Which Area Needs the Highest Draft Pick?

[Fritz]

If you are willing to assume that a team's higher draft picks represent not only the highest talent level but also the most NFL-ready players, which position group would you like to see the Packers take in the first round, and why?

I know that it's not always the case - sometimes a guy has boatloads of talent but is as raw as Chris Culliver in a gay porno, but still gets taken early - but if you're willing to play along with the theory that one of the reasons a guy is a higher-round pick is because he's not only more talented but maybe more polished, then which position group do you go to in round one, then in round two, and in round three?

Me, I'd like to see another big body - a defensive end, or maybe a nose tackle - taken early on by the Pack. I still think they got pushed around too much, didn't command enough double-teams, and allowed blockers to get to the linebackers too much.

The second position group I'd like to see drafted is the inside linebacker position.

And the third would be the offensive center position - maybe in the third or fourth round. Or wait, maybe an offensive tackle.

Them's mine. What's yours?

[mraynrand]

Gotta get Raji off the nose, and get Brad Jones off the field. Want a SS that beats the hell out of anyone venturing over the middle. It would be nice to see the other team's WRs, RBs, and TEs have their heads on swivels.

[sharpe1027]

This may not be a popular choice, but I think the Offensive line could use upgrading. My second choice would be a safety. WRs are fine, RB is not used, QB is excellent, CB looks fine, LBers are OK with injuries returning, the just drafted several DL and often only put two on the field.

[The Shadow]

It's important to keep in mind that we have 2 1st round offensive linemen coming back into the mix next season - Bulaga & Sherrod. Yes, Sherrod is still a question mark, but 2 players with first round talent is always a plus.
1st & 2nd Round : Depending upon what's available talent & value-wise here, the Pack should consider a D lineman, inside linebacker - or receiver here. I still don't like the idea of Jennings leaving - I think his presence made the other receivers look better. If there's a great talent/value at the spot for TT, he should consider it.
I think it's possible that Mike Neal possibly can develop into that 'Cullen Jenkins type' D lineman - but if there is a solid prospect available at the Packers slot it would be tempting.
A lot depends on what TT now thinks of Hawk. If an athletic & nasty ILB to pair with Bishop is there, that would also be tempting.
3rd & 4th Round : a talented center & SS could very well still be available in these rounds.

[George Cumby]

First priority: DL
Second: ILB
Third: Safety

So, essentially, I'm a lemming.

[rbaloha1]

Front Seven -- with an emphasis on ilb.

[Old School]

1st a big long and strong DE.
2nd a thumper at inside LB
3rd a safety that would strike fear in any receiver going up the middle

[Joemailman]

Safety - Hard to be an outstanding defense without an outstanding Safety. Still missing Nick Collins.
DT/NT - Worthy probably won't be ready for the start of the season, and you can't assume Pickett will be able to start all 16 games again.
ILB - Hawk is JAG, and Brad Jones is less than that.

[RashanGary]

Safety
RB
ILB

[denverYooper]

Can they draft an OL coach?

[Smeefers]

It's always in the line. Rodgers got creamed a ton last year, so I wouldn't mind an offensive lineman. On the other hand, we couldn't get penetration with 4-5 guys last year, which is a real determent to our defense, so that makes me think of a Defensive end.

Of course, when you start to look when contracts are going to be up, you see that JJ is going to be up again after the 2013 season and Nelson and Cobb are going to be up after the 2014 season, so maybe a WR wouldn't be a bad choice, especially if you get the pick of the litter.

Bah, I just got done looking at the packers Contracts ( http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/ ) and it looks like every position is up for grabs in the next couple years. We only seem to sign guys up for 3 year contracts, so there's not a lot of people locked in for the long term. I suppose it comes down to philosophy. When I look at a draft, I look for what that guy can do for me 2 to 3 years down the road. Besides Clay Mathews, I can't remember a rookie coming in here and playing lights out at a pro bowl level. There may be one or two guys in an entire draft that can do that, so I don't expect us to hit one.

I don't think, as a team, we're necessarily weak anywhere. We've just been hit by the injury bug two years in a row. Well, maybe we are weak at the offensive line. I don't think Newhouse or EDS are good enough for the team. We have to look for replacements for them. I don't think CJ wilson is good enough, but we picked up worthy to replace him. Pickett's getting old, so I'd like a guy to replace him. Mike Neal showed flashes, but has by no means impressed anyone, so maybe we need two Defensive ends. I'm not a big fan of Walden, even though I think he could turn into an above average backer. He's got the physical ability to do all the right things, he just needs to become a smarter player in my book. Even so, we just got Perry to bookend the LB's. Wood's not going to be around much longer due to age, so Maybe we have to look into getting another safety. I don't know how High the team is on M.D. Jennings, but to me he's just a guy back there. We're fine at corner, and even if we did draft a running back, we wouldn't use him, so I'm not going to go high pick with him.

So, I guess I go back to my original thought. Offensive line, then Defensive line. I'll throw in WR too, because everyone knows TT is dying to knock one outa the park with the WR he picks out next, just like he's done for the last handful he's picked.

[pbmax]

Safety
ILB
D Line/Nose or 5 technique DE
Center

[Joemailman]

Can they draft an OL coach?

