Seventh round is a mix
GREEN BAY - The seventh round of the NFL draft is often a place for teams to pick up odds and ends.
The Green Bay Packers definitely did that Saturday, drafting a long snapper among their three selections.
With the first of their picks in the seventh round, the Packers selected California defensive end James Looney (232nd overall).
After picking three wide receivers, an offensive lineman and a punter earlier in the day, Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst returned his attention to the Packers’ defense.
The 6-foot-2, 280-pound Looney profiles as a pretty good athlete with a 4.89 in the 40, 28 reps on the bench and 351⁄2vertical.
But Looney hasn’t flashed much passrushing ability. He registered 130 tackles and eight sacks in his three seasons with the Bears.
Looney recorded 3.5 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss as a senior in 2017, earning honorable mention all-Pacific 12 Conference honors for the second straight season.
“As far as it relates to the NFL, I have pretty great quickness,” Looney said. “I feel like I have a good body frame that will translate to the league.
“If you look at guys like Aaron Donald, the kind of new d-tackles that are quick and fast and come off the ball and get into the backfield. I think I can contribute in that aspect.”
He began his collegiate career at Wake Forest, where he only played in six games during the 2013 season. He decided to transfer after Demon Deacons head coach Jim Grobe was fired.
Looney’s brother, Joe, is a backup offensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2014. Their father played linebacker at Louisville.
“I know the NFL is hard. It’s tough. It’s a grown-man’s game. I’m ready to learn,” James Looney said. “I can’t wait to get around guys like Clay Matthews. Just benefit from guys that have been in the league for a while.
“I’m a student. I’m ready to learn. Ready to just be coachable.”
With its second pick in the seventh round (239 overall), Green Bay made a surprising choice by picking Mississippi State long snapper Hunter Bradley.
“Always dreamed this day would come,” Bradley said. “Being a long snapper, it’s not something that happens often.”
The Packers have been looking to fill that position, signing long snapper Zach Triner to the practice squad in December.
Bradley joined the Bulldogs as a preferred walk-on as a tight end in 2012 but dealt with numerous setbacks. Over a two-year period spanning his senior year at Colliersville (Tenn.) High School and his freshman season at Mississippi State, Bradley tore his right ACL twice and his left ACL once.
“That’s when I kind of saw the writing on the wall ... and started long-snapping,” Bradley said. “Our surgeons did an absolutely amazing job on my knees. Every surgeon I’ve met with has felt it and says their as good as they possibly could be.”
Bradley finally saw the field as a sophomore in 2014, making one tackle on special teams.
He finally got his chance in 2015 after a season-ending injury to the starter at long snapper.
Bradley held tight to that job and successfully completed every snap in 26 games over the 2016 and ’17 seasons.
With their final pick (248th), the Packers added another defensive player in Southeast Missouri State linebacker Kendall Donnerson.
He was all-Ohio Valley last season with 53 tackles, six sacks, an interception, three passes defensed and three forced fumbles.
“I can put my hand down and rush the passer,” Donnerson said. “Or I can drop (back in coverage) like I did in college.”
Donnerson attracted the attention of the Packers on his pro day with 4.44 speed, a 40-inch vertical and 20 reps on the bench press.
“I’m a speed guy but I’ve got to learn how to use my hands more,” Donnerson said.