Open Rants by kkunert327

With the draft in the books time to go back and do a wrap up of how teams made out. I might be a bit of a harsh critic to the top 3 round picks, but that is where you need to hit in the draft to be successful. Sure most of the league is 4th rounders and later, but any that turn into Pro Bowlers or All-Pro players is mostly out of luck. So without further adieu, let's go over one of the more controversial drafts made by the Green Bay Packers. 

1 (26) - Jordan Love QB Utah St - A+

2 (30) - A.J. Dillon RB Boston College - D+

3 (30) - Josiah Deguara TE Cincinnati - F

I think I was one of the rare people who saw the Love pick as a great move by the Packers. The kick back is understandable since many saw them just a player or two away from getting to the Super Bowl after losing in the NFC Championship game. However, if you ask me they would have been beat by the Seahawks the week prior had the team been healthier. Not even that, but I still do not see them being able to beat the 49ers after how humiliated they were by them in each of their match ups. The Packers at 12-3 was kind of a sham and if the ball bounced a different way they were more of a 9-7 or 10-6 type of team. Now I do understand why they moved up for Love since there were rumors that the Colts were moving up to get him and I doubt Matt LeFleur and company wanted to see that. Clearly, Rodgers did not mesh too well in LeFleur's offense and knowing Rodgers he might have rubbed the new head coach the wrong way. Hence why he wants to bring in his own guy. Rodgers will still be around for a year or two with the way his massive contract is set up, but it makes sense that he will not finish his career in Green Bay. Hell, Brady was not even allowed to finish up in New England. To me this was one of the better places Love could have landed to refine his ability behind a great mentor to watch in Rodgers. In fact, both play with a similar style moving in the pocket and displaying impressive athleticism at the position. Maybe Love can learn from Rodgers how not to force throws and get that interception number down. I think in 2-3 years by the time he starts and proves to be a productive player many will regret panning this pick as a terrible move. However, I do understand why they should have still gone after it with a different position, but without an owner to force them to do that Green Bay seems destined to be a team that looks more towards the future than most franchises. Now, after the Love pick is where the Packers lost me. Dillon is an excellent back who I thought could have been one of the sneaker 3rd round running back picks of this draft. However, I think they completely whiffed and made the Love pick look much worst. If they took a receiver, defensive tackle, offensive tackle, or linebacker it would have gone over much better. Dillon will have to hope Aaron Jones gets hurt again before he can really be given a bunch of snaps. Even then he will have to stave off the pass catching back Jamal Williams for touches. Not sure where they were thinking with this. Then there was the Deguara pick who is an H-back blocking tight end. Maybe LeFleur wants to go a more 49ers/Titans esque type run game offense. This makes no sense since they ran those with much lesser quarterback talents to Aaron Rodgers. I understood the Love pick, but after this makes no sense what so ever and they are free to get buried for this class. 

5 (30) - Kamal Martin LB Minnesota - D

6 (13) - Jon Runyan OL Michigan - B

6 (29) - Jake Hansen C Oregon - B

6 (30) - John Stepaniak OT Indiana - C+

7 (22) - Vernon Scott S TCU - C

7 (28) - Jonathan Garvin DE Miami - B

Now clearly with all the interior blocking upgrades that the Packers are fully embracing the ground and pound game. Makes no sense since teams that normally go this route do not have a dynamic quarterback like Rodgers, I even think Love potentially could be a dynamic quarterback with his upside. Embracing the run game will seem to stunt their greatest player, Rodgers and it makes no sense. Now, I do love the picks of Runyan, Hansen, and Stepaniak that will greatly enhance their offensive line, especially the depth. They did pick up Ricky Wagner to replace Bryan Bulaga, but I would not be shocked a prospect like Runyan or even Stepaniak will be able to push him. If not the guards are also able to be upgraded. Hansen to me should be a better player than Corey Linsley who is just a league average center. I did not understand the Martin pick, since he feels like a talent that could have been had in the 6th or 7th round. Scott is just a special teamer, which continues to baffle me why teams use picks on these types of players. In a draft in the later rounds I am shooting for upside and potential over just a player who my highest hopes will be becoming a gunner on punt coverage. Garvin has upside and could work into the rotation off the edge spelling the Smith Brothers. Like everyone, I do not understand why they avoided a receiver in this deep class along with avoiding the defensive front. Sure they might be able to run the ball better, but they landed no one who can help stifle the 49ers running attack that torched them last year. They actually had the worst run defense in the league and were gashed often. Instead, of enhancing their own run game, improving the defense seemed like an easier and more understandable need. This draft gets a B- only on the fact that I did like the Love pick, along with the linemen they picked. Even if Dillon goes onto be a good back, I did not understand the need to pick him there over other positions of need. I am not going to kill them for the draft like others since they did find talent later and clearly are building for the future rather than right now. Hell even with a lacking roster, as long as they have Rodgers I think they are still the best team in the NFC North. 

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