Who Should TT Pick at #9?

[Joemailman]

This is not a prediction. This is your preference. Predictions will come later. I left out Andre Smith and Crabtree because I don't think there's any chance they'll be available. I also left out the QB's because I don't even want to consider that.

[ND72]

I picked Michael Oher. I've read McShay & Kiper both say he projects more to a solid Guard in the NFL than an OT. Colledge is a tackle, so we move him, and draft Oher and put him at LG.

[TennesseePackerBacker]

Curry for me. We have a huge need for OLB help now and he's the best on the board. Raji is 2nd.

[Partial]

Rey Maualuga, but Jenkins would be a very nice pick as well. He's going to be a very good corner.

[Joemailman]

I like Jason Smith. Best potential to be a LT.

[DonHutson]

I don't think there's any way Curry falls to #9. That would leave Jenkins as the best player with a chance to fall to us. He gets my vote, but most likely he'll be gone as well.

Of the guys who have at least a 50/50 chance of being there I like Smith. But with the defensive switch I'd be very happy with Raji and I could understand one of the pass rushers.

[Lurker64]

I'm happy with Curry, Raji, J. Smith, or Jenkins.

An outside the box pick that I could learn to be happy with, but it would make me wonder, would be Moreno.

[ND72]

Curry for me. We have a huge need for OLB help now and he's the best on the board. Raji is 2nd.

I think we can address that need well into the 2nd & 3rd rounds. I figured we need OLB, DE, DT, CB, S (not necessarily in that order), so that means we'll go Offense round 1.

[DonHutson]

I picked Michael Oher. I've read McShay & Kiper both say he projects more to a solid Guard in the NFL than an OT. Colledge is a tackle, so we move him, and draft Oher and put him at LG.

There isn't much I haven't heard about Oher. He's a LT, he's a G. He's a stud at the Senior Bowl, he sucks at the Senior Bowl. He's a good guy, he's lazy. He's a rare talent, he's a late first rounder.

Better figure these things out, but if he has to play G I don't think I want him in the 1st. If they took him to play RT with the hope he could become a LT, then maybe.

Interesting guy, but I'd prefer someone safer. I suspect Ted will too.

[Lurker64]

Orakpo , Maybin, and Brown are interesting prospects but if we're talking "DEs we can convert to OLBs", I'd rather take BPA (at a different position) in the first and pick up Larry English with our second. I think that's more overall utility.

[Partial]

Why would we draft a pass rusher when we can just sign one and be done with it. I still have the Peppers fever. He is a titan of a man.

[The Shadow]

Raji.

[Gunakor]

I picked Raji. I don't think Pickett is going to be the answer at NT. I like a lot of the LB's in the draft, but considering that the LB's are the heart of a 3-4 I'd rather sign one of the veteran 3-4 LB's that are about to hit the market and solidify the nose through the draft.

[texaspackerbacker]

Actually we do NOT have a great need at LB--either inside or outside. We also don't have a need at NT, and even if we did, nobody including Raji justifies going that high.

We don't actually NEED a corner either, although in a year or 2 or 3, we will, and you can never have two many good cover corners.

The other best choice would be an O Lineman, but other than maybe Monroe, none are worth taking that high, and the fact is, you can get good ZBS linemen in later rounds.

[Lurker64]

Well, we don't "need" anything. We're going to play at least 16 football games next year and we're going to win some of them. That doesn't mean that some, non-need, guys can't result in winning a few more games next year.

I do personally think that Raji is worthy of a top 10 pick, but he may not be there at 9. Most of the guys up there are worthy of a top 10 pick, IMO (though not Wells, Maualuga, or Jackson in my personal opinion.)

[Bretsky]

Why would we draft a pass rusher when we can just sign one and be done with it. I still have the Peppers fever. He is a titan of a man.


AGREE

Sign Peppers
Draft Raji

Get er done TTT

[Fred's Slacks]

I really like Smith. I want the most talented Offensive or Defensive lineman we can get and I give Smith the slight edge over Raji. Of course, I'll change my mind 50 times before the draft. I also like Monroe and Brown. I need to see more of Oher but from what I've read he sounds risky. I really like Curry but I'm sure he'll be gone and I'd much rather add linemen.

[Partial]

Why would we draft a pass rusher when we can just sign one and be done with it. I still have the Peppers fever. He is a titan of a man.


