Every mock I go into, I’m looking for Edge help in the first. I almost always take an Edge at 12 and, if a top 6 guy falls, I take another one at 30. I just think it’s their biggest need and they need two (at least).
And while there’s a lot of stud Edge guys, it’s a very weak OT class and there aren’t a lot of skill guys going top 10. That means everyone at the top is snatching up Edge guys, too.
Usually I still manage to grab one… not this time.
There was a huge run on Edge at all levels and the results were… interesting.
Not in a good way
Check it out:
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Round 1
The top of the round was really rough with a lot of the defenders I wanted going early, so I rolled the dice and took the best Offensive Tackle prospect in the draft with Jonah Williams. Great value but not the biggest need on the team.
By the time 30 hit, the defensive draft board was a war zone. Again, the Patriots bailed me out and offered me pick 9 in the 3rd to drop down 1 spot. So I did (even if it’s not the most realistic trade scenario I’ve seen) – I’m gonna need all the swings I can get to try to get some defensive help.
The Patriots took Noah Fant, the first tight end off the board and a popular mock selection for New England. I may have started a tight end run by taking TJ Hockenson. He fills a need (thought not the top need) and was the best player on my board. He also seems like a more complete player than teammate Noah Fant.
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Round 2
I grabbed Nassir Adderly to finally get some much-needed help on defense. He’s a great pick at this slot, but man I really feel like Edge is hurting.
As for Adderly, I love guys who have the speed and drive to play like this:
Even if he’s not making a defensive impact right away, Adderley is going to prove his worth on Special Teams. EVERY single team in the league is looking for this type of effort. Absolutely incredible play and hustle. pic.twitter.com/r87uvXsExt
— Carter Donnick (@CDonScouting) November 22, 2018
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How can you not want that on your team!?
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Round 3
With almost all of the Edge guys I covet long gone, I went with Zach Allen in the third round. At 6’5 285, he has great size for the position, but he has limited athleticism and can’t bend like a lot of the top guys. He’s still probably better than anyone the Packers currently have at Edge.
With the other 3rd I got in a trade from the Patriots, I grabbed Elgton Jenkins – good value to play guard and backup center.
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Round 4
When the 4th round rolled around, I added depth to the line with Garrett Bradbury, who, along with Jenkins, could give the Packers a new pair of starting Guards.
Then I took Darnell Savage, who I really like as a complete player, and could team with Adderly to give the Packers a new pair of starting safeties.
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Rounds 5-7
I’m doing most of my analysis on the top half and will start digging deeper as time goes on.
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Analysis
I came out of this draft with a much stronger OL than I could have imagined, potentially with three new starters. Throw in a pair of new starting safeties and a new legitimate complete, all-around Tight End, and it’s a good haul. Nabbing the top player at three positions (OT, S, and TE) should qualify as a win.
However, I think the Packers need to come out of this draft with more than just Zach Allen at Edge. The pass rush tandem of Allen and Fackrell may be an improvement, but not a big enough one. In this scenario, we’d need to hope for help in free agency… or hope that revamped offensive line give Rodgers enough time to put up 2011 numbers.
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Of Note
- Nick Bosa went #3 overall (behind Josh Allen and Brian Burns) – the lowest I’ve ever seen him go
- Devin White, who I don’t want as much as a lot of other Packer fans, went at #10, the highest I’ve seen him go
- Three QBs went in the top 13 (Haskins at 6, Lock at 7, and Murray at 13), plus a 4th (Jones) went at 28 – that’s the most QB love I’ve seen yet
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Check out our PFTW 2019 Mock Draft Archive to see how other scenarios played out!
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