For most teams, signing undrafted free agents is a formality tolerated in order to get some extra bodies for camp. For the Green Bay Packers, it’s a big deal, since two or three of these guys always seem to make the final roster.
You can bet that fact isn’t lost on the guys who have agreed to join the Packers, either. Despite having one of the best teams in the league year in and year out, which should make it hard to make the final roster, undrafted guys know they’re going to get a chance to do just that in Green Bay. Therefore, the Packers often get the cream of the undrafted crop.
Here’s this year’s class and what we know about them.
Guard Matt Rotheram, Pittsburgh
We know this about Rotheram. He was in demand after the draft ended, getting offers from 15 teams, some more lucrative than what the Packers offered. Rotheram said he felt confident he could make the roster in Green Bay and thus took less money for the shot to do so. Rotheram is 6-5, 325 and started 27 games for Pitt at right guard. He also started a number of games at right tackle. You know what the buzz word is when it comes to offensive linemen — especially undrafted ones — in Green Bay. That’s right. Versatility.
Receiver Adrian Coxson, Stony Brook
The Packers had Coxson in for a pre-draft visit, so it’s not surprising they signed him. He started his college career at Florida and then transferred to Maryland before ending up at Stony Brook. In 2014, he recorded 43 catches for 664 yards and six touchdowns. While that’s not all that impressive, this is. Coxson ran a 4.3 40. If this guy can catch the ball, look the hell out.
Outside linebacker Tavarus Dantzler, Bethune-Cookman
We can’t say we know much about Dantzler. He’s 6-3, 225, which makes him built more like a safety than a linebacker. He had 80 tackles, including 8.5 for loss and a sack in 2014. Dantzler was not invited to the combine and instead worked out for teams at a regional combine. He did have a pre-draft visit with the Packers.
Tackle Fabbians Ebbele, Arizona
Ebbele is 6-8, 315 and that’s what he has going for him. The reason he wasn’t drafted, despite those measurables, is because he has poor technique and plays too upright. Go ahead and insert joke about pad level here. If the Packers can correct Ebbele’s issues, then they potentially have a mauler.
Cornerback Bernard Blake, Colorado State
Blake joins what is once again a very crowded cornerback group in Green Bay. Blake is 6-0, 185. Judging by his statistics, Blake’s play has gone downhill over the past two years. As a junior, he had 64 tackles, one interception and 12 passes defended. As a senior, he had 38, one and 11. He was not a full-time starter at CSU. Is considered a good cover guy, but not physical enough.
Receiver Larry Pinkard, Old Dominion
Well, here’s an intriguing prospect. Pinkard got booted from the ODU team in July of 2014 for a team rules violation. As a junior, he had 68 catches for 1,020 yards and nine touchdowns. Had he played his senior season, you have to think Pinkard would have improved on those numbers and probably would have been drafted. The Packers have plenty of receivers, but here’s a guy we’ll be keeping an eye on nonetheless.
Tight end Mitchell Henry, Western Kentucky
Henry actually has better stats than the tight end the Packers drafted in the sixth round. As a senior, he had 32 catches for 489 yards and four touchdowns. He’s 6-4, 245 and that’s about all we know.
Running back Malcolm Agnew, Southern Illinois
Meet your new DuJuan Harris. Like Harris, Agnew is pretty much a bowling ball at 5-9, 207. He started his college career at Oregon State before transferring to Southern Illinois. His senior season, which was off to a very promising start, was cut short by an ankle injury after eight games. In those eight games, he put up 820 rushing yards, 192 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Agnew is quick and known as an inside the tackles runner. It certainly appears Agnew had the talent to be drafted, so here’s another guy worth keeping an eye on.
Receiver Ricky Collins, Texas A&M Commerce
Collins is one of the receivers the Packers had in pre-draft. Although he caught 71 passes for 1,187 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2014, he’s considered an unknown. Collins played two season of junior college ball before transferring to Midwestern State in 2012. He caught just seven passes in five games there. Then he sat out all of 2013 before playing 2014 at Commerce. Really, all anyone knows about Collins is that he was able to tear up Division II competition for one season.
Running back John Crockett, North Dakota State
Crockett (6-0, 202) wrecked the subdivision. In 2014, he had 1,994 yards and 21 touchdowns. That was his third consecutive 1,000-yard season. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2014, 6.7 in 2013 and 5.4 in 2012. He played in a pro-style attack at NDSU and is known as a patient runner with good burst. Will likely need to get stronger to make a dent in the league.
Defensive tackle Lavon Hooks, Mississippi
Hooks was a JUCO transfer and never a full-time starter for Ole Miss. In two seasons, he totaled 27 tackles, including nine for loss and three sacks. Of course, he’s 6-3, 318 and you can’t teach that.
