Green Bay Packers Forecast
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Green Bay Packers (4-12)
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(5) Mario Williams, DE. NC State
(36) Davin Joseph, OG. Oklahoma
(67) Terna Nande, OLB. Miami-Ohio
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The Packers main needs are on the defensive side of the ball. They need at least one quality lineback to compliment Nick Barnett. The secondary is also weak at cornerback, where no one has stepped up but Al Harris. 2004 first round pick, Ahmad Carroll, has struggled mightily in a starting role. The Packers need someone to at least put pressure on his job. On the offensive side of the ball, the names Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle should remind the Packers of their greatest need. The repercussions of losing both starting guards in the 2005 off season are still being felt. There should be good value at guard in rounds two and three.
(5) Mario Williams, DE. NC State
With the fifth pick in the draft, the Packers will be able to upgrade both their pass and rush defense with Mario Williams. Alongside Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Mario Williams would make an incredible pass rushing tandem of defensive ends. Holes in the Packer secondary would appear much less gaping with Williams and KGB in ofensive backfields early and often during the course of a game. By forcing opposing quarterbacks into rushed decisions, the Packers could pull their defense out of the gutters and into a competent range. If Mario is available at #5, Packer fans should rejoice.
(36) Davin Joseph, OG. Oklahoma
Davin Joseph is an athlete. At 6'3"/311, he is incredibly nimble and agile. He is tough, strong, and technically sound. He has the type of athletic skill necessary to play the left guard spot in the Packers blocking scheme. Having lost Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle to free agency a year ago, the Packers could certainly use a successor to the throne. The holes in the interior line were exposed time and time again last season. No one will welcome Davin Joseph more than Brett Favre. His production may return to Pro Bowl form with more protection along the interior line. Davin Joseph would be a reach in the first round, but he will begin to offer value in the second round. He is simply too good of a fit to pass by, especially with Brett Favre returning and the team looking to win now.
(67) Terna Nande, OLB. Miami-Ohio
With the pick at #36 not presenting good value to draft an outside linebacker, the Packers will surely address their most pressing need before the end of day one. Terna Nande is an excellent candidate. At 6'0"/232, he has lacks ideal height, but has ideal bulk. A workout warrior, Nande benches 520lbs. He is an explosive athlete with 4.51 speed and sideline-to-sideline range. Most of all, he is a premier coverage linebacker. Needing to take pressure off the under-manned secondary, Nande would be a perfect fit for the Packers. He has enormous potential and could develop into a star.
(*) AJ Hawk, OLB. Ohio State
AJ Hawk is a legitimate option in round one, even if Mario Williams is available. AJ fills a bigger immediate team need at linebacker, and he is a much surer commodity. What Mario has in athleticism, he has lacked in consistency over the long-term. AJ Hawk is both athletic and consistent. He is a reliable tackler that is magnetized to the football. He is an omnipresent force on the football field. Needing help, and lots of it, in the linebacking corp, AJ Hawk is a legitimate option at #5 for the Packers. However, if Mario Williams makes it past the Saints and Jets, expect Hawk to be the selection.
Green Bay Packers (4-12)
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(5) Mario Williams, DE. NC State
(36) Davin Joseph, OG. Oklahoma
(67) Terna Nande, OLB. Miami-Ohio
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The Packers main needs are on the defensive side of the ball. They need at least one quality lineback to compliment Nick Barnett. The secondary is also weak at cornerback, where no one has stepped up but Al Harris. 2004 first round pick, Ahmad Carroll, has struggled mightily in a starting role. The Packers need someone to at least put pressure on his job. On the offensive side of the ball, the names Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle should remind the Packers of their greatest need. The repercussions of losing both starting guards in the 2005 off season are still being felt. There should be good value at guard in rounds two and three.
Mario Williams, alongside KGB at DE, will expose
weaknesses in opponent's pass protection schemes
(5) Mario Williams, DE. NC State
With the fifth pick in the draft, the Packers will be able to upgrade both their pass and rush defense with Mario Williams. Alongside Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Mario Williams would make an incredible pass rushing tandem of defensive ends. Holes in the Packer secondary would appear much less gaping with Williams and KGB in ofensive backfields early and often during the course of a game. By forcing opposing quarterbacks into rushed decisions, the Packers could pull their defense out of the gutters and into a competent range. If Mario is available at #5, Packer fans should rejoice.
(36) Davin Joseph, OG. Oklahoma
Davin Joseph is an athlete. At 6'3"/311, he is incredibly nimble and agile. He is tough, strong, and technically sound. He has the type of athletic skill necessary to play the left guard spot in the Packers blocking scheme. Having lost Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle to free agency a year ago, the Packers could certainly use a successor to the throne. The holes in the interior line were exposed time and time again last season. No one will welcome Davin Joseph more than Brett Favre. His production may return to Pro Bowl form with more protection along the interior line. Davin Joseph would be a reach in the first round, but he will begin to offer value in the second round. He is simply too good of a fit to pass by, especially with Brett Favre returning and the team looking to win now.
Terna Nande is a workout warrior that
benches 520lbs and squats 620lbs
(67) Terna Nande, OLB. Miami-Ohio
With the pick at #36 not presenting good value to draft an outside linebacker, the Packers will surely address their most pressing need before the end of day one. Terna Nande is an excellent candidate. At 6'0"/232, he has lacks ideal height, but has ideal bulk. A workout warrior, Nande benches 520lbs. He is an explosive athlete with 4.51 speed and sideline-to-sideline range. Most of all, he is a premier coverage linebacker. Needing to take pressure off the under-manned secondary, Nande would be a perfect fit for the Packers. He has enormous potential and could develop into a star.
AJ Hawk would fill a giant need at linebacker
(*) AJ Hawk, OLB. Ohio State
AJ Hawk is a legitimate option in round one, even if Mario Williams is available. AJ fills a bigger immediate team need at linebacker, and he is a much surer commodity. What Mario has in athleticism, he has lacked in consistency over the long-term. AJ Hawk is both athletic and consistent. He is a reliable tackler that is magnetized to the football. He is an omnipresent force on the football field. Needing help, and lots of it, in the linebacking corp, AJ Hawk is a legitimate option at #5 for the Packers. However, if Mario Williams makes it past the Saints and Jets, expect Hawk to be the selection.