QB Drew Lock is visiting the Packers tomorrow.
Seriously doubt they would use the #12 pick on him, but perhaps the #30 if he somehow sticks around?
Interesting. Are the Packers actually interested in him or is this a smoke screen to make teams think they are interested in him, so the Packers are in a better position for a potential draft trade?
I believe the idea that teams create smoke screens, with interviews, leaks of interest, or by some other means, is grossly exagerated. As a practical matter, how and when is that supposed to work? The object would be to get somebody to trade up above you to take a player you don't want freeing up one other player as a possible pick. While you might paint such a scenario at the very top of the board, expecting any advantage at #12, let alone #30, is a big stretch given the interving uncertainties.
Taking the time to bring in a valued player for one of these on-site visits as a feint requires spending time preparing an acting job by decision makers to get it to stick, running a guy like Lock through the greaseboard exercise. That's a big stretch.
When looking at on-site visits from players like Lock and Sweat it's best to assume there is legitimate interest. The questions then become why and where on the board are they trying to peg them.
Sweat is easier to suss out. Doing their own medical exams to get to a propriety risk assessment makes sense, along with taking the measure of the man in terms of intangibles through an extended interview process, then ******* that risk level to a propriety spot on the board. As for need, with Z. Smith a possibility for high snap counts inside in nickel/dime, the possible need question is answered.
Lock is a little more difficult to understand given where he's expected to go off the board. I suppose fear of another Rodgers injury and what would transpire following another losing season can be quite concerning. Kizer and Boyle do not inspire confidence. From an heir apparent standpoint, a drafted QB now will be under the 4th. and last year of his rookie deal in 2022 when Rodgers dead cap drops to $11.5 mil and and the cap savings rises to $25.5 mil. While I think 3 seasons is too long to have a guy sit on the bench going stale, it's fair to say Garoppolo put the lie to that. He did have his prove-up stint during the Deflategate suspension, but it was brief, then coming out big in year 4 before the injury.
I see no reason to believe the Packers don't have interest in these two guys. Maybe after the interviews they come away unexcited and push them down the board. Or maybe the opposite. Whichever, I don't see these invites as smoke screens.
Why spend a high pick on QB, when He, Kizer or Boyle probably wouldn't be enough to make a difference if Rodgers goes down. I still contend that the best backup QB is one with a quite a bit of "real NFL game" experience and in this case, that would be Kizer.
