As we all know who follow the league, the NFL is a “what have you done for me lately” business. Just as is the case with the New England Patriots, the Green Bay Packers have reached the playoffs eight consecutive years. But while Bill Belichick’s team has captured two of the last three Super Bowls, the combination of prolific quarterback Aaron Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy haven’t been back to the Big Game since the team went on a magical run in 2010 and won Super Bowl XLV as a wild card team. In most instances these last seven years, the team’s undoing has been a troubling defense.
This past season, the Packers allowed the second-most passing yards in the league and surrendered 32 scores through the air during the regular season alone. General manager Ted Thompson was looking to fix this ailment and thanks to some wheeling and dealing with the Cleveland Browns in round one of this year’s draft, the Pack was back often when it came to selecting defensive help.
What they did
The Green Bay Packers traded out of the first round (with the Browns) and still managed to get a top cornerback in the University of Washington’s Kevin King. NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock was impressed with the team's first pick of 2017. “This young man is today's NFL corner. His tape was really fun to watch…I’m not sure his combine speed and his football speed are the real thing.
But the single-high teams, the teams that play a lot of high free safety, are gonna love him. His ability to press and his ability to find the football are even better…His best football is ahead of him.”
With their own second-round pick, the Packers added versatile defensive back Josh Jones from North Carolina State. He has the ability to play anywhere in the secondary.
You will recall that the team lost strong safety Micah Hyde to the Buffalo Bills in Free Agency. He was also a player who could line up at cornerback in the nickel. Hopefully, Jones can fill a similar role. The defensive front got some help from Montravius Adams. The former Auburn product lists at 6’4” and 304 pounds and can help Green Bay’s run defense.
And with the other picks they got from the Browns in the trade, Thompson selected University of Wisconsin linebacker Vince Biegel.
How it helps
In two of the past three seasons, the Green Bay Packers have come up one win short of getting back to the Super Bowl. Their defense during this past regular season as well as in the playoffs was substandard and that’s being kind. Along with those top four draft choices (and it’s worth noting that the team used its final 6 picks all on offense) and additions such as cornerback Davon House (back for a second stint with the Packers) and defensive end Ricky Jean-Francois (Washington Redskins), the team could be getting this unit’s act back together for the first time in quite a spell. And if the Pack can keep its cornerbacks healthy, who knows where the club is headed in 2017.
