John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Highly regarded as one of the best, if not the very top running back in the 2013 NFL Draft at one point, Eddie Lacy, out of Alabama, found himself slipping into the second round. The Green Bay Packers were rumored to select the highly touted back with their first round pick by NFL Network’s Mike Mayock. But instead, the team found a gem at the 61st overall pick. Lacy slipped deep into the second round where Green Bay just couldn’t pass him up.
Coming out of college, Lacy was regarded as a top-tier draft pick. He showed the ability to be a three-down back with bruising power and the talent to pass-protect as well, something very important to the Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Packers haven’t had a consistent running game for years, it seems. If Lacy can offer just a small portion of what he showed in college at the NFL level, the Packers will be incredibly tough to defend.
With an electrifying passing game coming at the hands of Rodgers and his phenomenal group of receivers, the Packers are terrifying to any defense when their quarterback is hot. Both Jordy Nelson and James Jones have been two of the NFL’s top receivers in terms of production over the past two seasons. Nelson is a big body who can stretch the field with highly underrated speed. Jones is more of a hybrid, having the ability to line up wherever he is asked to. Throw in a rare, versatile talent in the speed demon Randall Cobb who is due for his breakout season, and Green Bay is nothing to take lightly through the air.
Lacy will come in right away and compete for the starting job going into training camp. Assuming he can recover from his nagging injuries he carried with him out of college, Lacy will undoubtedly find himself atop the depth chart sooner or later. Once that happens, Packer fans will be overjoyed with the production from their second round steal.
Ryan Heckman is a writer for www.RantSports.com covering the NBA and NFL. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
