GREEN BAY, Wis. -- There was no debate entering this year's NFL Draft as to whether the Green Bay Packers were in bigger need of an inside linebacker or an outside linebacker. Safety was the only position that was more of a pressing issue for the Packers than inside linebacker, yet after making their first four picks, it hadn't been addressed.
That's when Carl Bradford's name was called. At 6-foot-1 and 250 pounds, Bradford was listed as an outside linebacker. The discussion immediately became about if Green Bay planned to play him at inside linebacker, and that was the suggestion of just about every national analyst.
Be careful what information you believe.
"I see Bradford as an outside linebacker," head coach Mike McCarthy said at the conclusion of the draft.
Later, McCarthy added, "Bradford, when he first lines up, the meeting he will go to will be with the outside linebackers."
How does Bradford see himself as a player in the Packers' 3-4 defense?
"I'd probably say outside backer," Bradford said moments after the pick was made.
Not surprisingly, general manager Ted Thompson shared that opinion.
"I think he's going to be able to stand up on the outside and be a good player for us," Thompson said.
In Bradford's own words, he has "slim, not a lot" of experience playing inside linebacker. That's just not how Arizona State used him, and, at least for now, it's not what Green Bay has planned for him.
Perhaps as a result of listening to outside viewpoints, when Bradford reported for rookie orientation a week after being selected, he seemed to have opened up to the idea of possibly playing inside linebacker.
"I believe I can play a key role either outside or inside," Bradford said May 16. "Right now, they are working me at outside backer, but when the time comes and they need to push me inside, I'll be prepared and ready to learn it."
If Bradford's comments are dissected, he said "when the time comes," not "if the time comes." Are the Packers already telling him that a position switch is inevitable, or is that just the attitude of a rookie who wants to be a team player?
Green Bay's director of college scouting Brian Gutekunst viewed Bradford as a player who could maybe play both positions at some point.
"Carl's a real good athlete, really smooth, fluid athlete; he's got a lot of twitch," Gutekunst said. "He's obviously had a lot of success as a pass rusher. He's got relentless play.
"Inside, outside, I think that will be determined. But we think he has the ability to do both."
Essentially, Bradford is this year's Micah Hyde. It was during the 2013 draft when the Packers picked Hyde that questions instantly began about whether he would play cornerback or safety. At the time, Green Bay had every intention of playing Hyde at cornerback. It was cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt who assessed Hyde in the post-pick press conference, not safeties coach Darren Perry. Fast forward to this year and one of the hot topics of the offseason is Hyde switching to safety.
Bradford's lack of height and short arms (30-1/4 inches) could make it difficult for him to succeed at outside linebacker in the NFL. If that's the case, an eventual switch inside could be necessary.
"Probably one of the reasons he was staring us in the face where he was is the fact he's not your prototypical 6-4, 35-inch arm type of guy," Gutekunst said. "But after watching the tape and doing the workout stuff, I think we felt comfortable he'd transition to this league pretty well."
But even Gutekunst initially saw Bradford as more of an outside linebacker than an inside linebacker.
"Outside, I would think," Gutekunst said. "But you know a lot of that can change very fast."
How fast that change happens is the big question. That change may never happen if Bradford develops at outside linebacker as the Packers hope.
All is not lost if Bradford doesn't take the league by storm at outside linebacker, though. The possibility does exist that he could challenge incumbent starters A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones for playing time. It's just important to know that Green Bay didn't draft Carl Bradford: Inside Linebacker. The Packers drafted Carl Bradford: Outside Linebacker With A Chance To Move to Inside Linebacker In the Future.
"I believe I am a versatile player and a smart player, so I would understand it and get the concept of it; Outside or in the box," Bradford said. "I would enjoy that as well."
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