Morning Buzz: 15 days until the NFL draft
Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers and the NFL from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.
We’ll start with Pete Dougherty’s latest column, which looks at the possibility of Ted Thompson dropping down from the 29th pick in the draft to acquire more selections.
It’s not that Thompson needs more picks, though that’s rarely a bad strategy. There’s a significant element of luck in the draft, and the more bites at the apple, the better the chances of finding good players.
But the Packers have four immediate needs in my mind, and a trade down could improve their odds of getting immediate help at most or all of them: outside pass rusher, cornerback, running back and guard.
Now, this is in theory. If there’s a guy Thompson really likes available at No. 29, he has to take him. You can’t pass on a player about whom you feel strongly. Especially this year if he’s an edge rusher. That’s the kind of guy who, if you’re right, can make everyone on your defense better.
But if not, then a move down makes sense. Trades usually don’t work out according to the draft trade chart that used to be in vogue, but you have to think Thompson could find a way of either picking up an extra third, or moving up from the fourth to the third, as part of the exchange for falling back, say, six to 10 spots. That would give him two seconds and two thirds.
The Packers announced the release of cornerback Makinton Dorleant late Tuesday afternoon, with a Failed Physical designation. Let Tom Silverstein tell you what that means.
I spoke with Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller about the Packers' options with the 29th overall pick if they indeed decide to make a selection rather than trade back.
Rich Ryman reports on the partnership between the Packers and Green Bay’s Austin Straubel Airport:
I chatted with readers late Tuesday afternoon about a bunch of Packers topics over on our Facebook page.
A little over two weeks until the NFL draft begins:
Elsewhere, Zach Jacobson writes that a little competition may be a good thing when it comes to Ty Montgomery and the Packers' backfield:
Speaking of Montgomery, Rob Demovsky writes that Christian McCaffery could be Montgomery 2.0:
To quote Bleacher Report’s Thomas Duffy, new Packers defensive end Ricky Jean Francois isn’t a businessman. He’s a business, man.
Erin Underwood takes a look at what Martellus Bennett brings to Green Bay off the field:
The Power Sweep has an interesting observation when it comes to Ha Ha Clinton-Dix:
At least one Packers fan is asking Ted Thompson to remove Joe Mixon from his draft board:
The offseason is always a good time to go back and watch historical NFL footage. This is gold.