The Pick Is In And The Reaction Is Mixed

The New Man On Defense Kenny Clark from UCLA

General Manager Ted Thompson was in the cat bird seat when pick 27 rolled around and he had some big names and some cheaper names to choose from and true to form he chose cheap.

The big names that made the same slide Aaron Rodgers did in Thompson's first draft at a position that I consider the most important to fill were outside linebacker Myles Jack, inside linebacker Jaylon Smith and inside linebacker Reggie Ragland.

Thompson and I truly mean Thompson, because he made the pick and nobody else, especially the scouts, picked a 6-3, 314 defensive tackle from UCLA Kenny Clark. Many felt linebacker and defensive line were the top two need areas and Thompson evidently thought so too, even though the smoke coming from Lyin' Ted was wide receiver, tight end and running back.

The first reaction I saw when the pick was announced was from two Packer Backers who were in the arena and one threw up his hands in disgust. My reaction was WHO?

The pre-draft prospects list had Clark listed as the 36th best pick as a late first round-early second round pick and the seventh ranked defensive tackle behind Sheldon Rankins from Louisville, A'Shawn Robinson from Alabama, Jarran Reed from Alabama, Robert Nkemdiche from Mississippi, Vernon Butler from Louisiana Tech, and my favorite Andrew Billings from Baylor.

Rankins went 12th to the Saints, but all the others were still available so Thompson had the pick of the litter and he chose an underclassman who might be a project since he will only be 20 when training camp opens. Nkemdiche then went 30th to the Cardinals and Butler 31st to the Panthers. Hears what the scouting report on Clark says.

STRENGTHS: Scouts can check off a lot of boxes with Clark. He was a high school wrestling champ, and many of those maneuvers translate from the mat to the football field, playing with low hips, leverage and power.

He's a stout run defender who comes off the ball low and hard, consistently winning the leverage battle. Anchors well to double teams, planting his feet into the turf and locking out his arms. Clark flashes a quick burst but doesn't rely on it, exploding through the gap to wreak havoc at the line of scrimmage when opponents attempt to pull to block others.

Asked to play defensive end, defensive tackle and nose guard for the Bruins, Clark will enter the NFL with plenty of position and schematic versatility.

WEAKNESSES: Just average size for the position. While possessing an exciting initial burst, Clark tops out quickly and shows just average change of direction and balance for the position, limiting his upside as a pass rusher.

Clark gives good effort in pursuit but too often gets caught up in the hand-fighting at the line of scrimmage and occasionally is extended too far over his feet.

COMPARES TO: Domata Peko, DT, Cincinnati Bengals - Similar to Peko, Clark is a power-packed run defender who should be a quality nose tackle for a long time, initially as a two-down defender with potential to be more. (An interesting note about Peko is that he is also playing the Fridge on the  goal line. Maybe Clark will also replace Raji, who played some in the backfield as blocker that last year).

IN OUR VIEW: Though he doesn't possess great size, Clark is one of the country's better run-stuffers, winning with strength, a naturally low center of gravity and hustle to plug rushing lanes. Overshadowed by flashier   athletes throughout much of his career and still developing his pass rush skills, Clark flashes the violence, agility and motor to twist and drive blockers backward, projecting as a three-down interior player at the next level.

Listening to all the pundits and the Trust in Ted Packer pundits everyone says Clark is a good prospect that might step into a position his rookie season. NFL.com draft analyst Charles Davis said: "Clark got more active as his career went along at UCLA, and that allowed Myles Jack to make plays. Clark is an inside force against the pass. I like this pick for Green Bay because B.J. Raji is no longer there. We were thinking maybe inside linebacker here, but this pick works."

However, most feel he won't have an immediate impact playing behind 2012 No. 4-132 Mike Daniels and 2014 undrafted free agent Mike Pennel and possibly 2013 No. 5-167 Josh Boyd and maybe even 2015 No. 7-210 Christian Ringo.

The defense needs help, especially stopping the run up the middle and this No. 1 draft pick needs to step right into the lineup because the clock is ticking on Aaron Rodgers, especially now he is coming off a subpar season. So building for the team three years from now is not an option. It might keep Thompson's job, but it won't bring another Super Bowl trophy to the case in the Packer Hall of Fame.

While I would have gone inside linebacker at 27 I can see why Thompson avoided Ragland and Jack as did everyone else in the first round. It came out on draft day that Ragland has an enlarged aorta in his heart that would require constant medical monitoring.