AGREE

Sign Peppers
Draft Raji

Get er done TTT

I'd rather have Jenkins than Raji so we'll have quality coverage in the event we don't get to the QB. Al and Chuck are getting old. Tramon could potentially be half of the puzzle, time to find that other half.

[BallHawk]

I'd love Curry, but I doubt he'll be available.

Raji or Orakpo.

[Bretsky]

Why would we draft a pass rusher when we can just sign one and be done with it. I still have the Peppers fever. He is a titan of a man.


AGREE

Sign Peppers
Draft Raji

Get er done TTT

I'd rather have Jenkins than Raji so we'll have quality coverage in the event we don't get to the QB. Al and Chuck are getting old. Tramon could potentially be half of the puzzle, time to find that other half.


There is always CB talent in free agency; let's shore up our mess at DL first

[Jimx29]

I say we get 2 - 3rds, 2 - 5ths and 128 7ths if tt has his way

[steve823]

Draft Raji and get Suggs. Boom. Top 10 D. End of Story. Horray. GO pack.

[DonHutson]

Why would we draft a pass rusher when we can just sign one and be done with it. I still have the Peppers fever. He is a titan of a man.

There are more teams that need pass rushers than there are pass rushers to go around.

Anyway, Peppers and the rest will be signed well before the draft so we'll know what we need when the day comes.

[DonHutson]

The latest McShay mock had Jason Smith going #2, and Raji going #4. That would rattle some assumptions in our little poll. Curry, Jenkins, and Andre Smith were gone as well.

For what it's worth, he had us taking Eugene Monroe - ahead of all the pass rushers. I'd be happy enough with that.

[sheepshead]

Do you guys really watch this much college football to have an opinion on everyone of these guys? If so, how do you watch wake, baylor and ol miss enough to make a judgment or am I missing something?

[Deputy Nutz]

I don't like taking dt early in the draft regardless of potential or past performances. I think the Packers need to go with players with the ability to get to the QB. I am not convinced that Kampman is going to make the switch to OLB. Orakpo might just be the best player available as an outside pass rushing force. Again he spent most of his time with his hand on the ground at Texas so who knows, the Packers will surely have him work out as an OLB.

Jenkins at Corner is a good idea as well considering the Packers could get the top corner in the draft at #9. Ohio St has had a good run at developing effective corner at the NFL level.

[KYPack]

Do you guys really watch this much college football to have an opinion on everyone of these guys? If so, how do you watch wake, baylor and ol miss enough to make a judgment or am I missing something?

I always think the same thing.

There is no way I could keep track of all this shit.

Some of these guys do it, though.

[wist43]

Not having scouted much yet... I'm have an eye on Orakpo.

Have him ahead fo Brown as an OLB, for sure... haven't scouted Maybin or Raji yet.

Orakpo could provide that edge rusher that is so important to a 3-4... Brown isn't nearly as fluid or quick.

[texaspackerbacker]

Do you guys really watch this much college football to have an opinion on everyone of these guys? If so, how do you watch wake, baylor and ol miss enough to make a judgment or am I missing something?

I always think the same thing.

There is no way I could keep track of all this shit.

Some of these guys do it, though.

It's more a question of making a value judgment of what position we need, then going by scouting reports as to who is the best at those spots. A lot of people have had access to these guys, though--Raji in the Senior Bowl, Brown against the Badgers, Jenkins, Vontae Davis, and Maybin in the Big Ten, etc. I have seen Baylor, and their guy wasn't all that impressive. I have seen Orakpo 4 or 5 times, and was not impressed at all. We also have all had the opportunity to see the USC players.

I'd have to say, most of these big names didn't exactly distinguish themselves when I saw them. Raji is the exception, but with him, you have to ask, was he just super-motivated that day to move up and get a lot more money? If so, it worked.

[arcilite]

I would be happy with a lot of those picks. I just don't want to see a WR or RB taken with our first pick. I'd be happy with OL, DL, LB, or someone in the secondary.

[Kyle.McCarroll]

Curry for me. We have a huge need for OLB help now and he's the best on the board. Raji is 2nd.

We have a need for 3-4 OLB's. Curry is far from a 3-4 OLB. No thanks.

