Packers 2018 NFL Draft: Day 3 Projections

What are the options left for the Green Bay Packers on Day 3 of the NFL Draft? We discuss the top players left on the board and which direction the Packers will go with their final eight picks.

Three draft picks down for the Green Bay Packers and eight to go entering Day 3 of the draft and it's clear general manager Brian Gutekunst and company are dead set on improving the team's pass defense.

After two days of the draft, Green Bay has walked away with two of the top cornerbacks in the class in Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson. Both players possess excellent ball skills and have a knack for making big plays in coverage. While Jackson is a bigger corner (6-1, 196) who's physical in coverage and is excellent at anticipating routes, Alexander is a more compact and explosive athlete who's quickness and speed allow him to play over the slot or on the boundary.

Mike Pettine's defense gained two ball hawks in its secondary, but their third-round selection, Oren Burks, also improves their pass defense. The athletic 6-foot-3, 233-pound defender out of Vanderbilt is one of the better coverage linebackers in the draft class. As a former safety, Burks has experience playing outside or inside linebacker and he should excel as a nickel or dime defender in the NFL. He can shadow tight ends or speedy running backs in coverage, but he is also athletic and fast enough (4.59) to line up wide and defend slot receivers if needed.

The additions of Alexander and Jackson help secure the Packeres cornerback position. However, they could still bring in a safety on Day 3 of the draft to provide more depth in their secondary. Burks also improves their inside linebacker position, but Green Bay still might want to draft another linebacker to play behind Blake Martinez and Burks and compete with Jake Ryan for playing time.

The Packers still need to find another young edge rusher to develop as well. Rounds four or five would be good spots for this.

And then there's offense. The Packers could use an offensive tackle, backup center, a young tight end to develop, and another receiver or two to compete with Geronimo Allison for the No. 3 spot at the position.

The Packers still have plenty of work cut out for them as they begin Day 3 of the draft.

Best Players Available on Offense:

Quarterback

1) Kyle Lauletta, Richmond

2) Luke Falk, Washington State

3) Mike White, Western Kentucky

4) Kyle Ferguson, Memphis

Comments: Because the Packers acquired second-year quarterback, DeShone Kizer, earlier in the offseason, they are no longer in need of a reliable backup to play behind Aaron Rodgers. Kizer is a younger quarterback with a lot of arm talent, so the Packers can pass on selecting a quarterback in this year's draft. If Lauletta, Falk, or White fall to the later rounds then maybe they use one of their sixth-round picks on a quarterback and let him compete with Brett Hundley for the No. 3 spot, but it still seems unlikely they go in this direction.

Running Back

1) Kalen Ballage, Arizona State

2) Nyheim Hines, NC State

3) Mark Walton, Miami

4) John Kelly, Tennessee

5) Josh Adams, Notre Dame

Comments: The Packers also seem pretty set at the running back position, so selecting one on Day 3 seems like a luxury at this point. Green Bay has a good trio in the backfield in Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, and Ty Montgomery. Devante Mays has also shown some promise and is an interesting developmental player. However, if a talented back like Ballage, Hines, Walton, or Kelly fall to late Day 3 then maybe they pull trigger and bring him in to add more depth at the position.

Wide Receiver

1) Equanimeous St. Brown, Notre Dame

2) DaSean Hamilton, Penn State

3) Marcell Ateman, Oklahoma State

4) Cedric Wilson, Boise State

5) Deon Cain, Clemson

Comments: There's a good chance one of these receivers will be available for the Packers at the end of  the fourth round. This would be a really good spot for them to take a receiver. St. Brown, Hamilton, and Ateman are all big boundary receivers who would give the Packers another big target to feature in their offense. However, St. Brown also has blazing downfield speed, so if he happens to fall, he should be the pick. Realistically though, they will probably have to trade up in the fourth round to get him. Wilson is a big-play receiver with a ton of production, but he only has average downfield speed. He would still be a very good pick though in the fifth round.

