NFL Mock Draft 2014: Green Bay Packers Select Calvin Pryor

Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville

There is no question that the Green Bay Packers desperately need a safety.  For the first time since the 1950's, their safeties didn't record a single interception.  I'm going to go out on a limb and say that is before a vast majority of those reading this were even born.  Heck, they even lost one of their starters from last season (M.D. Jennings) and are left with two safeties who have combined for 36 tackles over their brief careers to play opposite of Morgan Burnett.  And Burnett had a down year himself, with 96 tackles (down from 123 in 2012), 6 passes defensed, 0 INTs, and 0 forced fumbles (2 in each of the previous 2 seasons)...on the positive side he did recover 3 fumbles.  He also gave up a 4th quarter TD to the 49ers in their playoff loss last season.  Mike McCarthy said of that play, "I mean, playmaking, you go get the football."

There are some that think Green Bay could convert 2nd year CB Micah Hyde into a safety, but I think they'd be wise to learn from our experience with our own CB turned safety drafted out of the Big 10.  That's just me, though.

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With Clinton-Dix off the boards, Pryor is the highest rated safety left on the board and it wouldn't be considered a reach for him to be picked here.  He is confident enough to take on anybody and strong enough to make people want to avoid him in the middle of the field. He has great range, good instincts, and is very aggressive. Pryor is not only the hardest hitting safety in this draft, but he has the speed to play center field, making him a double-threat. He won't be able to cover slot receivers, but he can help over the top or come up to support against the run.

Where Pryor may have some problems is with his aggressiveness and the big hits he dishes out.  While he does not go head-hunting, some of his hits where he drops his shoulder into receivers could draw some flags from officials these days.  I'm not greatly concerned myself, but it is something that people will look at.  And while he has good speed (4.58 40), he can be stiff and get beaten on double moves.

His production speaks for itself.  In 2013, he had 75 tackles, 3 INTs, 4 passes defensed, and 2 FFs.  In his sophomore campaign, he put up 100 tackles and 5 FFs.  And as a freshman, he had 43 tackles, 2 FFs, and 2 INTs.  Here is a highlight video for those interested (check out the INT at the 0:35 mark!):

One thing that stands out to me is that not only is he a hard hitter, but he doesn't miss many tackles.  And that would be welcome in Green Bay, as Burnett managed to miss 17 tackles himself.  I can say that this is one of the things that made me happy that the Saints drafted Kenny Vaccaro...we have had so many problems with tackling and he was a vast improvement on our back end.  I think Pryor could have a similar impact for the Packers.  And that would be a great value for the 21st pick in the draft.  What do you say?

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