick one to make the final roster my guess would be Ripkowski.
The Packers have the luxury of not having major holes to fill so they can afford to take on a few projects. If this draft is a big success general manager Ted Thompson may be the next Packers’ general manager to be heading to the hall of fame.