Significant losses: The usual - Wagner Kirksey (already gone). C.Linsley, K.King, A.Jones, D.Lowry.
Significant retentions: RB J.Williams, TE M.Lewis. Edge P.Smith.
Restructures: enough for one decent acquisition.
Main vet additions:
RT Daryl Williams 3yr $8m pa. There were other free agents I would have liked, like Steelers DB Mike Hilton, or Cincy Edge Carl Lawson, but the future cap cost to go and get them is too high.
Draft: . There is a lot of speed in this Packers draft. This year more than most, where guys will go is hard to know. There can be some big differences in how teams value guys. I still tried not to 'cheat' on value, though. A couple of picks have alternatives who I like as much as each other and could be similar value.1) DE Levi Onwuzurike 6'3”, 288, Washington.https://primetimesportstalk.com/2019/09/18/levi-onwuzurike-can-be-a-first-rounder/Has pass rush athleticism and first step quickness all teams covet. Exceptional leverage in run defense. Tough, hard to single block. Needs to fix inconsistent pad-level and to have a second plan when first contact doesn't win. Lowry's replacement.
2) CB Elijah Molden 5'10”, 191, Washington.https://primetimesportstalk.com/2021/02/17/2021-nfl-draft-scouting-report-elijah-molden/He lacks GBs preferred height, but with Jaire Alexander probably shorter than Elijah, it shows the Packers will go outside the minimum 5'11" CB height requirement if the talent is there. Straight-line speed is only average but instincts are very good. Has the versatility to play some safety.
3) WR D'Wayne Eskridge 5'9”, 189, W. Michigan.https://primetimesportstalk.com/2021/01/30/2021-nfl-draft-scouting-report-dwayne-eskridge/Nice route runner with exceptional burst and speed that should be in the mid 4.3 range. Surprisingly tough player for his size. Has real value early on as a ST returner. Slot corner type.
ALTERNATIVE WR Amon-Ra St.Brown 6'1”, 195 USC. https://primetimesportstalk.com/2020/12/02/2021-nfl-draft-scouting-report-amon-ra-st-brown/Not as lengthy as brother Equanimeous, but more polished. Doesn't have Eskridge's speed, but a better fit as a sideline player. Blue collar work ethic.
4) CB Tay Gowan 6'2” 185 UCF. True sleepers are not so common these days as teams cast their nets ever wider, but with no combine to showcase his skills, and not playing in 2020 due to the covid impact on college play, he could be one. Most sites have him as a late pick (maybe 6th round), but if you can live with a small sample size, some have him as the 6th best CB overall. He has the speed to run stride for stride with WR Simi Fehoko (see Packers 5th round pick) who is said to be the fastest college receiver. If he is as good as I hope, he is Kevin King's replacement.
4b) Edge Janarius Robinson 6'5”, 266 Florida St.https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/janarius-robinsonIdeal size. His arm length is an incredible 35 3/4” with a wingspan of 7'3” and 11” hands. If he were to reach up (not jump) his fingertips would be up at about 8 foot five or six, which is going to play havoc with QBs throwing over him. He is a traits pick and needs plenty of work. Those arms are longer than most OTs, making it hard for them to get a chest punch in when they meet. Could be an NFL monster by year three.
ALTERNATIVE Edge Patrick Jones II 6'4.5”, 264 Pittsburgh. Another traits guy. Great size and athleticism but was not used well at Pitt. Brett Kollman's comp for him was the Steelers Bud Dupree, a similar sized raw prospect who didn't do much for his first 2 years then broke out (currently a $15m pa player). Jones got a whole lot more sacks than Robinson, so he could be considered a safer pick, but both have some degree of a swing for the fences.
5) RB Rhamondre Stevenson 5'11.5”, 227, Oklahoma.https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/2021-nfl-draft-scouting-report--rb-rhamondre-stevensonPackers need another RB after losing Jones.
5b) WR Simi Fehoko 6'4”, 227 StanfordBig, tough, very fast. Has added value on ST. Valdes-Scantling worked well enough for the Packers, so here is another huge fast guy. ESB, Taylor and Austin are probably all gone if Eskridge, Fehoko and Stevenson are drafted.
6) RS Marquez Stevenson 5'10”,182, American Athletic West.https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/marquez-stevenson/DPJrgytEoqHe has injury concerns, but is a dynamic returner with great on-field speed. Stevenson and Eskridge could transform the Packers return game.
6b) S Jermian Sherwood 6'2”, 220, Auburn. Tough hard-hitter and another guy to bolster ST, which is his likely role. ST is getting a lot of guys, that include big fast guys, smaller very quick guys, and tough guys to help out the Packers new ST coordinator. I'm not especially in love with this pick, but for now I have nothing better.
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What is missing in this draft ? No offensive linemen drafted is something of a shocker, but they did take two guards and a center last year, and still have developers like Nijman and Patrick. Also, I had them acquire RT Daryl Williams for added help and a replacement for Wagner. Three WRs might seem excessive, but one is a return specialist, one is a slot WR and one a Valdes-Scantling clone. I would have liked a better quality safety, an eventual replacement for TE Lewis who must be in his final season and another ILB for depth, but there are only so many picks.
If the Packers hit on three of the four early defensive picks (DE, CB, Edge, CB) they could finally have a formidable unit for some time. This was also a draft for revamping the ST units.