Guard Marcus Reed, Fayetteville State
Let’s go ahead and just say this guy is probably as raw as they come. He played two years of junior college ball before transferring to Fayetteville State, which is a Division II school. Reed started every game of the 2014 season at either guard or tackle. Here are the important numbers — 6-5, 350. The guy is a monster.
Running back Alonzo Harris, Louisiana-Lafayette
Well, somebody on the Packers was down there in Lafayette scouting the hell out of the Rajin’ Cajuns. That’s for sure. They also drafted ULL defensive end Christian Ringo in the sixth round. As a senior, Harris had 807 yards and 12 touchdowns, while averaging 4.7 per carry.
Running back Raymond Maples, Army
It’s hard to know what to make of Maples. He played five years of college ball after being granted a medical redshirt season following the 2013 campaign, which was cut short after just three games. Maples had two 1,000-yard seasons (2011 and 2012), but then was more or less an afterthought when he returned in 2014. Despite playing in 11 games, Maples carried only 44 times for 266 yards and three touchdowns.
Receiver Javess Blue, Kentucky
In 2014, Blue had 29 catches for 529 yards and five touchdowns. Those aren’t mind-blowing stats, but Blue did average more than 18 per reception. He also did this.
Receiver Jimmie Hunt, Missouri
Just can’t get enough receivers, can we? In 2014, Hunt caught 40 balls for 698 yards and seven touchdowns while battling knee and shoulder injuries. He ended up having shoulder surgery in December and missed the Tigers’ bowl game. Hunt’s most impressive game came against Alabama in the SEC Championship, when he caught six balls for 169 yards.
Outside linebacker Jermauria Rasco, LSU
Rasco played defensive end at LSU, but will move to outside linebacker with the Packers. He was a contributor on defense all four years for the Tigers. Not a great pass rusher and the knock on him seems to be that his arms are too short and he lacks strength. Perhaps the move to outside linebacker could mitigate those weaknesses. Had 71 tackles, included 7.5 for loss and four sacks as a senior.
Outside linebacker James Vaughters, Stanford
The vibe we’re picking up on Vaughters is that he’s big and strong and a solid locker room guy, but lacks any semblance of athleticism. He’s been labeled stiff. As a senior, Vaughters had 51 tackles, including 11 for loss and 6.5 sacks. He also had two forced fumbles.
Cornerback Ladarius Gunter, Miami
Hey, here’s that tall cornerback you wanted! Gunter is 6-2, 200 and was projected to go as high as the fourth round of the draft. Obviously, he has good size. The knock is that he doesn’t have great speed and there are questions about this ability in man coverage. It’s going to be tough for an undrafted corner to make the Packers this year, but Gunter would be the guy to keep an eye on if you’re a betting man.
Tryout players: Alabama quarterback Blake Sims, Buffalo offensive lineman Jake Silas, Colorado State-Pueblo defensive lineman Josh Bredl, Sacred Heart cornerback JD Rousell, Southeastern Louisiana receiver Chris Mallott, Central Michigan guard Andy Phillips and BYU defensive back Skye PoVey.
No ILB even in undrafted free agents? WTF
It’s like he’s allergic to the position this draft season.
The guys listed at OLB in this article will likely convert to ILB instead. They don’t have the length to play OLB. Look at Carl Bradford’s size. They played at him at OLB to see what he could do and then they moved him to ILB, and now he’ll probably be a starter this year.
Hey Teddy knows what he’s doing! Look at all the playoff appearances…oh wait, that’s all because of Rodgers. He actually has no fucking clue what he’s doing. Too bad Howdy Doody (Murphy) is so busy kissing baby’s and TT’s ass to recognize he’s costing this team SB’s
So, I guess Aaron Rodgers throws passes and catches those same passes, huh?! He blocks from himself also, right?! or Wait! He hands the ball off to himself. That’s right he had two conservative 1000 yd seasons. What free safety had 2 INTs during the NFC championships? That’s right, #12 Aaron Rodgers!
Exactly right, Jay. And according to Brett, A-rodge has always had a full cupboard of WRs to throw to, so how come he has only gotten there once? Poor performances against NYG, SAN, and SEA have something to do with it.
Tough to win against the best of the best when your QB has a below average performance.
Tom Brady has had some clunkers in playoffs too. Frankly, I hate to go there but just being honest, Brady, Belichick and the Pats have had the advantage of playing in the AFC. If Rodgers and the Packers were in the AFC, they’d probably have been in 2 or 3 Super Bowls with Rodgers by now.