Tight End

1) Ian Thomas, Indiana

2) Dalton Schultz, Stanford

3) Christopher Herndon, Miami

4) Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin

5) Tyler Conklin, Central Michigan

Comments: It would be smart for the Packers to draft a tight end on Day 3. Jimmy Graham is 31 and is utilized primarily in a receiving role. Lannce Kendricks provides some depth, but he has also been inconsistent on the field. I would personally love it if they took a guy like Dalton Schultz with one of their mid-round picks. He's not an electric athlete, but he's a very complete player. He is one of the best blocking tight ends in the class, and he is a reliable receiver in the middle of the field. Thomas and Conklin are smaller, compact athletic tight ends who can also fill the H-back role, while Herndon and Fumagalli offer something as receivers but are very inconsistent blockers in the running game.

Offensive Line

1) Tyrell Crosby, Oregon

2) Jamarco Jones, Ohio State

3) Wyatt Teller, Virginia Tech

4) Desmond Harrison, West Georgia

5) Will Clapp, LSU

Comments: Crosby and Jones are two solid tackle prospects who the Packers could consider in round four. Harrison is also a very athletic tackle prospect with high upside they could go after. He possesses the raw tools to be a very good NFL tackle someday. Teller is the best guard prospect still left on the board, while Clapp is a solid option at center. The Packers need more depth on their offensive line, and considering the injury history of Bryan Bulaga, Kyle Murphy, and Jason Spriggs, finding a tackle early on Day 3 should be a pressing need.

Best Available Players on Defense:

Defensive Line

1) Maurice Hurst, Michigan

2) Andrew Brown, Virginia

3) Da'Shawn Hand, Alabama

4) RJ McIntosh, Miami

5) Tim Settle, Virginia Tech

Comments: Although I really like Hurst and Brown, I don't see the Packers taking a defensive linemen at any point in the draft. They seem pretty set at the position with Mike Daniels, Kenny Clark, Mo Wilkerson, Dean Lowry, and Montavius Adams.

Edge Rusher

1) Josh Sweat, Florida State

2) Okoronkwo Ogbannia, Oklahoma

3) Dorance Armstrong, Kansas

4) Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest

5-t) Leon Jacobs, Wisconsin

5-t) Kylie Fitts, Utah

Comments: If Sweat fell to the Packers at the end of the fourth round, he'd be a tempting to take. He's a freak athlete with a lot of rare raw tools. However, he's falling in the draft because there are concerns with his knee injury history. Even though he's an early-round talent, he's a high risk player. Ogbannia had incredible production in college and plays with his hair on fire, but he's short and stocky and lacks the length to play edge in the NFL. Armstrong and Ejiofor are solid Day 3 pass rusher options, while Jacobs could intrigue the Packers in rounds four or five. The Wisconsin product didn't have a lot of production in college, but he's an impressive athlete with speed and bend.

Inside Linebacker

1) Josey Jewell, Iowa

2) Micah Kiser, Virginia

3) Christian Sam, Arizona State

4) Shaquem Griffin, UCF

5) Genard Avery, Memphis

Comments: The Packers already addressed the position in round three, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to take another off-ball linebacker to help bolster the position. There are still a lot of good options at inside linebacker left on the board. Jewell and Kiser are really productive linebackers with high football IQs. They're excellent run defenders, but have fallen in the draft because they're probably two-down players in the NFL. Sam, Griffin, or Avery would also be solid options for the Packers in the mid-rounds. Griffin and Avery win with speed and athleticism, while Sam is a tough, gritty linebacker with tremendous instincts.

Cornerback

1) Quenton Meeks, Stanford

2) Anthony Averett, Alabama

3) Holton Hill, Texas

4) Parry Nickerson, Tulane

5) Nick Nelson, Wisconsin

Comments: After drafting Alexander and Jackson in the first two rounds, the Packers seem set at the cornerback position.

Safety

1) DeShon Elliott, Texas

2) Kyzer White, West Virginia

3) Armani Watts, Texas A&M

4) Marcus Allen, Penn State

5) Godwin Igwebuike, Northwestern

Comments: There are still a lot of good safeties left, and the Packers could bring one in to compete for the backup spot behind Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Josh Jones. Even though Kentrell Brice and Marwin Evans are solid No. 2 safeties, the Packers could use more young atheltic bodies at the position. Pettine might want to do more three-safety looks on defense, so having another big physical defensive back, like Kyzer White or Marcus Allen, in certain sub-packages could allow them to be more creative on defense. However, this position is not a pressing need.