[sheepshead]

Do you guys really watch this much college football to have an opinion on everyone of these guys? If so, how do you watch wake, baylor and ol miss enough to make a judgment or am I missing something?

I always think the same thing.

There is no way I could keep track of all this shit.

Some of these guys do it, though.

It's more a question of making a value judgment of what position we need, then going by scouting reports as to who is the best at those spots. A lot of people have had access to these guys, though--Raji in the Senior Bowl, Brown against the Badgers, Jenkins, Vontae Davis, and Maybin in the Big Ten, etc. I have seen Baylor, and their guy wasn't all that impressive. I have seen Orakpo 4 or 5 times, and was not impressed at all. We also have all had the opportunity to see the USC players.

I'd have to say, most of these big names didn't exactly distinguish themselves when I saw them. Raji is the exception, but with him, you have to ask, was he just super-motivated that day to move up and get a lot more money? If so, it worked.

Well, i could see that, except if TT has scouted a guy, met his mom etc etc, who am I to say that wasnt the right pick? I know lots of guys enjoy this time of year, but I dont get it and wont pretend to know more than TT and in particular his staff. I can name guys that I liked in college but I had no way of knowing if the guys that were picked ahead of him were better. So you go to some guys scouting report online and then go to boards and say he's the guy!! Seems like a lot of speculation and you cant possibly make a better pick than TT can. But, thats just me.

[TennesseePackerBacker]

Curry for me. We have a huge need for OLB help now and he's the best on the board. Raji is 2nd.

We have a need for 3-4 OLB's. Curry is far from a 3-4 OLB. No thanks.

Explain. Every site I've seen says he could do both relatively easily.

[Freak Out]

I have no idea.....someone great should be chosen. Any position. :)

[Joemailman]

The latest McShay mock had Jason Smith going #2, and Raji going #4. That would rattle some assumptions in our little poll. Curry, Jenkins, and Andre Smith were gone as well.

For what it's worth, he had us taking Eugene Monroe - ahead of all the pass rushers. I'd be happy enough with that.

A lot will depend on whether the 2 top QB's (Stafford and Sanchez) get picked early. If they do, then only 4 of the players in this poll will have been picked when the Packers turn comes. The top 3 teams, Detroit, St.Louis and Kansas City, would be the ones likely to be looking for a QB.

[The Shadow]

I am beginnin to get the vague sense that to get BJ (if that's Thompson's intention), he might have to slide up a couple of notches, perhaps at the cost of one of those #3's.

[Lurker64]

I am beginnin to get the vague sense that to get BJ (if that's Thompson's intention), he might have to slide up a couple of notches, perhaps at the cost of one of those #3's.

I would be disappointed if Thompson traded up to get somebody, I dont' really see there as being anybody worth trading up for in this draft. If Raji's there at 9, great. If he's not, then somebody else will be there at 9.

[PackerPro42]

I voted to trade down. I would like Raji at the pick, but in all likely hood he'll be gone. I also wouldn't mind seeing Jenkins, but once again he'll be gone. The only OL of the "top 3" I would like to see the Packers get is Oher, and he has a good chance of being gone too. I'd like to see them trade down a bit, not too far, and pick up Rey. I think he's a bit of a stretch at #9, but from the 15-20 range he'd be a great pick up. Then we could move Barnett to OLB and that would eliminate the need for that position... Just a thought.

[texaspackerbacker]

sheepshead, I didn't mean to suggest I favored taking Raji--just that his great game in the Senior Bowl moved him way up on a lot of charts--which probably means a lot more money for him. I still favor Jenkins or Vontae Davis, and I really don't have a good handle on who Thompson might have in mind. I'm not sure he does at this point, but I agree, he does his homework, and will make a good choice.

[sheepshead]

sheepshead, I didn't mean to suggest I favored taking Raji--just that his great game in the Senior Bowl moved him way up on a lot of charts--which probably means a lot more money for him. I still favor Jenkins or Vontae Davis, and I really don't have a good handle on who Thompson might have in mind. I'm not sure he does at this point, but I agree, he does his homework, and will make a good choice.

I know a lot of guys have fun with the draft. I was in NYC 2 years ago during it. It's a big deal and that's fine. It's one of those things I can't contribute to except maybe by position, but even then I think there is so much more that goes into those decisions that we dont see. Not trying to hijack the thread or anything or harsh anyone's gig.

