Will Packers Target Hawk's Replacement in the Draft?

Packers GM Ted Thompson does most, nearly all, of his personnel work through the draft. Rarely a serious player in free agency, Thompson prepares to fill holes on his roster a year or two before they become issues. 


In each of the past two college drafts, Thompson has used early picks to select players that fill holes that hadn't been holes yet.

Thompson could let A.J. Hawk walk

Last year, Green Bay selected Mississippi State's OT Derek Sherrod with the 32nd overall pick. Despite being passed on the depth chart by 2010 fifth-round pick Marshall Newhouse, Sherrod certainly fits in the team's future plans on the Offensive Line. 


With question marks surrounding the health and overall ability of Chad Clifton, it looks as if Thompson's selection of Sherrod was in preparation for the possibility that Clifton would be released this offseason. The Packers can save $5.7 million by cutting Clifton, and that seems like a likely scenario with how many key players they'll need to resign soon.


Having already addressed the questionable future of his Offensive Line with his first selection, Thompson added to Green Bay's stellar wide receiving corps in the second round by selecting Kentucky WR Randall Cobb. Cobb was an instant upgrade in the return game, and he looks like a perfect replacement for veteran Donald Driver.


In the 2010 draft, Thompson used his first round pick on OT Bryan Bulaga. In the midst of his rookie season, Bulaga was forced into the starting lineup when right tackle Mark Tauscher went down to injury. The 2010 season would end up being the last of Tauscher's career in Green Bay, and Bulaga has been the team's starter ever since.


With his second selection, Thompson filled another hole a year before it became an urgent need when he selected Purdue's Mike Neal in the second round. Neal's career in Green Bay has been flooded with injuries, but he was drafted to replace Cullen Jenkins who left after the 2010 season to join the Philadelphia Eagles.


Looking ahead to the 2013 offseason, the Packers face several question marks. It's seems quite unlikely that Thompson would let his top receiver and top free agent, Greg Jennings, walk away from the team despite what will likely be a high price tag. Other than Jennings, offensive lineman T.J. Lang may be the team's next priority, but he doesn't figure to demand an overly expensive price tag.


What could be interesting, however, is what direction the team decides to go with linebacker A.J. Hawk. After signing a five year contract worth $33.75 million last March, Hawk's future in Green Bay looks cloudy at best. Since being selected fifth overall in the 2006 NFL Draft, Hawk has failed to be anything more than average as a starting linebacker.


The way Hawk's contract is structured, it would make no sense to cut him this offseason because it would require the Packers to take a massive cap hit. However, next offseason cutting Hawk could be a realistic option for Green Bay.


This from ProFootballTalk after Hawk signed his extension: "Hawk could be vulnerable to being released after 2013 depending on his play.  His cap number that year will be $7.55 million, and the team would only take a $3.2 cap hit to release him."


While it'd be a bit premature to say 2012 fifth round pick D.J. Smith is a potential starter, he filled in admirably for starter Desmond Bishop when he missed time to injury. Outside of Smith, the Packers depth behind Hawk and Bishop is very shaky - to the point where head coach Mike McCarthy has mentioned reserve outside linebackers Jamari Lattimore and Brad Jones possibly seeing some time at inside linebacker.


While outside linebacker is a more glaring need, it's a distinct possibility that Thompson could follow his pattern of filling holes a year early by addressing the inside linebacker position in the early rounds.

Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw

This year, there are only two inside linebackers that have a chance to go in the first round. Boston College's Luke Kuechley is the top linebacker in the draft, and he figures to be selected in the top half of the first round. Alabama's Dont'a Hightower is a thumper with some ability as an outside pass rusher; he figures to come off the board somewhere between 24th to Pittsburgh and the early second round.


For the Packers, Dont'a Hightower is a really interesting possibility to me. On ESPN's First Draft podcast, my email was answered by hosts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay. I was curious as to what they thought about Hightower as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 since he played defensive end in high school and Alabama coach Nick Saban used him as a pass rusher on third downs this past season.


