The 2016 NFL Scouting Combine is over. Which means it’s time for my second mock draft for the Green Bay Packers. For those of you who are interested, here is my initial mock draft.
As I do with all of my draft stories and my mock drafts in general, I’m going to be relying on the information and insight I have gotten from NFL scout Chris Landry.
The input I have received from Landry has been very helpful in giving me a pretty good track record over the years in terms of correctly identifying players who Ted Thompson and the Packers will select in the draft.
For instance, last year I was correct in my projection that both both cornerback Quinten Rollins and linebacker Jake Ryan would be selected by the Packers in my final mock draft last year.
The Packers currently have picks in all seven rounds of the 2016 NFL draft, plus are expected to receive two compensatory picks for the losses of Tramon Williams and Davon House in free agency.
As I did in my first mock draft, I am projecting that the compensatory picks will garner the Packers an extra selection in the fourth round and also in the fifth round.
Okay, it’s time for my post-combine 2016 NFL mock draft for the Pack.
Round 1: Linebacker Reggie Ragland (Alabama)
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 247 pounds
The Packers will have a number of options in Round 1 of the 2016 NFL draft, but if linebacker Reggie Ragland of Alabama is still on the board at pick No. 27, the Packers should not hesitate to select him. Chris Landry sees him as the best inside linebacker in the draft.
“Well, I think Reggie Ragland is a better version of C.J. Mosley,” Landry told me last week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “He’s got great range. I do think he’s a three-down linebacker. I think he can do a lot in blitz looks as well. He’s going to be an outstanding player.
“And with the linebackers coming up, I’ll give a sneak preview, he’s going to be first round-graded guy (6.5). I think he’ll be in the mid-first round area. I know what you want to know, and I can’t really say if he will or will not be available, as I think it’s going to be close, but I think he would be a great pick if he was there for the Packers.”
In the past two seasons with the Crimson Tide, Ragland had 197 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, 10 pass breakups, one interception, four sacks and three forced fumbles.
Ragland is a downhill, physical linebacker at the point of attack on the inside on running downs, plus can blitz well, both from the inside and outside on passing downs. He also had a good week at the Senior Bowl, as he also showed nice coverage skills.
At the combine, Ragland ran a 4.72 in the 40-yard dash.
Plus, adding to all that, Ragland thinks he will become a member of the Packers, per this story by Chase Goodbread of 24/7 Sports.
“I did meet with them, and they talked to me about that they needed a linebacker on the inside,” said Ragland. “And if they had the opportunity, I think they would. But I’m not sure. It all depends when draft day comes.”
Round 2: Offensive Tackle Willie Beavers (Western Michigan)
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 324 pounds
When it comes to the top rated offensive tackles in the 2016 NFL draft, Chris Landry believes that four of them are sure-fire first round selections. Those players are Laremy Tunsil of Ole Miss, Ronnie Stanley of Notre Dame, Taylor Decker of Ohio State and Jack Conklin of Michigan State.
There is a good chance that all of them will be selected before the Packers get a chance to select with pick No. 27. But in the second round, the Packers still should be able to get a nice option at the offensive tackle position.
Landry has early second round grades on Jason Spriggs of Indiana and Shon Coleman of Auburn. He has also has mid-to-late second round grades on Willie Beavers of Western Michigan, Le’Raven Clark of Texas Tech and Germain Ifedi of Texas A&M. Looking at those three, Beavers looks to be the best option for the Pack in my opinion.
For one thing, besides having nice size, Beavers has the foot quickness which is needed to play left tackle. Beavers started 40 straight games for Western Michigan at left tackle and he showed that he can be very effective as a zone scheme blocker.
Beavers is also very tenacious and goes all out with both his pass blocking and run blocking. He also has the ability and skill to play other positions on the offensive line.
Beavers held up well playing against the likes of Ohio State and Michigan State in 2015, plus was solid at the Senior Bowl.
Round 3: Tight End Jerell Adams (South Carolina)
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 247 pounds
Even if the Packers can’t snag either Hunter Henry of Arkansas or Austin Hooper of Stanford in the first couple of rounds in the upcoming draft, Green Bay should still have a couple of nice options at the tight end position in the third round.
