Grade the Draft

[Waldo]

I don't want to assign a grade, however my thoughts on the picks:

Raji - I think that he's a project at NT, but super talented and definitely has the physical ability to be one of the best. 4-3 looks of Kamp-Raji-Pickett-Jenkins will probably be difficult to run on.

Clay - One of my favorite players in the draft for us. Great pick. I thought he was a darkhorse for us to take at #9. I think that he's the first player in TT's tenure that he fell in love with.

Lang - Lang was my favorite lineman in the draft. I think the choice of him speaks volumes about what our plans are on the line, by their actions I think that we see that Colledge is going to be Clifton's successor, as I expect that an interior of Lang-Spitz-Sitton is where we want to go. Lang is an absolutely perfect fit in GB, he is practically a Josh Sitton clone, but a little better pass blocker.

Johnson - Can't argue with a sledgehammer. I thought that Fiammetta was a little better fit, but our FB's were no more than mediocre, and due an upgrade. Johnson is a crushing lead blocker. With Lang and Johnson TT took big steps to running the ball better. The first 4 picks I thought were some of the most physical players out there. Real hard nosed guys.

Meredith - Not a huge fan, but he's a good fit for what we do. I think that he has a good shot to be one of our long term tackles. At worst he's an upgrade to Moll. Can't complain.

Wynn - 'eh, whatever. We needed another guy to add to the DE mix, one with PS eligibility, as none of ours have any. I doubt that he makes the team as a rookie.

Underwood - Bye, bye Bush. A steal where we got him.

Jones - Never heard of him. Highlight tapes and measureables bear out that he's a rocket. I think that he'll have a K. Burnett role for us, deep back up most of the LB positions, possibly even SS too. ST demon. Competition for Hunter's roster spot.

[Joemailman]

Getting Lang and Meredith in the 4th and 5th rounds made it easier for me to get over the picks we traded away to get Matthews. The run on defensive backs and wide receivers in round 3 played right into the Packers hands as it dropped the big guys lower. I'm also thinking that maybe Johnson will finally enable me to stop missing William Henderson. We'll see.

[Packnut]

Underwood

I predict Underwood will be TT's first bonafide late rd gem.

[sheepshead]

I dont think taking a wait-and-see position is what the poll is meant to divulge. All drafts need a wait and see period.

[mraynrand]

I give it a

[Patler]

Re: Crab

I just hope BJ's highlight reel is comparable to the Crabs

Mark my words. Crabtree will be a major disappointment.

Man among boys; once they get a QB dude is a star

I would have a lot of concerns with drafting at #9 a WR who has had a pin inserted into his foot and has not yet really tested it. If I was drafting for a team without significant needs, he is certainly worth the risk, but I would hate to pass on only slightly lesser talents that match the positions of need to make perhaps the strongest position on the team even stronger.

[LL2]

I would give the draft a A-, not that I now anything. We are all armchair GM's. I give the A- because TT addressed probably the biggest needs on defense and got good players. Defense was a bigger need than offense. Crabtree would've been nice, but if your team can't stop the other team on offense what good is it to have the best WR. GB is pretty good at WR anyways and they can always upgrade there. I'm glad to here some of you really like Lang, as the OL needs help too.

Now I can't wait until the OTA's and training camp!

[HarveyWallbangers]

Not that it matters, but Kiper gave the Packers his top grade and McShay loved their draft also.

Kiper:

I love what this team did to solidify its shaky defense in the first two picks alone, with the selection of two excellent players in defensive tackle B.J. Raji and outside linebacker Clay Matthews. Tackle T.J. Lang was a good pickup for the offensive line, while Quinn Johnson could be a bruising lead fullback in the league. Sixth-round pick Brandon Underwood could make this team and give the Packers depth as a backup.

