The Packers could target an upgrade at inside linebacker in the form of Georgia’s Roquan Smith or Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds. But as Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel points out, the team would likely have to trade up from its No. 14 overall pick to land either of the players.
The Raiders are certainly players for Smith at No. 10 and if the Buffalo trades up from its No. 12 pick, that could also complicate matters.
Silverstein identifies two possible trades. The team could swap its first -and third-round picks for the 49ers’ No. 9 overall pick, also giving the Niners the 70th, 74th and 76th overall picks in the draft. Green Bay could also go after the Dolphins’ No. 11 overall pick.
A few other areas of need for the Packers include cornerback and a pass-rusher. But Silverstein notes it would be nice for the team to be able pair another three-down inside linebacker with more coverage ability than Blake Martinez.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- Sticking with the Packers, the Milwaukee Bucks announced at their playoff game Friday that quarterback Aaron Rodgers had purchased a minority stake in the team’s ownership group. The Bucks pointed out that he’s the only active NFL with an ownership stake in an NBA team. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky goes into more detail on the motivation for Rodgers to make the move.
- Cardinals coach Steve Wilks announced that his linebacking corps for the upcoming season will include Deone Bucannon, Josh Bynes and Haason Reddick, according to ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss.
- Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee provides an update on 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster and his domestic violence charges. The charges stem from a February incident with Foster and his girlfriend at his Los Gatos, Calif., home in February. Barrows reports that the victim in the case has hired an attorney, which could signal she doesn’t plan to cooperate with the prosecution.
I can’t imagine that Rodgers would purchase a stake in Milwaukee’s basketball team if he had any intention of leaving Wisconsin. Seems like the “Rodgers hates Green Bay” headline was all smoke with no fire
I think he was genuinely hurt when he wasn’t consulted but at the end of the day, life goes on. Both sides will mend things and all will be forgotten.
Besides, he’s under contract through 2019 and could franchised at least twice after that, so he’s not going anywhere anyways. He’s a packer for life.
May be a little selfish, but I would love to see the Packers grab Josey Jewell at ILB in round 4. Arguably the best LB in college last year and is a very bright individual.
No offense to the guy, but I see him as a poor(er?) man’s version of Jake Ryan. Maybe I just haven’t seen enough of him on tape, but I recall catching an Iowa game last year, and after about 3 plays immediately said “there’s GB’s 3rd or 4th round draft pick next year.” I didn’t get a favorable response from the half dozen friends watching with me.
So now Rodgers owns the Bucks and the Bears.