OT Jason Spriggs (78) – Photo courtesy of Indiana University Athletics
The Green Bay Packers made a day two trade in the 2016 NFL Draft, moving up in the second round to select a Big Ten offensive lineman. They followed by taking an outside linebacker in round three.
As players were flying off the board early in the second round, the Packers felt Indiana tackle Jason Spriggs was one of the most attractive players on the board. But they didn’t think he would make it to the 57th overall pick, so Ted Thompson began dialing, looking for deals.
The Packers found a taker with the Indianapolis Colts. The two teams swapped second round picks as the Packers moved up to 48th. They also gave a fourth-round pick (125th) and a seventh-round pick (248th) to the Colts, just for the right move up nine spots.
The Packers then selected Spriggs, who started all four years at Indiana. He became the sixth tackle and the eighth offensive lineman taken overall.
Spriggs is as athletic as they come and starting four years in the Big Ten gives him plenty of experience.
AUDIO: Director of Player Personnel Brian Gutekunst on Spriggs :20
The knock on Spriggs if that he’s viewed by scouts as a finesse blocker who offered little power in the run game. The Packers obviously feel it’s not an issue.
Spriggs became the first offensive lineman drafted by the Packers since Derek Sherrod went 32nd overall back in 2011. Packers fans hope he works out better than Sherrod.
Spriggs played mostly tackle in college, but the Packers think he can play inside as well.
It was a certainty that the Packers would look into offensive line prospects with Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang and David Bakhtiari all set to become unrestricted free agents after the 2016 season.
In the third round, the Packers selected Utah State outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell (88th overall). But they time they went with a linebacker, most of the top rated linebackers in this draft class were already gone. Fackrell became the 12th outside linebacker selected. He’s coming off an ACL injury in the 2014 opener.
Fackrell was a three-year starter at outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. He gives the Packers some added pass rush from the outside. But the Packers haven’t done anything in the first three rounds to help improve or add depth to the middle linebacker position.
They’ll have four selections left on the final day of the draft on Saturday.
