While some newly-minted NFL players make the transition from college to the pros look easy in their first year on the gridiron, the reality is that the transition is anything but. The speed of the game is faster. The concepts and schemes are more sophisticated. The players are far superior to the previous level. And, last but not least, there is no hand-holding in the National Football League. It is a grown man’s league.
The Green Bay Packers selected 13 players in last week’s draft, the most since 2000. That year’s draft class most notably produced tight end Bubba Franks (first round), offensive tackle Chad Clifton (second round), linebacker Na’il Diggs (fourth round), defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (fifth round), and offensive tackle Mark Tauscher (seventh round).