The Green Bay Packers were one win from making it back to the Super Bowl in 2016. The 2017 NFL Draft gave them a chance to address some needs, which now includes replacing their former starting running back in Eddie Lacy and adding some key help at linebacker and cornerback, the latter of which was the most important target of the entire draft process. The Packers then traded out of the first round but still managed to get one of their top targets and have possibly fixed part of their biggest problem in 2016 - their secondary.
Packers Best Draft Pick
Washington cornerback Kevin King in the second round was a huge pick for the Green Bay Packers in the 2017 NFL Draft. The biggest problem that the Packers had in 2016 was in the defensive backfield, which the Atlanta Falcons exploited and almost caused the Packers to fall to the Dallas Cowboys the round before in the NFL playoffs. King has a great chance to start for the Packers at cornerback as a rookie. He is now their tallest corner on the team (6-3) and is likely going to be the best corner on the Packers team in 2017.
Packers Riskiest Draft Pick
The Green Bay Packers have to hope that Ty Montgomery will continue to improve after switching positions to running back in 2016.
The Packers have a lot of optimism about Ty but if he falters, the Packers are in trouble. Green Bay had a great chance to pick up a quality running back early in the 2017 NFL Draft but filled other positions instead. The Packers waited until Day 3 to draft a running back but then chose two with Jamaal Williams in the fourth round and Aaron Jones in the fifth.
The two men are different types of runners and if one of them works out, they might have a nice insurance policy in case Montgomery falters in his second year as a running back.
Green Bay Draft Grade
The 2017 NFL Draft was a successful one for the Green Bay Packers. They filled their most pressing need with a great cornerback in Kevin King and got him in the second round.
They had a second pick in the second round and took a safety in Josh Jones, someone who might not step in as a starter right away but is talented enough to become one down the line. Defensive tackle Montravius Adams will really help on the line and should be an immediate contributor. Vince Biegel will also help shore up the linebacker corps and is a solid pass rusher in his own right. The two running backs will hope to prove their worth and the rest of the draft was filled with hopefuls and possible future contributors. This is a solid "B" for the Packers in 2017.