[SnakeLH2006]

Monroe OT. We need some fresh blood and a mauler to open up the holes at tackle. By 2010, we'll need 2 new OT's anyway.

[Lurker64]

I'd like to see them trade down a bit, not too far, and pick up Rey.

Personally, I think Rey is a 2-down linebacker in this league. He's a run specialist who's going to be a liability in the passing game, and he's pretty much exclusively an inside thumper. He's a fiery physical intimidator, but we already had a very similar player on the roster in Abdul Hodge and couldn't find a place for him to play, even after he was healthy. Plus 2-down run specialists can be found in the later rounds (like Hodge), not ones as good as Maualuga, but guys who are about 75%-90% as effective as run stoppers (Bishop may be close and he's already on the roster). Considering that our ILBs in this scheme are going to be Hawk and Barnett, neither of which have the size to be an OLB in this defense but have perfect size, quickness, and athleticism to play ILB in this scheme, Maualuga just doesn't seem to be a great fit. Not saying he's not going to be a great player, but I don't think he's a great fit here. Particularly since ILB is one of the lowest priority needs on the defense for this offseason, NT, DE, and OLB are significantly higher priorities since we don't need three guys who are first round picks for two ILB spots.

He ought to get drafted by a 4-3 team as a Mike with a scheme that won't give him coverage responsibilities, and then he'll be an amazing player. In terms of "USC Linebackers" Cushing would be a better fit in the Capers defense, in all honesty, but he has all sorts of red flags and is more of a second round guy.

If we were going to trade back into the 15-20 range, I'd think a guy like Tyson Jackson (DE), Peria Jerry (DE), Aaron Maybin (pass rushing OLB), or Knowshon Moreno (who has a chance to be a truly amazing ZBS RB) would be better.

Personally, I hope we just stay at 9 and get the best player there. Of Smith, Smith, Monroe, Raji, Jenkins, and Curry we have a sizeable chance of landing one of them (since one of the QBs and Crabtree are virtually guaranteed to go before we pick, and it's not improbable that somebody takes a DE before we pick, too.) If Smith, Smith, Monroe, Raji, Stafford, Jenkins, Curry, and Crabtree are picks 1-8 (in some order) though, that's a tough position and it would probably be worth trading down with somebody who needs a DE if Thompson isn't high on Oher or one of the pass-rushers. Knowshon might not be an insane pick at that point, though it kind of goes against the ZBS's main advantage of "not requiring premium picks for RBs".

[TheRaven]

I am beginnin to get the vague sense that to get BJ (if that's Thompson's intention), he might have to slide up a couple of notches, perhaps at the cost of one of those #3's.

I would be a bit disappointed if TT traded up just to get a BJ.

[Zool]

I am beginnin to get the vague sense that to get BJ (if that's Thompson's intention), he might have to slide up a couple of notches, perhaps at the cost of one of those #3's.

I would be a bit disappointed if TT traded up just to get a BJ.

Waffle

[Pack-man]

I picked Michael Oher. I've read McShay & Kiper both say he projects more to a solid Guard in the NFL than an OT. Colledge is a tackle, so we move him, and draft Oher and put him at LG.
These guys are crazy, this guy is a LT plain and simple. 6'6 330 beast with quick feet.

[sharpe1027]

Me. I could use the guaranteed money that goes with a top ten pick. 8-)

Other than that, I would probably prefer a trade down or for a player, unless they were 95% sure of their pick. My guess is that many of the guys they will want will be available later on, but on the other hand, in order to trade there has to be a team that wants to move up. So they'll probably end up staying put and just taking the top guy on their board.

[Gunakor]

Monroe OT. We need some fresh blood and a mauler to open up the holes at tackle. By 2010, we'll need 2 new OT's anyway.

Not necessarily. We'll need one perhaps, but many project Daryn Colledge as a future LT for this team long term. And no telling how good Gia will be once they get his bulk up to match his frame - he's 6'7" and strong as an ox, but was much too light to be used in 2008. But that might not be the case in 2010. Truth is, we might already have both OT replacements on our roster. They're unproven, to be sure, but are no less proven in the NFL than any rookie we'd select in the first round.

[woodbuck27]

We need a RDE.

