- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 434,623
- Reaction score
- 44
After the Green Bay Packers got good grades for wide receiver Matthew Golden in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, evaluators weren't as kind to the selections made on Day 2 of the showcase in Green Bay.
Nobody in the initial wave of national writers gave either pick — North Carolina State tackle Anthony Belton or TCU wide receiver Savion Williams — an "A" grade.
The Packers took North Carolina State tackle Anthony Belton with their second-round pick, and here's what the national sites thought about it:
Scott Dochterman and Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic:C-plus
"Belton is a gigantic thumper with great length and the ability to move people at the point of attack," they wrote. "However, this feels like a bit of a reach, as I’m not sure Belton will be fast enough to handle NFL speed off the edge in the NFL. He could be a better fit at guard. We’ll see if he can win a job right away."
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA TODAY:C-plus
"More help for Jordan Love is on the way, though maybe not immediately," Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote. "Belton overwhelms opponents when he locks in on them, but he has work to do to become a more controlled presence who can be trusted in the starting lineup."
Charles McDonald of Yahoo! Sports: B
"Belton is a little rough around the edges, but it’s hard to find guys at 335 pounds with feet as light as his," McDonald wrote. "Sometimes he can get stood up by defensive linemen who weigh significantly less, and he needs to learn good leverage and become a better run blocker. Still, late second round for a player who can pass protect like this isn’t a bad swing."
Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report: C
"If Belton stays in shape, he can be a big-time left tackle," Sobleski wrote. "If not, the Packers will have to move him inside to guard. … While Belton is still a very large person, the man nicknamed 'Escalade' played at heavier weights at times. He now appears fully committed to his workout regimen."
Nick Brinkerhoff and Ayrton Ostley of USA TODAY:C-plus
"This feels like a reach for Belton who offers a good skillset as a big, powerful, athletic blocker in the run game," Brinkerhoff and Ostley wrote. "His pass protection prowess needs a lot of work but the Packers have a type when it comes to offensive linemen. They could move him inside to guard after his good college career at tackle."
Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports:C-plus
"Didn't have much buzz to go this early, yet this is a classic dancing bear at OT with tremendous measurements for the position," Trapasso wrote. "Flashes of mashing style. Could even slide into Mekhi Becton type guard role in Green Bay. Must improve his hand work at point of attack, not open the gate as early, and work on his balance. Packers did need more offensive line reinforcement."
Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated: B
"Belton started 32 games in college, giving him ample experience entering the NFL," Verderame wrote. "At 6' 6" and 336 pounds with 33⅞" arms, he’s one of the biggest prospects in the draft, with one of the best arm lengths of any tackle in a class short in that department. Belton needs some work in technique, but he’s a worthwhile project."
Green Bay's choice of TCU receiver Savion Williams, from the same outlets:
The Athletic: B-plus
"Green Bay fans must be pinching themselves after their team used two of its first three picks on receivers," Dochterman and Baumgardner wrote. "Here, the Packers get a true X receiver — Williams (6-3 7/8, 222) has the perfect combination of physicality and athleticism. He boasts a near 81-inch wingspan and ran a 4.48 40 at the combine."
USA TODAY (Middlehurst-Schwartz): B
"A second wide receiver going to Green Bay early is a fun subplot, but Williams is more of an all-purpose weapon than a true wideout," Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote. "He's been compared to a supersized Cordarrelle Patterson, and he should have sufficient time to hone his approach while still seeing several schemed touches."
Yahoo! Sports: C-plus
"Williams won't be counted on to be a solid route-runner or separator in the league," McDonald wrote. "So he'll be a gadget guy, taking some of that load off Jayden Reed."
Bleacher Report: C
"If Green Bay Packers fans weren’t pleased with Matthew Golden’s projected fit in the offense, never fear. TCU’s Savion Williams is the type of physical standout/project whom Green Bay loves to add," Sobleski said. "At times, the 6'4", 222-pound Williams looks unstoppable working down the field. Other times, he looks completely unnatural at wide receiver. He's also a threat as a runner out of the backfield, having rushed for 322 yards last season."
USA TODAY (Brinkerhoff and Ostley): C-plus
"Green Bay goes wide receiver again with the intriguing but unproven Williams. The TCU product has the size at 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds and speed at a 4.48-second 40-yard dash but he is inconsistent at best. Teams tried him out at running back at the combine to see how he would do. Considering how many pass catchers the team already has, this feels like a luxury pick too early."
CBS Sports (Josh Edwards): B-minus
"Williams is in the vein of a Laviska Shenault or Cordarrelle Patterson," Edwards said. "He is not necessarily a precise route runner, but give him the ball in space and watch defenders fall off him."
Sports Illustrated: B
"The chiseled 6' 4", 222-pound Williams has the skill set for playing multiple positions," Sports Illustrated wrote. "He might not be a traditional wide receiver with exceptional routes, but he’s a dangerous playmaker who would benefit from a creative package of plays.
"Last season, Williams recorded 60 catches for 611 yards and six touchdowns, and contributed 51 carries for 322 yards and six touchdowns. Perhaps he can become the next Deebo Samuel or Cordarrelle Patterson."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What are Packers' draft grades for second-round, third-round picks?
