2018 NFL Draft: Biggest need for each team
By Conor Dorney
Green Bay Packers: Cornerback
The Green Bay Packers have already broken their typically-cautious trend in free agency by inking former Seahawk Jimmy Graham to a three-year deal, but it’s the defense that they’ll need to focus on heading into the 2018 NFL Draft.
Despite spending their first selection of the 2017 Draft on a cornerback (Washington’s Kevin King), Green Bay would be wise to invest in more talent at the position heading into next season. Luckily for new general manager Brian Gutekunst, this draft class could provide plenty of answers on the outside.
The trade of Damarious Randall to the Browns indicates that the team is very comfortable with the development of Kevin King, but pairing him with another corner on the opposite side of the field will be crucial to improving Football Outsider’s 26th-worst pass defense from last season. King seems to fit the mold that Green Bay is looking for as they move forward, meaning they’re likely to target similar outstanding athleticism and length.
With the fourteenth pick in the first round, the team could be in the range of players like Iowa’s Josh Jackson and Auburn’s Carlton Davis, both of whom figure to vastly improve the Pack’s defense.
If the team decides to wait until later in the draft, names like LSU’s Kevin Toliver, Virginia Tech’s Brandon Facyson and Boston College’s Isaac Yiadiom could also be in the mix. Overall, the NFC North figures to be a division that will see plenty of improvement in its passing offenses, making this draft all the more valuable for Green Bay to add another playmaker on the outside at cornerback.