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Packers mock drafts: Post-combine edition
How much does the NFL Combine have an effect on the stock of potential draft picks?
A lot, at least according to the draft experts.
There have been many changes since our last roll call of mock drafts. Sometimes it is because a player slotted to Green Bay is now going higher in the draft, other times because we have all this new information. And, of course, sometimes nothing has changed at all.
Future mocks will change for the Packers -- at least ones that go beyond three rounds -- as Green Bay is expected to receive compensation picks.
With free agency set to begin Wednesday -- and of course scramble the mocks once again -- we present our third edition of mock drafts and the predictions for the Packers.
With this roundup, if we included a mock previously (some of the ones we had before have not been updated since), we'll also include the picks from that earlier mock draft (note: some mocks update often; we'll just include the pick we used) . We'll continue to provide updates leading up to the start of the draft, April 28.
And now, here's the third look of who the prognosticators think Green Bay will take in the NFL Draft:
Walter Cherepinsky of WalterFootball.com (March 9): Round 1 -- Shaq Lawson, DE/OLB, Clemson. "Shaq Lawson has been seen as a tweener - explaining why some teams believed, prior to the Combine, that he'd be chosen in the second round - but he looked great in the linebacker drills, so perhaps a 3-4 team will take him as an edge rusher."; Round 2 -- Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford; Round 3 -- Kenyan Drake, RB, Alabama; Round 4 -- Jerald Hawkins, OT, LSU; Round 5 -- Antonio Morrison, ILB, Florida. (Previously: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State; Round 2 -- Hooper; Round 3 -- Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA; Round 4 -- Le'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech.)
Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com (March 8): Kamalei Correa, OLB, Boise State. "The Packers need weapons in the passing game, but with the top three wide receivers gone and a middling tight end class, getting a pass-rusher is never a bad option. Correa is an absolute blur off the edge." (Previously: Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas.)
Scott Wright of DraftCountdown.com (March 8): Round 1 -- Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech; Round 2 -- Kyler Fackrell, OLB, Utah State; Round 3 -- Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford.
Chad Reuter of NFL.com (March 7): Round 1 -- Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama. "General manager Ted Thompson has a knack for patiently waiting until a good value falls into his lap. Ragland might go earlier, but Clay Matthews would be extremely happy to see this pick so he can do his thing outside." Round 2 -- Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford; Round 3 --Kyler Fackrell, OLB, Utah State; Round 4a -- Tyler Johnstone, OT, Oregon; Round 4b (projected compensation pick) -- Daniel Lasco, RB, Cal; Round 4c (projected compensation pick) -- Sheldon Day, DT, Notre Dame. (Previously: Round 1 -- Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State; Round 2 -- Thomas Duarte, TE, UCLA; Round 3 -- Joe Thuney, OL, North Carolina State; Round 4a -- Kenyan Drake, RB, Alabama; Round 4b -- Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State; Round 4c -- Jordan Payton, WR, UCLA.)
Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com (March 7): Round 1 -- Adolphus Washington, DT, Ohio State. "Green Bay could use more talent and depth at nose tackle and end. Washington could play end on run downs and move to the zero-technique in passing situations."; Round 2 -- Kyle Fackrell, OLB, Utah State; Round 3 -- Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech; Round 4 -- Deion Jones, OLB, LSU. (Previously: Round 1 -- Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas; Round 2 -- Devontae Booker, RB, Utah; Round 3 -- Willie Beavers, OL, Western Michigan; Round 4 -- Jones.)
Dan Kadar of SBNation/Mocking the Draft (March 7): Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech. "Butler may not be a pure nose tackle who can fill B.J. Raji's spot on the defensive line, but he's big and strong enough to handle himself fine. He's NFL ready as a run stopper and disruptive force in the middle." (Previously: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State.)
Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com (March 7): Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor. "If B.J. Raji leaves, they need a power player in the middle. Billings is that and more. He is an athletic 315-pound player who would do a nice job inside against the run."
Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com (March 7): Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama. "Even with Mike Daniels locked up long-term, Reed is worthy of this pick with his versatility that fits Green Bay's odd front." (Previously: Reed)
Will Brinson of CBSSports.com (March 7): Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas. "The need to ensure quality weapons for Aaron Rodgers was never more apparent than when Jordy Nelson went down."
Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com (March 6): Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA. (Previously: Clark.)
Jared Dubin of CBSSports.com (March 6): Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA. "He's particularly effective in the running game, which is good because the Packers were 29th in yards per carry allowed last season."
Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (March 6): Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama.
Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times (March 6): Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com (March 4): Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas. "There are very few true tight ends in this class, and Green Bay grabs the top tight end."
