The return of A.J. Dillon immediately knocks Emmanuel Wilson down to the #3 spot. If they draft an RB within the first five rounds, which seems quite possible, Wilson gets knocked down to the #4 spot and is on the practice squad at best, as they are unlikely to cut a player who was selected in the first five rounds. I think Wilson will either have to beat out A.J. Dillon for the #2 spot or hope an RB doesn't get drafted in the first five rounds. The future looks murky for him.

Need a HIGH 2nd RD RB1 of the future with Vision, speed and wiggle to burn. That's what our RB room is missing.
a big OL upgrade will help solve most of our issues...If it's done right.

Emmanuel Wilson is not on the roster, meaning he has no contract with the Packers. Ellis Merriweather does, along with Jacobs and Dillon. The point made that Dillon is on a one year deal wouldn't prevent us from drafting a RB is valid, IMO.

We drafted Jones, and he didn't play that much as a rookie. We drafted Dillon, and he didn't play very much as a rookie. Maybe they'll try that play again and take advantage of an opportunity to add a real good player to develop for a year before he takes over for Dillon.

I agree with you. There is going to be some very good talent drop into the 3rd round if the consensus of mock drafts are any indication.

Dillon isn’t a sure thing to even make the team. Keep in mind, my understanding is if they cut him it only costs 167K against the cap. There’s a reason they did the contract that way. I see them picking a RB who weighs around 200lbs in the first 3 rounds and maybe another later in the draft. All three described currently under contract are 230+lbs or so. They need lightning, a 3rd down scat back type. One with shiftiness and very quick to the hole and ability to extend the field vertically. They will bring in that type of player and one of the current 3 will be cut IMO.

Lastly, RB is one of the easiest positions for a rookie to make an impact in the NFL, so, no need for them to get very little playing time like Jones did.

I like Corum, Guerendo ,and Brooks for that role

Benson will be gone early in the second round while Jonathon Brooks because of an ACl injury will likely drop into the third round. He is expected to be fully recovered by the start of training camp. If Healthy,he would be a steal for the Pack at 88 and there would be no rush to get him into the lineup early. Arguably when healthy many had him rated as the best RB in the draft prior to the injury. So yes, I would love this pick in the third round. I think Gute will too.

" Losing Campbell at ILB was also big." I disagree.

WD, the problem I have with Cooper is that he isn't head and shoulders above, Wilson, Colson, Gray and Wallace, who we won't have to spend #25 or #41 on. I know Cooper shouldn't be picked even as early as #41. If we want one of those 5, it's probably going to have to be with #58, or they will all be gone by #88.

I actually think that FA Isaiah Simmons is still better than any of those 5 rookies, and he isn't projected to sign for big money. As far as the draftable LBs, I think Colson and Wallace are the best fits for GB.

There will not be any "Quality" OL available in the 3rd round, even if we waste picks by trading up. The absolute best choice for GB in this draft to use our first pick on, is to draft an O-lineman. We will get a TOP 10 player that way for sure that can start from Day 1.

This draft falls really well for GB, where our picks are located, if we don't slide some LB or DT into the first 2 picks. We could easily get great players by taking OL @ #25, Safety @ #41, LB @ #58, CB or OL @ #88, and RB @ #91. The strength of each group is right in the range of those picks, except maybe getting a Top 20 OL @ #88. It would still be a good backup, but not a starting caliber player.

Before you say you can't plan a draft like that, I'll say yes you absolutely can this year because of where the strength of the individual position groups should come off the board at.

We will have multiple choices of Top 10 OL @ #25. The top 3 Safeties should be in play @ #41, Cooper might be the only LB gone before #58, and he is not a clear cut best for us. I would say 5 CBs that GB would want are still there @ #88. And other than Benson & Wright, the majority of the RBs will be available @ #91.

Even trading back from #25 or # 91 would still get a really good OL and RB, while gaining valuable picks. Trading up would be disastrous and there is no need to do so.

He was not tendered so he’s no longer restricted. I suspect that the resigning of Dillon means Dillon will take on that role due to his ability in protection. Walker is as yet unproven if promising as a protector and will likely get a shot to nail down the number 2 spot.

We will sign one or more RBs, probably more likely a more Jones type change of pace project would be the most likely draft option, but all could easily be UDFA pick ups now Dillon is here unless there is one we feel falls well past value late.

Any pick up probably needs to be plausibly able to get through to the PS to develop if Jacobs, Wilson and Dillon are all healthy. In reality, LaFleur likely won’t play them until they’ve had time to show or develop protection skills that seem particularly unrefined in this year’s class.

My 6:00 AM take the pup out and dance an Irish jig Mock:
#33 Jordan Morgan LT Arizona
#41 Cooper Beebe OG Kansas State
#58 Tyler Nubin SS Gophers
#65 Max Melton CB Rutgers
#88 Bucky Irving RB Oregon
#91 Jaden Hicks S WASU
#126 B Limmer OC Arkansas
#169 Curtis Jacobs LB Penn State
#194 B Jackson Edge WASU
#204 Ulofoshio LB Washington
#241 Kimani Vidal RB/PR Troy

They should be signing a LB this week....

Yes,Yes and Yes!

Dillon's downturn in production can be attributed to the number of games Jones missed, he was not drafted to be the lead RB. For the amount they will pay him he will be a real asset especially if Jacobs stays healthy and the old RB combo is in place again like with Jones. People forget how well he pass protects and how he catches the ball out of the backfield, just saw a stat that showed based on the number of catches per first downs made he was high on the league list. With Jacobs who has been described as an Eddie Lacy type runner on 3rd and 4th downs and short you can have both backs on the field to prevent the defense from concentrating on one.

If you want to go the Estimes route, why not go all in: Jakobi Buchanan, Army. 26 rushing TDs, almost never stopped behind the line, a former lacrosse player old school running fullback with agile feet and 255 pounds. Lead blocking or goal line/short yardage type snaps would finally be truly physically threatening.

He may not be the best runner out there but he does everything pretty well. Good enough to be our backup rb.

With LaFleur being so insistent on confidence in competence at protection, Dillon is going to make the roster for that alone in my opinion. Indeed I’d guess that’s a big factor in bringing him back. He may be beaten out by Wilson as the second back if all are healthy, but Wilson, let alone any new back, is unlikely to gain equivalent trust as a protector based on LaFleur’s past caution.

I’d agree, though the scarcity of ILB in the draft and elsewhere makes me wonder if that isn’t going to be just as high a priority. I don’t think we can discount S either, we still have just one and no SS. Need wise those positions dominate. I’d be surprised if we don’t see days one and 2 dominated by them as far as the draft allows, even if it requires some pick trading.

And many of them grade out higher than any LB, RB, or S in this draft. Despite those potential greater needs, I can see the Packers taking one of the OL in a very good draft class.

I think that's exactly right. Also, we played Jones and Dillon sparsely as rookies....maybe we'll take a guy and let him develop for a year. Like Braelon Allen, maybe.

His was personality issues by all accounts. We also lost a potential Jones type, Goodson, to the Colts, I hear because of protection preventing him playing in LaFleur’s eyes. LaFleur is not a guy who will just plug and play rookie RBs straight away willingly.