Packers Audition Derrick Griffin
- The Packers are working out former Texas Southern wide receiver Derrick Griffin today, tweets Mark Berman of FOX 26. Griffin was a two-sport athlete during his collegiate days, but was dismissed from the football team and left the basketball in order to prepare for the NFL draft, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported earlier this year. Griffin, who stands 6’6″, 240 pounds, auditioned for the Texans during their local prospect day and also landed a tryout at the Vikings’ rookie minicamp. Green Bay drafted two wideouts — Purdue’s DeAngelo Yancey and LSU’s Malachi Dupre — and also added two undrafted pass-catchers.
Packers Sign Second-Rounder Josh Jones
- Former North Carolina State safety Josh Jones has signed his deal with the Packers. Jones, the 61st pick, was one of two second-rounders for Green Bay in this year’s draft. The higher selection of the two, ex-Washington cornerback Kevin King (No. 33 overall), signed last week. Jones, who wrapped up his college career in 2016 with a 109-tackle, three-interception season, joins a safety corps that also includes Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Morgan Burnett. With Burnett scheduled to become a free agent next offseason, Jones could be the Packers’ long-term answer at strong safety.
Packers, Saints Calling On C Cody Wallace
The Packers and Saints are among the teams inquiring on former Steelers center Cody Wallace, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). However, Wallace tells Fowler that he’s still rehabbing his knee injury, so it might be a little while before we see him sign.
[RELATED: Steelers Release TE Ladarius Green]
Wallace missed the entire 2016 season thanks to a complicated knee injury. Initially, he was believed to have hyperextended his bad knee. Later, it was found that he also suffered bone bruising. When the injury did not respond to treatment, the Steelers officially placed him on IR in November.
The former-fourth rounder has bounced around a bit during his nine-year career having also spent time with the 49ers, Lions, Jets, Texans, and Buccaneers. In 2015, he got a big opportunity in Pittsburgh when he started all 16 games in place of Maurkice Pouncey. Wallace was the Steelers’ fifth-lowest graded center in 2015, but he could still be a quality reserve for the Packers, Saints, or another team.
Lane Taylor Earns Raise
- Lane Taylor has earned a $400K raise for the 2017 season after reaching performance escalators last year, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Taylor, who became the Packers‘ starting left guard after the club surprisingly released Josh Sitton, will now take in a base salary of $2.25MM. Scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next spring once his two-year deal runs out, Taylor graded as the league’s No. 41 guard among 72 qualifiers in 2016, per Pro Football Focus.
Packers Rookie LB Breaks Foot
- Packers rookie linebacker Vince Biegel broke his foot, and the ensuing surgery leaves him questionable to be ready by the start of training camp, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter and Rob Demovsky report. The intent of this operation, done last week, was to repair a Jones fracture that also plagued him last season at Wisconsin, Demovsky writes. The latest in a slew of mid-round Packers ‘backer picks, hasn’t had a smooth transition into the NFL. A hand injury briefly sidelined him at rookie camp last weekend.
Packers Sign Top Pick CB Kevin King
The Packers have signed rookie cornerback Kevin King (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). Green Bay traded down from the No. 29 selection and acquired picks at No. 33 and No. 108. King, taken with the first pick in the second round, is their top draft pick in the 2017 class. 
As a senior, King totaled 44 tackles (including 3.5 tackles for a loss) and two interceptions. At 6’3″, King offers great height for the cornerback position and he boosted his stock in his final year on campus by having his first ever slate of perfect attendance. Some evaluators worry that he doesn’t have enough speed to be a standout CB, but Green Bay’s front office clearly disagrees.
With ten draft picks in this year’s class, the Packers have even more work to do in the coming days.
Packers Sign Five, Cut Two
Green Bay Packers
Could Taysom Hill Lead Packers To Trade Brett Hundley?
- If UDFA quarterback Taysom Hill works out for the Packers, it could enable the team to trade backup Brett Hundley for something of value this summer, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel opines. The BYU product offers high-level athleticism for the position and at the age of 27, he may be more mature than your average UDFA. In theory, Joe Callahan could ascent to the QB2 spot with Hill taking over as the new third-stringer. The Packers nearly traded Hundley during Day 2 of the draft this year.
Bills Interview Packers’ Brian Gutekunst
The Bills interviewed Packers Director of Player Personnel Brian Gutekunst on Monday (today) for the GM job, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). He now the fourth known candidate for the position. The Bills have since confirmed the news via press release.
Gutekunst has long been considered a top GM candidate and the Packers have not promised him that he will be the successor to Ted Thompson. However, it’s not a given that Gutekunst will leave for the Bills even if he’s offered the gig. This offseason, he was considered to be the favorite for the 49ers’ vacancy before withdrawing his name from consideration. Apparently, he received a new deal from the Packers (read: pay raise) that kept him from leaving.
After coach Sean McDermott effectively ran this year’s draft in Buffalo, it’s not clear if the Bills’ next GM will have final say over the 53-man roster. Gutekunst turned down an opportunity to run things in San Francisco in which he would have ceded some control to Kyle Shanahan, so this position might not suit him either.
So far, the Bills have also interviewed Eagles’ director of college scouting Trey Brown, Panthers executive Brandon Beane, and Texans director of player personnel Brian Gaine.
Packers Rookie Dodges Severe Injury
- Packers fourth-round pick Vince Biegel suffered a hand injury during rookie minicamp Friday that induced him to return Saturday with a club on the injured hand. However, Biegel said — via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com — he did not break any bones and was wearing the cast-like bandage as a precaution.