The 2011 Arrowhead Pride Mock Draft continues with Aesthetist choosing for the Green Bay Packers at No. 32...
When you're the defending Super Bowl Champions you have fewer holes than other teams, and the luxury of sitting back and trying to take the best player available.
However the NFL's only municipally owned team does look thin in some personnel areas.
Offensive Tackle: Aaron Rodgers can only pick apart the league's best secondaries if his on his feet and his jersey is clean. Chad Clifton is an aging veteran who will need replacing sooner rather than later. The Packers of Green Bay started to upgrade at the tackle position last year with Bryan Bulaga who will eventually replace Clifton at left tackle, but that leaves the Packers with a hole at right tackle. The team is likely to give T.J. Lang a shot at left guard or right tackle, but doubling down on another blue-chip bookend would keep the Packers offense looking formidable for the rest of Rodgers' career.
Offensive Guard: Daryn Colledge is a free agent and likely gone when free agency resumes. Even if he does come back, he needs to be upgraded anyway as he's not much of a run blocker. The offensive line is one of the biggest needs the Packers have, but #32 is too soon to take a guard unless Mike Pouncey were to somehow fall this far.
Weak Outside Linebacker: As good as the Packers linebacker corps is, there remains a huge hole opposite sack machine Clay Matthews. Erik Walden, Frank Zombo and Brad Jones all started at outside linebacker in 2010. Of the three, Walden played the best, but between them they combined for seven sacks, two forced fumbles and no interceptions. With as good a class of 4-3 DEs/3-4 OLBs there is an excellent chance of a high quality player still being around at #32.
Wide Receiver: The Packers are a passing team and to keep Mr. Rodgers happy GM Ted Thompson likes to draft one target every year in the form of a wide receiver or pass-catching tight end. He's passed on wide receiver position in the 2009 and 2010 drafts and the lack of depth is starting to show. Donald Driver is nearing retirement. James Jones is pretty much gone when free agency resumes. Jordy Nelson looked good at times but lack consistency and Swain doesn't look like an NFL WR to me. The more targets for all-galaxy QB Aaron Rodgers to throw to, the deeper this team advances in the playoffs.
3-4 Defensive End: Holy Christmas! Johnny Jolly, what were you thinking? Being arrested again for drug possession has effectively ended this knuckle-head's NFL career. Mike McCarthy recently spoke in the past tense when referring to Cullen Jenkins so the Packers need to look at acquiring a new 5-technique defensive end who can play across from Ryan Pickett. Chiefs fans know that prime 5-technique players are hard to come by and the 1st and 2nd rounds are where the beef with the prototypical size and length are usually taken.
Corner: Charles Woodson is getting older. Tramon Williams is a decent starter. But adding some depth here would be nice.
With the 32nd pick of the 2011 NFL draft the Green Bay Packers select:
Adrian Clayborn, DE, University of Iowa
Clayborn's diagnosis of Erb's Palsy sent his draft stock plummeting right into the lap of the Green Bay Packers who select him not only as the best player available but to play the 5-technique replacing Cullen Jenkins and Johnny Jolly.
While he's a better fit for 4-3 DE, Clayborn's build of 6'3" 285 allows him to play DE in the 3-4 as well. NFL scouts think he could add a few pounds of muscle as Iowa's strength program is a bit below NFL levels as evidenced by his pedestrian bench-press numbers (not uncommon for Iowa players) and lack of muscular definition at the combine.
Clayborn's biggest asset is his versatility allowing him the opportunity to participate in the exotic zone blitzing schemes of Dom Caper's 3-4 defense. With his size and (4.78) speed, he could play inside in a 4-3 look, drop into coverage on a blitz, rush the passer or slide out to ROLB and start the play standing up. He's a player that can do a little bit of everything, possessing a plethora of moves- including a speed rush, bull rush and double moves he frequently commanded double teams even when playing against left tackles.
His natural lateral agility also gives him an incredible ability to flash down the line of scrimmage and make plays even when they are run away from his side of the field. Clayborn has good hands and knows how to shed blockers, making him a big asset against the run. He did tend to get worn down as a result of the soft Iowa conditioning program, so adding some endurance will only help him play better in the NFL.
With Adrian Clayborn lining up at RDE his palsy-effected arm remains free just like in Iowa. His elite motor will complement the fiery Clay Matthews on the other side of the defensive line. He has a high football IQ and is considered a very coachable player. For those of you poor bastards still harping on the 'right 53' Clayborn was named a permanent team captain in 2009 and has been part of Iowa's Leadership Group since his sophomore season, although an arrest for punching a cab-driver is either a huge character flaw or shows that he plays with the appropriate mean-streak needed for success on the defensive line.