Chris Landry has Henry (6.5) and Hooper (6.0) rated as his top two tight ends in the draft. He sees Hunter going mid-to-late in the first round and Hooper going mid-to-late in the second round.
Landry has two tight ends with a third round value (5.9). They are Jerell Adams of South Carolina and Nick Vannett of Ohio State.
Vannett is the better blocker of the two, while Adams has more ability to split the seam down the middle of the field. Adams sort of reminds me of Jermichael Finley, which is why the Packers might have some real interest in him.
At the combine, Adams ran a 4.64 in the 40, which is pretty good, considering his size. Adams is a long-strider, but he has the speed and quickness to make big plays in the middle of the field.
Adams also has the ability to break tackles, as he averaged 6.9 after the catch in 2015. In his career as a Gamecock, Adams had 66 receptions for 917 yards (16.3 average) and seven touchdowns.
Adams also works hard as a blocker.
Round 4: Defensive Tackle Hassan Ridgeway (Texas)
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 303 pounds
A number of mock drafts have the Packers taking a defensive tackle in the first round. I could see that happening if the board fell right at pick No. 27, but I think the team has bigger needs depending on who might be available at that point of the first round.
Now I certainly see the Packers taking a defensive tackle in the draft. Green Bay has been busy making sure that they have kept some of their own defensive linemen, as they signed Mike Daniels to a four-year, $41 million deal in mid-December and then last month signed Letroy Guion to a three year deal worth $11.25 million.
The Packers also need to make a decision about B.J. Raji, who will be an unrestricted free agent when free agency starts a week from today. With the signings of Daniels and Guion, plus the nice development of Mike Pennel, not to mention the upside of Christian Ringo, who is currently on the practice squad, Raji has been put in a tough situation.
Pennel has been suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season due to a violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy. Even with that, Raji is still in a difficult spot whether the Packers will re-sign him. Especially looking at the grades that Chris Landry put out for current defensive tackles in the NFL based on the 2015 season, Raji (5.4) was rated lower than both Guion (6.0) and Pennel (6.4).
Which takes me to a player who I believe would be a nice fit for the Packers in the 2016 NFL draft. That player is defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway of Texas. Landry gave Ridgeway (5.5) a fourth round value.
In his career as a Longhorn, Ridgeway had 96 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks. Ridgeway is quick, strong and powerful and can take on double teams.
Ridgeway has flashed some real talent at times and some compare his ability to Kawaan Short of the Carolina Panthers. But for Ridgeway to become the same type of player Short has become, he has to work on his conditioning and become more consistent.
Round 4 (compensatory): Offensive Tackle Joe Haeg (North Dakota State)
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 304 pounds
Even though the Packers drafted an offensive tackle earlier in this mock draft, it would be wise to add even more depth at the position. All one has to do is remember the late-season game against the Arizona Cardinals, when quarterback Aaron Rodgers was hit 12 times, sacked eight times and fumbled three times (two of which were returned for touchdowns). The backup to Rodgers, Scott Tolzien, was also sacked.
The main reason for all the mayhem that day was the shoddy play by the backup offensive tackles. Add to that, right tackle Bryan Bulaga, who is very solid when he’s available, has now missed 38 games due to injury in his six-year career.
Plus, left tackle David Bakhtiari played on a bad knee almost all of the 2015 season, plus had an ankle injury late in the year.
One offensive tackle who the Packers might be able to scoop up in the fourth round is Joe Haeg of North Dakota State. Chris Landry has Haeg (5.5) rated with a fourth round value.
Like Beavers, Haeg is very athletic and moves his feet well. Haeg can play both tackle positions, as he played 29 games at right tackle and 32 at left tackle. He fits in well in the zone blocking scheme.
Even though Haeg went to a non-FBS school, he was named as an All-American both in his junior and senior years, plus was named the Top Collegiate Offensive Lineman award from the FCS Athletic Directors Association in 2015.
Haeg has the frame to add more bulk, plus he will need some time in the weight room to add more strength as he grows into the pro game.
