You know we like to place the occasional wager around here and we’re going to be betting big on this one. The Green Bay Packers will draft a safety early on draft day.
Why do we say this? It appears Nick Collins‘ future won’t be decided until after the draft. Collins is attempting to return from spinal fusion surgery and still doesn’t have all the appropriate medical opinions.
His agent, Alan Herman, said today that the Green Bay Packers safety hasn’t received all the medical advice he needs to make a decision about whether to continue playing following single neck fusion surgery last September.
“All the opinions aren’t in,” Herman said, “and I think he’s getting another opinion. That doctor was not available — he was on vacation — so I’m hopeful soon. But I think he’s got another meeting with one of the (doctors).”
What does that mean for the Packers?
It means they’ll either have to draft someone to potentially replace Collins or face the possibility of another season with Charlie Peprah as a starter. Although Peprah isn’t the worst option, he struggled mightily after replacing Collins last season. In 2010, Peprah was solid filling in for Morgan Burnett at the other safety position.
We’re not talking about replacing Burnett again though. The Packers need to protect themselves.
The top safety in the draft is Alabama’s Mark Barron. He’s probably the only safety who will go in the first round and is considered a mid-t0-late first-round pick.
While most prognosticators have the Packers picking a defensive end or outside linebacker in round one, keep an eye on Barron if he drops.
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He’s a hell of a player, however I feel that there is a lot of decent players at this position that can be picked up in the 2nd/ 3rd round.
The word I heard is that the Packers will know before the draft. They may already know.
There just isn’t going to be an announcement about it until after the draft.
This is just logical draft strategy. If Collins announces either way prior to the draft, then he tips the Packers’ hand going in.
I doubt they’ll go with Barron because they’d have to trade up to get him. He’s not falling to #28 in anybody’s Mock. I see the Packers possibly moving out of Rd #1 and getting more ammunition to move around in Rd #2-#3 and so on. I think they’re targeting very specific players this year and want to make sure they don’t risk everything on a single player in Rd #1. Nice thought, however. I think improved front 7 play will result in better secondary play because it takes some of the pressure off.
Have we looked at Jim Lehonard at all? On IR the past 2 years so we could get him for a decent price let alone he’s a small town Wisconsin kid.
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they picked a safety in round 2 or later. No chance that Barron falls that far, but Packers sure as heck would take him if he did. Maybe trade down if they can find a buyer, there are several second tier safeties that look like solid picks for the Pack. Only Barron rates a 28 though.