GREEN BAY, Wis. – Todd McShay’s first mock draft for 2016 is out and while even McShay admits that it goes without saying that a lot will change between now and April 28, the most interesting thing about the first version is what the ESPN NFL Draft analyst sees as each team’s perceived needs.
So when it comes to the Packers, it’s not so much that McShay has them taking USC’s Su'a Cravens in the first round (at No. 27 as things stand today) but rather that he has general manager Ted Thompson taking an outside linebacker.
Part of that is surely best player available, but part of that also is need. There’s no question that linebacker is one of the Packers’ top needs, but it might be inside linebacker depending on what they decide to do with Clay Matthews -- keep him inside or move him back to his natural outside spot.
As for outside linebacker, the Packers will have decisions to make about three key contributors: Julius Peppers, Nick Perry and Mike Neal.
Peppers has one more year remaining on his contract and if the Packers feel he can at least maintain his current level of play then they’ll probably bring him back at his rate of $8 million including bonuses. But both Perry and Neal are scheduled to become free agents in March.