We don't need another WR. :D

We don,t need a tradedown but we'll see one.

GO PACKERS!

[BooHoo]

I am beginnin to get the vague sense that to get BJ (if that's Thompson's intention), he might have to slide up a couple of notches, perhaps at the cost of one of those #3's.

I would be a bit disappointed if TT traded up just to get a BJ.

We do not need a punter in the first round. At least wait until the third! :lol:

[Lurker64]

We need a RDE.

We don't need another WR. :D

We don,t need a tradedown but we'll see one.

GO PACKERS!

I don't disagree with anything you said here, but it puts us in an interesting position:

- One of our biggest needs is a second DE.
- There isn't a 3-4 DE prospect available (probably) that would be a top 15 pick, unless we pick him.
- We don't really need to trade down.

The best 3-4 DE prospect is probably Tyson Jackson, and he has a shot at being available in the second (or late enough in the first that we can trade up with our second and snag him). Unless we decided to take a guy who's a 4-3 UT and convert him to a 3-4 DE, in which case Peria Jerry is an interesting prospect, but again if we don't pick him he probably won't go until significantly later in the first. Raji could play either NT or UT in the 4-3, so it's conceivable (but weird) that we could draft him at #9 and play him at both DT and DE.

All that being said, we are potentially lucky that it looks like two guys who have played 3-4 DE with reasonable degrees of success are likely to hit FA this offseason, Chris Canty of Dallas and Igor Olshansky of San Diego. 3-4 DE isn't a huge money position, and we probably wouldn't have to chronically overpay for either guy, so it's plausible that Thompson might dip his toes into the FA waters and sign one of the two, in which case DE is less of a need. We would probably be fine going into the season with Jenkins/Pickett/(Olshansky/Canty) as our DL, and we'd just need to focus on backups in the draft. Mitch King is an interesting prospect, he played DT in college and is a little undersized, but he's a great effort guy and a penetrator, probably available in the fourth round or later and would be a good change of pace DE for pass-rushing downs.

[Waldo]

Mitch King is interesting because he is so much like Kampman. Came to Iowa as a LB (not quite as big of a recruit though, Kamp was seen as a recruiting coup for Iowa), then got moved to DL and bulked up. He's wont he Iowa hustle award, same as Kamp did as a player. IMO he's definitely worth a flier, start out as a situational rusher while losing the excess baggage, then moving to OLB eventually.

[Fritz]

I am beginnin to get the vague sense that to get BJ (if that's Thompson's intention), he might have to slide up a couple of notches, perhaps at the cost of one of those #3's.

I would be a bit disappointed if TT traded up just to get a BJ.

i wonder who he'd be trading up with to get the B.J. from?

[Fritz]

We need a RDE.

We don't need another WR. :D

We don,t need a tradedown but we'll see one.

GO PACKERS!

I don't disagree with anything you said here, but it puts us in an interesting position:

- One of our biggest needs is a second DE.
- There isn't a 3-4 DE prospect available (probably) that would be a top 15 pick, unless we pick him.
- We don't really need to trade down.

The best 3-4 DE prospect is probably Tyson Jackson, and he has a shot at being available in the second (or late enough in the first that we can trade up with our second and snag him). Unless we decided to take a guy who's a 4-3 UT and convert him to a 3-4 DE, in which case Peria Jerry is an interesting prospect, but again if we don't pick him he probably won't go until significantly later in the first. Raji could play either NT or UT in the 4-3, so it's conceivable (but weird) that we could draft him at #9 and play him at both DT and DE.

All that being said, we are potentially lucky that it looks like two guys who have played 3-4 DE with reasonable degrees of success are likely to hit FA this offseason, Chris Canty of Dallas and Igor Olshansky of San Diego. 3-4 DE isn't a huge money position, and we probably wouldn't have to chronically overpay for either guy, so it's plausible that Thompson might dip his toes into the FA waters and sign one of the two, in which case DE is less of a need. We would probably be fine going into the season with Jenkins/Pickett/(Olshansky/Canty) as our DL, and we'd just need to focus on backups in the draft. Mitch King is an interesting prospect, he played DT in college and is a little undersized, but he's a great effort guy and a penetrator, probably available in the fourth round or later and would be a good change of pace DE for pass-rushing downs.

If your girlfriend or wife said that about you, would that be a mild compliment or an insult?