Kiper wasn't so sure, although he raved about Hightower's measurables and athleticism, "I think he'll be drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, I think he could be a Sam (linebacker) as well ... At 265 pounds, you show athleticism and you show speed and overall talent that is unheard of, so I think Dont'a Hightower, a couple years removed from the knee surgery, all the sudden now is a lock first round pick. I don't think he gets past the Pittsburgh Steelers ... I think he'd be a good fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers at 24."


McShay had pointed out Hightower's ability to rush the passer in the previous week's podcast, but he spoke more highly of him playing inside opposed to outside. "He just has a Steeler mentality and a way about him that I really like."


If the slipper doesn't fit for Hightower in Pittsburgh, I believe the Packers could be the beneficiary.  If McCarthy is considering Brad Jones and Jamari Lattimore as candidates to play inside despite having never played the position before, I think the coaching staff would explore playing Hightower outside at times if it meant getting the team's best four linebackers on the field at once.

Hightower and Alabama HC Nick Saban

Hightower had 9.5 tackles for loss and three sacks this past season at Alabama, less than stellar numbers from a potential 3-4 outside linebacker; however, he was only asked to rush the passer in certain situations. On third downs, Saban put Hightower's hand in the ground and had him rush the passer along with fellow stud linebacker Courtney Upshaw - also a sure first round pick.


Upshaw figures to be drafted between #10 to Buffalo and #18 to San Diego, but if the Hightower fell to the Packers at #28, theoretically they could start him outside as a rookie on the opposite side of Clay Matthews. Hightower and Matthews would be the edge rushers, along with Hawk and Bishop again being the men in the middle.


If Thompson ultimately decides to cut ties with A.J. Hawk following the 2012-2013 season, Hightower could move to the inside to play alongside Desmond Bishop. History suggests Thompson is always looking forwards in regards to roster holes and the subpar play of A.J. Hawk could result in Dont'a Hightower wearing green and gold in 2012.






(Hightower's game against Arkansas highlights perfectly the versatility that I'm talking about. He lined up inside as a run stuffer and outside on the edge, and he handed out some "wow" hits in the process.)

2012 NFL Mock Draft #4

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck - QB Stanford
2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III - QB Baylor
3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil - OT Southern Cal
4. Cleveland Browns: Morris Claiborne - CB Lousiana St
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson - RB Alabama
6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon - WR Oklahoma St
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Melvin Ingram - DE South Carolina
8. Miami Dolphins: Michael Floyd - WR Notre Dame
9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe - DT Memphis
10. Buffalo Bills: Quinton Coples - DE North Carolina
11 Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechley - LB Boston College
12. Seattle Seahawks: Ryan Tannehill - QB Texas A&M
13. Arizona Cardinals: Riley Reiff - OT Iowa
14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron - SS Alabama
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox - DT Mississippi State

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw - OLB Alabama
17. Cincinnati Bengals: David DeCastro - OG Stanford
18. San Diego Chargers: Michael Brockers - DT Louisiana St
19. Chicago Bears: Mike Adams - OT Ohio State
20. Tennessee Titans: Nick Perry - DE Southern Cal
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Stephon Gilmore - CB South Carolina
22. Cleveland Browns: Kendall Wright - WR Baylor
23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick - CB Alabama
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn - OL Georgia
25. Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy - DT Michigan St
26. Houston Texans: Jonathan Martin - OT Stanford
27. New England Patriots: Andre Branch - DE/OLB Clemson
28. Green Bay Packers: Dont'a Hightower - LB Alabama
29. Baltimore Ravens: Janoris Jenkins - CB North Alabama
30. San Francisco 49ers: Harrison Smith - S Notre Dame
31. New England Patriots: Devon Still - DT Penn St
32. New York Giants: Coby Fleener - TE Stanford