Round 5: Running Back Daniel Lasco (Cal)
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 209 pounds
If he is deemed healthy, Daniel Lasco of Cal could be a perfect fit for the Packers at running back in the upcoming draft. To me, Lasco is sort of a poor man’s Matt Forte.
Speaking of Forte, I would not be surprised to see the Packers go after him in free agency, as I wrote in a recent article.
Chris Landry has Lasco (5.5) rated with a fourth round value. The main reason why Lasco may last until the fifth round or later is his injury history. When healthy, Lasco is an outstanding running back, both in toting the rock and also catching the ball.
Lasco ran a 40 time of 4.46 at the combine, plus led everyone with a 41.5 inch vertical jump. He is a classic zone scheme runner. who plants a foot in the ground and heads up field quickly. His best year at Cal was his junior year, when he rushed for 1,115 yards and 12 touchdowns, plus he had 33 receptions for 356 more yards and two more scores.
Lasco had ankle and hip issues as a senior, which hampered his production. Still, Lasco has shown that he can be very effective when healthy, plus can really help in the passing game.
In addition to that, Lasco would be an asset to special teams, as he led Cal in tackles on that unit as a true freshman.
Round 5 (compensatory): Quarterback Kevin Hogan (Stanford)
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 218 pounds
It’s expected that backup quarterback Scott Tolzien will be leaving the Packers this offseason, as he will be an unrestricted free agent when free agency starts next week.
Tolzien should be able to get an opportunity as a starter with another NFL team in 2016, as the quarterback play was absolutely brutal at times for a number of teams last season.
Third string quarterback Brett Hundley was brilliant in his chance to shine in the 2015 preseason for the Packers. All told, Hundley posted a passer rating of 129.7 based on 45 completions on 65 attempts for 630 yards and seven touchdowns with just one interception last summer.
If Tolzien leaves, Hundley will become the main backup to Aaron Rodgers. That means the Packers will be looking to develop another young quarterback on their roster.
The quarterback who the Packers might just draft could be Kevin Hogan of Stanford. Could you imagine the quarterback room for the Packers if that happened. Green Bay would have three Pac-12 quarterbacks on their roster, as Rodgers went to Cal, while Hundley went to UCLA.
Besides being a Pac-12 quarterback, Hogan shares many of the same traits that both Rodgers and Hundley have. Hogan has a strong arm, plus has excellent mobility.
In four seasons with the Cardinal, Hogan threw 75 touchdown passes versus just 29 picks for 10,091 yards. Hogan also rushed for 1,249 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Chris Landry has Hogan (5.4) rated with a fifth to sixth round value.
Round 6: Outside Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (Minnesota)
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 232 pounds
One of the players who stood out at the combine was linebacker De’Vondre Campbell of Minnesota, as he ran a 4.58 40-yard dash.
That speed, along with Campbell’s size, look to be a great combination to become an effective rush linebacker in the 3-4 defensive scheme.
Up to this point, Campbell has just scratched the surface with his ability. In three seasons as a Golden Gopher, Campbell had 208 tackles, 22 tackles for a loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Campbell was at the East-West Shrine Game and his speed around the edge stood out while rushing the passer during practices. Chris Landry has Campbell (5.4) rated with a fifth to sixth round value.
Campbell is a high character guy who can add his athleticism to the special teams units, while he learns the nuances about being a successful 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL.
Round 7: Safety Deon Bush (Miami of FL)
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 199 pounds
There is something about defensive backs who have played for the Miami Hurricanes that Ted Thompson likes. Just ask Sam Shields and LaDarius Gunter. Both were undrafted rookies who still made the roster of the Packers in their first season in the NFL.
There is another Miami player who may make the roster of the Packers in a similar fashion. That player is Deon Bush, although he plays safety, while Shields and Gunter are cornerbacks.
Chris Landry has Bush (5.0) rated with a seventh round to priority free agent value. Bush has good size and ran a 4.64 40 at the combine. Bush also is a very intimidating hitter.
Bush had an up and down senior season at Miami, but he had a very good week at the East-West Shrine Game practices. He looked very good in covering the tight ends, plus was the most consistent safety at the practices in various drills.
