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Green Bay Packers mock draft: Complete 7-round edition

By Josh Criswell

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Oct 31, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes linebacker Jared Norris (41) moves in to tackle Oregon State Beavers quarterback Nick Mitchell (14) during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah won 27-12. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes linebacker Jared Norris (41) moves in to tackle Oregon State Beavers quarterback Nick Mitchell (14) during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah won 27-12. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

As noted earlier, the Green Bay Packers arrive at the 2016 NFL Draft with one glaring need: inside linebacker.

Jake Ryan was thrust into a major role earlier than anticipated as a rookie last season due to an injury to Sam Barrington, and delivered a respectable performance. Ryan, Barrington and Nate Palmer, however, is not exactly an inside linebacker unit that instills fear into opposing offenses.

Drafting Scooby Wright III in the second round provides the Packers with a player capable of making an immediate impact. Similar to DeMeco Ryans in 2006, Wright could emerge as a sleeper threat to contend for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors if healthy. Given injury concerns surrounding the former Arizona standout, though, drafting a second inside linebacker in the later rounds could prove to be a wise decision for Green Bay.

Utah’s Jared Norris also struggled with injuries during the 2015 season, but this does not seem to be a serious concern heading into the draft. It hindered his draft stock more than anything, which could work in the Packers’ favor.

Much like Wright, Norris is an instinctive inside linebacker that experienced a productive college career. And even with injury troubles that held him back last season, he still managed to earn second-team All-Pac-12 honors.

Norris may not have Pro Bowl potential, but his productivity and ability to fit in a 3-4 defense makes him appealing for a Packers team looking to improve its linebacker corps.

Next: Round 7

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