McShay:

Best pick: DT B.J. Raji, Boston College (First round, No. 9 overall)

Worst pick: FB Quinn Johnson, LSU (Fifth round, No. 145 overall)

Bottom line: It's hard to pinpoint a weakness in this draft. Raji is a perfect fit at NT as the Packers transition to a 3-4 defense, and OLB Clay Matthews gives them a player with experience in a hybrid 3-4/4-3 scheme. OT T.J. Lang is one of the most underrated offensive linemen in this year's class and could emerge as yet another midround O-line starter for Green Bay. The Packers also took some chances in the later rounds on risk/reward players like G Jamon Meredith and CB Brandon Underwood.

[Lurker64]

When your "worst pick" is a fullback and you're the Green Bay Packers (one of the few remaining teams that actually make use of the traditional FB), that's not bad.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Only A given by Charles Robinson of Yahoo is to the Packers.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AuU0wKjQ2OGJlsSEQVGjQQpDubYF?slug=cr-09nfcdraftgrades042709&prov=yhoo&type=lgns]

Positives: Raji, Matthews, tackle prospects

Negative: Could have used a more highly rated cornerback.

Bottom line: A. Almost all the team needs were addressed in some way. Nose tackles in the 3-4 scheme are at a premium, and the Packers had a great one fall in their lap in Raji. Matthews has a ton of versatility and adds another badly needed piece in the Packers’ scheme change on defense. The two tackle prospects are something to work with long term.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Prisco gave the class a B. I'm not sure what I think of these good grades.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/11680126

Best pick: They had to get a power player inside and took B.J. Raji in the first round. He is a load.

Questionable move: Trading back into the first round to get USC linebacker Clay Matthews. I didn't like that move at all. He's good. Not that good.

Second-day gem: Landing tackle Jamon Meredith in the fifth round could prove to be a steal for a team in need of a tackle.

Ted Thompson added some nice players, but I think the Matthews move is questionable.

[HarveyWallbangers]

This is kind of nice.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9501416

After the second round, he listed guys that are on the board that shouldn't be.

Five Guys Still On the Board That Shouldn't Be

# Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech, DE (19th overall in 7 Round Mock Draft)
# Jarron Gilbert, San Jose State, DE (31st overall in 7 Round Mock Draft)
# Jamon Meredith, South Carolina, OT (37th overall in 7 Round Mock Draft)
# Jared Cook, South Carolina, TE (42nd overall in 7 Round Mock Draft)
# Mike Mickens, Cincinnati, CB (49th overall in 7 Round Mock Draft)

162. Green Bay — Jamon Meredith, OT, South Carolina and 163. Carolina — Duke Robinson, G, Oklahoma

Here are two guys just about everyone had going in the second or third round of this draft. And yet, on Draft weekend, both kids slip all the way to the middle of the fifth round — going back to back at 162nd and 163rd overall. With such a priority on skilled offensive linemen in the past few years, seeing these two slip so far is pretty confounding.

[Joemailman]

I wonder why McShay is so down on the Johnson pick. I love that pick. I think the Packers just become a tougher short yardage running team. Also, like Matthews and Jones, he is a standout on special teams.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I wonder why McShay is so down on the Johnson pick. I love that pick. I think the Packers just become a tougher short yardage running team. Also, like Matthews and Jones, he is a standout on special teams.

Not sure he's that down. I think he had to pick one for each team, and he said it was hard to find a weakness with their draft. However, looking at projections, many had him more as a 5th round pick. Kind of interesting. I was looking at the SI grades (couldn't find them), but they had Lang projected as a 2nd/3rd round pick, Meredith as a 2nd round pick, and Underwood as 3rd round pick. Those are good. They had Wynn as an undrafted player. I would pick him as the worst pick, but they do have a need for a 3-4 DE and his best football seems to be ahead of him. I'm guessing he'll disappoint the most though. He's my most likely to get cut.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I'm getting a bit worried. Sporting News gives them an A-.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=542934

Green Bay Packers: A-minus

They targeted defensive help and got it. Defensive tackle B.J. Raji is a run-stuffer with agility, and outside linebacker Clay Matthews is excellent in pass coverage. Both might start in Week 1. Tackle T.J. Lang and fullback Quinn Johnson are physical blockers. This team should be improved.