Because Aaron Rodgers can NOT have ANY subpar games right? Without Rodgers, know one would even know TT’s name. Rodgers has done nothing but reach the pinnacle of the NFL, but he’s also masked some of the problems that fall on the responsibility of TT. Like a weak defense, and a weak O line. Show me another QB who went 15-1 with the 32nd ranked defense…Good luck with that.
Without the various talents that are Aaron Rodgers on the field, (too many to mention) and you should know what they are. The Packers would have been a .500 or under team the last 6 years.
Sure he can have sub par games, just not in the playoffs, for the majority of the games over the past 4 years.
PF4L, come on, man. You’re better than that. TT got Seattle to a Super Bowl with Matt Hasselbeck. He got the Packers to the NFC Championship Game with Brett Favre. TT didn’t need A-Rodge to be a successful GM. However, if we were going to make it all about A-Rodge, then we have to give TT credit for drafting A-Rodge in the 1st place and for sticking by A-Rodge and trading away Brett Favre, a move that should rank right up there with Ron Wolf’s acquisition of Reggie White as one of the biggest and ballsiest moves in franchise history. People seem to have forgotten that A-Rodge could be a Viking right now if TT didn’t make the tougher of the two calls. It would have been much easier to accept Brett back and beg the fans for forgiveness. A-Rodge is a HOF QB, who has the chance to be one of the best ever, but he needs to play better in the playoffs. We have to be honest about it. In 2009 against AZ, Rodgers played lights out, and we lost because the defense was shit. But in 2011, 2013 and last year, the Packers loss in the playoffs had as much to do with A-Rodge as it did with anything. Can’t blame that on anyone else. Not if you are the leader of this team and its best player. That’s the way I see it.
I think Tavarus Dantzler is the ILB. His current weight is more like 240lbs. Ran 4.5 something in one you tube video. Look at his highlight video on you tube. It is about 9:00 minutes long. Highlights do not tell the whole story, and can be deceiving, however this guy stands out against the competition. The problem may be the competition is the MEAC. If you just look at his highlights you wonder why he did not get drafted. There must be something else that held him back. Hopefully it was just being from a small school and lesser competition.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WKH5UBdz-g
That Crockett kid may be something.
Great video. Great job. GB is a good place to get a shot. Starks is our only back up RB, and he’s a Lacy clone. The Pack could use a RB that brings something different.
Apparently we need 30 different running backs and receivers.
Idk if ppl notice this but TT is actually 1 of the best when it comes to drafting and finding talent in undrafted FA.. GB has been 1 of the youngest teams in the NFL for like 7 years.. That’s not by accident, they draft well and get there players to produce.. They are always contenders.. Yes, AR is the best QB in the NFL but Nelson&Cobb are 2 of the best WR’s, Clay is 1 of the elite LB’s, they have 1 of the best O-lines, and a lot more talent..
Forgot to mention Ladarius Gunter, CB from Miami (FL). He’s 6’2 and good at pressing. I think he’s gonna make the team just bc of his size alone
Blake Sims will keep proving everyone wrong and outplay Brett Hundley this preseason. As an Alabama alum I can tell you that he is an excellent leader- much more so than mccarron and Id take him ahead of AJ. That team would’ve ran through a wall for Blake. He’s a great guy- very humble, extremely hard worker, good athlete but not fleet footed and looking to run- he’s def pass first. He’s the type of high character, high effort player you want to build your team around. Needs to work on going through his progressions but that will improve with time- he only started one year. I love this kid and I’ll be cheering for him to make the 53 harder than anyone in a very long time- although with Hundleys draft status, I think PS is much more likely.
What I learned from the Packers 2015 draft.
I have no clue as to what goes through an NFL GM’s head when it comes to determining the assortment of prospects to compete for a roster position on a pro football team.
i agree that this guy could make the team, and i was surprised that he wasn’t on the list. i think he could be a good replacement for bush as a special teams ace. i’ve seen youtube clips of him as a gunner and blocking a kick. not sure if he has enough speed to be an outside cover corner, but maybe he’s one of those guys who plays faster than his 40 time.
What is all this talk about not drafting an ILB.
And ILB is the weakest position on the team.
We have the best ILB in the NFL on the roster in Mathews.
And Barrington is just going to get better.
For depth we got Bradford and now Jake.
Whats all the complaining about.
What was addressed and what should have been addressed was CB, check, and Special Teams, check.
I think we did pretty good. Glad to be a Packer, now go getum boys ;)
Addressing the issue, and succeeding in doing so are 2 different things. Until they actually play in a NFL game, and prove themselves, a drafted player means nothing. Derrek Sherrod WAS gonna be a fixture at left tackle for 10 years if you believe what was said after the draft.
Nate Palmer is still on the team as well.