Well, the Green Bay Packers got their pass rusher. He’s not the guy we thought they’d get though.
The Packers chose USC defensive end Nick Perry (6-3, 250).
Perry entered the draft after his junior season. He was named first-team All Pac-12 and recorded 9.5 sacks in 2011. He had only four sacks as a sophomore, but recorded nine as a redshirt freshman.
In his final USC season, Perry also recorded 55 tackles and two forced fumbles.
He’ll move to outside linebacker with the Packers as the team attempts to complement Clay Matthews and generate a pass rush. Perry has plenty of natural ability, but will need some coaching to reach his full potential.
Yeah, by most accounts, the Packers got a “potential” guy.
Still, he put up some impressive numbers. He ran the 40 in 4.64 seconds at the combine and graded out at 87.5.
NFL.com characterized his strengths as:
- strong base and balance
- good leverage and athleticism
- good burst, solid tackler
- can beat tackles with power or quickness
- solid spin move
- reliable against the run
And the weaknesses:
- gets tied up in double teams
- trouble working in tight spaces
- hasn’t been asked to cover
- could be neutralized by stronger tackles
Here are some highlights of Perry.