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Comments (51)

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sonomaca's picture

April 28, 2018 at 11:20 am

Might pick up one more talented but raw corner. Can NEVER have enough.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

April 28, 2018 at 11:58 am

Is it just me, or are there a lot of CBs with good talent left? I like Dmitri Flowers, FB, later in the draft, maybe the 5th.

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worztik's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:27 pm

It’s just you oh great one... LOL

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RobinsonDavis's picture

April 28, 2018 at 11:23 am

My top 4 at pick 106 are:
St. Brown
Lazzard
Sweat
Quessenbery

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packerfan9507's picture

February 13, 2019 at 07:30 pm

Go Pack

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John Kirk's picture

April 28, 2018 at 11:36 am

Brian was asked about the pass rush last night. He's going to draft someone there with at least one of his 8 picks.

WR is a huge need. May end up with Auden Tate who is still around because of his dreadful 40 time. Hamilton is still there, for now...

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Coldworld's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:29 pm

No more slow receivers please!

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Chuck Farley's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:39 pm

Any receivers of real worth will be taken by Spielman before we pick just so we dont get the guy. Stupid he aint and he can do it because his team is loaded at all positions. He loves fn the packers on and off the field

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NickPerry's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:48 pm

Just took a 4.6 guy who drops the ball...DAMN!

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Bedrock's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:59 pm

We’ve had other guys with drop issues. Adams had drop issues. It was a knock on Driver... Gotta trust our coaches to do their job.

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Tundraboy's picture

April 28, 2018 at 11:44 am

"Ogbannia had incredible production in college and plays with his hair on fire"

Shades of Carl Bradford. I hope not.

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sonomaca's picture

April 28, 2018 at 11:44 am

Daesean Hamilton gone

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sonomaca's picture

April 28, 2018 at 11:47 am

Da’Shawn Hand gone. Moving up was costly

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al bundy's picture

April 28, 2018 at 11:48 am

Weres the draft picks. I thought we were loaded inthe 4th and 5th. Now i see they dont pick till 133? Slim pickings there plus number 1 inthr 5th gutty is one past the last pick in the 4th, kind of useless by then.
Nothing has changedfromhim or ted, must be beancounters running the show looking for cheap ball players.

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4EVER's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:02 pm

Belichick just dropped completely out of the fourth - go figure...for a third rounder next year - obviously doesn't see any value in the fourth either.

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dobber's picture

April 28, 2018 at 11:58 am

They seem to really like WR Justin Watson out of Penn. He’s my day three hope list

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RobinsonDavis's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:00 pm

Crosby still available at Tackle, as well as Cain at WR. All above still available as well at #120.

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RobinsonDavis's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:38 pm

duplicate post

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RobinsonDavis's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:04 pm

At this point, if they have an eye on someone specific they could easily trade up and get their guy. Come on Gute!! Crab one of those big WRs!!

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Chuck Farley's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:37 pm

What if that guy wants to be paid in money? If you move up the agent knows you wanted the guy and will ask for big bucks. IF they stand pat they can say, your lucky we picked you, shut up and take the minimum and prove yourself.
I'm being facisious but the fact is this team is tremendous at moving backwards, year in year out and staying pat at the end of round one for guys no one else really wanted.

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Bedrock's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:12 pm

I’d be good if they go OL or a WR. I’m nervous about those “fast” later WR picks. I’m not saying Davis is a bust, but I was hopeful of more production from a speed WR.

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Bedrock's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:13 pm

Edge rusher too...

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Coldworld's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:30 pm

Davis has speed but undersized body-wise

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Bedrock's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:34 pm

Options at many positions at 133

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Chuck Farley's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:34 pm

Well my suspician's are coming true. Two Gm's and exact game plan drafting late round picks and dumping the low first round options. Ya that means Russ Ball the money guy called the shots.
Almost the end of round four, three guys, all are suspect: one is smallish and cant tackle, one is big but slow as molasses and the line backer guy someone know one talked about in the pre draft conversations. No receivers, no o linemen and one linebacker.
We did get a first pick for next year but too bad they didnt solve this years problems first.

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Malland56's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:38 pm

I would really like to see the Packers take SHAQUEM GRIFFIN OLB from UCF. This kid is amazing. I heard about him last year so I watched him when ever UCF was on the tube.

