The Green Bay Packers showed some surprising aggressiveness on the free-agent market as they signed a couple of big names in Jimmy Graham and Muhammad Wilkerson. They could now take a similarly aggressive approach in the upcoming draft to take a big-name defensive back.
According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, there's a “good chance” the Packers are eyeing one of the three top defensive backs in this year’s draft class – Minkah Fitzpatrick, Denzel Ward, and Derwin James – but they’ll likely need to trade up from their current spot at No. 14 in order to get one of them.
Demovsky consulted ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., who posits that the Packers must go well inside the top 10 to have a shot at those three defensive backs.
“If you want to go up and get Fitzpatrick and you feel he’s a cornerback, not a safety, you probably have to get to nine or 10,” Kiper said. “If you talk about James, everybody seems to think he’ll go 7 to Tampa Bay. Denzel Ward, probably up to that 6-7 range because he’s the best corner in the draft.”
Both the Broncos and the Colts have already expressed their intentions of making their picks – No. 5 and No. 6, respectively – available for a possible trade. Meanwhile, the Packers currently have 12 draft picks – the most in the league – which they can use in a deal.
Despite Ha Ha Clinton-Dix’s disapproval, the Packers are clearly looking for another safety like Fitzpatrick and James after the departure of veteran Morgan Burnett in free agency. And even after bringing back veterans Davon House and Tramon Williams, cornerback appears to be a possible position they’d like to strengthen even further.
If Green Bay does miss out on those top three targets, Kiper believes they will likely choose between two cornerbacks – Louisville’s Jaire Alexander and Iowa’s Josh Jackson – as their pick.
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