And so it begins...

[woodbuck27]

I just don't see the Packers taking a running back here unless he is the best rated player on thompson's board.

Yup.

TT will go Defense maybe a CB or trade down.

That's my early prediction. In actual fact a prediction hardly fits TT's style as he could do anything. He's really. . . a surprize.

PACKERS FOREVER!

[DannoMac21]

I would LOVE Felix Jones. I've been pushing for him since the beginning of the college season, and have told all my friends about him and whatnot.

[The Leaper]

TT will go Defense maybe a CB or trade down.

Please, everyone...

STOP WITH THE TRADE DOWNS!

I know you are locked into Thompson draft mode...but even he knows the facts regarding his position this year.

Few teams are going to trade up into the last few picks of the first round to select someone with equivalent talent that they will have to pay twice as much for.

As I've posted in another thread...the last first rounder last year (Gonzalez) signed a 5 yr/$10M deal...with almost $5M guaranteed. The second pick in the second round (Branch) signed a 4 yr/$5M deal...and probably most of it was not guaranteed.

With that kind of contract disparity for guys picked within 2 spots of each other, it makes it very unlikely that Thompson will trade down from the first round...teams won't pay that kind of premium for a guy very often at that point in the draft. I'm not saying it is impossible...but the likelihood of it happening is remote at best.

Also, the value of the pick when compared to one 10 spots behind it is only a 4th round value. It isn't like Thompson can load up on first day picks by trading down.

IMO, the chances that Thompson will TRADE UP with that first pick are greater than the chances that he will trade down.

[ny10804]

I'd be perfectly fine with Cromartie's cousin. Antonio Cromartie is extremely outrageously extravagantly good. To get someone at all like him at CB is something that would be very valuable. I wish we could just have Cromartie...

[packrulz]

TT will go Defense maybe a CB or trade down.

Please, everyone...

STOP WITH THE TRADE DOWNS!

I know you are locked into Thompson draft mode...but even he knows the facts regarding his position this year.

Few teams are going to trade up into the last few picks of the first round to select someone with equivalent talent that they will have to pay twice as much for.

As I've posted in another thread...the last first rounder last year (Gonzalez) signed a 5 yr/$10M deal...with almost $5M guaranteed. The second pick in the second round (Branch) signed a 4 yr/$5M deal...and probably most of it was not guaranteed.

With that kind of contract disparity for guys picked within 2 spots of each other, it makes it very unlikely that Thompson will trade down from the first round...teams won't pay that kind of premium for a guy very often at that point in the draft. I'm not saying it is impossible...but the likelihood of it happening is remote at best.

Also, the value of the pick when compared to one 10 spots behind it is only a 4th round value. It isn't like Thompson can load up on first day picks by trading down.

IMO, the chances that Thompson will TRADE UP with that first pick are greater than the chances that he will trade down.

I agree that TT won't be able to trade down but he will never trade up either. I think he will sit tight for the BPA and that may very well be for a RB with all the juniors coming out this year, Grant is good but Jackson/Wynn haven't shown much, the CB's are getting old but the young guys have been making plays, I've been known to bash the guards but they got us to the NFC Championship Game and it took Wahle/Rivera awhile to develop too. The running game has GOT to get better, and RB's have the biggest chance of immediate impact on a team, I've seen it happen time and time again. I remember when a lot of mock drafts had the Packers taking Laurence Maroney in the first round, they didn't, but he ended up being a hell of a RB. If the Packers want a Super Bowl win they need a stud RB or platoon. DE, CB, and WR can burn you in the first round, look at guys like Mario Williams, (who I admit I wanted), Terrell Buckley, or Troy Williamson. RB's are probably the most successful at having an impact in their rookie year than all other positions overall.

[Fred's Slacks]

TT will go Defense maybe a CB or trade down.

Please, everyone...

STOP WITH THE TRADE DOWNS!

I know you are locked into Thompson draft mode...but even he knows the facts regarding his position this year.

Few teams are going to trade up into the last few picks of the first round to select someone with equivalent talent that they will have to pay twice as much for.

As I've posted in another thread...the last first rounder last year (Gonzalez) signed a 5 yr/$10M deal...with almost $5M guaranteed. The second pick in the second round (Branch) signed a 4 yr/$5M deal...and probably most of it was not guaranteed.

With that kind of contract disparity for guys picked within 2 spots of each other, it makes it very unlikely that Thompson will trade down from the first round...teams won't pay that kind of premium for a guy very often at that point in the draft. I'm not saying it is impossible...but the likelihood of it happening is remote at best.

Also, the value of the pick when compared to one 10 spots behind it is only a 4th round value. It isn't like Thompson can load up on first day picks by trading down.

IMO, the chances that Thompson will TRADE UP with that first pick are greater than the chances that he will trade down.

Do you have more details on these deals? I am not sure that round has anything to do with rookie contracts. I thought everyone just falls in line between the guy picked before and after.

Its going to cost alot more to sign someone to a 5 year deal than a 4. Not only does the base salary go up due to the minimum for years of experience, but the signing bonus has to go up alot to compensate for the extra year before the player can sign another contract and get his next bonus.

I am not saying your wrong, I would just like to see more details on their contracts like the bonuses involved and the base salaries. Like I said, I thought it was all sloted by pick number, not round.

[vince]

Leap, the information I came up with is different than you cited.

Gonzalez signed a 5/$7.5 mil deal, not a 5/$10 mil. deal according to Rotoworld.

Also, except for the length of contract dropping from 5 to 4 years, there is no evidence that I can find to suggest an inordinate drop in salaries from the first to second rounds. Of course there's a drop, but it is far less than you indicated and not out of line with the differences in contracts only slightly above this area of the draft board.

