Green Bay Packers: Undrafted players will have impact

The 2015 NFL Draft is now fading into the rearview mirror, but the building process continues well after the final pick is announced. Undrafted free agency has produced unexpected superstars who slipped through the scouting cracks, and no team in the NFL uses this pool of free talent quite like the Green Bay Packers.

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Since Ted Thompson took over as general manager in 2005, the Green Bay Packers have become a franchise reliant on a draft and develop philosophy. This has resulted in the most homegrown roster in professional football, and undrafted free agents have played a large role in this. According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN Wisconsin, the Packers have received 77,079 snaps from undrafted players since 2005, with the next closest team in the NFL sitting at 54,105. Don’t expect anything to change in 2015.

We’ll discuss Green Bay’s defensive signings later this week (and the full list can be found here via Evan Western of Acme Packing Company.com), but their moves at running back could help to fill the vacancy left behind Eddie Lacy and James Starks. Rajion Neal will carry over as competition from 2014, but Malcolm Agnew and John Crockett will bring excitement and promise into the preseason.

Agnew, out of Southern Illinois, gives the Packers a 5’9″, 203-pound option out of the backfield that should remind fans of the departed DuJuan Harris. An ankle injury limited Agnew’s senior season, but not before he racked up over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns.

His short-area quickness and acceleration impress, and he runs with mentality of a much larger running back. Agnew’s long speed has drawn the ire of some scouts, but his abilities to receive and create out of the backfield will be tantalizing to the Green Bay coaching staff. While Lacy and Starks provide a great one-two punch, Agnew brings the ever-valuable factor of “something else”.

In John Crockett, the Packers have a running back with the abilities to play on all three downs, but he may not come with the dynamic missing link that Agnew does. Commonly referred to as “Taz” for his resemblance of the Tasmanian Devil with an all-movement, all the time running style, Crockett was the star of the show at North Dakota State.

Jan 10, 2015; Frisco, TX, USA; North Dakota State Bison running back John Crockett (23) runs the ball against Illinois State Redbirds safety Tevin Allen (1) in the second quarter in the Division I championship at Pizza Hut Park. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

A 4.62-second 40-yard dash underwhelmed, but I see him playing much faster on film, while a 40.0″ vertical jump shows the explosive physical potential in his lower body. He nearly topped 2,000 rushing yards in his final season, but running through gaping lanes, Crockett will need to prove that he can excel with a decisive one-cut approach.

Green Bay also brought in a busload of wide receivers who will serve as camp hands for Aaron Rodgers, Scott Tolzien and Brett Hundley. Two or three of these receivers could land on the practice squad, and they may be joined by former Alabama quarterback Blake Sims, who will attend minicamp on a tryout basis.

The 5’11” Sims clearly faces size challenges, but with a 4.57-second 40-yard dash and quality football I.Q. from Nick Saban’s pro-style offense, a strong showing in minicamp could lead to a longer look. Sims benefited from quality players around him, including Amari Cooper, along with a play-action based offense, but his arm can play when he needs to make a throw.

Green Bay has carried a minimum of two undrafted free agents on their opening 53-man roster in each of the past four seasons, and I see no reason for that to change in 2015. The bodies are in place for a Pop Warner-style tryout on offense, and the winner could see high-leverage NFL touches for the Packers sooner than you think.

Next: Packers steal QB project in Brett Hundley

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