Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Packers 2019 Draft Class | Ticket King Green Bay

Packers draft class
As we continue our track towards the start of NFL training camps, it is never too early to look ahead to next year’s draft. Here are some players the Packers should be targeting come next May. Before we go any further, let me start by saying that Missouri quarterback Drew Lock is going to be the top quarterback in this class. However, the Packers, even with two draft first-round selections, will be unable to move up high enough to draft him. Let me continue by saying that I have never been a big fan of DeShone Kizer. What am I getting it? With the combined age and injury history of Aaron Rodgers, finding their next franchise quarterback will soon be a priority for these Packers. Fortunately, 2019 will be just as deep of a quarterback class as 2018 was, because the other half of those quarterback prospects saw the 2018 class, and went back to school.

Jake Browning/QB/Washington- A year ago, this man was one of the top three quarterbacks on the board for the 2018 draft. However, a disastrous 2017 season and injury problems dropped his stock, so wisely he returned to school for his senior season. A good year from Browning should vault him back up there. He is a good athlete with a strong arm, a winning combination in modern football.

Clayton Thorson/QB/Northwestern- This former four-star recruit has somehow flown under the radar for several years now, before having a breakout season a year ago. In 2018 everybody will know who Clayton Thorson is, and how he handles that pressure will go a long ways towards his draft stock. Thorson sands 6’4”, 225 pounds, big time arm, good athlete, and he goes to Northwestern so that tells you everything you want to know about his natural intelligence. I don’t know how this guy wasn’t the top quarterback in his class and wasn’t more recruited. I mean look at him. Regardless, NFL scouts know who he is, and they are drooling.

Jarrett Stidham/QB/Auburn- Man can this guy fire a football. He is the next Matthew Stafford, there is no denying that. He hasn’t really been given a chance to show that at Auburn, and NFL scouts are hoping that they give him an opportunity to throw the ball around a little bit in 2018.

Josh Allen/OLB/Kentucky- The first non-quarterback is Kentucky’s monster pass rusher. The Packers are going to need to replace Clay Matthews soon on the outside, and Allen could very well be the target to replace him. The problem is, many expect Allen to be the first linebacker off the board in 2019, and the Packers may not be in a position high enough to get him.

Anfernee Jennings/OLB/Alabama- This is a far more reasonable target for the Packers. Jennings will be in the next group of linebackers off the board after Allen. Jennings is a pure pass rusher as well, so that helps.

Noah Fant/TE/Iowa- Over the last couple of years, the Packers have done a great job of patching up their tight end position for the time being, and will enter 2018 with Jimmy Graham, Lance Kendricks, and Marcedes Lewis as their tight ends. That is fine for 2018. There is just one problem though, those guys aren’t exactly young spring chickens, so the Packers will need to add some youth, and soon, to the position. Fant would fit as a tight end in this offense like a glove.

Friday, July 6, 2018

Packers 2018 Training Camp | Ticket King Green Bay


Packers Training Camp
We are less than a month away from the start of Packers training camp. With the departure of Nelson, injuries that will extend into the start of the season, and the change of certain coaching positions in Packerland, there are enough “unknowns” to keep fans wonderin how the team will perform in 2018. Here are some questions that need to be answered before week one of the regular season.

Who will open the year at right tackle? Yes, Brian Bulaga is injured yet again. He will miss the first part of the season so that means the Packers will have to go without him for some time. Who will play in his place is the question. Jason Spriggs, the former second round draft choice, will open camp in that spot by default, but there is no guarantee he starts the season as the right tackle. He could get competition from just about anybody. Will it be Cole Madison, to Byron Bell, to Justin McCray that takes that spot? The plan right now is for Spriggs to play week one, if he can prove himself worthy.

Who will play right guard? Speaking of Madison, the Packers did draft him with the intention of being the long-term solution at right guard. They did not specify that he would start in that spot on week one. They will give him every opportunity in camp to be that starter. If he isn’t ready yet, the job could fall to the likes of McCray or Lucas Patrick. Stay tuned, because this will be one of the highlights of Packers camp.

Who will be the fourth wide receiver? Unless they make some last minute adjustments, the Packers three starting receivers will be Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, and Geronimo Allison. After that, it is anybody’s game, literally. All three of the Packers rookies, Equanimeous St. Brown, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and J’Mon Moore, could win the job. The return specialist, Trevor Davis, could be that guy. DeAngelo Yancey could be the forth receiver. Don’t forget about the big tall Michael Clark either, who the coaches really like. This will be a good one.

What about the backup quarterback?. During the offseason, the Packers traded cornerback Damarious Randall to the Browns for quarterback DeShone Kizer, who was the Browns first-round draft choice just a year ago. The battle may be between Kizer and Hundley, but rookie undrafted free agent Tim Boyle could win the number 3 job, and force the coaches to decide between Kizer or Hundley. My prediction is Kizer wins, and Hundley is traded or released.

What about those cornerbacks? The Packers biggest need this offseason was at cornerback, so they addressed it. They spent their first two draft choices on Jaire Alexander from Louisville and Josh Jackson from Iowa. They also brought in Tramon Williams in free agency and brought back Davon House. In addition, they get back second-round draft choice from a year ago Kevin King healthy. Any two of those five could open the year as the starters.

And for the highlight of Packers camp, who will be the safety that takes a walk? The starting safeties will be Ha-Ha Clinton Dix and Josh Jones. Quentin Rollins may switch to safety as well and is likely to win a roster spot regardless. That leaves two spots open at safety. Jerome Whitehead, Kentrell Brice, and Marwin Evans will battle like there is no tomorrow because, for one of them, there literally is no tomorrow. One of them will be cut. The question is who? This is going to be the battle of Packers camp right here.