Why? Is it Campen's fault that the Packers had 2 1st round pick OT's on injured reserve? Or that he had a C for most of the year who played one year too many? At the end of the year the Packers had 2 UDFA's, 2 4th round picks and a 5th round pick starting on the OL. Add to that a QB who often holds onto the ball too long, 5 different starting RB's over the course of the season, and I think it's hard to blame Campen much for the problems the offense had. On the contrary, I think Campen probably deserves some credit for holding things together well enough for the offense to be reasonably effective.

[Guiness]

Why? Is it Campen's fault that the Packers had 2 1st round pick OT's on injured reserve? Or that he had a C for most of the year who played one year too many? At the end of the year the Packers had 2 UDFA's, 2 4th round picks and a 5th round pick starting on the OL. Add to that a QB who often holds onto the ball too long, 5 different starting RB's over the course of the season, and I think it's hard to blame Campen much for the problems the offense had. On the contrary, I think Campen probably deserves some credit for holding things together well enough for the offense to be reasonably effective.

Wow, never added all that up at once. You're right, he deserves credit for the work he did do.

Who's the second UDFA? EDS, right? I know Sitton and Newhouse were drafted, not sure about Lang.

[ND72]

Raji doesn't play the nose, pickett does. Raji played the "zero" has they call him one season, our Super Bowl season. 3 areas we should draft, OL, DL, RB won't be high picks. They have a number of "guys" in all those spots and McCarthy believes in coaching them up. Could see us go DB or maybe OL round 1. I think Thompson truly will take the best guy no matter what position. On our DL we have Daniels, Worthy, Wilson, Neal, raji, Pickett...young guys except Pickett, coach them up!

[ND72]

Wow, never added all that up at once. You're right, he deserves credit for the work he did do.

Who's the second UDFA? EDS, right? I know Sitton and Newhouse were drafted, not sure about Lang.

Lang was a 4th.

[Joemailman]

Barclay and EDS are UDFA's. Lang and Sitton were drafted in the 4th, Newhouse in the 5th.

[Pugger]

Safety
ILB
5 technique DE
Center

It might not hurt to upgrade the RB position too.

[Fritz]

Raji doesn't play the nose, pickett does. Raji played the "zero" has they call him one season, our Super Bowl season. 3 areas we should draft, OL, DL, RB won't be high picks. They have a number of "guys" in all those spots and McCarthy believes in coaching them up. Could see us go DB or maybe OL round 1. I think Thompson truly will take the best guy no matter what position. On our DL we have Daniels, Worthy, Wilson, Neal, raji, Pickett...young guys except Pickett, coach them up!


I worry though that the picks of Worthy and Daniels are the wrong body type for what the defense needs to do on early downs.

[pittstang5]

Defense was the reason that the Packers lost the last few years in the playoffs. I realize TT went all defense last year, but if he's not going to pickup some solid talent in free agency, then draft all defense players again this year. I don't care what position, I just want some hard-nosed football players that like to hit! We need one or two players that opposing teams fear when playing against.

[rbaloha1]

Raji doesn't play the nose, pickett does. Raji played the "zero" has they call him one season, our Super Bowl season. 3 areas we should draft, OL, DL, RB won't be high picks. They have a number of "guys" in all those spots and McCarthy believes in coaching them up. Could see us go DB or maybe OL round 1. I think Thompson truly will take the best guy no matter what position. On our DL we have Daniels, Worthy, Wilson, Neal, raji, Pickett...young guys except Pickett, coach them up!

TT likes to say best available player regardless of position -- this public statement prevents from giving away the Packer's hand during the draft. IMO this is not true.

TT has also proven willing to give away draft picks in order to move up.

[rbaloha1]

I worry though that the picks of Worthy and Daniels are the wrong body type for what the defense needs to do on early downs.

Back ups and situational players.

[RashanGary]

This is a horrible time for free agency. Prior to the new CBA, teams did not have a minimum spending threshold. Now they do. All teams have to spend a certain amount, and that amount is pretty high from what I remember reading.

Teams like Buffalo, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Cleveland, and others have a ton of room. Buffalo 20M Cinci and Cle 50M plus, Tampa and Miami 30M plus and a few in the 20M range. Those teams are being forced to sign bigger contracts (see the Bills going after Mario and the Dolphins paying Vincent Jackson through the roof. Those teams have to spend. Any of the bigger name guys are going to get contracts off the charts. All players should get more than their worth. They usually do, but now more than ever with the new CBA dynamics coming into play.

I think we're going to have to draft and develop guys. Hopefully a few of our young guys step up and we really hit home runs in our draft.

[woodbuck27]

Who's going to be there with outstanding value for us at #26?

TT will assess his draft pick based on value there opposed to trading back. I want TT to take the BPA on the OL or DL. That hard hitting FS may simply not exist @ #26.

[rbaloha1]

Who's going to be there with outstanding value for us at #26?

TT will assess his draft pick based on value there opposed to trading back. I want TT to take the BPA on the OL or DL. That hard hitting FS may simply not exist @ #26.

TT is drafting for need -- everything else is a smokescreen.

[RashanGary]

TT is drafting for need -- everything else is a smokescreen.

He seems to draft for value and need. If a need isn't dropping to him, it seems he'll move up or back to make sure he's getting good value for his spot. Lately, he's been moving up more and more.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Assuming we get and stay relatively healthy, I think we're in pretty good shape. We need some young guys to step up. Especially at LB. We need Perry to bookend Matthews, and we need Bishop and Smith healthy. How good we are next year, I think, we'll depend on the health of Bishop, Smith, Bulaga, and the WRs that are left (and Rodgers, of course)--and the progress of Perry and McMillian.