Continuing the off-season review of the Green Bay Packers, we now look at the team’s draft needs. Rather than focusing on specific players that the Packers draft\u00a0needs to target, this is a review of the positional needs and the likely prioritizing of roster spots.\u00a0This is not meant to be a draft order because clearly, the available players might not line up well with the needs.\u00a0Regardless of the way the draft falls, here are the positions the Packers should address and the weight that should be applied to the positions.<\/p>\n
The Packers gave up 12.4 yards per reception.\u00a0No one gave up more yards through the air\u00a0than the Packers.\u00a0Part of this was\u00a0due to\u00a0injuries to Sam Shields<\/strong><\/a>, Damarious Randall<\/strong><\/a>, and Quinten Rollins<\/strong><\/a> which forced the Packers to play off the line more and play more zone. Morgan Burnett<\/strong><\/a> was forced into playing up in coverage as well.<\/p>\n The Packers’ safeties are fine.\u00a0Burnett is great in the run support and ranges well. Also, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix<\/strong><\/a> just had his first Pro Bowl season.\u00a0After going big and getting Randall and Rollins at the top of the 2014 draft, the Packers have been filling in with a lot of undrafted players. LaDarius Gunter<\/strong><\/a> did well, but behind him were Josh Hawkins<\/strong><\/a>, Makinton Dorleant<\/strong><\/a> and Herb Waters<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0The pass rush was harmed by the inability to maintain extended coverage.<\/p>\n There should be several players available around where the Packers are picking. The Packers have been looking for physical players with decent height. Both Rollins and Randall are 5’11” and Gunter is 6’2″. The Packers will want someone close to 6’0″, but should be looking to add some speed.\u00a0This should be the priority.<\/p>\n Blake Martinez<\/strong><\/a> and Jake Ryan<\/strong><\/a> are nice inside linebackers.\u00a0They are solid tacklers and have decent speed.\u00a0Both are NFL-caliber players, but neither is the guy you hope to have in the middle of your defense. In a defense built to have the inside linebackers attacking and moving laterally, an athletic player can make a world of difference.<\/p>\n The Packers were eighth in the league in rushing yards per game, but only five teams faced fewer rushing attempts.\u00a0The Packers gave up 4.0 yards per carry on the season. Also, Ryan and Martinez had difficulty covering tight ends down the field. Joe Thomas<\/strong><\/a> was the pass coverage linebacker, but he is a sub-package guy at best. All these players are young (Thomas and Ryan in their second seasons and Martinez was a rookie). Plenty of room to grow, but there has been little to suggest their have a higher ceiling ahead.<\/p>\n Yes, there are names here.\u00a0Nick Perry<\/strong><\/a> continued to grow and led the team in sacks this year, even playing through injury some.\u00a0Clay Matthews<\/strong><\/a> has been far more useful in drawing blocking schemes away from others than he has been as a playmaker.\u00a0Julius Peppers<\/strong><\/a> has finally reached the end it seems.\u00a0Behind this, the Packers have young hope in Jayron Elliott<\/strong><\/a> and Kyler Fackrell<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0Fackrell is pretty old for a rookie and did not show much this year.\u00a0Elliott has shown some flashes as a rush specialist.<\/p>\n If Peppers is actually retiring, the Packers will need a more solid rotational player to spell Matthews and Perry. Also, both Matthews and Perry have had injuries throughout their careers and seem to miss time. Packers did have a good pass rush this year, finishing sixth in sacks (40.0)<\/a> and 13th in hurries (104). There needs to be a re-tooling of this position.\u00a0Also, Perry is a free agent and there is no guarantee just yet that he comes back.\u00a0If he leaves, that would change the math around this subject.<\/p>\n Ty Montgomery<\/strong><\/a> was a very interesting story this year, as he\u00a0had a very good yards per carry, but he was often hurt and had only three games with 10 or more carries. However, he\u00a0is clearly staying at running back. Montgomery allows McCarthy to be more creative in designing match-up problems, but he is not the full time answer.\u00a0Eddie Lacy<\/strong><\/a> is the battering ram.\u00a0Lacy was looking very good in the beginning of the season, but then was lost for the season.\u00a0Lacy is a free agent and the situation is not set just yet.\u00a0Add to that the aging James Starks<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Running back careers are not as long as others. Lacy has some injuries now and he is four years into his career, having carried a heavy load in that time as well. There is no guarantee of longevity at the position.\u00a0The biggest issue is the Packers just do not know who they are at running back, and do not have a multi-tiered answer to the position.\u00a0They need options.<\/p>\n Sure, re-signing Jared Cook<\/strong><\/a> gives the Packers a very solid answer to the position. Getting this low on the priority list means there are some answers already on the roster. Richard Rodgers<\/strong><\/a> is a stable, though uninspiring player. Rodgers has very good hands, but he lacks the speed and athleticism to truly stretch the field.\u00a0An athletic tight end could really boost this offense and draw more safeties away from the deep throws Aaron Rodgers<\/strong><\/a> really wants to attempt.<\/p>\n Main Photo:<\/p>\n2. Inside Linebacker<\/h3>\n
3. Outside Linebacker<\/h3>\n
4. Running Back<\/h3>\n
5. Tight End<\/h3>\n