Continue reading...
Nobody in the initial wave of national writers gave either pick — North Carolina State tackle Anthony Belton or TCU wide receiver Savion Williams — an "A" grade.
Grades for the Packers' pick of Anthony Belton
The Packers took North Carolina State tackle Anthony Belton with their second-round pick, and here's what the national sites thought about it:
Scott Dochterman and Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic:C-plus
"Belton is a gigantic thumper with great length and the ability to move people at the point of attack," they wrote. "However, this feels like a bit of a reach, as I’m not sure Belton will be fast enough to handle NFL speed off the edge in the NFL. He could be a better fit at guard. We’ll see if he can win a job right away."
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA TODAY:C-plus
"More help for Jordan Love is on the way, though maybe not immediately," Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote. "Belton overwhelms opponents when he locks in on them, but he has work to do to become a more controlled presence who can be trusted in the starting lineup."
Charles McDonald of Yahoo! Sports: B
"Belton is a little rough around the edges, but it’s hard to find guys at 335 pounds with feet as light as his," McDonald wrote. "Sometimes he can get stood up by defensive linemen who weigh significantly less, and he needs to learn good leverage and become a better run blocker. Still, late second round for a player who can pass protect like this isn’t a bad swing."
Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report: C
"If Belton stays in shape, he can be a big-time left tackle," Sobleski wrote. "If not, the Packers will have to move him inside to guard. … While Belton is still a very large person, the man nicknamed 'Escalade' played at heavier weights at times. He now appears fully committed to his workout regimen."
Nick Brinkerhoff and Ayrton Ostley of USA TODAY:C-plus
"This feels like a reach for Belton who offers a good skillset as a big, powerful, athletic blocker in the run game," Brinkerhoff and Ostley wrote. "His pass protection prowess needs a lot of work but the Packers have a type when it comes to offensive linemen. They could move him inside to guard after his good college career at tackle."
Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports:C-plus
"Didn't have much buzz to go this early, yet this is a classic dancing bear at OT with tremendous measurements for the position," Trapasso wrote. "Flashes of mashing style. Could even slide into Mekhi Becton type guard role in Green Bay. Must improve his hand work at point of attack, not open the gate as early, and work on his balance. Packers did need more offensive line reinforcement."
Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated: B
"Belton started 32 games in college, giving him ample experience entering the NFL," Verderame wrote. "At 6' 6" and 336 pounds with 33⅞" arms, he’s one of the biggest prospects in the draft, with one of the best arm lengths of any tackle in a class short in that department. Belton needs some work in technique, but he’s a worthwhile project."
Grades for the Packers pick of Savion Williams
Green Bay's choice of TCU receiver Savion Williams, from the same outlets:
The Athletic: B-plus
"Green Bay fans must be pinching themselves after their team used two of its first three picks on receivers," Dochterman and Baumgardner wrote. "Here, the Packers get a true X receiver — Williams (6-3 7/8, 222) has the perfect combination of physicality and athleticism. He boasts a near 81-inch wingspan and ran a 4.48 40 at the combine."
USA TODAY (Middlehurst-Schwartz): B
"A second wide receiver going to Green Bay early is a fun subplot, but Williams is more of an all-purpose weapon than a true wideout," Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote. "He's been compared to a supersized Cordarrelle Patterson, and he should have sufficient time to hone his approach while still seeing several schemed touches."
Yahoo! Sports: C-plus
"Williams won't be counted on to be a solid route-runner or separator in the league," McDonald wrote. "So he'll be a gadget guy, taking some of that load off Jayden Reed."
Bleacher Report: C
"If Green Bay Packers fans weren’t pleased with Matthew Golden’s projected fit in the offense, never fear. TCU’s Savion Williams is the type of physical standout/project whom Green Bay loves to add," Sobleski said. "At times, the 6'4", 222-pound Williams looks unstoppable working down the field. Other times, he looks completely unnatural at wide receiver. He's also a threat as a runner out of the backfield, having rushed for 322 yards last season."
USA TODAY (Brinkerhoff and Ostley): C-plus
"Green Bay goes wide receiver again with the intriguing but unproven Williams. The TCU product has the size at 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds and speed at a 4.48-second 40-yard dash but he is inconsistent at best. Teams tried him out at running back at the combine to see how he would do. Considering how many pass catchers the team already has, this feels like a luxury pick too early."
CBS Sports (Josh Edwards): B-minus
"Williams is in the vein of a Laviska Shenault or Cordarrelle Patterson," Edwards said. "He is not necessarily a precise route runner, but give him the ball in space and watch defenders fall off him."
Sports Illustrated: B
"The chiseled 6' 4", 222-pound Williams has the skill set for playing multiple positions," Sports Illustrated wrote. "He might not be a traditional wide receiver with exceptional routes, but he’s a dangerous playmaker who would benefit from a creative package of plays.
"Last season, Williams recorded 60 catches for 611 yards and six touchdowns, and contributed 51 carries for 322 yards and six touchdowns. Perhaps he can become the next Deebo Samuel or Cordarrelle Patterson."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What are Packers' draft grades for second-round, third-round picks?
Continue reading...