http://www.hailredskins.com/MockDraft.htm

MOCK DRAFT #3

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck - QB Stanford
**2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III - QB Baylor
3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil - OT Southern Cal
4. Cleveland Browns: Morris Claiborne - CB Lousiana St
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson - RB Alabama
**6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon - WR Oklahoma St
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Riley Reiff - OT Iowa
8. Miami Dolphins: Melvin Ingram - OLB South Carolina
9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe - DT Memphis
10. Buffalo Bills: Quinton Coples - DE North Carolina
11 Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechley - LB Boston College
12. Seattle Seahawks: Ryan Tannehill - QB Texas A&M
13. Arizona Cardinals: Cordy Glenn - OL Georgia
14. Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick - CB Alabama
15. Philadelphia Eagles: David DeCastro - OG Stanford
16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw - OLB Alabama
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Floyd - WR Notre Dame
18. San Diego Chargers: Jonathan Martin - OT Stanford
19. Chicago Bears: Fletcher Cox - DT Mississippi State
20. Tennessee Titans: Nick Perry - DE Southern Cal
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Stephon Gilmore - CB South Carolina
22. Cleveland Browns: Michael Brockers - DT Louisiana St
23. Detroit Lions: Mark Barron - SS Alabama
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams - OT Ohio State
25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still - DT Penn State
26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright - WR Baylor
27. New England Patriots: Harrison Smith - S Notre Dame
28. Green Bay Packers: Dont'a Hightower - LB Alabama
29. Baltimore Ravens: Janoris Jenkins - CB North Alabama
30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill - WR Georgia Tech
31. New England Patriots: Whitney Mercilus - DE Illinois
32. New York Giants: Coby Fleener - TE Stanford

**St. Louis trades 2012 1st Round Pick (#2) to Washington for 2012 1^st Round Pick (#6), 2^nd Round Pick (#39), 3^rd Round Pick (#70) and 2013 1^st Round Pick.

Could the Packers Find Their Edge Rusher in Round Two of the NFL Draft?

For the majority of the 2011 season, the Green Bay Packers were the best team in the NFL. Fresh off winning its fourth Lombardi trophy in Dallas, the Pack saw the rest of the league from a bird's eye view. Green Bay's offense was nearly flawless throughout the season; MVP Aaron Rodgers tossed a franchise-record 45 touchdown passes compared to just six interceptions.


Despite being historically efficient on offense, Green Bay's defense prevented the Packers from repeating as Super Bowl champions.


Although vulnerable against the run at times, the fatal flaw for the Packers was their lack of a consistent pass rush. Not only was it an obvious problem in their postseason loss to the Giants, the pass rush issue was a constant throughout the entire season.


When Cullen Jenkins signed with Philadelphia, it left a gaping hole in the middle of Green Bay's defense. The Packers tabbed second-year DE Mike Neal as the replacement for Jenkins, but Neal's injuries and mediocre play left the Packers wondering if they made the right choice in letting Jenkins walk via free agency.


Perhaps the more pressing issue is the revolving door at Outside Linebacker on the opposite side ofClay Matthews. Brad Jones started as a rookie along with Matthews, Erik Walden has had several big games in his two years with the Pack, and Frank Zombo has been serviceable when he's been active. However, not one of these guys has separated himself from the pack - no pun intended. Combine the departure of Cullen Jenkins with not having a full-time, reliable starter on the other side of the defense, offenses viewed Clay Matthews as the only legitimate threat to rush the passer, and thus, teams were able to double and triple team him on a regular basis.


In the 2012 Draft, I expect the Pack's search for Clay Matthews's running mate to be towards the top of Ted Thompson's to-do list. While considered a genius in his field, I do not believe Ted is skilled enough in the science department to clone Mr. Matthews. Although if he could, you can bet your bottom dollar that he would.


Now that the NFL Scouting Combine is complete, the measurables for this Outside Linebacker class can be compared to those of Matthews in 2009. It's my belief that the pass-rushing OLB prospects in round one are very top-heavy; Melvin Ingram and Courtney Upshaw are clearly a notch above the other guys at the position.


Barring a blockbuster trade, Green Bay won't have a chance at either of the Draft's top two pass rushing Linebackers, so the team may be forced to address the OLB position in the later rounds.


Ted Thompson has hit home-runs on some recent second round picks such as Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Nick Collins and Randall Cobb, so let's take a look at a few some potential running-mates for Clay Matthews in Round Two.