[Gunakor]

We need a RDE.

We don't need another WR. :D

We don,t need a tradedown but we'll see one.

GO PACKERS!

I am confident that Jolly can play DE in the 3-4 opposite Jenkins. What we need right now IMO is a stud NT or a WOLB. Either of those would make me a happy camper.

[mission]

We need a RDE.

We don't need another WR. :D

We don,t need a tradedown but we'll see one.

GO PACKERS!

I am confident that Jolly can play DE in the 3-4 opposite Jenkins. What we need right now IMO is a stud NT or a WOLB. Either of those would make me a happy camper.

As a starter?! No way.. he's barely just a guy

[Lurker64]

Mitch King is an interesting prospect, he played DT in college and is a little undersized, but he's a great effort guy and a penetrator, probably available in the fourth round or later and would be a good change of pace DE for pass-rushing downs.

If your girlfriend or wife said that about you, would that be a mild compliment or an insult?

I think the "great effort guy and a penetrator" is a mild compliment, but it's faint praise when combined with "little undersized."

[mission]

Mitch King is an interesting prospect, he played DT in college and is a little undersized, but he's a great effort guy and a penetrator, probably available in the fourth round or later and would be a good change of pace DE for pass-rushing downs.

If your girlfriend or wife said that about you, would that be a mild compliment or an insult?

I think the "great effort guy and a penetrator" is a mild compliment, but it's faint praise when combined with "little undersized."

:thank:

[The Shadow]

I am beginnin to get the vague sense that to get BJ (if that's Thompson's intention), he might have to slide up a couple of notches, perhaps at the cost of one of those #3's.

I would be a bit disappointed if TT traded up just to get a BJ.

i wonder who he'd be trading up with to get the B.J. from?

I think that a really stout nose tackle is the place to begin with the 3-4.
BJ looks like the guy.
The problem is his stock is on the rise, and even a Jacksonville (or even a team that does not at first glance seem to be looking in that diresction)could nab him before us.
Unlike previous years, where the roster needed to be greatly upgraded depth-wise, the Packers now need to concentrate on guys who are difference makers.
If he can be the key to a successful upgraded D-line, we need to get him.

[cpk1994]

I am beginnin to get the vague sense that to get BJ (if that's Thompson's intention), he might have to slide up a couple of notches, perhaps at the cost of one of those #3's.

I would be a bit disappointed if TT traded up just to get a BJ.

i wonder who he'd be trading up with to get the B.J. from?Why trade when he can just buy one? :lol:

[The Shadow]

Why trade when he can just buy one?


Is Lofton back in town?

[rbaloha1]

I am beginnin to get the vague sense that to get BJ (if that's Thompson's intention), he might have to slide up a couple of notches, perhaps at the cost of one of those #3's.

I would be a bit disappointed if TT traded up just to get a BJ.

Agreed. The roster is deep but more playmakers are needed in the front seven.



i wonder who he'd be trading up with to get the B.J. from?

I think that a really stout nose tackle is the place to begin with the 3-4.
BJ looks like the guy.
The problem is his stock is on the rise, and even a Jacksonville (or even a team that does not at first glance seem to be looking in that diresction)could nab him before us.
Unlike previous years, where the roster needed to be greatly upgraded depth-wise, the Packers now need to concentrate on guys who are difference makers.
If he can be the key to a successful upgraded D-line, we need to get him.

BJ is the pick if available. Pickett and Jenkins plays de. Gulp Kampy at olb and Poppinga at olb.

Hawk and Barnett at ilbs. Maybe the new scheme allows more opportunities for making impact plays.

[Merlin]

Skill position-wise I don't see a game changer worth taking that high and we need to focus on the tough positions, OL and DL. Michael Oher looks like a beast but is he too big to be effective in the ZBS? I guess we will find out more after the combine about his speed and quickness and how he stacks up. B.J. Raji looks to be an interesting prospect at DL. He isn't tall but he isn't small either. The nice thing about either of these players is that that actually played football in college and they don't carry an injury history with them. I am not sure though that either of them is worthy of a first round salary.

Trade out of the first round, either gets more picks, or use it to bring in a proven veteran. I doubt Thompson will do the later, we wouldn't want to do anything to make the team competitive now, we are rebuilding you know...