In four years as a Hurricane, Bush had 168 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, five sacks, nine forced fumbles, 13 passes broken up and 4 interceptions.
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Bob: Congratulations, your Post-Combine mock is excellent. I really like the fact that you recognize the need to add some depth to the O-line. Selecting Willie Beavers late in the 2nd round is realistic, given that he receives a mid to late 2rd round grade from Chris Landry. Similarly,Hassan Ridgeway, your 4th round pick, has a 4th round grade. If Ted T. really likes him, should he use the 3rd round to select him? Probably not, because there are several other very good DTs that should be available as 4th round alternatives (Nebraska’s Vincent Valentine and Michigan’s Willie Henry come to mind).
More problematic for your mock, though, is your 1st round selection of ILB Reggie Ragland. Landry considers him a mid-1st round pick. What does the Pack do in the highly likely event that Ragland isn’t available as the 27th overall pick in the draft? There isn’t another ILB worthy of being selected in the 1st round. Take a DT, perhaps? A TE? If your assumption of selecting Ragland in the 1st round doesn’t occur, it reorders much of the remainder of you Post-Combine mock. My suggestion would be to take the best LOT available (possibly Jack Conklin or Taylor Decker; but more likely, Jason Spriggs, who had a great Combine by-the-way) and then use the 2nd round for D-line help. One of many very good DTs/DEs is likely to be there when the Pack makes the 57th overall selection (among those possibilities are: Kenny Clark, Adolphus Washington, Vernon Butler, Chris Jones, Austin Johnson, Jonathan Bullard, Maliek Collins, Andrew Billings, Sheldon Rankins, etc.). For purposes of my own proposed mock below, I took Austin Johnson but it could have been any of those listed. It depends upon how the draft falls
In your previous mock, you had the very good idea of selecting a developmental QB, Jeff Driskel, in the 7th round. Your suggestion of selecting Kevin Hogan in the 5th round is even better. I don’t think that he’ll last that long in the draft, though. Perhaps we’ll get 2 4th round compensatory picks, instead of one 4th and one 5th , then we could use a 4th round pick for Hogan. Even then, he may be gone. I can easily see Mike McCarthy developing both Hogan and Brett Hundley into QBs other teams would desire and pay dearly for (1st or 2nd round choices, perhaps?).
When I responded to your previous mock, I recommended OLB/DE Stephen Weatherly of Vanderbilt. My understanding is that he had a very good Combine, compiling a SPARQ score in the 67th percentile for all of the edge rushers. I think he’s worth a 4th round pick. Lastly, while I like your selection of Daniel Lasco, I think his injury history may cause him to go undrafted. He’d be a bargain if Ted T. could get him as an UDFA. If we are going to draft a RB, my recommendation would be W. Virginia’s Wendell Smallwood, who also is a good pass receiver out of the backfield and a good at pass protection. In my own Pre-Combine mock, I had the Pack selecting Auburn WR Ricardo Louis in the 6th round. As a result of his spectacular Combine, though, he’s shot up the draft boards and now is probably a 4th or even a 3rd round pick. Lastly, I, too, have the Pack selecting two O-linemen. While I do like your 4th round-comp pick of Joe Haeg, my second linemen is the a 5th round selection of ROT/OG Dominick Jackson. Two words describe his play, “tough” and “nasty.” He has to be, having practiced against Alabama’s defense for years. Here’s my Post-Combine mock. Let me know what you think:
1) Jason Spriggs, LOT, Indiana; 2) Austin Johnson, DT, Penn. St.; 3) Nick Vannett, TE, Oh. St.; 4) Stephen Weatherly, OLB, Vanderbilt; 4-comp) Blake Martinez, ILB, Stanford; 5) Dominick Jackson, ROT/OG, Alabama; 5-comp) Wendell Smallwood, RB, W. Va.; 6) Ken Crawley, CB, Colorado; and, 7) Jeff Driskel, QB, La. Tech
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Offensive line that early is a complete overreaction to 2015. If you draft a lineman in the 1st, it has to be with plans for him to start by year 2. Right now you have a 25 year old top 10 pass blocking LT and a 27 year old top 3-5 RT, so you’re definitely not drafting him because your starters are getting old. So are you taking him to replace Bak in 2017?? Or are you planning to re-sign Bak and cut Bulaga because of his injuries?? But what happens of Bulaga has a fully healthy 2016 as the best RT in football?? So now you’re forced to move on from Bak so you didn’t draft a 4 year backup with a 1st round pick. You just can’t draft a lineman that high unless you make the decision to say good bye to either of your starters next year today. Also, not to mention your top backup has shown an ability to start. No way Tretter stays next year without a shot to start, cause he’s a starter on almost any other team in football. Packers are sitting with 3 starting caliber Tackles right now, why do we need a 1st round pick at that position?? Drafting that position that high forces decisions to be made on Bak, Bulaga and Tretter now that absolutely cannot be made until after the season plays out. I’m sure Thompson has intention to keep 2 of em. Why would he want to rebuild Rodgers protection when it’s great when 100%?? If Bak prices out, Tretter could be a more cost effective option to start. If Bulaga can’t get over his injuries, you can re-sign Bak, cut Bulaga and probably keep Tretter for a lower cost. Packers have no need to draft a Tackle before the 3rd round, cause all we need is depth. I like pick 2 and both 4’s though, and Vannett is a good option if we don’t address TE in free agency, which hopefully we do.
