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Packers reach agreement with third-round pick

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Packers logoThe Green Bay Packers have reached a contract agreement with third-round draft pick Kyler Fackrell on a four-year rookie deal.

The outside linebacker from Utah State, becomes the sixth of seven draft picks to agree to terms with the Packers.  Only Kenny Clark, the teams first round pick out of UCLA, remains unsigned.

The Packers picked Fackrell with the 88th overall pick in the 2016 draft.

Fackrell was held to three years on the field after a redshirt year and a season-ending knee injury during his junior season.  He still finished with 12 career sacks and 36 tackles for loss.

He turns 25 in November, is almost two years removed from the torn ACL that sidelined him for nearly all of the 2014 season.

Scouts questioned his mobility post-injury last year, the front office and coaching staff in Green Bay all believe Fackrell will rebound nicely.

AUDIO: Fackrell feels he was 100% just a year removed from ACL surgery :14

AUDIO: Kyler Fackrell says this all becomes real right away :19

Badgers Gordon heading to San Diego, while HS teammate going to Vikings

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Melvin Gordon

Melvin Gordon

The San Diego Chargers wanted to make sure they picked up a weapon in the NFL Draft, so they traded up two spots to secure former Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon with the 15th pick overall.

Gordon, who finished as a Heisman Award finalist and the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year, becomes the fourth consecutive Wisconsin back to be drafted and the first since 2001.

For the UW program, Gordon’s selection is the 29th overall in the first round of the NFL Draft, and extends a consecutive years streak of having a player drafted to 37.

Gordon helped Wisconsin to a Big Ten West Division title and an Outback Bowl victory in his final season.

In high school, he played alongside Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes at Kenosha Bradford, winning a WIAA Division 1 state title in 2011. Waynes was taken four spots ahead of Gordon by the Minnesota Vikings.

Packers make surprise pick with safety Damarious Randall in NFL Draft’s 1st Round

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Packers GM Ted Thompson

Packers GM Ted Thompson

In need of help at the cornerback position, Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson selected defensive back Damarious Randall out of Arizona State with the 30th pick in the NFL Draft.

Randall, who ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, played free safety for the Sun Devils, but will likely be part of the cornerback rotation with the Packers.

Green Bay lost corners Tramon Williams and Davon House to free agency, creating a depth issue in the defensive secondary.

Thompson described the 5’11’, 190-pounder as an “athlete”, “heady”, and “a football player”.

Randall had three interceptions, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 8.2 tackles per game during his senior season, earning him All-Pac 12 First Team honors. Sports Illustrated listed him as an honorable mention All-American. [Read more…]

Packers will enter NFL Draft with nine selections

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Packers GM Ted Thompson

Packers GM Ted Thompson

It is no secret that Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson takes pride in collecting draft picks.

More than a month out from the April 30-May 2 NFL Draft in Chicago, the Packers have been awarded two additional compensatory picks.

The sixth-round selections, Nos. 210 and 212, are a result of net losses in free agency the previous season. Last offseason, Green Bay lost four unrestricted free agents, the biggest of which were center Evan Dietrich-Smith and receiver James Jones. [Read more…]

A look back at the NFL Draft (VIDEO)

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Here’s a look back at the 2013 NFL Draft.  I appeared with Missourinet’s Bill Pollock and Kevin McCrarey from the South Carolina Radio Network, a pair of co-workers.  Bill Pollock covers the Rams and Chiefs for the Missourinet and Kevin covers the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons, but more importantly, resides right in the middle of SEC Country.

Packers use 6th round pick on Nate Palmer

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Nate Plamer

Nate Plamer

The Packers late round run on defense continues as the Packers tab Illinois State OLB Nate Palmer in the 6th round with the 193rd pick in the draft.

Palmer’s college career started at Illinois before he transferred to Illinois State after his Sophomore Season.  He did earn Academic All-Big Ten honors as a Freshman with the Illini.

He played two seasons at Illinois State earning All-Missouri Valley Conference 2nd team honors both seasons.  Palmer put up big numbers as a defensive end with the RedBirds recording 17-sacks and 25.5 tackles-for-loss in two seasons.

At 240 pounds, Palmer will make the move to outside linebacker in the NFL.

Rick Wagner becomes the third Wisconsin player taken

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Ricky Wagner Photo/Wisconsin

Ricky Wagner
Photo/Wisconsin

The Baltimore Ravens drafted Wisconsin OT Ricky Wagner in the last pick in the 5th round, the 168th pick in the draft.

Heading into 2012, Wagner was thought to be a potential first round talent.  However, the way 2012 started with the issues on the offensive line and an early coaching change, Wagner saw his stock drop.  Wagner received all-Big Ten honorable mention recognition in 2010 and 2011 and was started most of the games he appeared in.

He joins C Travis Frederick and RB Montee Ball as Wisconsin players drafted this year.

Packers go defense with both picks in the 5th round

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After bolstering the offensive side of the football with four of their first five picks, the Packers turned to defense with both picks in the 5th round.

The first 5th round pick, #159 overall, for GM Ted Thompson was Iowa corner back Micah Hyde.

Hyde was the defensive back of the year in the Big Ten in 2012 and a Big Ten all first-team selection by both the coaches and the media.  In 2011, he picked up 2nd team all-Big ten recognition by the coaches. He was also a punt returner finishing 4th in the conference at 7.4 yards a return in 2012.

Hyde’s size is definitely a plus and fits in the Ted Thompson drafting mode.  He is listed at abut 6’1″ and 200-pounds.  The Packers usually lean towards physical defensive backs.

With their 2nd 5th round pick, #167 overall, the Packers went to the defensive line and added Mississippi State’s Josh Boyd. Boyd stands at 6’3″ and weighs 300-pounds.

Boyd played all four-years with the Bulldogs appearing in 51-games compiling 8 1/2 sacks.  His best year was his Junior season, when he had a career best 4.5 sacks and 8-tackles for loss.

 

Kimberly’s A.J Klein taken by Carolina

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A.J Klein Photo/Iowa State

A.J Klein
Photo/Iowa State

With pick #148 in the 5th round, the Carolina Panthers selected Iowa State LB A.J Klein.  Klein played his high school ball at Kimberly high school helping his team to a 37-1 record in that time, winning back-to-back State Championships his final two seasons.

Klein was the 2011 Big 12 co-defensive player of the year and was am member of the all Big 12 first team in 2011 and 2012.

Green Bay grab more offensive depth with Cornell’s J.C. Tretter

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Capture

JC Tretter
Photo Credit: Cornell

With their second pick in the 4th round Green Bay added more depth on the offensive line, drafting Cornell’s J.C. Tretter.

During his freshman year Tretter  appeared in all but one game at tight end. Following his sophomore season in which he produced just 62 yards and one touchdown on four receptions, Tretter added 26 pounds and entered his junior season at left tackle. Tretter, just the seventh offensive lineman ever selected out of Cornell was a two-time All-Ivy league selection.

Tretter started all 20 games at left tackle during his final two seasons at Cornell, allowing just one sack of the quarterback in 853 pass plays.

The Packers list Tretter as an Offensive Guard/Center