Mayock likes Campbell, Graham for Packers at No. 23
In a wide-ranging conference call with reporters today, I asked NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock for possibilities at two positions of need for the Packers with the No. 23 overall pick.
Obviously, this is just one attuned insider's subjective opinion, but Mayock generally is respected for his evaluations and information, so here are his answers:
Offensive tackle
* The first player is Bruce Campbell, the 6-foot-6, 312-pound offensive tackle from Maryland.
Mayock expects four offensive tackles to come off the board in the draft's first nine picks. After that, there are three tackles -- Campbell, Southern California's Charles Brown and Massachusetts' Vladimir Ducasse -- Mayock thinks are first- or second-round picks before there's "a drop-off."
"I think the logical guy for Green Bay that would probably be there is the Campbell kid from Maryland," Mayock said. "He's a junior that I thought should have stayed in school. I thought he really would have helped himself and been a potential high-level pick.
"The thing about him is he's a very good pass protector, and obviously, with the age in that (Packers) offensive line and a tremendous young quarterback, you've got to protect him. So, (Campbell)'s a guy that makes an awful lot of sense right there.
"He's not a great ... run blocker. He's not a drive blocker. He's not an aggressive kid. He's much better kick-sliding and protecting the quarterback, and actually, that's what Green Bay needs."
Mayock said he has Ducasse rated as a second-round pick and thinks he can play at right tackle. However, he said teams have him anywhere from the first to fourth rounds, depending on whether they think he's close to playing.
Outside linebacker
* The second player is Brandon Graham, a 6-foot-1, 263-pound outside linebacker from Michigan.
Though Graham is shorter than most players at the position and has very short arms (30 1/2 inches), Mayock likens him to Pittsburgh's LaMarr Woodley and said Graham has one of the best motors in the draft.
"He'll fit some teams and not others," Mayock said. "Brandon Graham could be at 23, and he's got a great motor, an ability to rush the quarterback, and he's very stout against the run.
"Teams are going to ding him a little bit again for his size and his arm length. But he passes all the smell test on tape. He played really well against (likely first-round pick) Bryan Bulaga from Iowa. He had a tremendous Senior Bowl week. So, for me, just as a player, he passes the smell test, and he might be sitting there at 23 for Green Bay."
Mayock estimated there are 15 to 18 college defensive ends who will play outside linebacker in the NFL and are worth taking in the first three rounds.
Quick hits
Some other notable opinions Mayock offered:
* This is probably the deepest draft he's seen at cornerback, safety and defensive tackle. Teams can get a quality player at those spots into the third and fourth rounds.
* On the other hand, it's a bad year for quarterbacks and interior offensive linemen. There is tremendous depth at other skill spots.
* The top five players on Mayock's board are:
1. Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
2. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
3. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
4. Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
5. Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
* Mayock said McCoy and Suh both are best suited to play the three-technique in a 4-3 defense. He rates McCoy ahead of Suh because McCoy is more disruptive in the pass game, but he regards both as Pro Bowl-potential defensive tackles.
* Mayock's top five cornerbacks are: Florida's Joe Haden, Boise State's Kyle Wilson, Rutgers' Devin McCourtey, Florida State's Patick Robinson and Southern Florida's Jerome Murphy. He has Oklahoma State's Perrish Cox rated as a second-round pick.
* Texas' Earl Thomas, not Tennessee's Eric Berry, is the top safety on Mayock's board, although Mayock acknowledged Berry probably will be selected first.
* One other safety note: on Florida State's Myron Rolle, the rap is tightness in the hips, athletic ability and speed speed. If Rolle runs a 4.5-range 40 at the combine and shows well in defensive-back drills, Mayock said, he could improve his stock to the third round.
-- Tom Pelissero, tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com
http://twitter.com/tompelissero
Obviously, this is just one attuned insider's subjective opinion, but Mayock generally is respected for his evaluations and information, so here are his answers:
Offensive tackle
* The first player is Bruce Campbell, the 6-foot-6, 312-pound offensive tackle from Maryland.
Mayock expects four offensive tackles to come off the board in the draft's first nine picks. After that, there are three tackles -- Campbell, Southern California's Charles Brown and Massachusetts' Vladimir Ducasse -- Mayock thinks are first- or second-round picks before there's "a drop-off."
"I think the logical guy for Green Bay that would probably be there is the Campbell kid from Maryland," Mayock said. "He's a junior that I thought should have stayed in school. I thought he really would have helped himself and been a potential high-level pick.
"The thing about him is he's a very good pass protector, and obviously, with the age in that (Packers) offensive line and a tremendous young quarterback, you've got to protect him. So, (Campbell)'s a guy that makes an awful lot of sense right there.
"He's not a great ... run blocker. He's not a drive blocker. He's not an aggressive kid. He's much better kick-sliding and protecting the quarterback, and actually, that's what Green Bay needs."
Mayock said he has Ducasse rated as a second-round pick and thinks he can play at right tackle. However, he said teams have him anywhere from the first to fourth rounds, depending on whether they think he's close to playing.
Outside linebacker
* The second player is Brandon Graham, a 6-foot-1, 263-pound outside linebacker from Michigan.
Though Graham is shorter than most players at the position and has very short arms (30 1/2 inches), Mayock likens him to Pittsburgh's LaMarr Woodley and said Graham has one of the best motors in the draft.
"He'll fit some teams and not others," Mayock said. "Brandon Graham could be at 23, and he's got a great motor, an ability to rush the quarterback, and he's very stout against the run.
"Teams are going to ding him a little bit again for his size and his arm length. But he passes all the smell test on tape. He played really well against (likely first-round pick) Bryan Bulaga from Iowa. He had a tremendous Senior Bowl week. So, for me, just as a player, he passes the smell test, and he might be sitting there at 23 for Green Bay."
Mayock estimated there are 15 to 18 college defensive ends who will play outside linebacker in the NFL and are worth taking in the first three rounds.
Quick hits
Some other notable opinions Mayock offered:
* This is probably the deepest draft he's seen at cornerback, safety and defensive tackle. Teams can get a quality player at those spots into the third and fourth rounds.
* On the other hand, it's a bad year for quarterbacks and interior offensive linemen. There is tremendous depth at other skill spots.
* The top five players on Mayock's board are:
1. Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
2. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
3. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
4. Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
5. Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
* Mayock said McCoy and Suh both are best suited to play the three-technique in a 4-3 defense. He rates McCoy ahead of Suh because McCoy is more disruptive in the pass game, but he regards both as Pro Bowl-potential defensive tackles.
* Mayock's top five cornerbacks are: Florida's Joe Haden, Boise State's Kyle Wilson, Rutgers' Devin McCourtey, Florida State's Patick Robinson and Southern Florida's Jerome Murphy. He has Oklahoma State's Perrish Cox rated as a second-round pick.
* Texas' Earl Thomas, not Tennessee's Eric Berry, is the top safety on Mayock's board, although Mayock acknowledged Berry probably will be selected first.
* One other safety note: on Florida State's Myron Rolle, the rap is tightness in the hips, athletic ability and speed speed. If Rolle runs a 4.5-range 40 at the combine and shows well in defensive-back drills, Mayock said, he could improve his stock to the third round.
-- Tom Pelissero, tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com
http://twitter.com/tompelissero
posted by PackersNews.com at
12:00 PM
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