Mock draft roundup: Post-combine edition
With the NFL scouting combine having come and gone, NFL draft talk is starting to kick into overdrive.
Of course, you can’t talk draft and not look at the many mock drafts floating around the web. As we did a few weeks ago, we thought we’d round up a bunch from across the web and take a look at whom the draft experts are eyeing for the Green Bay Packers now that they’ve had a chance to watch them perform in Indianapolis.
We start with USA Today’s latest mock from Nate Davis, which has the Packers addressing the cornerback position with the 29th pick:
29. Green Bay Packers — Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU: One reason QB Aaron Rodgers had to be so good down the stretch last year was because he had to compensate for a secondary that was scalded pretty much on a weekly basis, with most of the blame lying with the corners.
Emily Kaplan’s latest mock for the MMQB has the Packers looking on the other side of the ball:
No. 29 Green Pay Packers: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
In Indianapolis, I was told by a few people that there were two teams that made perfect sense for McCaffrey: the Packers and the Patriots. Well, Green Bay picks earlier, so Aaron Rodgers gets to work with the dynamic Stanford talent. While Ty Montgomery was a nice stopgap for the Green Bay running game, it’s hard to imagine a guy who wore a No. 88 jersey becoming the long-term answer out of the backfield. McCaffrey, however, is, and if there’s any offense that can squeeze the most out of his versatility, it’s this one.
Charley Casserly of NFL.com has the Packers taking J.J. Watt’s little brother:
No. 29 Green Bay Packers: T.J. Watt - OLB, Wisconsin
Peppers is getting older and thePackers will probably look for a young pass rusher. Watt will be fastest riser this spring.
Matt Miller of Bleacher Report has done a seven-round (yes, seven) mock draft.
No. 29 Green Bay Packers: Forrest Lamp - OG, Western Kentucky
Want an instant starter at guard? Forrest Lamp is your guy. The only concern is if he'll be on the board long enough to select in the late first round. Lamp, who played left tackle at Western Kentucky, is an ideal right guard in the NFL. Much like Zack Martin before him, Lamp's lack of length will make some teams move him inside. And like Martin and more recently Brandon Scherff, he'll play like an All-Pro early on. Of all the games I've seen this year, Lamp handling the Alabama defense is one of the most impressive individual performances. If Ted Thompson watches that game and sees Lamp on the board at No. 29, he has to be the pick.
Pro Football Focus has the Packers focusing on the linebacker position:
No. 29 Green Bay Packers: Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt
Green Bay adds an athletic linebacker to the defense, as Cunningham has the range to make plays in zone coverage while attacking blockers in the run game as well as any linebacker in the draft class. He has to cut back on the missed tackles, as he’s missed 34 over the last two seasons, but he also led all Power-5 linebackers with 56 solo runs stops in 2016. Cunningham adds much-needed athleticism to the middle of the Green Bay defense.