NFL Mock Draft 9.0: Quarterbacks push defensive prospects down board
The linebacker depth on the Green Bay Packers team is virtually non-existent. While they have a couple of nice middle linebacker options in Jake Ryan and Blake Martinez, they lack a top backup and they could use a rush linebacker to improve their pass rushing ability as well. Adding a versatile player who can do all of these jobs would be a sensible move.
Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds would certainly qualify. Edmunds flew under the radar during the 2017 season, but he has steadily risen in the lead up to the 2018 NFL Draft. In the past two seasons, Edmunds has totaled 202 tackles and 10 sacks with a whopping 30.5 tackles for loss. He has great size at 6-foot-5 and his athletic ability should give him a chance to be a quality player at the NFL level.
In Green Bay, Edmunds could get a chance to start at one of the rush linebacker positions, either taking over for Nick Perry or the declining Clay Matthews. He could then move around the
defense as needed to fill roles all over the front seven. This type of versatility would be immensely valuable, and it would give the Packers an important weapon in the front seven.
In the event that the Packers pass of Edmunds here, they would probably target a defensive back like Josh Jackson here. They need to add some pass rushing and coverage help for their defense if they want to make it back to the playoffs. So, grabbing the best available player, Edmunds, would make a lot of sense.