Green Bay Packers: 2017 NFL Draft Preview

Charles Harris

The Packers will likely look defense with their first pick, and Charles Harris is a possibility there.

When you have Aaron Rodgers running the show you should do everything in your power to beef up the personnel on defense and level the playing field. Right now the back-seven on the Packers has way too many holes to be taken serious for a long playoff run so they’d better start adding some difference-makers now.

Key additions

CB Davon House
DE Ricky Jean-Francois
OG Jahri Evans
TE Martellus Bennett
TE Lance Kendricks

Key subtractions

C J.C. Tretter
CB Sam Shields
OG T.J. Lang
OLB Datone Jones
OLB Julius Peppers
RB Eddie Lacy
RB James Starks
SS Micah Hyde
TE Jared Cook

Priority needs (Offense)

OG…G.M. Ted Thompson was able to replace the loss of free agent T.J. Lang by signing former Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans on Wednesday, but Evans is 33 and won’t be around very long.

RB…Is Ty Montgomery ready to act as the team’s No. 1 rusher? Kareem Hunt would be a great pick-up in the third-round and Jeremy McNichols fits in the fourth.

WR…This is not a top priority position, but with recent injuries to star Jordy Nelson the Packers should look to add a player here. If they pick one early they could go with Curtis Samuel in round-one or players like Chris Godwin and Zay Jones in round-two. Since I see Jordy Nelson in Cooper Kupp it sure would make an interesting selection.

Priority needs (Defense)

CB…When Thompson spent his first two picks in 2015 on corners Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins he must have figured he would be set at this position for years to come. But that hasn’t materialized yet as both players disappointed last season as did second-year free agent Ladarius Gunter, another 2015 pick-up. This is the biggest weakness on the team and with a deep class of corners available I would wager on at least two selections here.

NT…The Packers haven’t fielded an impact player from this spot since B.J. Raji in 2010. Letroy Guion is one-dimensional and will start the season on suspension. Those are two good reasons to look for more help here.

OLB…The Packers need more pressure from the edge and that’s why taking a player like Jordan Willis makes a lot of sense. Charles Harris, Takkarist McKinley and TJ Watt should also be in the running.

Final analysis

The choices are simple. Thompson must find more pass rushers and cornerbacks soon or the Aaron Rodgers window for a second Super Bowl run is going to fade into darkness faster than he can fix it.

Top first-round options

  • CB Fabian Moreau
  • OLB Charles Harris
  • OLB Takkarist McKinley
  • OLB TJ Watt
  • OLB Jordan Willis
  • WR Chris Godwin
  • WR Curtis Samuel
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