Packers Draft Grades The Day After

Mark87

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They mean nothing the day after but fun to read......

SI.com’s Conor Orr gave the Packers an A-minus. The Packers continue to put together high value draft boards under Brian Gutekunst who, despite being the target of his franchise quarterback’s ire, has an exceptional sense of where good players tend to fall. Eric Stokes was one of our favorite players of the draft; a corner with long arms who has extensive experience against all the SEC talent at wideout that populated the early portion of the first round. He’s only been playing the position for a few years and has a ton of room to develop. The former Fastest Man in Georgia, Stokes is not just a typical track burner. There is a real functional element to his speed and should help the Packers modernize their secondary and prevent the kind of home run breakdowns that underlined their last two conference title game losses.

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter gave the Packers an A overall, with an A for Day 1, A-minus for Day 2 and an A for Day 3. Writing about the Day 3 picks, Reuter said, “The Packers found their right tackle in Newman, who isn’t a plus athlete but can move defenders off the ball and is reliable in pass protection. Van Lanen is another solid late-round lineman. The defensive line got a big man up front in Slaton, who was unblockable at times for the Gators when fresh. Jean-Charles should contribute in the slot and outside, always fighting through the receiver to knock away passes. McDuffie was a great value for a team needing an active inside linebacker. Hill could stick as a third back and provide real value if Aaron Jones and/or AJ Dillon get hurt.”

ESPN.com’s Mel KIper Jr. gave the Packers a B-minus, with only three teams worse. Part of what he wrote for ESPN Insiders: “That Amari Rodgers pick likely saves this class from a C because nearly all of Green Bay’s Day 3 picks went higher than I ranked them on my board. Again, though, with the uncertainty around Rodgers’ situation, this is a tough team to gauge.”

The Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer gave the Packers a B-plus with his 15th-ranked draft. Wrote Iyer: GM Brian Gutekunst did his best to balance making some key defensive upgrades and giving Aaron Rodgers some needed extra help after the lingering disaster that was taking Jordan Love in the 2020 first round. Myers and Newman are solid reinforcements for the interior line, while Amari Rodgers was the missing big-play cog in the slot to complement Davante Adams. Stokes can be quick upgrade over Kevin King with ballhawking to better complement Jaire Alexander. Hill is nice to replace Jamaal Williams behind Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.

Pro Football Focus handed out a C-minus. Focusing on Day 3, it said, “Jean-Charles locked up everyone he saw on the outside at App State in 2020, allowed just 17 catches across 52 targets while making 18 plays on the ball. He may not make up for his size with elite-level athleticism — as someone like Asante Samuel Jr. does — which will likely kick him inside in Green Bay, but Jean-Charles will bring the physicality and eyes needed to hold up in the slot.

DraftKings gave the Packers a C-plus. Focusing at the top of the draft, it said, “First-rounder Eric Stokes has a tremendous athletic profile, but he played in a press-man scheme and must now transition to a zone-heavy defense. On offense, Amari Rodgers becomes the first wideout Green Bay has taken in the first three rounds since Davante Adams but might see most of his early action on jet motions and other gadgetry rather than a dedicated receiving role. Both draft choices have upside, but their Year 1 impact remains highly uncertain.”

The New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy gave the Packers a C-plus. He wrote, “Nine of the Packers’ last 10 first-round picks are defense. The other is a backup QB, making Aaron Rodgers angry. Stokes better be more than a track star. Myers fills a big need after free agency and the Packers are tempting fates with another mid-round WR.”

Pro Football Network gave the Packers a B. This story grades every pick, then wraps it up with: “Another draft, another year of Green Bay’s strategy lacking any identity outside of selecting multiple guys at the same position. The Packers went heavy on the offensive line, which makes sense given their losses there. Amari Rodgers is a nice value add to their receiver room. Eric Stokes upset many fans, but he’s a good addition to their secondary. They acquired the necessary depth on both sides of the ball, but they didn’t make any picks that scream out at me. It’s a good haul, but one that I’m sure Packers fans are iffy over.”

The Ringer’s Danny Kelly gave the Packers a B. “Reports that Aaron Rodgers wants out of Green Bay hung like a dark cloud over the team all weekend, but overall I thought the Packers did a nice job in this draft. Stokes should start for this defense, and Myers replaces Corey Linsley at center. Amari Rodgers is a Randall Cobb-like pass catcher who can line up all over the formation and make plays, giving the team some much-needed depth at receiver.

Walter Football didn’t have a composite grade yet but dished out four As, two Bs and three Cs. Discussing the final pick, running back Kylin Hill: “I'm shocked Kylin Hill lasted so long. I had him mocked in the third round! Even though the Packers didn't need a running back with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon signed on for so long, they were right to obtain this incredible value late in the draft.”

Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski delivered two Bs, three Cs and one D for the Day 3 haul. The D came for the Hill pick: “Why the Packers need him behind Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon is confusing.”

