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NFL Draft kicks off tonight

By

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst

The 2020 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night, virtually.  The event starts at 7 p.m. CT.

The Green Bay Packers head into the draft with 10 selections for the second straight year.  The Packers have a pick in all seven rounds, plus two extra in the sixth and one extra in the seventh.

If the Packers draft 10 players, it will mark the third draft in the last four years that Green Bay selected 10-plus players (11 in 2018 and 10 in 2017).

Brian Gutekunst will be overseeing his third draft as the general manager of the Packers and 22nd overall in Green Bay.

Barring a trade, the Packers will have the 30th overall pick in Thursday nights opening round.  The last time the Packers had the 30th pick was last year, a pick acquired in a trade with Seattle.  The Packers used [Read more…]

Packers land 30th pick from Saints in 2019 Draft

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T.J. Watt, taken with the 30th pick in 2017 by the Steelers (Photo by David Stluka).

The Green Bay Packers traded the 14th overall pick in the 2018 draft to New Orleans for the No. 27 pick and the Saints’ first round pick in 2019.

Following the Saints 26-23 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game on Sunday, the Packers know they’ll have the 30th pick in the first round of the 2019 draft.  The Packers will also have their own first round pick, number-12 overall.

There’s been some good players that have been selected with the 30th pick.  Following are the last five years of picks at number-30:

2018:  Mike Hughes, CB, Minnesota
2017:  T.J. Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh
2016:  Vernon Butler, DT, Carolina
2015:  Damarious Randall, S/CB, Green Bay
2014:  Jimmie Ward, S, San Francisco

Packers fall short in Pittsburgh, can they still make the playoffs?

By

Mike McCarthy

For the first time in weeks, the Green Bay Packers looked like a team capable of sustaining a late season push towards a possible playoff spot.  Their effort fell just short at Pittsburgh on Sunday night, as a last second 53-yard field goal turned into a 31-28 Packers defeat.

The loss didn’t eliminate the Packers (5-6) from the playoff hunt, but their position isn’t one that teams are clamoring to be in either.  The NFC North division race, although mathematically still possible, but those odds are slim.  They trail the Minnesota Vikings (9-2) by four games with five left to play.

In the wildcard race, the Packers odds are a little better, but still not anything to write home about at this time.  The Packers two games behind a pair of teams for the sixth and final playoff spot.  It likely puts them in a position where they will need to win all five remaining games and then still get some help along the way.

Brett Hundley, in his best performance yet, completed 17 of 26 for 245 yards and three touchdowns.  Even more important is Hundley didn’t turn the ball over.  And it wasn’t because he was too conservative.  [Read more…]

Two Badgers go on Day 1 of the NFL Draft

By

T.J. Watt – 42

Wisconsin outside linebacker T.J. Watt and left tackle Ryan Ramczyk both thought they would hear their name called a little earlier, but when the smoke cleared, both ended up as first round selections in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Watt and Ramczyk became the seventh and eighth Badgers in the last ten years to become first-round picks.  Watt was taken with the 30th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ramczyk was chosen 32nd overall by the New Orleans Saints.

The pair became the 30th and 31st first-round picks in UW history. [Read more…]

Packers trade out of NFL’s first round

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From left, Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, general manager Ted Thompson and president Mark Murphy look on in the draft room at Lambeau Field on Thursday night. Photo courtesy of the Green Bay Packers/Evan Siegle

The Green Bay Packers moved out of the first round, sending the 29th overall pick to the Cleveland Browns for the Browns first pick in the second round, number-33 overall.  The Packers also get the Browns pick in round four, which is the first pick of day number three.

It’s the 20th time that Ted Thompson has traded down since taking over as the Packers general manager.

The Browns used the 29th pick on University of Miami TE David Njoku.

Trading down means the Packers won’t have a first round pick for the first time [Read more…]

Packers hold 29th pick in tonight’s NFL Draft

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The Green Bay Packers have many needs heading into the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft tonight.  Cover corner and a pass rusher top the list.

After losing Sam Shields, the Packers struggled in the secondary last season.  They also struggled to rush the passer and will enter the season without one of their top pressure players in Julius Peppers, who signed a free agent deal with Carolina.

They’re hoping Clay Matthews can stay healthy this season after he had one of his worst seasons.

They could go the corner route right away, and if the player or players they want aren’t available at that position, then a pass rushing outside linebacker could be on the agenda.  State football fans would love to see them take Wisconsin’s T.J. Watt, although Missouri’s Charles Harris is considered to be a better bet. [Read more…]

Badgers finish 9th in final college football AP Poll

By

Justin Wilcox

The Wisconsin Badgers finished 9th in the final Associated Press Top 25 College Football poll, released on Tuesday.

Wisconsin finished in the AP top 10 for the 13th time in their history, but the first time since 2011.  They closed the season with a Cotton Bowl victory over Western Michigan and finished 11-3.

Ramczyk headed for the NFL

Redshirt junior left tackle Ryan Ramczyk announced that he will enter the 2017 NFL draft, joining fellow junior T.J. Watt in giving up his final year of eligibility for the draft.

Ramczyk is projected to go in the first round of the draft, which is set to take place April 27-29 in Philadelphia. [Read more…]

Watt leaving early for NFL Draft

By

TJ Watt. – (Photo by David Stluka).

Wisconsin Badger outside linebacker T.J. Watt announced today that he is leaving early for the NFL draft.

The redshirt junior from Pewaukee recorded 11.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in his first year as a full-time starter.

Watt is the youngest brother of Houston Texans standout J.J. Watt.  He was named a first-team All-Big Ten performer and then a first team All-American by Sports Illustrated and second team choice by the Associated Press.

Watt’s announcement came just one day after the Badgers (11-3) closed the season with a 24-16 Cotton Bowl victory over Western Michigan on Monday.

Ramczyk, Watt named All-Americans

By

Ryan Ramczyk (Photo by David Stluka).

Ryan Ramczyk (Photo by David Stluka).

Wisconsin Badger teammates Ryan Ramczyk and T.J. Watt were named Associated Press All-American’s on Monday,

Ramczyk, who has started all 13 games at left tackle, was named to the A.P. All-American first team.  Watt, who has started all 13 games at outside linebacker, was a second-team pick.

Ramczyk sat out last season after transferring from UW-Stevens Point.  He has held down the left tackle position, excelling as a pass and run blocker.  He’s the first AP first-team pick since Melvin Gordon in 2014.

Watt ranks fourth in tackles (59) at Wisconsin.  He leads the Badgers in tackles for loss (14 1/2), sacks (10 1/2) and quarterback hurries (12).

Ramczyk and Watt are redshirt juniors and would be eligible for the 2017 NFL draft.

 

Watt named All-Big Ten first team linebacker

By

Linebacker T.J. Watt (Photo by David Stluka).

Linebacker T.J. Watt (Photo by David Stluka).

Wisconsin Badger redshirt junior T.J. Watt was named first team All-Big Ten linebacker by both the coaches and the media on Tuesday.

Watt finished the regular season third in the Big Ten in sacks with 9 1/2.  He tied for seventh in tackles for loss with 13 and leads the Badgers in both categories.

Watt was one of six Wisconsin defensive players honored.

Senior cornerback Sojourn Shelton was a first team pick by the media and second team by the coaches.  Linebacker Vince Biegel (senior-Wisconsin Rapids), was named to the second team by the coaches and third team by the media.

Senior safety Leo Musso (media), junior safety D’Cota Dixon (media) and junior defensive end Conor Sheehy (coaches) were also named third team All-Big Ten.

The six defenders join head coach Paul Chryst who was voted by his peers as the Big Ten Coach of the Year.