GREEN BAY, Wis. – Mel Kiper Jr. isn’t changing his pick for the Green Bay Packers. In his latest mock draft, version 4.0, the ESPN NFL draft analyst is sticking with the same player at No. 27: Boise State outside linebacker Kamalei Correa.
It’s the first time Kiper has stuck with the same player for the Packers since he started his mock drafts nearly two months ago. You can track the mock draft changes for both Kiper and Todd McShay.
It makes sense for Kiper to stick with defense, given that general manager Ted Thompson addressed his biggest need on offense by signing free-agent tight end Jared Cook.
Also, Thompson has leaned heavily toward defense with his first-round picks. Since he took quarterback Aaron Rodgers at No. 24 in 2005, Thompson has taken eight defensive players in the first round and only two offensive players. He has gone with defense in the first round in each of the last four years: cornerback Damarious Randall in 2015, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in 2014, defensive end Datone Jones in 2013 and outside linebacker Nick Perry in 2012.
As we wrote last month when Kiper first paired Correa with the Packers, you can never have enough pass-rushers. The Packers re-signed Perry and have both Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews back at outside linebacker. They’re also planning to play Jones more at outside linebacker and have high hopes for Jayrone Elliott.
Last season as a junior, Correa led Boise State with seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss, and Kiper believes Correa can help from a pass-rush standpoint right away.
