NFC North Rookie Preview: Green Bay Packers (Defense)
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
With the 2015 NFL season less than 3 months away, it’s time to start thinking about the competition in the NFC North. According to most draft publications, the other three teams in the division had solid drafts so there will be an influx of new play-makers for Bears fans to root against. This week I’ll be breaking down the drafted and significant undrafted rookies for all the teams in the North. I’m starting with the dreaded Packers offensive rookies earlier today and now I’m covering the defense.
Green Bay Packers Rookies (Defense):
#23 S/CB Damarious Randall (ASU, 1st round)
Like the Packers 1st round pick last year (Clinton-Dix) Randall excels in coverage. The Packers have been bad against the pass for the last few seasons and are investing high draft picks to fix it. Randall is good enough in coverage to play either corner or safety, which made him a hot commodity leading up to the draft. I live a block from ASU’s stadium and have seen Randall plays a bunch of times… Bears fans aren’t going to like him.
Randall was one of my favorite players on the Sun Devils; he’s always around the ball, has great coverage instincts and is a willing tackler (though he misses too many). He has the versatility to play anywhere in the secondary and might be most effective in the slot. Randall is a little undersized for an NFL safety, so he may ultimately end up at corner but wherever the Packers put him Randall is going to be a play-maker and a thorn in the Bears side. I’d be willing to bet cash that Randall picks off a Jay Cutler pass this season.
#24 CB Quentin Rollins (Miami OH, 2nd round)
The Packers spent their first two picks to shore up a leaky secondary and I hate to admit it but they found two potential starters. While Randall should be able to step in and contribute right away, it may take Rollins a season or two before we see him on the field. Rollins was the point guard on the RedHawks basketball team for 4 years before trying football his last year in college. In his first year playing college football, Rollins was a shut-down corner who had 7 interceptions. If his first year was any indication Rollins has more than enough talent to play in the league, but he is understandably raw and will need time to hone his technique before he is ready to cover NFL receivers. It may take a few seasons, but by the end of his rookie deal Rollins could be starting at corner for the Pack.