While most (if not all) Packer fans are pissed, there’s one question that group fails to answer: When was the last rookie to be a major contributor to a Super Bowl Winner?  Did any of these players contribute in a major way to their teams’ Super Bowl Championship?

• 2019 Chiefs: Mecole Hardman- nice player, wasn’t a position of need
• 2018 Patriots: Sony Michel- nice player, wasn’t a position of need
• 2017 Eagles: Derek Barnett- 5.0 sacks that season, 1.0 postseason sacks- thank you Nick Foles
• 2016 Patriots: Cyrus Jones???
• 2015 Broncos: Shane Ray?
• 2014 Patriots: Jimmy G…helped start 2-0 while Brady was suspended…not a position of need
• 2013 Seahawks: no one
• 2012 Ravens: Courtney Upshaw- nice player…
• 2011 Giants: Prince Amukamara—nice player, not major factor
• 2010 Packers: Bryan Bulaga—major contributor, due to injury (Tauscher hurt)…also best available

So while many be upset with Jordan Love, his upside is tough to ignore.  Listen, this is the draft to get fat on Wide Receivers, and considering the top tier was pretty much taken just before the 26^th pick shows Green Bay was worried someone else was going to snag the last, best remaining QB.

The one player remaining that I still struggle to grasp is Grant Delpit- S from LSU.  However, there are plenty of players available with extreme value remaining and as long as Green Bay continues to follow the “Draft the best available,” that will likely play out best for the organization.

Finally!  Something to watch where we don’t know the outcome!

The Packers have plenty of needs to address, however addressing current needs in the draft gets you in trouble.  Picking the best player available is usually the best method to success.  If that best player available just so happens to fill a current need, that’s a win-win.  Let’s look at some potential prospects that could fall to Green Bay and how that would impact moving forward.

Wide Receivers – this draft is considered to possibly be the best ever for that department.  Here’s a tiered group that would be ideal for the Packers to add that could realistically contribute their rookie year, but then again, keep in mind, rookies rarely contribute enough to help win a Super Bowl.  The best draft class ever (in my opinion, by a single team) was the Saints in 2017, and they still had one of those awesome rookies fail to make a tackle on Diggs in the NFC Divisional Round to lose on the Minneapolis Miracle.  But I digress…

• CeeDee Lamb, WR Oklahoma
• Jerry Jeudy, WR Alabama
• Henry Ruggs III, WR Alabama
• Justin Jefferson, WR LSU
• Brandon Aiyuk, WR Arizona St.
• Tee Higgins, WR Clemson
• Laviska Shenault Jr., WR Colorado
• Denzel Mims, WR Baylor
• Jalen Reagor, WR TCU

I’d be happy with any of those players taken at 30^th.  Especially Lamb, Jeudy, or Ruggs as they’re considered to go near or in the top 10.

Other Positions—here’s a list of players that would make sense to draft at 30^th for the Packers should they be available as well, or at least to keep an eye on…

• Tristan Wirfs, OL Iowa
• Jedrick Wills Jr., OL Alabama
• Andrew Thomas, OL Georgia
• Mekhi Becton, OL Louisville
• Kenneth Murray, ILB Oklahoma
• Patrick Queen, ILB LSU
• Grant Delpit, S LSU

Again, if some of these players fall to 30^th, it’s extreme value to Green Bay to select them…and the one that seems to be somewhat realistic is the Safety from LSU, Grant Delpit.  By all accounts, he seems to be a certifiable stud and will be in the NFL.  With the way the NFL has been and seems to be is defending the pass and needing pass rushers, coverage, and playmakers: he fits all 3.

Let’s look at a few scenarios…

Dream Scenario—if somehow Tua Tagovailoa (QB – Alabama) drops to 30^th similar to Aaron Rodgers dropping to 24^th in 2005.  Again, I think there’s zero chance of this happening, even more so BECAUSE of the Rodgers drop.  However, dream scenario.

Close to a Dream—Tua drops enough to a point where Green Bay could trade up without giving away tremendous value to a spot to draft him.  Again, highly unlikely and there’s too much value in this draft to give away picks (when they should be acquiring).

My Prediction??? –

1. Trade back (assuming they find a partner).
2. Laviska Shenault Jr., WR Colorado

 

It’s been 75 days since last posting.  Without covering the obvious, let’s take a dive into what’s happened since the Chiefs hoisted their 2^nd Lombardi Trophy.

Let’s look at Free Agency, both additions and subtractions (and some maybe addition BY subtraction).  Players lost:

• ILB Blake Martinez – Giants
• OT Bryan Bulaga – Chargers
• WR Geronimo Allison – Lions
• OLB Kyler Fackrell – Giants
• ILB BJ Goodson – Browns
• FB Danny Vitale – Patriots

The ones that hurt most are the first two names.  While Martinez was a polarizing player amongst fans, he did provide value in 2 major ways: 1. Availability; 2. an overall good person that truly loved playing here.  The other is Bryan Bulaga—while not always the most available, possibly had his best year of his career in 2019.  Bulaga was part of the best Tackle duo in the NFL.  Did the Packers replace those two (and 4 others) enough to improve heading into the draft?  Let’s take a look.

Additions:

• ILB Christian Kirksey – Browns
• OT Rick Wagner – Lions (from West Allis)
• WR Devin Funchess – Colts (mostly from Panthers)
• OLB Jamal Davis II – Dolphins
• Gerald Willis – Dolphins

Kirksey, while injury-prone by definition, seems to be a productive player when available.  If you know me, you know how I feel about players like this.  Low value, however, assuming he’s able to play 15-16 games this year, there’s a chance he’s a better fit at ILB than Martinez was for Pettine’s defense…hopefully.

Rick Wagner is a serviceable Tackle and experienced, which is huge.  He has 87 career starts coming into the 2020 campaign, which is what you want from an OL you sign from Free Agency, experience.

Devin Funchess is a big-bodied target (6’4” 225lbs) that ran about a 4.5 forty at the 2015 combine.  Another sensible free agency pickup that provides nice depth for an area of need, the WR corps.

The 2 players added Tue (4.21) spent most of their time on the Dolphins and their practice squad last year.  While you shouldn’t expect anything from them, more bodies and if you get any sort of production from them, outside of special teams, major bonus.

To review, the Packers seem to have a large Net Loss losing Bulaga and adding Wagner.  Possibly Loss, Even, or Upgrade in Kirksey over Martinez.  Funchess can’t be anything but an upgrade over Allison, unless he finds himself in Rodgers’ doghouse…

Tune back later this afternoon to see the Draft “prediction” blog.