A review and breakdown of predictions for the Green Bay Packers in final mock drafts from a few of the most prominent draft analysts in the business:
The mock draft: Josh Norris, Rotoworld
The pick: LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
The reasoning: “While WR is an obvious need, and Aiyuk and Mims are still on the board, currently the Packers are relying on question marks at inside linebacker.”
Our breakdown: Murray’s freaky athleticism makes him the football equivalent of a heat-seeking missile when playing downhill and sideline to sideline. He has the kind of length and range that most linebackers can only dream of, and there’s little doubt that his elite athleticism will translate to the next level. If he’s able to play free and attack opposing offenses, he’s going to make a lot of big plays and impact the game in a valuable way. The questions arise when projecting him to other areas of playing linebacker. His athletic traits suggest the potential for disruptive ability in the passing game, but he rarely played any kind of man coverage at the college level. There’s some projection to his game that might be concerning to teams. Also, do the Packers value inside linebacker enough to take one in the first round? We’ll see. Brian Gutekunst knows his defense needs to get better and faster in the middle, but whether he’s willing to use a top asset to get it done remains to be seen. It will be hard to pass on Murray – and his unique combination of traits – if he’s still there at 30. Getting an athletic playmaker with Pro Bowl potential at the weakest spot on the roster would have to be appealing in Green Bay.
The player info
Height: 6-2
Weight: 241
40-yard dash: 4.52
Vertical leap: 38″
Broad jump: 129″
Three-cone: N/A
Short shuttle: N/A
Bench press: 21
RAS: 9.89
Our draft profile: Kenneth Murray
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Highlights:
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