I can’t recall a time when a seventh-round draft pick has been this pissed off, but Green Bay Packers’ seventh-round draft pick C.J. Wilson feels a little slighted.
Wilson had delusions of grandeur entering the NFL Draft, thinking he would be drafted in the fourth or fifth round. I’ve seen at least one prognosticator who had Wilson going as high as the third round, but let’s be honest. This guy didn’t exactly set the world on fire his senior year at East Carolina.
He totaled 57 tackles (10.5 for a loss) and 5.5 sacks while playing defensive end for the Pirates. He was more impressive his junior season, racking up 70 tackles (18.5 for a loss) and 10 sacks.
OK, so those aren’t bad stats and maybe Wilson should have gone higher. I’m no draft expert (kind of like Ted Thompson).
After the draft, Wilson was irate he didn’t get chosen higher and let it be known. Since then, he hasn’t backed off those comments one bit.
“I don’t regret anything,” Wilson said. “I’m out to prove my point.
“If it’s in practice, meetings, drills or working out on my own, I’m going to use that. I want to follow what the greats did with the Packers. I know it’s going to take hard work, but I’m motivated. I don’t regret anything at all.”
Wilson will need this kind of fire and motivation. The Packers currently have 11 defensive linemen on the roster, with seven of them being defensive ends, so it will be a battle for him to make the team.
If Wilson is right about his talent level, though, the Packers may have a special player on their hands somewhere down the line.
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Talk is cheap…let’s hope he can put his money where his mouth is!
I definitely like Wilson’s chances of making the team and contributing early, but I also thought he’d go way before the 7th round.
I’m not really sure why a versatile, high motor, high production player like him, who’s also a good athlete, would nearly go undrafted.
I think the locks at DE for you guys are Jenkins, Jolly and Neal (assuming we consider Raji and Pickett the top NT options). Harrell, Wynn and Talley are the other contenders, correct?
Jolley could be facing a suspension this year, so you guys might be holding onto more DEs than most 3-4 teams, and 3-4 teams generally hold onto four.
I do like Wilson’s chances of beating Harrell for that last spot and, really, I highly doubt Wilson would make it to your practice squad if you went with Harrell instead.