An End to Ted Thompson Draft Surprises

[Scott Campbell]

It could be either DE or DT. But you can't say you weren't warned.

I'm hoping for a DE or CB. I'd be surprised if we took a DT two years in a row.

[RashanGary]

I agree with the tier system being Ted Thompsons method.

Adding onto it a little more, he's mentioned having a formula that allows him to predict how far he can move back.

For example, if there are 6 guys left on his tier and he's given the option to move back 8 spots, he'll use his formula to figure out if one of the six will still be there. If the forumula is in his favor, he'll move back (taking the chance all 6 get taken but a probablity that one will be there).

[RashanGary]

Going forward, I agree with Patler that TT will still take DT's, WR's, QB's or whoever else he and his scouts have rated the highest (if they're the only positions left on his tier).

I'm not sure he'd take a Kicker or a Punter this year, but he might even do that too.

Like Patler, I think at some point he'd say enough was enough, but I think that point is a lot further than many here want to believe. I base this on what he's been saying since he got here. For as much of a mystery as there seems to be surrounding Ted Thompson, he really has been very consistant in what he says he'll do. I think what's hard for some people is that he's not checking off a list of needs to get to the goal, he's more or less taking oppertunities as they arise by being flexible and open minded. I think that whole concept of not having a set blueprint just throws people for a loop.

[packers11]

T.T. makes me laugh when it comes to the draft... No matter how much people research or ESPN hypes up a player, he could take the player right behind him... Somehow T.T. has a knack of finding some gems in the draft pool so this year going into the draft; I'm not going to even try to speculate who we are going to get... I'll sit back on draft day and enjoy the T.T. show...

[twoseven]

I'll sit back on draft day and enjoy the T.T. show...

Is it even draft day anymore? Our first round pick should happen around 7pm, second round pick around 11pm, assuming most teams will use their full time. Big love for ESPN and the NFL, they just gotta get those primetime ratings.

http://www.mynfldraft.com/2008-NFL-Draft-Date

"The 2008 NFL Draft will be held at the Radio City Music Hall in New York on April 26th and 27th.

There are several changes that are being applied to this years NFL draft. The start time on April 26th has been moved to 3 pm (est) instead of the noon start as it has been in previous years. The first day will only consist of 2 rounds, with rounds 3-7 being completed on Sunday. In previous years, 3 rounds were completed on the first day.

The time alloted between each pick has also been adjusted. For the first round of the NFL draft, teams will only have 10 minutes this year, compared to the 15 minutes in last years draft. The second round goes to 7 minutes from 10, rounds 3 thru 7 will remain at 5 minutes."

[The Leaper]

I think Vince is correct. TT has justified trading down several times with the explanation that they knew one of several players would be available at the lower position, and the liked all of them equally well. Clearly he will then pick a player at a position of need rather than a similarly ranked player at a position of depth for the Packers.

I agree with Thompson's approach on this. If you play fantasy football, the same general philosophy also works. Rather than pick strictly off a ranked draft board, you create tiers within each position and it allows you to measure the available talent at your pick an decide if it makes sense to take someone in the highest tier still available or trade down. It also helps you see when good opportunities for trading up are available.

[Fritz]

Lurker, look what you've done. All this intelligent conversation. For shame.

In truth, you've made this much more difficult and complex than it has to be.

You want to avoid the past feelings of anger and disappointment with TT's picks? Then just do this:

Make a list of guys from major colleges who have been injured or position-switched in their senior year (Harrell, Blackmon) so the player has crappy-seeming stats. Then make another list of no-names from national powerhouses such as San Diego State or Idaho or Westchester Tech.

Then you have TT's draft board. Easy.