Brian Gutekunst made three trades and eleven selections in his first draft as General Manager of the Green Bay Packers this weekend.
The deals came early as he maneuvered down and up in the first round and traded to get back into the third round adding defense with his first three choices. Gutekunst then got offensive on the final day selecting three wide receivers and a linemen and threw everyone a couple of curveballs by adding both a punter and a long snapper Saturday.
The icing on the 2018 draft class is the additional first round pick in 2019 he acquired from the New Orleans Saints with his first round trade.
Here's a summary of the draft picks and where I see them fitting in with the 2018 Packers.
Round 1
Jaire Alexander CB University of Louisville 5-11 192
A junior entry who was among the faster corners coming out. Alexander was limited to six games last fall thanks to a hyperextended knee he suffered on opening day. As a sophomore in 2016, he led the team with five interceptions and displayed big play ability as a punt returner. Look for the Packers to deploy Alexander in the slot initially with the hope he develops quickly as a starter on the outside.
Round 2
Josh Jackson CB University of Iowa 6-1 192
Another junior entry and the player most Packer fans are familiar with after he led not only the Big Ten but the nation with eight interceptions last season. He returned two picks for touchdowns at Camp Randall Stadium against the Badgers. While Alexander is a cover corner who can run, Jackson is a much more aggressive player in the secondary. The Packers have invested heavily in defensive backs over the past four years and they must get two, long term producers at this position.
Round 3
Oren Burks LB Vanderbilt University 6-3 230
The Packers gave up a couple of picks to climb back into the third round to get a player that's becomming en vogue in the NFL, a hybrid linebacker/safety who can run down plays. Burks worked his way closer to the line of scrimmage every year in the Commodore program, starting as a safety, moving into the hybrid role as a junor and then playing exclusively as an inside linebacker during his redshirt senior season. Burks piled up 82 tackles last year and he'll push Jake Ryan for playing time and possibly replace Joe Thomas as the dime linebacker because of his athleticism.
Round 4
J'Mon Moore WR University of Missouri 6-3 205
Moore is a big, physical target who eclipsed 1000 receiving yards in each of his last two seasons with the Tigers. Several teams backed off of this prospect after a sluggish 4.6, 40 at the combine but Moore said that was the worst time of his life. He also experienced some bad drops last year but the Packers are excited about his run after the catch ability, ranking among the top receivers coming out with 14 forced miss tackles. Pass catching snaps behind Davante Adams and Randall Cobb are wide open with Moore expected to immediately get in the mix against the likes of Geronimo Allison, Trevor Davis and Michael Clark.
Round 5
Cole Madison OL Washington State University 6-5 314
One of my favorite personalities from draft weekend. He was a four year letterwinner and three year starter on the line for the C0ugars, primarily at the right tackle position. He entered the program as a tight end but put on 75 pounds during his college career. An easy going manner with a mean streak on the field, Madison doesn't bother himself with hair cuts or social media, he just plays. The Packers will start him inside at guard and could have a real opportunity to succeed Jahri Evans on the right side.
J.K. Scott Punter University of Alabama 6-6 204
Despite setting a franchise record in net average last year, the Packers never really seemed enamored with Justin Vogel's rookie season so they spent the second of two picks in the 5th round to deliver serious competiton with Scott. He holds the Alabama career record in gross average at 45.6 playing in three national championship games during his career. Half of his 54 punts as a senior landed inside the 20 with only four touchbacks and just five his punts were returned at all. A two-step punter who gets all his leverage from long legs will win the job if he shows consistency this summer in training camp. Scott spent every summer growing up on Owen Lake near Hayward at his family cabin. His grandmother still lives in Madison and his father attended Madison West high school before raising his family in Colorado.
Marques Valdes-Scantling WR South Florida University 6-5 209
The second of three receviers was described by a Packer scout as a big target with blazing speed. Valdes-Scantling went sub 4.4 on his 40 time and caught 53 passes with six touchdowns in his final season with the Bulls. He transferred to South Florida after two years at North Carolina State. The one play the Packers want to point to was a short catch that turned into a 95 yard touchdown against Connecticut where he literally flew past the entire defense. Big play ability like that will give him opportunities with Aaron Rodgers.
Round 6
Equanimeous St. Brown WR University of Notre Dame 6-5 203
Another big target is targeted by the Packers. As a sophomore, with current Green Bay QB Deshon Kizer throwing to him, he caught 58 passes with nine touchdowns.in 2016. His production plummeted his junior year when Notre Dame had QB issues all season. St. Brown's father was a two-time Mr. Universe body builder and he has two brothers who play college ball. He has an extremely confident air about him, almost too much so. It'll be interesting to see how that plays in the locker room.
Round 7
James Looney DE University of California 6-3 280
The Packers finally address the pass rush in round seven with a defensive end who ranked in the top ten in every measureable at the scouting combine among defensive lineman. He was the defensive MVP in each of his final two seasons with the Bears. He's probably too big to become an "elephant" type linebacker for Mike Pettine but he should push for snaps as a hands down pass rusher on third down.
Hunter Bradley Long Snapper Mississippi State University 6-3 240
It was a calamitous revolving door at this position for the Packers last year as they draft a long snapper for the first time ever. Bradley started his Bulldog career as a tight end but learned the craft from his father who was a long snapper at Delta State. After a series of three ACL surgeries over two seasons, Bradley focused solely on snapping and handled the job with a glitch over his last two years. If his knees hold up, he should win the job by default with only free agent Zach Triner on the roster.
Kendall Donnerson OLB Southeast Missouri State 6-2 248
A run to the ball blitzer who recorded 10 sacks over his final two seasons at Southeast Missouri. He would have to be a special teams demon to push his way onto the 53 man roster which the likes of Kyler Fackerell, Vince Biegel and the emerging Reggie Gilbert in front of him.
We'll get our first look at the class, along with the undrafted free agents signed over the weekend, at the rookie orientation camp set for this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.