2015 NFL Mock Draft: Green Bay Packers Select ILB Eric Kendricks at No. 30

With the No. 30 pick in the DBN 2015 NFL Mock Draft, the Green Bay Packers select...

Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA

The selection and write-up were made by syndrome:

Early in free agency, the Packers had 3 real needs: the middle of the defensive line, an inside linebacker, and corner. They would also like to add a pass catching tight end, so Rodgers could have more toys. On the line, they kicked the can down the road a bit by re-signing Raji and Guion, albeit to 1-year deals. However, they absolutely would love to move Matthews back outside, and they lost corners House and Williams to free agency.

Ask any Packers fan what they want to do with this pick, and the answer probably is, "trade back for more picks." Well, that's not an option. The question here is what can they get here where value matches need? Believe me, as this pick got closer, I was almost salivating that I could grab Jalen Collins, but alas, he's off the board. So, with the 30th pick, the Packers select Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA.

Kendricks combines good instincts, a high football IQ, explosiveness and speed. He has a nose for the ball and is a good tackler. He is probably the most ready ILB candidate to step in early, allowing Matthews to move back outside. The biggest knock on him? His size. Yeah, I remember an undersized linebacker out of OSU that played in the league for quite a few years, and pretty darn effectively. I'm not saying Kendricks is going to be like Chris Spielman, but he possesses many of the same qualities that made people realize size doesn't matter.

This pick makes sense. Like the team before them (Indianapolis), the Packers are built well enough offensively that they need to focus these types of picks on players who can develop into key long-term starters on defense.

The New Orleans Saints are up next, led by pt_999.

2015 DBN Community Mock Draft Results (so far)