Missouri defensive end Shane Ray was surely going to be off the board by the time the Green Bay Packers picked at No. 30… last week.
On Monday, Ray got pulled over in Missouri and was cited for marijuana possession. And clearly, that is unacceptable.
I mean, a college-aged kid smokes marijuana?
THE HORROR!!!
Seriously, who cares if Ray smokes weed? The incident says something about his judgment and so he’s going to drop in the draft.
Could he be available when the Packers pick? It now seems possible.
On Wednesday, Ray met the media, apologized for a second time for the incident and noted that he’s now getting calls from teams who draft toward the end of round one.
“I’m getting a little bit more interest from teams later on in the first round, that’s what it is,” he said.
So what are we talking about with this guy?
First of all, Ray is 6-3, 245, which makes him an outside linebacker in Green Bay’s system. Second of all, he’s a badass pass rusher.
In 2014, Ray had 65 tackles, including 22.5 for loss and 14.5 sacks, while winning SEC defensive player of the year honors. Ray is definitely a first-round talent and he’s probably a top 15 talent. He had a lapse in judgment, much like the Green Bay Packers starting nose tackle, Letroy Guion, who the team re-signed anyway.
We’re certainly not reaching in thinking the Packers would pick Ray.
Pair this guy with Julius Peppers and keep Clay Matthews inside where he belongs and you’ve got yourself a pretty formidable defense, providing the defensive line can at least hold their own.
The only problem with that scenario is we’re not banking on Ray being available at No. 30. If he’s still around at No. 28, we fully expect the Denver Broncos to pounce. Of course, stranger things have happened.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was supposed to be long gone by the time the Packers picked in the first round last year.