Here’s my 7 round mock with Ladarius Green signing, Perry, Neal and Starks re-signed.
Trade picks 27 and 88 for pick 17-20
1- LB Darron Lee or LB Reggie Ragland
2- DT Austin Johnson
4- OT Joe Haeg
4- OLB Stephen Weatherly
4- LB Blake Martinez
5- TE Beau Sandland
6- FS Deon Bush
7- P Drew Kaser
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Sorry, but I disagree with your arguments concerning the O-line. Injuries to starters and lack of depth last season was quite evident, culminating with A-Rod having to have off-season surgery. So, drafting two linemen who next season can better fill-in as subs than Don Barclay and Lane Taylor (both of whom are now FAs) did last year will safeguard A-Rod’s long-term health and well-being. Second, your argument does not take into account the longer-run. 4 good linemen (Bakhtiari, Tretter, Lang and Sitton) become FAs after the coming season. Not all will be resigned. I anticipate that at least one of the two starting guards will go elsewhere, as well as Tretter, whose versatility may command a salary higher than what Ted T. may want to pay.. Assuming that is the case and further assuming Bakhtiari is resigned, I anticipate moving Bakhtiari inside to guard. Let’s face it, as adequate as he is, when healthy, he will never be an NFL All-PRO at LOT. Use the 1st round of this year’s draft to pick a player who will get experience this season and become the starting LOT in 2017.
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Thanks for your comments, evodriver06. I agree with just about everything Barton Smith said in his reply to your take on the offensive line situation, so I won’t belabor the point. I think Ladarius Green would be a nice option at TE in free agency. Another name to think about is former Badger Garrett Graham.
As I recently wrote, I believe Matt Forte could be on the radar of the Packers. We shall see. If he does sign with the Pack, James Starks would be the odd man out. But don’t get me wrong, I like Starks. In terms of Nick Perry and Mike Neal, I see the Packers bringing one of them back, not both. Chris Landry has given Perry the better grade of the two, plus he’s younger. So No. 53 is the player I think the Packers will re-sign. But you never know.
In terms of your mock, I like the trade up move and your draft overall.
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Always good to hear from you, Barton. I’m glad you liked my second mock draft overall. In terms of taking the best OT if Reggie Ragland is off the board, I certainly would not be opposed to that. Jason Spriggs could be a possibility if the top four are gone. So could a DT option like Andrew Billings, who I think will go in the late 1st or early 2nd Round. I like all of the DTs you mentioned on your list.
In terms of your mock, I like it. I’m definitely keeping my eye on Stephen Weatherly and Blake Martinez. Weatherly does seem like a fit for the Packers and I also like his speed (4.61) and size (6’4″, 267), while Martinez was a tackling machine at Stanford. He also ran a slightly faster 40 time (4.71) than Ragland.
Nick Vannett has always been a good blocker and his performance at the Senior Bowl practices showed he can be a very effective passing option as well.
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