Green Bay Packers defensive end Mike Daniels has exceeded all expectations as a fourth-round draft pick in 2012. Over the last two seasons, he leads all Packers linemen with 12 sacks and rated out as one of the best linemen in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.
But Daniels is entering the final year of his contract and the Packers don't have many sure things around him. Julius Peppers is 35, B.J. Raji missed all of last season due to injury and Datone Jones hasn't had much of an impact.
As such, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Green Bay address the position early on in the 2016 NFL Draft. It may be early, but WalterFootball.com projects the Packers to select Mississippi State defensive end/tackle Chris Jones with the No. 29 overall pick next year.
"Datone Jones has not developed into the player the Packers thought they were getting when they used a first-round pick on him back in 2013. They'll give him one more chance, but if he doesn't step up, Green Bay could easily pull the trigger on another first-round defensive end."
Projections made this far out rarely turn out to be accurate. But Jones could serve as either a replacement for Daniels should he leave in free agency or another building block up front on defense. He recorded 26 tackles and three sacks in 12 games last year.
Jones has less than ideal size at 6-foot-2 and 305 pounds. But he has a high motor and impressive quickness.