• Ideally, the Packers would find an exact clone of Clay Matthews to play on the other side of their defense. Here's what Clay did at the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine:
• Ht / Wt: 6-3 240
• 40 Yard Dash: 4.62
• 10 Yard Split: 1.49
• 225 Lb. Reps: 23
• Vertical: 35.5
• Broad Jump: 10' 1"
• 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.18
• 3-Cone Drill: 6.90

1) BRUCE IRVIN - West Virginia

• Ht / Wt: 6-3 245 (6-3 240)
• 40 Yard Dash: 4.50 (4.62)
• 225 Lb. Reps: 23 (23)
• Vertical: 33.5 (35.5)
• Broad Jump: 10' 3" (10' 1")
• 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.03 (4.18)
• 3-Cone Drill: 6.07 (6.90)
• **Projected Round: 2nd

• We all know about Irvin's success story - and if you don't, feel free to check out my Pre-Combine article here - but what I like most about Irvin is his incredible athleticism. This guy played WR in high school and DB in Junior College, and didn't lose any of his athletic ability when he bulked up to rush the passer. While measurables from the Combine can only tell you so much, Irvin compares favorably to the ultra-athletic Clay Matthews on paper.
• The knock on Irvin was that he was used almost exclusively as a pass rusher for most of his career at West Virginia. However, he played DE on a 3-man line, a position where most players are at least 270 pounds. Irvin played the position at a slight 245 pounds, a sign that he's more than capable of standing his ground in the run game.
• To put Irvin's elite athleticism in perspective, he tied the Draft's top CB prospect, Morris Claiborne, in the 40 yard dash at 4.50. Irvin also easily bested Claiborne's time of 7.01 in the 3-cone drill and a 4.12 in the 20 yard shuttle. Bruce Irvin is an absolute beast.

2) RONNELL LEWIS - Oklahoma

• Ht / Wt: 6-2 253 (6-3 240)
• 40 Yard Dash: 4.68 (4.62)
• 225 Lb. Reps: 36 (23)
• Vertical: 31 (35.5)
• Broad Jump: 9' 4" (10' 1")
• 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.40 (4.18)
• 3-Cone Drill: 7.09 (6.90)
• **Projected Round: 2nd

• He's nicknamed "The Hammer" for a reason, watch some of his highlights if you want to see why. The dude can hit. Hard.
• Some have Lewis going Late-1st, while others have him as a mid-round pick. He entered the Draft after his Junior year, and he likely would have been drafted much earlier had he stayed at Oklahoma for one more year.
• What stands out from his performance at the Combine is what he did on the bench press; Lewis pumped out 36 reps of 225 pounds. That's incredible strength for a 3-4 OLB, although he primarily played Defensive End at Oklahoma. I have Lewis going somewhere in the mid-2nd, so I'd be more than happy if the Packers were able to take him with the 60th pick.

3) SHEA McCLELLIN - Boise State

• Ht / Wt: 6-3 260 (6-3 240)
• 40 Yard Dash: 4.63 (4.62)
• 225 Lb. Reps: 19 (23)
• Vertical: 31.5 (35.5)
• Broad Jump: 9' 10" (10' 1")
• 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.33 (4.18)
• 3-Cone Drill: 7.07 (6.90)
• **Projected Round: 2nd-3rd

• While not in the same breath athletically as Bruce Irvin or Ronnell Lewis, Shea McClellin is the typical overachieving blue-collar worker you'd expect from a kid who grew up on his grandparents' farm. On top of football, McClellin lettered in baseball and basketball in high school.
• McClellin is a personal favorite of mine. I feel like this guy could develop into a solid starter in the league because he's so versatile. He played primarily Defensive End for the Broncos, but it was somewhat of a hybrid position because he played standing up as well. At the Senior Bowl, the Minnesota Vikings' coaching staff played McClellin at Outside Linebacker. If he can make the transition to OLB in a 3-4 scheme, McClellin could stick around in the league for a long time.
• Pairing McClellin with Matthews would give the Packers a "Shea & Clay Connection." Just sayin.

Draft: Looking at Potential Quarterbacks

The Packers have done a great job in recent history of finding capable backup quarterbacks late in the Draft, and even after the Draft. Except for the disastrous 2nd Round selection of Louisville QB Brian Brohm, Green Bay has a relatively successful track record drafting at the position. Fortunately, the Packers were able to find a 7th Round gem in Matt Flynn the same year they wasted a pick on Brohm.

