The Green Bay Packers are famous for drafting well and developing even better. Outside of a few deals here and there, the Packers tend to forgo free agency in lieu of re-signing their own home grown talent. But before that can happen, the draft picks have to prove worthy.
So will rookies Ty Montgomery or Jake Ryan make an impact in 2015? It's a question that was posed to ESPN Packers reporter Rob Demovsky in his weekly mailbag.
@RobDemovsky what is more likely to happen by week 4? Ty to become 3rd WR or Jake M to take over for clay at Middle LB #PackersMail
— Austin™ (@NamedAustin) August 1, 2015
"Coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers seem as committed as ever to using Clay Matthews at inside linebackers, especially on early downs," Demovsky wrote. "Now, I did see a few snaps in which Ryan, the Packers' fourth-round pick, was inside and Matthews moved outside, but that may not mean much. Here's the thing about Montgomery: he's made an eye-catching play or two every step along the way from minicamp to non-padded practices to the first full-pads practice Saturday. That's not to say Davante Adams hasn't, but remember this about Adams: As optimistic as everyone is about him, he only really had two big games (against the New England Patriots in the regular season and the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs). Last year at this time, everyone thought Jarrett Boykin would be the No. 3 receiver, and look how that turned out. So in this scenario, the money is on Montgomery."
Adams is a popular breakout candidate heading into the regular season. But, as Demovsky points out, the Packers are used to cycling through receivers behind Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. That will likely provide Montgomery with more of an opportunity early on than Ryan will receive behind Matthews at linebacker.
Montgomery caught 61 passes for 604 yards and three touchdowns at Stanford last season. He also carried the ball 23 times for 144 yards (6.3 YPC) and one score. Ryan recorded 112 total tackles with 14 tackles for a loss, two sacks and one interception last year at Michigan.
