Yes, we’re fully aware that we didn’t get around to the Green Bay Packers sixth and seventh-round picks yesterday. That’s because something called NFL Draft fatigue set in.
Like, if I have to look at Mel Kiper for another hour, I’m going to shoot myself in the face, fatigue. So we quit, but the Packers did not. They kept right on drafting. Here are the guys they picked after we failed to care anymore.
Nate Palmer, outside linebacker, Illinois St.
Palmer was the Packers lone sixth-round pick, No. 193. They gave up the other sixth they had to move back into the fourth and select Johnathan Franklin. Palmer is 6-2, 248, ran a 4.7 40 and has a 35-inch vertical. In 2012, he recorded 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 15 tackles for loss. In 2011, he put up 9.5 sacks. This guys seems to have a legit chance to make the roster, considering the Packers only have three other outside linebackers.
Charles Johnson, wide receiver, Grand Valley State
Johnson was the first of three seventh-round picks for the Packers. He’s 6-3, 225 and has speed to burn. He ran a 4.35 40 at his pro day. Had 72 catches for 1,199 yards (16.7 average) and 16 touchdowns in 2012 and 56 catches for 1,030 yards (18.4 average) and 15 touchdowns in 2011. The problem with this guy is he played at a Division II school, which was actually his third college. He was kicked off the Eastern Kentucky team, then went to Antelope Valley Community College before landing at GVS. Will probably have to make the team as a special teamer.
Kevin Dorsey, wide receiver, Maryland
The Packers used pick No. 224 on Dorsey. He’s 6-2, 210 and ran a 4.47 40. Unfortunately, Dorsey didn’t offer much in the way of production during his college career. Some will blame that on Maryland’s awful quarterbacks, but either way you look at it, the numbers are pretty unimpressive. His best season came as a junior, when he caught 45 passes for 573 yards. Dorsey caught just 18 passes in 2012 for 311 yards. Will face an uphill battle to make the roster.
Sam Barrington, inside linebacker, South Florida
Several days after cutting D.J. Smith because they said they had too many inside linebackers, the Packers draft an inside linebacker. That would tell you either Ted Thompson is full of shit or this guy has no chance of making the roster, so it was a wasted draft pick. In any case, Barrington is 6-1, 246 and was a three-year starter for South Florida. In 2012, he had 80 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. The prior year, Barrington had 72 tackles, including 6.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks. This was a supposed value pick, but Barrington joins a crowded group and will need to be impressive on special teams.
“Several days after cutting D.J. Smith because they said they had too many inside linebackers, the Packers draft an inside linebacker. That would tell you either Ted Thompson is full of shit or this guy has no chance of making the roster, so it was a wasted draft pick.”
Or that the Packers think that DJ Smith is unlikely to ever play at the same level again.
I really do not understand this draft. Big need for safety, not much need for receiers, and yet we draft two wideouts and not a single safety. The Polar Bear works in mysterios ways.
Oh we could of used another WR, just not 2 of them that won’t make the team. But maybe TT knows more than us.
He certainly does. Although we don’t need WR currently, in a few years, when these guys develop (assuming they develop enough), we just may need receivers. Sounds like Ted may have found 1 or pearls at the bottom of the ocean of prospects: Dorsey is large and fast and Johnson ridiculously fast and productive, granted he played in DII. Ted has a pretty good history of finding WRs.
For what it’s worth, the packers listed Micah Hyde as FS on their draft sheet. Take that with a grain of salt though.
I believe the cornerback that the Packers drafted in the 5th round, Micah Hyde, will be a safety in the NFL and that is why they drafted him. Great zone cover skills except he is on the slower side so it will be hard for him to man cover the faster corners in the league, but he has great ball skills and great tackling. Sounds like a safety to me anyways.
I am all for Micah playing FS, except the guy has already been on the record saying he is a better CB than a safety. That isn’t exactly a vote of confidence.
TT saying “it was a roster thing” with DJ Smith is code for “as his former employer we can’t say anything that would potentially limit his future value.”
Either DJ Smith is not expected to ever fully recover from his injury or he broke team rules that warrant his dismissal.