In my opinion, it's certainly not enough of a drop to automatically conclude that no GM who sees someone on the board that they think could really help their team would would be interested in trading up, particularly if they fear losing the opportunity to get that player between #30 and whenever they may pick lower down the board.

Here are the relevant draft picks, contracts and the annual drop in pay from pick to pick surrounding the end of the first round and into the top of the second...

Pick.......Name.....................Years......Mil lions.......Difference from Previous Pick per Year

25.........John Beason.............5............12.51
26........Anthony Spencer.........5...........9.................$702 ,000 less
27........Robert Meachum.........5..........11.3..............$460, 000 MORE
28........Joe Staley..................5............8............ ....$660,000 less
29........Ben Grubbs................5............8.............. ...$ same
30........Craig Davis.................5..........7.83............$ 34,000 less
31........Greg Olson.................5..........7.769...........$ 12,200 less
32........Anthony Gonzalez.......5...........7.5..............$53,80 0 less
ROUND 2
33........Alan Branch................4.............5............. .$250,000 less
34........Paul Posluszny...........4.............4.75..........$6 2,500 less
35........Arron Sears
36........Kevin Kolb..................4............4.32..........$ 53,750 less
37........Eric Weddle.................4
38........Zach Miller..................4
39........Justin Blalock
40........John Beck...................4............4.5........... $11,250 MORE

[Guiness]

we DO NOT need a WR. we're probably ok at saftey. TE seems OK, wouldn't hurt to take someone there i guess

Yes, but DT was probably our deepest pos'n last year. So I guess that means we can count on a 1st round WR!!!!

[MJZiggy]

we DO NOT need a WR. we're probably ok at saftey. TE seems OK, wouldn't hurt to take someone there i guess

Yes, but DT was probably our deepest pos'n last year. So I guess that means we can count on a 1st round WR!!!!

What are we...the Lions?

[Deputy Nutz]

Thompson is going to have what??? The 30'th Pick?

There is not going to be an A.J Hawk at #30, but he might be able to find an Aaron Rogers or a Justin Harrell at #30. Will Thompson change the way he works the draft based on where he is picking? Will he try to trade up? Will he trade away picks for other teams proven talent?

We need a stud pass rusher that can consistently help put pressure on opposing QB's. All of this last season, our D-line just could not get it done against the better teams. All things considered, I think our corners did a great job, especially considering how long each pass play lasted due to the lack of a rush from our D-line.

Really, the Packers have two good pass rushers in KGB and Kampman, but KGB sustained an injury to both his ankle and his leg, the defensive line as a hole suffered injuries across the board losing Jolly for the season, Cole for the season, and Pickett for two games. Kampman had back issues at the end of the year. The Packers counted on the front four to get pressure on the QB and at the beginning of the year they had very little problem getting after the QB, but injuries happened and players wore out. Jenkins was hurt on and off throughout the season, and more was expected out of him as a pass rusher, he is better than he was in 2007, but not leaps and bounds better.

All said the Packers need to have 4 defensive ends that can get to the passer, and they need one or two tackles to get pressure up the middle. Williams ability to work with in the system to get sacks helps, and unfortunately he will most likely land a big money deal that Thompson shouldn't really match if he wants to keep this team financially balanced.

The Packers don't have a lack of talent to get to the passer, but they might have a lack of depth, and a lack of creativity in their scheme. The point to having corners that can play man defense is to create pressure with blitzes and bringing guys from all over. The Packers hardly used twists or stunts on the defensive line, and they seldom used zone blitzes. The scheme really needs to become more sophisticated.

[ny10804]

If the Packers want a Super Bowl win they need a stud RB or platoon. DE, CB, and WR can burn you in the first round, look at guys like Mario Williams, (who I admit I wanted), Terrell Buckley, or Troy Williamson.

Mario Williams made 2nd team All-Pro in this his second year.

I'm completely down for Cromartie. Anyone who honestly believes we two future starters at CB behind Woodson and Harris is kidding their selves.

[PackerBlues]

The Packers don't have a lack of talent to get to the passer, but they might have a lack of depth, and a lack of creativity in their scheme. The point to having corners that can play man defense is to create pressure with blitzes and bringing guys from all over. The Packers hardly used twists or stunts on the defensive line, and they seldom used zone blitzes. The scheme really needs to become more sophisticated.

Good point. It really seemed to me, that the Packers front four just did not match up well against some of the better teams that they played against. Their inability to create pressure on the opposing QB was at times.........disgusting.

I do not know if it is necessarily a lack of playmakers on the D-line, a coaching problem, poor schemes, or what exactly the problem was, but it is something that needs to be addressed in the off season.

[woodbuck27]

This is going to be a long off season unless MM and TT are prepared and Co - Ordinated in terms of Packers and the next Super Bowl.

I wish I knew what makes TT tick? Wondering if he will be out of the gates fast as FAcy begins, or just go into another one of his shadow boxing routines.

[Scott Campbell]

This is going to be a long off season unless MM and TT are prepared and Co - Ordinated in terms of Packers and the next Super Bowl.

I wish I knew what makes TT tick? Wondering if he will be out of the gates fast as FAcy begins, or just go into another one of his shadow boxing routines.

Yeah, well that's the same defeatest quitter crap you spewed all last off season, and things turned out pretty good. So I guess we'll see.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

This is going to be a long off season unless MM and TT are prepared and Co - Ordinated in terms of Packers and the next Super Bowl.

I wish I knew what makes TT tick? Wondering if he will be out of the gates fast as FAcy begins, or just go into another one of his shadow boxing routines.

I hate you Woodbuck. (said in best cartman voice)