He is the real deal. In the combine he ran an amazing 4.38 40! And he is a sackman and solid tackler even with only one had. He covers on pass defense like a glove from what they say. If the Packers are looking for a good outside pass rusher they should look no further than Shaquem. Again. He is the real deal

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Flow49's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:44 pm

MIZ!

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sonomaca's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:45 pm

J’Mon Moore. Hands the problem.

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stockholder's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:47 pm

Adams #2. Did TT leave the draft Room. Beanie Ball made this one.

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RobinsonDavis's picture

April 28, 2018 at 01:49 pm

According to Zierlein has maturity issues too. Looks faster than depicted - separates, upper-body seems big. Still...??

Second thought read the "strengths" part of nfldraftscout.com . Let's see what the man brings prior to condemning him too much.

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stockholder's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:45 pm

JMon moore. Slow and Big. Not your typical pick by GB.

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Coldworld's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:48 pm

Initial reaction has this as an F. No speed and questionable hands. Why? Lost on this one. Anybody have a positive insight?

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stockholder's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:55 pm

TE?

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Finwiz's picture

April 28, 2018 at 01:15 pm

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of this pick at all. He's Devonte Adams -5 years.
We need speed - so what's with the 4.6 guys? We have plenty of these pedestrian types. Surely they can't believe Trevor Davis is going to be the field stretcher?

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John Kirk's picture

April 28, 2018 at 01:31 pm

Hey...It'll all sound better when Brian stands up and tells you he was the best player available. The key is...on their board, which obviously can't be trusted. :)

Yeah, the hits just keep coming. Let's just be positive because that's what we should do?

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Spock's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:49 pm

Wow, Leroy Butler just called Rodgers "The best QB ever" in announcing the pick of J'Mon

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NickPerry's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:50 pm

If Tyrel Crosby is still there in the 5th GRAB HIM....Get some depth to protect Rodgers OR maybe go back to back at WR and take St. Brown.

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stockholder's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:58 pm

That is the problem here Brown should have went before Moore. Even Fountain for speed.

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stockholder's picture

April 28, 2018 at 01:56 pm

Fountain Went 159. Called a freak and able to stretch the field by announcers.

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Since'61's picture

April 28, 2018 at 12:58 pm

J'Mon Moore - I like his size but he has trouble against press coverage and questionable hands. He will be a developmental project at best. Time will tell. Looks like Packers have taken OT Cole Madison. He could add good depth on the OL and may be better as a guard in the pros then a Tackle. Not bad for the 5th round. We'll see. Thanks, Since '61

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RobinsonDavis's picture

April 28, 2018 at 01:20 pm

Cole Madison pick looks good for where they took him. One site and scout state "Works best in quick-set, passing situations." Sets well, quick feet. :-) Weakness - arm length and strength.

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sonomaca's picture

April 28, 2018 at 01:34 pm

Is he going to be a guard? Seems like he’s got a long way to go.

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RobinsonDavis's picture

April 28, 2018 at 02:08 pm

I see that many are projecting him as a guard. His feet and quickness will help him here too and enable him to be a swing guy...something the Packers look for. He's not a small guy either, former TE. He may have a way to go, prior to contributing....simply don't know yet, But, how often have the Packers drafted a good run blocker, that has troubles with doing a proper pass-set?

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Qoojo's picture

April 28, 2018 at 02:36 pm

Packers seem to only draft tackles, and move them to guard.

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4EVER's picture

April 28, 2018 at 02:22 pm

5th 35 ... SCOTT, ALABAMA, P

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4EVER's picture

April 28, 2018 at 02:24 pm

Got it....

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4EVER's picture

April 28, 2018 at 02:25 pm

Better yet ... NAILED IT!

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RobinsonDavis's picture

April 28, 2018 at 02:26 pm

Punter?

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RobinsonDavis's picture

April 28, 2018 at 02:33 pm

Well, there is you tall, sprinter type of receiver. Valdez-Scantling.

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4EVER's picture

April 28, 2018 at 03:05 pm

Round 6 · Pick 33 (207) · LEON JACOBS, EDGE, WISCONSIN....PLEASE!

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4EVER's picture

April 28, 2018 at 04:04 pm

I do not understand...check the tape....medical, character maybe?

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