The Green Bay Packers took eleven players away from the 2013
draft over the weekend. Locking-in star quarterback Aaron Rodgers until 2019
just days earlier, Packers staff was free to make some unexpected moves later
in the process, though they stuck to conventional wisdom to open their
choices.
UCLA defensive end Datone Jones received the first nod from
Green Bay, representing the team's sole first round pick at twenty-sixth
overall. Jones will likely be in the running for a starting spot come training camp.
Running back Johnathan Franklin was also taken from UCLA by the Packers this
year, getting the call in the fourth round. He joins a ground corps that has
lacked consistent talent for a number of seasons, as does Alabama's Eddie Lacy
who went late in the second.
Nine of Green Bay's picks came in the fourth round or later.
Along with Franklin, tackles David Bakhtiari and J.C. Tretter were taken in the
fourth. The pair is slotted to hopefully revive last year's struggling
offensive line, as both are considered dynamic linesman who can play multiple
positions.
Micah Hyde and Josh Boyd are another duo who are expected to
change positions in the pros. Making up the Packers fifth round picks, the
corner and tackle will likely start the summer at safety and nose-tackle,
respectively.
Coming late in the draft were four picks that analysts are
labeling as experimental. Out of schools like Maryland and Grand Valley State,
wide receivers Charles Johnson and Kevin Dorsey and linebackers Nate Palmer and
Sam Barrington were virtual unknowns coming into the draft class. General Manager
Ted Thompson told reporters that with some available salary cap left over from
the Rodgers deal, he and his staff chose to search for some diamonds in the
rough. He hopes that camp will prove to reveal a couple that are worth
developing into backups or perhaps future starters.
2013 Green Bay Packers Draft Choices
Round 1:
Datone Jones, UCLA
Round 2:
Eddie Lacy, Alabama
Round 4:
David Bakhtiari, Colorado
Johnathan Franklin, UCLA
Round 5:
Micah Hyde, Iowa
Josh Boyd, Mississippi State
Round 6:
Nate Palmer, Illinois State
Round 7:
Charles Johnson, Grand Valley State
Kevin Dorsey, Maryland
Sam Barrington, South Florida
