Packers’ 2018 NFL draft round-up: Pick-by-pick analysis
RD 1, PK 18 (Via trade with SEA): Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville.
Alexander is a guy who I initially wasn’t very high on when Green Bay drafted him. After some research and film review though, this is a player who will thrive on a defense like Green Bay’s with new DC Mike Pettine. He is very physical in coverage, plays the ball VERY well, is sure-handed, and has tremendous deep ball coverage. All of those traits should translate very well for him at the next level with Green Bay. Excellent pick.
Grade: A
RD 2, PK 45: Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa.
I honestly didn’t expect Green Bay to go cornerback, cornerback in back-to-back rounds but that’s just what they did. I actually called this pick the night before. This is guy who I was very high on and still am. He reminds me a ton of former Packer and Hawkeye, Micah Hyde. He has excellent ball skills, very good hands, and is excellent in pass coverage. He’s very lanky and has great leaping ability. He’ll fit very well in Green Bay. Yet another great pick.
Grade: A
RD 3, PK 88 (Trade up via Carolina Panthers): Oren Burks, OLB, Vanderbilt.
Unlike starting LB Blake Martinez, Oren Burks can provide a coverage element at ILB for Green Bay. Martinez was a tackling machine last season for them, leading in total tackles with 144. Burks can also be a tackling LB while still providing pass coverage which will benefit the secondary and provide huge dividends for both Burks and the Packers as a whole on defense. Very good pick for trading into the 3rd round.
Grade: B
RD 4, PK 133: J’Mon Moore, WR, Missouri.
Moore is a big body receiver who lacks deep speed, but he has tremendous foot movement, lateral quickness, and leaping ability. He seems to be the heir apparent to the recently departed Jeff Janis, who left for Cleveland early in the offseason. He also will provide Rodgers with yet another threat in the passing game.
Grade: B-
RD 5, PK 138: Cole Madison, OL, Washington State.
Madison is a guy who, even though he’s not a guard, reminds me a lot of a former Packer Josh Sitton. While with Green Bay, Sitton had a tremendous ability to pass protect even under the harshest of conditions. He also had great hands and tremendous footwork while blocking. I see a lot of those traits in Madison and I believe he will be a very good asset to the offensive line and will provide Rodgers with great protection up front as well.
Grade: B+
RD 5, PK 172: JK Scott, P, Alabama.
Originally, this was a head scratcher for me but after I thought about it, I realized it actually was a good pick. Green Bay has had some punter problems over the years. This is not to say that currently Justin Vogel isn’t a good punter, but with possible injury always a concern and punting somewhat of an issue the last few seasons (pinning opponents in the 10-5 yard lines consistently), this was a good pick overall.
Grade: B
RD 5, PK 174: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, USF.
This pick was yet another great one. Valdes-Scantling is another athletic freak at wide receiver. At 6’4″, he ran a 4.37 40 yard dash and had a 30 ½ vertical. He’s a tall, fast receiver that will benefit very much having Aaron Rodgers throw to him. This pick seemed to me to possibly be a replacement for the recently departed Jordy Nelson, who left Green Bay back in March to join Jon Gruden and the Oakland Raiders. From his tape, he seems to have great, shifty movements on routes, great route running and catching ability, and great speed in the open field. Once again, another great pick.
Grade: B
RD 6, PK 207: Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame.
This was yet another big time pick from first year GM Brian Gutekunst. St. Brown is a guy that was very high on Packer fan’s radars and for good reason. He’s 6’5″ and had a current Packer QB as his starter while at Notre Dame. DeShone Kizer was his QB and was absolutely elated that Green Bay had chosen him in the sixth round. He was quoted in a statement on Twitter: “I’m so hype!” “Packers fans, you have no idea what you are about to get in EQ.” “Looking forward to watching y’all’s reactions to him this off-season.” “A special talent.” So, it seems that players and fans alike are fond of this pick. As they should be. Film watch showed me the great speed, route running, and catching ability/radius this guy has. He is an absolute FREAK athletically and will most certainly showcase that ability this upcoming season for Green Bay. Excellent pick.
Grade: A
RD 7, PK 232: James Looney, DL/DE, Cal.
Green Bay once again went the California route and drafted defensive lineman James Looney. At 6’3″ and 275lbs, Looney has very good size for his position. He’s very quick off the ball and very aggressive in his pursuit and has great pursuit angles as well. Both qualities should translate to the NFL. Green Bay needs pass rush and this was one part in getting that problem fixed. Great pick.
Grade: B
RD 7, PK 239: Hunter Bradley, LS, Mississippi State.
Green Bay has had long-snapper issues over the past few years. Brett Goode has been injury prone so getting one as a possible replacement in the later rounds wasn’t all that bad of an idea. If you’re asking yourself: “What team would draft a long-snapper in the later rounds of an NFL draft?” Answer? The same team who drafted a punter two picks earlier in the 7th round. This was a great long-term pick for Green Bay. LS was a need and they got a relatively good one in Bradley out of Mississippi State.
Grade: B
RD 7, PK 248: Kendall Donnerson, LB/Edge, Southeast Missouri State.
This was another great pick and addressed pass rush, a huge need for Green Bay. A defense that only had around 16-18 total sacks as a unit last season and desperately needed guys that can aggressively and relentlessly pursue the QB. At 6’2″ and 248 lbs, Donnerson is an athletic specimen at the edge/LB position. He had twelve sacks in his 4 year career with SEMS. This was an excellent pick by Gutekunst that addressed and fixed a glaring problem on Green Bay’s defense.
Grade: A
Final overall analysis and grade:
Overall, Brian Gutekunst did an excellent job in his first ever draft as the new GM of the Packers. Not only did he address glaring problems on defense, he also got quality playmakers at positions of need and helped out Aaron Rodgers in the process. I don’t think we would’ve seen the same type of aggressiveness in the draft under former GM Ted Thompson. I think with Gutekunst at the helm, Green Bay seems to be heading in the right direction and only trending upwards.
Final overall draft grade: A
#ParkerMoes @ParkerMoes #DHPF. @DieHardPackrFan