Full Schedule And Results:
1. Carolina Panthers (ChiefsFan90s) - Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert
2. Denver Broncos (craig in calgary) - Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers
3. Buffalo Bills (Arrowdread) - Auburn QB Cam Newton
4. Cincinnati Bengals (Dirty South Chiefs Fan) - Georgia WR A.J. Green
5. Arizona Cardinals (tmurawsk) - Texas A&M OLB Von Miller
6. Cleveland Browns (H2E) - Auburn DT Nick Fairley
7. San Francisco 49ers (Another Successful Tedford QB) - LSU CB Patrick Peterson
8. Tennessee Titans (ejr58) - Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara
9. Dallas Cowboys (IamtheGreatest) - Alabama DL Marcell Dareus
10. Washington Redskins (nmchief) - Alabama WR Julio Jones
11. Houston Texans (FalconMF27) - Missouri DE Aldon Smith
12. Minnesota Vikings (Raven Hawk) - USC OT Tyron Smith
13. Detroit Lions (Matt Hays) - Boston College OT Anthony Castanzo
14. St. Louis Rams (Sam D) - Illinois DT Corey Liuget
15. Miami Dolphins (YerganFlurgan) - Alabama RB Mark Ingram
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (GenericBrand) - Cal DE Cameron Jordan
17. New England Patriots (averagegatsby) - Temple DE Muhammad Wilkerson
18. San Diego Chargers (Chiefscafan58) - North Carolina DE Robert Quinn
19. New York Giants (flowers 24) - Florida C Mike Pouncey
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (PSUkegreen) - Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan
21. Kansas City Chiefs (Matt_Grbac) - Baylor NT Phil Taylor
22. Indianapolis Colts (saskwatch) - Wisconsin OT Gabe Carimi
23. Philadelphia Eagles (OnlyKCFanNVA) - Colorado OT Nate Solder
24. New Orleans Saints (The Other Patrick Allen) - Georgia DE/LB Justin Houston
25. Seattle Seahawks (Simon from KC) - TCU QB Andy Dalton
26. Baltimore Ravens (Ben S) - Colorado CB Jimmy Smith
27. Atlanta Falcons (stagdsp) - Ohio State DE Cameron Heyward
28. New England Patriots (averagegatsby) - UCLA LB Akeem Ayers
29. Chicago Bears (KillaCity107) - Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
30. New York Jets (bradelli58) - Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt
31. Pittsburgh Steelers (scottchief) - Baylor G Danny Watkins
32. Green Bay Packers (Aesthetist) - Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn
Round Two
33. New England Patriots (averagegatsby) - Wednesday April 6th
34. Buffalo Bills (Arrowdread) - Wednesday April 6th
35. Cincinnati Bengals (Dirty South Chiefs Fan) - Thursday April 7th
36. Denver Broncos (craig in calgary) - Thursday April 7th
37. Cleveland Browns (H2E) - Thursday April 7th
38. Arizona Cardinals (tmurawsk) - Friday April 8th
39.Tennessee Titans (ejr58) - Friday April 8th
40. Dallas Cowboys (IamtheGreatest) - Friday April 8th
41. Washington Redskins (nmchief) - Monday April 11th
42. Houston Texans (FalconMF27) - Monday April 11th
43. Minnesota Vikings (Raven Hawk) - Monday April 11th
44. Detroit Lions (Matt Hays) - Tuesday April 12th
45. San Francisco 49ers (Another Successful Tedford QB) - Tuesday April 12th
46. Denver Broncos (craig in calgary) - Tuesday April 12th
47. St. Louis Rams (Sam D) - Wednesday April 13th
48. Oakland Raiders (mushin) - Wednesday April 13th
49. Jacksonville Jaguars (GenericBrand) - Wednesday April 13th
50. San Diego Chargers (Chiefsfaninca58) - Thursday April 14th
51. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (PSUkegreen) - Thursday April 14th
52. New York Giants (flowers 24) - Thursday April 14th
53. Kansas City Chiefs (Matt_Grbac) - Friday April 15th
54. Indianapolis Colts (saskwatch) - Friday April 15th
55. Philadelphia Eagles (OnlyKCFanNVA) - Friday April 15th
56. New Orleans Saints (The Other Patrick Allen) - Monday April 18th
57. Seattle Seahawks (Simon from KC) - Monday April 18th
58. Baltimore Ravens (Ben S) - Monday April 18th
59. Atlanta Falcons (stagdsp) - Tuesday April 19th
60. New England Patriots (averagegatsby) - Tuesday April 19th
61. Chicago Bears (KillaCity107) - Tuesday April 19th
62. New York Jets (bradelli58) - Wednesday April 20th
63. Pittsburgh Steelers (scottchief) - Wednesday April 20th
64. Green Bay Packers (Aesthetist) - Wednesday April 20th