Tension is building inside of the hearts of football fans across America. The days in the month of April are already sliding away like so many road markers when you’re cruising distracted down the highway.
The 2018 NFL Draft is almost upon us, which means training camp and preseason isn’t that far behind. What will the Green Bay Packers do with the No. 14 overall pick? And what will they do further down the road in the draft to keep competitive in an increasingly tough division?
The Packers are in an interesting spot coming into the 2018 draft. They still need help in the defensive backfield, whether at safety or cornerback. Despite signing Tramon Williams and, this week, Davon House, most still feel cornerback is the Packers’ number one area of concern. But the team coud also use a bit of shoring up on the EDGE, on the offensive line and at receiver. In some ways, I think it’s more important that the Packers add some depth on the edge with a fresh explosive talent.
Draft Talk
Suddenly, all eyes are on Denzel Ward. As mock drafts get more and more advanced now that we have more free agency and trade information, the outcomes are changing slightly. The Ohio State corner keeps popping up as being available when the Packers are on the clock. Ward may be too good for the Packers to pass up.
The problem with this thinking is, I really don’t think the consensus best corner in the 2018 draft will be available at No. 14. There is a good chance Ward goes in the top 10. If he were available, Ward would be a great fit and potential day on starter.
Ohio State is a factory when it comes to producing defensive backs, having a Big Ten-high 14 selected since the 2008 draft. And almost half (6) of those selections have been first-rounders. https://t.co/m6q552cwBn
— Tom Dienhart (@TomDienhart1) April 14, 2018
If the Packers look at the edge, the two names most prominently mentioned are raw UTSA prospect Marcus Davenport and Boston College’s Harold Landry.
The top pass-rush prospect, NC State’s Bradley Chubb, will be long gone by the time the Packers pick at No. 14. There’s a big drop off in talent at the position after Chubb. However, both Davenport and Landry have room to grow. They may not be huge contributors in years one, but could be dominant by year two or three.
Another player who is actually on the betting odds boards to get taken by the Packers is Alabama receiver Calvin Ridley. However, as Rob has pointed out, there do not appear to be any athletically gifted receivers in this year’s draft. Ridley is merely the best of a weak bunch.
Different betting sites will have odds on the 2018 NFL Draft. We’ll have to keep an eye on them as we inch closer and closer to April 26th. The sportsbooks always have a hot bead on where the chips will fall, so to speak. Currently, Sam Darnold is the heavy, odds-on favorite to go No. 1 overall. Followed by, Josh Allen, Saquon Barkley, Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield, Bradley Chubb and Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Right now, there is nothing we can do but wait… and hope that the Packers get exactly what they need.