With the NFL Draft on Thursday, the Green Bay Packers find themselves in an unusual position: having two first-round picks at Nos. 12 and 30.
Not only that, the Packers also have 10 picks during the draft, which concludes Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee.
So, who will they select? Here are just a few names that may become future stars for the Green and Gold:
- Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan: One of the biggest needs for Green Bay this season will be pressuring the quarterback. Gary is the perfect combination of size and speed to bring added pressure to quarterbacks. Now that star linebacker Clay Matthews is gone, the Packers will need more help in that area. Insert Gary and you may have solved that issue.
- Brian Burns, OLB, Florida State: Another top pass rusher in the draft, Burns would fit right in for the departed Matthews. Burns is expected to be picked early, so Green Bay may use one of its first-round picks on him.
- Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State: Once the pass rushing issue is filled, the Packers may want to continue building up their secondary. Green Bay picked two cornerbacks in Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson in last year's draft. Select Abram and the Packers have a young group of talent that can keep opposing quarterbacks holding the ball for too long.
- Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis: Aaron Jones provided a decent run game to support Aaron Rodgers last season, but a second running back would do wonders for the offense. Henderson led the nation with 2,328 all-purpose yards last season. He is the running back of the future; a guy who can run, catch and return kicks starting Day 1.
- Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma: With longtime Packer Randall Cobb heading to the Dallas Cowboys, the Packers may be more desperate for a receiver to pair with Davante Adams. If Green Bay wants a playmaking wideout, look no further than Brown. His nickname is "Hollywood" for a reason. He will be a future star in the NFL.
While there is no clear way to guarantee any of these picks, these names are ones that could fill needs for the Packers immediately.
The first round of the 2019 NFL Draft starts Thursday at 7 p.m. Rounds 2-3 will start Friday at 6 p.m. Rounds 4-7 will air 11 a.m. Saturday. ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network will air the draft all three days.
