Green Bay Packers: 3 Ways free agency affects 2019 NFL Draft strategy
1. Best player available is back on the table
For years under former general manager Ted Thompson, the Packers draft strategy was to take the best player on the board no matter the position or their need. Over the last few years, due to poor draft decisions and roster construction, they had to start getting greedy and reaching for needs. This roster isn’t perfect, but it’s in really good shape to the point Green Bay could draft a guy at a position of strength if he’s the best on the board and feel good about it.
One name that has been more and more popular to them in the last few weeks is Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver. Oliver was considered a near lock to go in the top three when the NCAA season started last year, but he steadily fell down boards.
He still has a ton of talent, and Green Bay would sprint to the podium if he was on the board at No. 12, because he’s a supremely talented player. It wouldn’t matter they have two great linemen already on the roster.
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Maybe they could take a player like D.K. Metcalf if he falls to them at the 12th pick. He’s viewed by most as a top-five player in the class, but he could fall if teams feel they have other needs that are more pressing. Green Bay loves to draft guys that are falling because it makes the value even better. No matter who is on the board at every one of the Packers picks, it’s more than likely going to be a player with the most talent, even if it isn’t at their biggest position of need.