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NFL Draft rumors: DeShone Kizer ‘in play’ for Packers?

By Brad Berreman

Nov 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) throws a pass against the Southern California Trojans during a NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) throws a pass against the Southern California Trojans during a NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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After trading out of Thursday night’s first round, the Green Packers may keep the first pick of the second round and draft DeShone Kizer.

Quarterbacks were the driving force for activity during the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night, as three teams traded up and three signal callers were gone in the first 12 picks. Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer is toward the top of any list of “best available players” heading in to Friday night’s second and third rounds, and he could be the next quarterback drafted.

Late in the proceedings Thursday night, the Green Bay Packers traded down out of the first round. In exchange for their pick at No. 29, they got the No. 33 and No. 108 overall picks from the Browns. So the Packers are in an enviable position with the first pick of the second round, as teams surely ponder a move up to get a player that fell to Day 2.

But the Packers may just stay put, and make a surprising pick at No. 33.

Aaron Rodgers is still at or near the top of his game, and wants to play many more years, but he will turn 34 late in the 2017 season. Drafting Kizer, or even considering doing so, would obviously be a long-term play for Green Bay. 2015 fifth-round pick Brett Hundley has thrown just 10 regular season passes as Rodgers’ backup, but he would either fall to third-string or possibly be put on the trade block if Kizer is drafted.

The Packers have been down this road before, using a first-round pick (No. 24 overall) on Rodgers in 2005 with Brett Favre still firmly in place atop the depth chart. For comparison sake, Favre was 35, entering his age-36 season, in 2005 and his last season with the Packers was 2007.

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The Packers have greater needs on the defensive side of the ball, and they could address that with the first pick on Friday night. But they are sure to be fielding trade offers from teams that may be targeting Kizer themselves. The collective will of the Green Bay draft room will be tested very quickly, if they want Kizer or someone else deemed to be the best player available.

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