Teams are putting the finishing touches on their preparation as the 2015 NFL Draft is nearly here.
To preview the draft for the Green Bay Packers, I got together with Ray Rivard of Lombardi Ave. Below are my questions followed by his answers.
1. What are the team’s biggest needs heading into the draft and how might they address them?
"Inside linebacker, cornerback and defensive line.Though the positions listed above aren’t necessarily in order of preference, Packers GM Ted Thompson is likely to address all three not only through the draft, but through the undrafted ranks. Thompson invariably finds diamonds from among those undrafted players they bring in shortly after the draft. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Thompson draft for these positions early in the 2015 draft."
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2. What needs to happen for this draft to be considered a success?
"To be successful, the Packers need to draft at least one, preferably two linebackers and a cornerback. If they also find a defensive lineman within the first three rounds, that will be a success … of course, these players must come in, make the team and contribute if it’s to be considered a success."
3. What in your mind would make this draft a failure?
"If Ted Thompson fails to find a cornerback ad linebacker who contributes, this draft should be considered a huge failure. Those two positions have got to be high on the list of Thompson’s draft board. Last year the need was safety. This year it’s ILB and CB. They need to address those two positions, along with DL for this to be considered a success."
4. What is a bold prediction for your team this draft?
"My feeling is that Ted Thompson trades back into the second round in an effort to garner more than 10 picks in this year’s draft. I feel he can still get the guy he wants in the second and third rounds. After all, what’s the difference between a player drafted at #30 or one drafted 10 or even 20 picks later? Not much, in my opinion."
5. What is a draft angle the general public might not be aware of for your team?
"My feeling is that Ted Thompson trades back into the second round in an effort to garner more than 10 picks in this year’s draft. I feel he can still get the guy he wants in the second and third rounds. After all, what’s the difference between a player drafted at #30 or one drafted 10 or even 20 picks later? Not much, in my opinion."
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Next: 2-Round 2015 NFL Mock Draft