However, any – though not all – of the other top linemen could be in play for the Packers: Jarran Reed and A’Shawn Robinson of Alabama; Vernon Butler of Louisiana Tech; Chris Jones of Mississippi State; Robert Nkemdiche of Mississippi; Kenny Clark of UCLA; and Andrew Billings of Baylor.
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Couple that with nose tackle B.J. Raji’s sudden retirement, and you understand the cry for help in the heart of Green Bay’s defense.
“I feel like I’m very versatile”.
They bolstered depth for a front seven that has had some offseason turnover, and even added an inside linebacker with Clay Matthews headed back outside for more pass-rushing duties again. So was Baylor’s Andrew Billings.
Asked if he picked to fill a need, Thompson said, “Yeah, theoretically”. “He’s got great flexibility”.
Clark said he was looking forward to the opportunity.
Raji is gone after a solid 2015 season. As the leader on the defensive line, he had to take things into his own hands trying to slow the run game of his opponents and despite heavy losses to injury on the UCLA defense, Clark held his own tho last season. They also selected Stanford inside linebacker Blake Martinez with the first of their two fourth-round picks on Saturday.
“They never talked to me, they never talked to Kenny”, Stanley said. “But still we drafted this young man because we felt like he was the best player available”. Clark also had the third highest pass breakup total on the squad with five.
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – The Minnesota Vikings had an obvious need at wide receiver. He’d make a penny a nail if he nabbed them all, with his biggest payday coming in around $10.
Packers director of football operations, Eliot Wolf, believes it’s a role Martinez could be capable of handling in the NFL based on his 4.71-second time at the 40-yard dash at February’s scouting combine, which ranked 11th among all linebackers.
Going into a season with such realistic title hopes, why not splurge to address the one lacking aspect?
Spriggs, a four-year starter at left tackle for the Hoosiers, should be able to back up both spots next season and, depending on what happens with Bakhtiari’s contract, take over at left tackle after that. Only three teams – the Patriots, Seahawks and Steelers – had better Super Bowl odds.
Packers general manager Ted Thompson seems to be a fan of UCLA. “I can’t wait to get a chance (to block for him)”.
The speed will increase, the Vikings said, once Treadwell continues to put the injury further in the past.
“I really, really had fun”, Tollefson said. “The timing was just right”. “Just one of those blue-collar football players that the more you watch, the more you appreciate it”.
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Treadwell, then, became the highest selection by the Vikings at the position since Percy Harvin went at No. 22 in 2009.