There isn't a simple, cookie-cutter mold for what the Packers like in their Quarterbacks, but there are a couple characteristics that they all share. Rodgers, Flynn, Brohm, and Harrell were all winners in at the collegiate level; Rodgers was the starter at Cal for two years, Flynn saw playing time in three seasons and won a National Championship in his only season as the starter, Brohm was the starter at Louisville for three years, and Harrell started three seasons at Texas Tech.

Another commonality among these Quarterbacks? Size.

Aaron Rodgers is listed at 6' 2" 225 pounds, a tad below the averages for a starting QB in the NFL. His most recent backup, Matt Flynn, is also listed at 6' 2" 225. Graham Harrell? 6' 2" and a slight 215 pounds. Even Ingle Martin, a 5th-Round pick of the Packers in 2006, stood 6' 2" 220 for his less-than-illustrious two-year career in the NFL. Oh yeah, and that guy who used to wear number four? He was last listed at 6' 2" 222.

Although it's foolish to think that Thompson and McCarthy only want Quarterbacks that stand exactly 74 inches tall, the fact that so many recent players at the position had similar stature can't be completely ignored.

With Matt Flynn surely headed elsewhere to be a starter, the Packers are left with Graham Harrell as their top backup to Aaron Rodgers. While Harrell has improved during his time in Green Bay, he is certainly a downgrade from Matt Flynn as the team's second-string QB.

I'd be shocked if the Packers used their first or second pick, maybe even third, on a Quarterback. However, I fully expect them to select a QB at some point later in the Draft or sign one as an undrafted free agent shortly after the Draft. Here's a look at some players who could get a look from Green Bay in the middle rounds.

1: Kirk Cousins - Michigan State (6' 2" 214)
- Benefitting from Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin's decision not to throw at the Combine, Kirk Cousins drew rave reviews out of Indianapolis for being the Combine's most impressive passer. He was a three-year starter for the Spartans and is viewed as an intelligent player as well as a great leader. He fits the imaginary "McCarthy 74 Rule" perfectly, and he will likely come off the board somewhere in the late third round or early fourth.

2: Russell Wilson - Wisconsin (5' 11" 204)
- Here's a scenario where three inches could translate to three rounds of draft stock; it appears his only weakness is his diminutive stature. While at North Carolina State, Wilson split time as a Freshman with two others before being the full-time starter for the next two seasons. Wilson transferred to Wisconsin for his senior year and led the Badgers to a tremendous, nearly legendary, season in Madison. He'll likely be selected between round four and round six.

3: Kellen Moore - Boise State (6' 0" 197)
- Much like Russell Wilson, Moore's short stature will likely mean he'll be drafted a few rounds later than his resume may suggest. After being redshirted as a true Freshman, Moore started his subsequent four years at Boise and became the winningest Quarterback in the history of college football. A student of the game, Moore's NFL future is likely as a career backup. He figures to be drafted somewhere in the sixth or seventh round.

4: Case Keenum - Houston (6' 1" 208)
- Slightly undersized and highly productive, Case Keenum's gaudy numbers put him in consideration for the Heisman Trophy later in his college career. The NCAA granted him a 6th year of eligibility after tearing he tore his ACL in Houston's third game in 2010; he was able to rebound from injury by putting up sensational numbers (48 TD 5 INT) in his final season as the starter. At Houston, Keenum played in a similar offensive attack to what Graham Harrell played in at Texas Tech; however, Keenum has much more mobility than Harrell. If he's drafted, Keenum will likely be a sixth or seventh round selection.

5: Austin Davis - Southern Miss (6' 2" 219)
- Fitting the recent Packer QB mold to perfection, Austin Davis has more Packer-ties than just his stature. Davis has been training with Southern Miss alum Brett Favre in preparation for the 2012 Draft. In 2008, Davis became the first Freshman starting QB for USM since 1991 - Brett Favre's first year on campus. Davis put up some impressive numbers as a four-year starter, perhaps most impressive was his Touchdown to Interception ratio: 23-8, 10-2 in a shortened season, 20-6, and 30-11 just last year. Davis will likely be a sixth or seventh round pick in April.