2018 NFL Mock Draft: Complete first round through Pro Days
Safety. 14. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Florida State Seminoles. Derwin James. player. 49
The three main areas of need for the Green Bay Packers includes upgrading the secondary, receiving corps, and pass rushing. This is a draft deep with pass rushers, that the Packers could likely find tin the second round. Reaching for an edge rusher or defensive end doesn’t make sense here.
Grabbing Florida State Seminoles star safety Derwin James at this point of the first round is a bigger steal of the draft. James has the profile that matches a sure-fire top 10 pick, but this is a strong class at safety, and among the defensive backs altogether.
Teams like the Bucs and Bears could really use the services of a player like James in the defensive backfield. The availability of Fitzpatrick plays a huge role in determining the final landing point of James in the draft order. He’s a prized get, but defensive backs are getting easier and easier to come by.
Meanwhile, the Packers don’t have the option of pulling a top-tier receiver out of this class either. The departure of cornerback Damarious Randall put the Packers in an even tougher position in the secondary. Drafting a pure corner is also a good move for Green Bay here.