Luke Easterling at USA Today’s Draft Wire gave the Packers a B. “While the Aaron Rodgers situation stole all the headlines, the Packers quietly put together a solid class here. Eric Stokes has rare physical traits, and Josh Myers gives them a starting-caliber center to replace Corey Linsley. Amari Rodgers could excel in a Randall Cobb role, and the Day 3 picks were all solid values that added quality depth. Their last pick was the best value, landing one of the most underrated running backs in the class with Kylin Hill. Who knows what happens at quarterback, but the Packers got better this weekend on both sides of the ball.”

Tim Bielik from the host city Cleveland Plain Dealer gave the Packers a B. “The Aaron Rodgers news seemed like a shout for help; it would be so tough to trade him. They spent three of their first four picks on offense, including getting him another receiver at last in Amari Rodgers. Eric Stokes was a fringe first-round pick, so that makes some sense. Day 3 wasn’t anything great, but it was far from awful.”
 
Meh right now you can't grade a class until the 3 year rule really. You can look back at the 2018 draft class and give that a grade IMO which the 2018 draft class you can grade at a C and only reason it does not get a F is because of Alexander and MVS. The rest of that draft class is bad. 4 of the 11 players drafted are no longer on the team. 2 of them in Scott and Bradley are sub average ST players, 3 are backups who contribute little and 2 of those were drafted in the 2nd and 3 rounds. When you draft 11 guys and you get 1 stud and 1 decent role player that is not a good draft class IMO.
 
The first three, possibly four players taken this year should see substantive or significant snaps in 2021. I can quibble with the order they took guys etc. but they at least addressed needs and firmed up the roster in certain places. It really underscores the folly of last year's draft - they took this Kylin Hill kid in the 7th round, and he doesn't sound all that different from AJ Dillon, who was (as a pick, not a player) a waste in the 2nd round. Amari Rodgers is going to be a more mature and effective 3rd round pick and more ready to contribute than Josiah Deguara. That 2020 draft was flushed down the toilet from the get-go.
 
You can look back at the 2018 draft class and give that a grade IMO which the 2018 draft class you can grade at a C and only reason it does not get a F is because of Alexander and MVS. The rest of that draft class is bad. 4 of the 11 players drafted are no longer on the team. 2 of them in Scott and Bradley are sub average ST players, 3 are backups who contribute little and 2 of those were drafted in the 2nd and 3 rounds. When you draft 11 guys and you get 1 stud and 1 decent role player that is not a good draft class IMO.
a "c" is way too generous for the 2018 draft. you have to do better than hit on 2 out of 11 picks. if 40% of your picks aren't even good enough to hang onto until the end of their rookie contract, that's bad. that's a "d-" draft in my opinion.
 
The first three, possibly four players taken this year should see substantive or significant snaps in 2021. I can quibble with the order they took guys etc. but they at least addressed needs and firmed up the roster in certain places. It really underscores the folly of last year's draft - they took this Kylin Hill kid in the 7th round, and he doesn't sound all that different from AJ Dillon, who was (as a pick, not a player) a waste in the 2nd round. Amari Rodgers is going to be a more mature and effective 3rd round pick and more ready to contribute than Josiah Deguara. That 2020 draft was flushed down the toilet from the get-go.
Only major issue I have is last year we draft 3 OL in the draft now we draft 3 more OL in the draft. To me that says yeah we are not high on those OL we drafted last year now that we drafted 3 more again.
 
a "c" is way too generous for the 2018 draft. you have to do better than hit on 2 out of 11 picks. if 40% of your picks aren't even good enough to hang onto until the end of their rookie contract, that's bad. that's a "d-" draft in my opinion.
Yeah I gave it a C mainly because Alexander has become one of the best CB's in the NFL that's what brought the grade up and that MVS seems to have the ablity to be a #2 WR.
 
Only major issue I have is last year we draft 3 OL in the draft now we draft 3 more OL in the draft. To me that says yeah we are not high on those OL we drafted last year now that we drafted 3 more again.
All three went in the 6th round, and by that point you're getting into priority free agent range. Of the three Runyan looks like he could be depth, the other two are likely cuts.
 
All three went in the 6th round, and by that point you're getting into priority free agent range. Of the three Runyan looks like he could be depth, the other two are likely cuts.
it was a shotgun approach. three picks in the same late round, hoping for a miracle.
 
The big red flag for me with #1 is he has to switch schemes from press to zone according to the rating. That's a big if he can make that work. And from what Mark said he isn't consistent. Can't give that pick a high grade based just on measurable and crap like that.

Overall B because they did address some issues. But too many over drafts up top.
 
The big red flag for me with #1 is he has to switch schemes from press to zone according to the rating. That's a big if he can make that work. And from what Mark said he isn't consistent. Can't give that pick a high grade based just on measurable and crap like that.

Overall B because they did address some issues. But too many over drafts up top.
Yes, another flag is "There is a real functional element to his speed..." They meant that as a compliment but for a first round corner shouldn't that be a given, and not debatable? He's a fringe first rounder, probably better as a 2nd but I won't kill them for it. I would've grabbed an OT in the first because there were corners available in the 2nd and 3rd, but that's water under the bridge now.
 
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