It also came on draft day that Jack, who is the best pass rusher in the draft and is coming off a serious right knee injury, said he might need microsurgery. That surgery is tricky and many don't come back the same.

It was worse news about Jaylon Smith, who was probably the best linebacker in the draft. It was announced he would miss the entire 2016 recovering from his gruesome knee injury.

Injury reports are all Thompson needed to hear to drop these players off his board for good after drafting Justin Harrell at 16 of the first round in the 2007 draft, who was coming off a torn biceps injury, and he was a bust of major proportions. The last thing Thompson needs is another first round bust.

The Jury Is This Out On Former No. 1 Pick From UCLA Datone Jones

Speaking of first round busts I find it quite funny that 2013 No. 1-26 pick from UCLA Datone Jones is being touted as a good reason to draft Clark. Jones has been a bust at defensive end and defensive tackle and is now being moved to outside linebacker in hopes of replacing Julius "Lay Down Burnett" Peppers when the old man retires. However, once they heard Thompson say that the Trust in Tedders were on board, hook, line and sinker. People without balls are so easily led.

The Packers don't draft again until the 57th pick of the second round and again at 88 in the third round unless there is a trade and I'm not discounting that. I do feel that Ragland and Jack are off Thompson's board, so the next best players at the need positions for the Packers are Reed, Robinson, Billings, Jonathan Bullard from Florida, Hassan Ridgeway from Texas, Austin Johnson from Penn State, Sheldon Day from Notre Dame, Chris Jones from Mississippi State, Adolphus Washington from Ohio State, Maliek Collins from Nebraska, Bronson Kaufusi from BYU and Javon Hargrave from South Carolina State at defensive tackle; Su'a Cravens from USC, Joshua Perry from Ohio State, Kyler Fackrell from Utah State, Scooby Wright III from Arizona, Joe Schobert from Wisconsin, Nick Kwiatkowski from Ohio State and Deion Jones from LSU at linebacker; Michael Thomas from Ohio State, Sterling Shepard from Oklahoma, Rashard Higgins from Colorado State, Leonte Carroo from Rutgers, Daniel Braverman from Western Michigan, Keyarris Garrett from Tulsa, Malcolm Mitchell from Georgia and Tyler Boyd from Pittsburgh at wide receiver; Derrick Henry from Alabama, Kenneth Dixon from Louisiana Tech, Paul Perkins from UCLA, Jordan Howard from Indiana at running back; Hunter Henry from Arkansas, Jerell Adams from South Carolina at tight end; and Jason Spriggs from Indiana, Joe Thuney from North Carolina State and Kyle Murphy from Stanford at offensive tackle.

Now for the rest of the NFC North. The Bears traded up from No. 11 to 9 (throwing in a No. 4-106) to beat out the Giants and take outside linebacker Leonard Floyd from Georgia.

He is an interesting pick as evidenced by this "Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was in San Francisco when it drafted Aldon Smith. Floyd is very similar. He is one of the most polarizing conversations in the entire draft. He has a 'wow' get-off and he bends like Gumby. I don't know if he can convert speed to power in that pass rush. He has the best burst and get-off in this entire draft. He's a sub-package, designated pass rusher on Day 1, just like Aldon Smith was in San Francisco." -- Mike Mayock of NFL.com.

Just remember Smith is a nut job. So it seems either Floyd will work out or be another first round bust like Shea McClellin from 2012, who couldn't adjust to the pro game, and has now been let go. His only claim to fame was breaking Aaron Rodgers' collarbone.

The Vikings at 23 took wide receiver Laquon Treadwell from Mississippi. His selection doesn't bode well for former Packer No. 7 draft pick Charles Johnson, who at one time was the second coming of Randy Moss. Here's Mayock's take: "We all know he ran a 4.65 40 at his pro day. So, either you believe in him and his game, or you don't. He's a natural hands catcher and will win 50-50 balls. He's also one of the best blocking wide receivers in this draft. He's physical, tough and has great hands. I think the Vikings got a winner."

The Lions at 16 took offensive tackle Taylor Decker from Ohio State. Mayock said this: "This is a really solid pick for rookie general manager Bob Quinn. Left tackle Riley Reiff is in the fifth and final year of his rookie contract. Decker can play right tackle and move over to left if the Lions don't re-sign Reiff."

And now on to Round 2 and 3 on Friday. It should be interesting.