For the second year in a row, Last Word on Pro Football had the pleasure to speak with Daniel Parlegreco of DTP Draft Scout. Daniel’s most recent draft guide is now available on Amazon.com and just like last year, it is a must-have for football fans who love to follow the NFL Draft. Along with his guide, Daniel can be followed on Twitter at @DTPDraftScout where he enjoys interacting with fans about everything that is associated with the NFL draft. We spoke to Daniel about certain positions that appear to be needs going into the draft for the Green Bay Packers as well as certain draft prospects.
Talking the Green Bay Packers NFL Draft With Daniel Parlegreco of DTP Draft Scout
LWOPF:
Thanks for joining us for the second year in a row to discuss the NFL draft and specifically the Packers. The Packers fans are clamoring for Brian Gutekunst, the new top personnel executive for the Packers, to improve their defense that performed so poorly last season. A popular position in a lot of mock drafts for the Packers is pass rusher. How is the depth for this year’s draft for players who are capable of playing outside linebacker in a 3-4? Which prospect would be a good fit for the Packers when they draft 14th overall?
DP:
The depth is good from the second to the fourth rounds. The top end talent this year isn’t great. Marcus Davenport could do it, but he’s a better fit for a 4-3 defense due to his size and length. Four guys that might be really good value if they fall to the second round are Arden Key of LSU, Lorenzo Carter of Georgia, Harold Landry of Boston College and Dorance Armstrong of Kansas. I’m a huge fan of Carter. He is a guy that kind of did everything for the Bulldogs defense but didn’t get a lot of hype, despite being a five-star recruit out of high school. You’ll be hearing his name quite a few times as we get closer to the draft and I wouldn’t be surprised if he moves into the first round.
LWOPF:
Recently, Eric Langenecker from LWOS highlighted pass rushers, through the draft and in free agency that possibly could help out the Packers. In the draft, he listed three players that could bolster the Packers pass rush, Davenport, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, and Ja’Von Rolland-Jones. What do you think of these three prospects and where do you have them ranked?
DP:
They all absolutely could help. I think with all three you would be looking at upside players. To me, drafting Davenport in the first round is a very big gamble. I would prefer taking Okoronkwo or Rolland-Jones later in the draft and getting better value. Pass rushers as we all know rarely make an impact their rookie seasons no matter how high they get drafted. Davenport isn’t a top 20 player in this draft. He has the upside, but I’m not sold. He needs a lot of time to develop.
LWOPF:
Although he didn’t produce in his senior season like he did in his junior season, Landry seems like he has first-round pass rushing talent. Personally, I think he would be a solid fit for the Packers in the first round. Do you believe he is a first round talent? If so, is 14 too high? If not the first round, top second round?
DP:
Yes, Landry is absolutely a first-round talent and so is Key. Both players are polarizing prospects that have huge upsides but major inconsistencies. For both of them, I would target in either a trade down scenario or a trade up scenario in the second round. If they came out in the draft before last season, I could make the argument they would both be top ten picks based on the previous years’ tape.
LWOPF:
Cornerback once again is a need for the Packers. It would seem that they would be better off signing a veteran cornerback in free agency, but if they don’t, and once again spend a first-round pick, who would be available at 14 when they are on the clock?
DP:
I wholeheartedly think spending a first round pick on a corner this year, like a wide receiver, is a waste. There’s so much depth and I think teams are going to be split on who the best corners are in this class. There are going to be starters at corner drafted in the third and fourth rounds this year. My favorite corners in this class are Carlton Davis and Denzel Ward. Davis is a press-man get in your face physical corner. Ward is a fluid, agile mover that sticks to his receivers like glue. Both are outstanding players and you can’t go wrong with either.
LWOPF:
Even if they do sign a free agent cornerback, and don’t draft a cornerback in the first round, they still need depth at the position. What third round or later prospect would be a good get for the Packers? A popular name in Wisconsin, since he played for the Badgers is Nick Nelson, would he be one on that list and what do you think of him?
DP:
Nelson is a very, very good player. Outstanding nickel corner that excels in coverage. Might not be an outside guy at the next level though due to his size concerns. A few names that could be targeted later in the draft that could be excellent players and starters on day three of the draft are Holton Hill (who has some off-field concerns) of Texas, Levi Wallace of Alabama, Kameron Kelly of San Diego State, and Kevin Toliver of LSU. All are really, really good players.
LWOPF:
The Packers only have two tight ends under contract for this coming season right now (Lance Kendricks and Emanuel Byrd), so they are going to need to draft a tight end, even if they sign a free agent. It is doubtful that they would spend a first or second round pick on one, but possibly a third or fourth, which tight prospects will be available around there for the Packers and be a good fit?
DP:
Dallas Goedert of South Dakota State is such a good player, and I understand that teams are concerned about a few minor injury issues he’s sustained in the past. If he dropped, he would be an excellent pickup. Another guy I really like is Deandre Goolsby from Florida. He is a pure receiving tight end that isn’t going to do much for you in the blocking game, but he’s such an athletic mismatch that can create opportunities in the passing game.
LWOPF:
Thanks again for allowing us to sit down and talk to you again Daniel, we very much appreciate it. For our last question, as most people know, wide receiver Jordy Nelson struggled last season and fellow wide receiver Randall Cobb hasn’t lived up to the contract he signed back in 2015. The Packers need some young talent to go with Davante Adams. Who do you think would be a good fit for the Packers in this draft? What do you think of Colorado State wide receiver Michael Gallup, who we feel would be a good fit for the Packers offense?
DP:
Gallup would be a good fit in any offense. He’s a DO EVERYTHING kind of receiver that won’t impress physically but does everything a receiver should do. He always somehow finds that tiny crease of separation and is reliable in catching the ball. He’s certainly an Aaron Rodgers type of player. A few other guys for the Packers that I like are Anthony Miller from Memphis. He could fill the Cobb role. So quick and agile, and he catches everything! I’m also a huge fan of DaeSean Hamilton from Penn State. He’s a really good route-runner that can play on the outside or inside. A very underrated player that is going to be a really solid number two receiver at the next level.
