100 years; that is longer than most of us will live. Longer than most of our favorite teams will play in their current cities, and hopefully as long as the Vikings will hopefully go without winning a Super Bowl, but most importantly and why we’re here, as long as the Green Bay Packers have been in existence. This will all be ingrained into Green and Gold nation over the next 12 months, but I’m here to bake in its glory. The team that I have laughed, screamed and cried with and over for 27 years officially starts its 100th season in my opinion when the 1st round of the 2018 NFL Draft opens.

As was the goal the first time I penned this or told my dad we should draft Jamal Reynolds, I still hope to kickoff off my annual draft preview someday from the only podium that has ever seemed to matter to me, inside of 1265 Lombardi Avenue- where famous team architects such as Curly Lambeau, St. Vincent, Ron Wolf and Teddy T have kicked off the most important non-game event of the year for the only fan and municipality-owned team in Pro Sports. Our new don is Brian Gutenkust, part of the Ron Wolf tree if you want to dig deep enough, but who for most of the last 20 years has spent under the tutelage of Ted Thompson, now an advisor to his latest grasshopper. In briefly meeting Brian Gutenkust at the 2018 NFL Owners meetings in Orlando, I knew within minutes we had chosen the correct mastermind. I have never been hard to sway with Packers brass though.

Atlanta is the goal, this year’s chosen rotating site of America’s most watched skirmish. The end goal in my mind has never changed since I started squeezing into Reggie White jerseys or rushing through Instagram stories hours before kickoff, the Super Bowl. Every year I have urged, persuaded and allowed you to hopefully dream with me what it would be like returning Vince to Titletown USA. 2011 was way too long ago. I was shacked up with a few lucky Wisconsinites along Lake Michigan on Milwaukee’s Eastside. Losing security deposits spraying Miller Lite like we thought it was Rozay on the ceilings celebrating what we thought was an early start to the greatest Packers Dynasty the fan base had seen since the 1960’s. Four Loko was still legal and Giannis hadn’t even been discovered by YouTube yet. It sucks, no other way to split it but eight years and two broken collarbones later the Packers are still looking for the second ring in the McCarthy-Rodgers marriage.

For those who have been reading these previews or attending draft celebrations for years with me, thank you! For those who are first timers, welcome! For those who hate my takes hit me up @TheNolanMurphy and #BlessUp.

Without further ado, a tradition unlike any other in the history of grammatical errors, behold my 9th* annual NFL Draft preview (*I took 2016 off to become a South Floridian).

What to know: The Packers are tied with the now Jon Gruden led soon to be Las Vegas Raiders have the most draft selections in the draft at 12 heading into Thursday night. ESPN ranks the Packers as having the 6th most actual draft capital of picks. Picking at fourteen is the highest since the Packers selected B.J. Raji ninth overall and moved up to pick Clay Matthews III. Don’t make Saturday plans unless the Packers make a major move-up in Thursday night’s 1st round as the Packers have five picks in the 4th and 5th round.

First Round (14th)
Second Round (45th)
Third Round (76th)
Fourth Round (101st, from Browns)
Fourth Round (133rd)
Fifth Round (138th, from Browns)
Fifth Round (172nd)
Fith Round (174th)
Sixth Round (186th)
Sixth Round (207th)
Seventh Round (232nd)
Seventh Round (239th)

Murph’s Packers Top 5 Big Board:
1. DB-Denzel Ward-Ohio State- Ohio State has become DB U along with LSU and his lack of INT’s in college (2) doesn’t scare me away after seeing the impact Marshon Lattimore had his rookie year out of Columbus for the Saints.

2. DB-Josh Jackson-Iowa – Jackson could potentially be part of a 1-2 punch at the outside corner positions with Kevin King that would rival the length of Seattle’s Legion of Boom in the mid 2010’s. Was a playmaker in college with eight INT’s in three years.

3. DB-Derwin James-Florida State- Derwin James had three interceptions in his college career and was a massive athlete that filled holes. What scares me off on Derwin the most is he isn’t the second coming of Jalen Ramsey and I feel he won’t be able to cover playmakers at the next level. Pettine is smarter than me and may have a genius way to get HaHa, Josh Jones and James on the field in their starting defense. I just don’t see it at moment.

4. DE- Marcus Davenport-University of Texas-San Antonio – Many think he’s a freak athlete that is farther along than Ziggy Ansah was out of college. If the Packers think he can stand up in the 3-4 and potentially put his hand down to pass rush in the future, I’d love this pick.

5. DE- Harold Landry-Boston College – Other than potentially Josh Rosen, no player has scene their draft stock fall more since the draft process started and season ended. If Landry is only player available for Packers I feel they move down out of 14.

Day 2 Big Board:
Anthony Miller-WR-Memphis: Had 18 TD’s at Memphis and reminds me a ton of Davante Adams and even Steve Smith. Love the chip he has on his shoulder after not being recruited out of high school.
Dallas Goedert-TE-South Dakota State- 7 touchdowns in 2017 and is another freak athlete at the tight end position who could learn from Jimmy Graham.
J’Mon Moore -WR Missouri: 8 touchdowns in 2017 and was highly recruited player out of state of Texas, but would be a project for the Packers.
Lorenzo Carter-DE-Georgia: Bears soon to be stud defensive end Leonard Floyd didn’t have great sack numbers coming out of college, so Carter’s 4.5 sacks doesn’t scare me. Would be potential Nick Perry/Clay Matthews replacement.

Day 3 sleepers:
Justin Watson-WR-Penn: Penn’s all-time leading receiver in basically every statistical category and had fourteen receiving TD’s in 2017. The Packers continue to take flyers on late receivers hoping to find the next Donald Driver. More Chris Hogan than Jordy Nelson.
Troy Fumagali-TE-Wisconsin: Troy passes the eye test for me, even though he did grow up a Bears fan. I’d love for the Packers to pick a gamer like him.
Kentavius Street-DE-NC State: Packers would be taking on a distressed asset here as Street tore his ACL at his Pro Day. I like the value as a guy who could rotate eventually on the line.
Brandon Shed-WR-Hobart College:
K.C. McDermott-OL-Miami:

See you all at Super Bowl 53!

Nolan.

Nolan currently resides in West Palm Beach, Florida where he is host fir ESPN West Palm and ESPN 106.3FM. Follow him @TheNolanMurphy on Twitter & Instagram. His Floridian tan is still pending, similar to his Millionaire status but we aren’t surprised about the tan.

CLICK HERE FOR MURPH’S TOP FIVE QUARTERBACKS IN THE 2018 NFL DRAFT

Charlie.