Packers Draft G Cole Madison With Pick 138
After going all defense on the first two days of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Packers are now making a bit of a run on offense, picking two consecutive players on that side of the ball. The latest selection is Cole Madison, a 6-5, 308 pound guard from Washington State.
What we know about Cole Madison
A tackle in college, Madison will play guard in the NFL, continuing the Packers’ tendency toward taking college tackles and moving them inside.
Jon-Eric Sullivan, the Packers’ director of college scouting, says that tendency isn’t a coincidence. The team likes what tackles can do athletically.
Madison may be a tackle, but he doesn’t have phenomenal testing numbers. He’s slower than the linemen the Packers typically draft (5.33 seconds), but that’s a minimal concern in the grand scheme. More problematic are his subpar agility numbers, which could speak poorly about his ability to move in space. His arms also come in a bit on the short side.
How Madison helps the Packers
If Madison can come in and contribute right away, he’ll probably be in contention for the starting right guard spot. Jahri Evans held down the job for most of last year, but he’s likely done. The Packers’ other options are Lucas Patrick and Justin McCray, both of whom performed admirably at times last year but who could be replaced.
Madison, who was one of the Pac-12’s better pass blockers last year, could be the guy to replace them. At the very least, it could be a bit of a dog fight between Patrick, McCray, and Madison for a roster spot, much less a starting job.