After narrowly making it into the playoffs only to be knocked out once again by the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay was in for a big test in the 2014 NFL Draft. With multiple needs on defense and in need of more help for Aaron Rodgers, the Packers' front office had to be on their game to remain competitive in the NFC.
First Round, 21st Pick: Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix, Free Safety, Alabama
The Packers’ top priority in the draft was on improving at free safety, a void they have desperately been trying to fill since Nick Collins career-ending injury in 2011. Clinton-Dix was seen as the top safety in this class, but few expected him to fall past the top-15.
Not only did he slide past 15, he slipped down to 21st Overall where the Packers were ecstatic to select him. He provides a massive upgrade at the position, giving the defense a true center fielder and allowing Morgan Burnett to move around more and play strong safety while also keeping Micah Hyde in the slot.
Second Round, 53rd Pick: Davante Adams, Wide Receiver, Fresno State
Leading into the draft, many projected the Packers to help Rodgers by drafting a center or tight end early in the second round. While Ted Thompson helped out his franchise quarterback, he went at it a different way.
Thompson recognized outstanding value when Adams fell to the 53rd pick and he took advantage. Adams was pushed down in a historically deep wide receiver class, despite leading the nation in receptions (131) and receiving touchdowns (24). Adams impresses with his high-point ability and strong hands. He can improve with his routes, but should contribute immediately.
Third Round, 85th Pick: Khyri Thornton, Defensive Tackle, Southern Miss
Green Bay needed to add more depth to the defensive line in the draft and the third round seemed like the perfect place to do it. But when they announced they were taking Thornton, a projected fifth-round pick, it certainly was a reach.
There were a lot of good interior defensive lineman to choose from who would have been better, especially DaQuan Jones. While this pick was certainly a reach, there certainly are some aspects of Thornton’s game to like. At 316 pounds, he shows impressive athleticism and burst off the snap. Thing I like the most is his hustle to always go until the whistle.
Third Round, 98th Pick: Richard Rodgers, Tight End, California
After deciding not to take a chance on Jermichael Finley’s neck, Green Bay was in need of another receiving tight end. While they certainly reached to grab one after the board got thin, they still landed a solid player.
Richard Rodgers was one of my favorite players in this class and someone who I saw as underrated at the position. While Rodgers dealt with his own struggles, he was on a Cal team that was just bad. He will never be more than a pedestrian blocker and never raised eyes with his speed. What Rodgers does well is catch the football at any angle and is a trusted option in the middle of the field. Green Bay is thin at tight end so he could see playing time soon, meaning a California Rodgers to Rodgers touchdown will happen very soon.
Fourth Round, 121st Pick: Carl Bradford, Outside Linebacker, Arizona State
After re-signing Mike Neal and bringing in Julius Peppers, adding an outside linebacker wouldn’t seem like a big need for the Packers. But given Dom Capers’ wants to show multiple looks and use rotations this season, this pick was needed.
Bradford served as a pass rusher off the edge in his time at Arizona State, beating slower opponents as he constantly found his way into the backfield. Green Bay will try to keep him at outside linebacker but if that doesn’t work out, Brad Jones could be looking at some competition for his spot.
Fifth Round, 161st Pick: Corey Linsley, Center, Ohio State
After letting Evan Dietrich-Smith walk in free agency, finding a center to compete with J.C. Tretter was a priority for the Packers.
Many expected Thompson to go his usual route by taking an offensive tackle who he would move inside; instead he actually drafted a true center. Linsley has the athleticism and strength Green Bay likes out of the position and blocked for an Eddie Lacy-like player last year in Carlos Hyde. He grew up as a Packers fan and now has a chance to compete for the starting job as a rookie.
Fifth Round, 176th Pick: Jared Abbrederis, Wide Receiver, Wisconsin
Ted Thompson has an addiction to wide receivers, but you can’t blame him for taking Abbrederis here. It’s a pick that serves as a Christmas present to Rodgers and Wisconsin fans as well.
Just turn on the tape against Bradley Roby, you will see someone who runs crisp routes, strong hands and a mastery of knowing what is going on and reading the cornerback across from him. He won’t win with speed but uses his other skills to beat you and provide serious problems for a defense. This is the perfect landing spot for both Abbrederis and the Packers.
Sixth Round, 191st Pick: Demetri Goodson, Cornerback, Baylor
After taking a free safety in round one, Green Bay waited until the seventh round to take its second rookie safety. With Tramon Williams days as a Packer nearing an end, adding a cornerback was a need.
Goodson’s background comes in basketball where he was a starter at Gonzaga for several years before playing football at Baylor. He shows impressive athleticism and great instincts, but health is a concern and his technique needs to be improved.
Seventh Round, 236th Pick: Jeff Janis, Wide Receiver, Saginaw Valley State
Two wide receivers didn’t seem to be enough for Ted Thompson as he went back to the position once more to conclude his 2014 draft class.
Janis comes from a small school, but drew plenty of attention from NFL scouts after a combine where he ran a 4.42 with a 37.5-inch vertical. Janis has great size at 6’3” and can develop more while he waits for his opportunity on a stacked depth chart.
Grade: B+
There were definitely some head scratching in this draft, Ted Thompson reached for Thornton and Rodgers in the third round when many felt they were fourth or fifth round targets. But given Thompson’s track record, there’s good reason for Packers fans to believe in his “reach picks”.
What makes this draft haul stand out is Thompson’s patience paying off as Clinton-Dix, Adams, Bradford and Abbrederis all fell right into the Packers’ laps. Clinton-Dix is a major upgrade at free safety and will give the Packers corners help they badly needed. Meanwhile Green Bay’s offense now features a stout running game, strong offensive line, the best quarterback in the game and it’s loaded at wide receiver. The Packers love using four and at times even five wide receiver sets. Leaving defenses scrambling to figure out who to cover when seeing Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Jarrett Boykin, Adams and Abbrederis all on the same field.
Ted Thompson does it once again, proving why he is considered to be one of the best general managers in the business. While others moved up and down the boards trying to nab their guys, Thompson showed patience is a virtue.