Almost Packers: Say Goodbye to These 10 Prospects

After months of speculation, some of the biggest names connected to the Packers have been picked by other teams.

This year’s draft provided Packers fans with plenty of pass rushers and cornerbacks. Now that one round of the draft is complete, many of those targets have new NFL homes.

To help you cope with having to say goodbye to a Packers-less future for these players, we’ve grouped them into four categories.

Too bad, but at least he’s in the AFC

30th overall to Pittsburgh: OLB T.J. Watt
When the Packers were on the clock at 29 and Watt was still on the board, it seemed too good to be true. Ultimately, Green Bay chose to trade down. We’ll never know whether the Packers were interested in Watt, but they weren’t interested enough to forego an additional fourth round pick to guarantee he’d be there.

27th overall to Buffalo: CB Tre’Davious White
There’s a lot to like about White. He’s a punt and kick returner, and allowed a 41.7% completion rate against opposing quarterbacks in 2016. He has an extremely similar body type to Damarious Randall, however, and struggles in run support. The Bills lost corner Stephon Gilmore to the Patriots in free agency, and White alongside former Packers safety Micah Hyde will help ease the loss.

25th overall to Cleveland: S Jabrill Peppers
Peppers was to this draft what life was to Forrest Gump: a box of chocolates. It wouldn’t have been all that surprising to see him go in the top half of the draft or fall into the late second round. Ultimately, Peppers wound up coming off the board a few picks before Green Bay’s 29th selection. Alongside top pick Myles Garrett, the two provide quite a boost for Cleveland’s defense.

18th overall to Tennessee: CB Adoree’ Jackson
The biggest beneficiary from Gareon Conley’s rape allegations may have been USC’s Adoree’ Jackson, who went from a fringe first round pick to a mid-first round pick. Jackson is a bit undersized at 5-10 for what the Packers look for in corners, but was supposedly a target for Green Bay.

I don’t love it, but it’s fine

32nd overall to New Orleans: OT Ryan Ramczyk
Ramczyk wasn’t quite a top target for the Packers, but any Wisconsin product who could potentially help Green Bay is going to be a popular name among fans. He’s the second pick by the Saints in this round, and a pick New Orleans acquired from New England in exchange for wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

24th overall to Oakland: CB Gareon Conley
It was anyone’s guess where Conley would end up in the draft. The Raiders will be his team, now. If the allegations against him are proven to be true and Conley is arrested, this will be a hard decision for general manager Reggie McKenzie to get over.

Great, now I can’t root for him anymore

19th overall to Tampa Bay: TE O.J. Howard
Given Green Bay’s commitment in free agency to tight ends Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks, Howard was most likely never a real consideration. However, he was a common target in early mock drafts. Now, he’ll play for Eli Manning and the Giants.

8th overall to Carolina: RB Christian McCaffrey
One of the most popular players connected to the Packers throughout the pre-draft process was this Stanford running back. McCaffrey ultimately was long gone by Green Bay’s pick, as Carolina scooped him up. When Jacksonville selected LSU running back Leonard Fournette with the fourth pick, it was just about a guarantee that McCaffrey wouldn’t be around when the Packers were on the clock.

13th overall to Arizona: LB Haason Reddick
Reddick is easy to root for – he was a walk-on at Temple who has worked hard to earn everything that’s now coming his way. It’s unclear where exactly he’ll play in a Cardinals defense full of positionless players.

NOOOOOOOOO!!!

26th overall to Atlanta: DE Takk McKinley
McKinley beefs up an already speedy Falcons pass rush. The Packers have recently gravitated towards Pac-12 players, and spent a first round pick on UCLA’s Datone Jones in 2013. McKinley is a raw, unpolished talent who can wear down and disappear at the end of games. Not exactly the best fit for a Falcons team who did just that in the Super Bowl.