DraftTek (March 4): Round 1 -- Jonathan Bullard, DE, Florida; Round 2 -- Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford; Round 3 -- Dominique Alexander, ILB, Oklahoma; Round 4 -- Cole Toner, OT, Harvard; Round 5 -- Yannick Ngakoue, OLB, Maryland; Round 6 -- Gerald Dixon Jr., DT, South Carolina; Round 7 -- Jordan Lucas, S, Penn State. (Previously: Round 1 -- Kevin Dodd, LB, Clemson; Round 2-- Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas; Round 3 -- Alexander; Round 4 -- Jarron Jones, DT, Notre Dame; Round 5 -- Romeo Okwara, DE, Notre Dame; Round 6 -- Halapoulivaati Vaitai, OT, TCU; Round 7 -- Trae Elston, S, Mississippi.)
Nate Davis of USAToday.com (March 4): Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson. "Time to start planning for life after Julius Peppers, who could still be a great tutor for his heir apparent as he winds his career down." (Previously: Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky.)
Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (March 4): Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia. "Two of the Packers' outside linebackers â Mike Neal and Nick Perry â are set to hit free-agency, and with Julius Peppers getting up there in age, an athletic, developmental talent like Floyd (who had a strong Combine) might be a nice fit for a team that wants to maintain its pass rush."
Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (March 4): A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama. (Previously: Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas.)
MyNFLDraft.com (March 4): Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama. (Previously: Noah Spence, DE/LB, Eastern Kentucky.)
Peter Schrager of FOXSports.com (March 3): Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State. "The Packers took defensive backs with their first two picks a season ago and loved what they got out of both of them (Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins). With Casey Hayward set to hit free agency and the list of top cornerbacks rather limited in this draft, don't be shocked if they go that route again. Apple is a 6-foot-1 technician who played his best against the toughest opponents. I like this fit."
Josh Norris of Rotoworld.com (March 3): Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama. "Who knows what the Packers are doing... They could go with an inside linebacker to allow Clay Matthews to move to the edge. Or they could continue to add bodies up front with a few impending free agents along the defensive interior. We know Reed holds up well against the run, and he has more upfield ability than his teammate A'Shawn Robinson." (Previously: Reed.)
Charles Davis of NFL.com (March 3): Andrew Billings, NT, Baylor. "He's exactly what the Packers are seeking for the middle of their defense."
Eric Edholm, Yahoo.com (March 3): Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia. (Previously: Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor.)
Hunter Stewart of TheNewNFLDraft.com (March 3): Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State. (Previously: Ogbah.)
Bucky Brooks of NFL.com (March 2): Andrew Billings, NT, Baylor. "If B.J. Raji departs as a free agent, GM Ted Thompson could add another big body to the front line to help solidify the Packers' run defense."
Todd McShay of ESPN.com Insider (March 2): Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama. "With Clay Matthews set to move back to OLB, you'd have to think the Packers would jump at the chance to take the No. 14 overall player on our board -- and the best ILB in the class -- at pick No. 27. I wouldn't be surprised if Ragland went a little earlier to the Bears, Falcons, Jets or Bengals, but he could fall because of team needs and positional value. Ragland's football intelligence, toughness and straight-line speed will be an asset to whichever team takes him." (Previously: Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas.)
Chris Burke of SI.com (March 2): Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama. "The Packers obviously still need to figure out their linebacking corps. Having an imposing front, though, would help out everyone else on defense. Mike Daniels gives a leg up there, and Reed could push Green Bay over the top. He is a ferocious, 300-pound run defender. Let B.J. Raji walk in free agency, take Reed in the draft, get better on defense." (Previously: Round 1 -- Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia; Round 2 -- Nick Vannett, TE, Ohio State.)
Eddie Brown of the San Diego Union-Tribune (March 2): Round 1 -- Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas; Round 2 -- Dominque Alexander, ILB, Oklahoma; Round 3 -- Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma; Round 4 -- Eric Striker, OLB, Oklahoma. (Previously: Round 1 -- Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA; Round 2 -- Henry; Round 3 -- Leonte Carroo, WR, Rutgers; Round 4 -- Paul McRoberts, WR, SE Missouri State.)
Steve Palazzolo of Pro Football Focus (March 2): Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia. (Previously: Sheldon Rankins, DL, Louisville.)
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (March 1): Andrew Billings, NT, Baylor. (Previously: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson.)
Pat Kirwan of RealFootballNetwork.com (March 1): Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama. "The tackling machine and leader of the 'Bama defense can be a 100-tackle player as a rookie, and his presence allows Clay Matthews to move back outside."
Jon Ledyard of USA Today's DraftWire.com (Feb. 29): Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama. (Previously: Reed.)
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