Packers Draft Plan

[The Shadow]

Ok, here we go - here's what the Pack will do on Draft Day.

Ted Thompson will look in Round One in 5 areas - and choose the highest-rated player in one of those 5:
1. Offensive Line. The concerns here are with Chad Clifton (age & health) and Daryn Colledge (free agency).
If they are convinced that T.J. Lang can play tackle, they may plug him in at Left Guard for a year or two. If they
feel most comfy with him as a guard, they may be looking at a tackle in the draft.
If they do choose an offensive lineman, do not be shocked if it is Danny Watlins.
2. Defensive Line. Dumb Johnny Jolly screws things up. The Pack may have to now seriously look for a DE. Luckily,
this seems to be a good year for them. Even if they don't take one in the first round, look for one to be chosen early.
3. Wide Receiver. The concerns : Jone's free agency & Driver's age/production. If their highest-rated player at #32 is a
receiver, don't be surprised if they grab him.
4. Cornerback. Even though Williams, Woodson, & Shields are a solid trio, the depth behind - and Woodson's age - are
concerns. If their top-rated player is a CB, do not be shocked if it is a player that is not that well-regared in the draft
mags. It will be a 'Thompson player'.
5. OLB. Actually, the emergence of Zombo & the play of Walden + the return of Jones, make this much less of a hot
priority than is generally reported.

Look, in the end, for the selection of Thompson's highest-rated player in one of these 5 categories.

[Lurker64]

They can just get away with going BPA in every round at any position where the guy would be at least competing for at least second string at his position.

[RashanGary]

It could be anything other than QB, P, K, LS or specialist of any sort. Probably not an ILB either.


If I had to guess, I'd think OL, CB or WR and that's because I think that's where the talent is in our area of the draft.

[Lurker64]

If I had to guess, I'd think OL, CB or WR and that's because I think that's where the talent is in our area of the draft.

Really hard to project where the talent is going to be late in the first though. If there's a run on QBs with teams trading back up into the first to get them, there could be fantastic value in our spot at really any position other than QB.

Correspondingly, OL, CB, and WR could be picked over by the time we pick. Since TT would not draft Brandon Harris (he has a height requirement for draftable CBs, and Harris is short of 5'10"), the only real CBs who would be "good value" would be Jimmy Smith who could easily go before we pick. The lower tier of TT-friendly CBs ( guys like Curtis Marsh, Curtis Brown, Davon House, Johnny Patrick, Brandon Burton, Aaron Williams, Chimdi Checkwa, and Ras-I Dowling) probably won't be exhausted before pick #64. WR, there's only two guys who are clearly top picks and we won't get either of them. The #3 WR spot is wide open, so I guess if you like Baldwin, Smith, Cobb, Hankerson, and Young a lot you'll probably have the shot to pick one of those guys. I think the top 5 OTs and Pouncey will be gone before we pick, so you'd have to pick a second tier guy.

Really, all Green Bay needs is to do a thorough job on their value board, and just take what's there at #32.

[packrulz]

I think TT has a 50-50 shot at trading down, there is a lot of debate over where QB's like Locker, Mallett, & Dalton will be drafted, and the Packers are in a sweet spot for trading down and still getting a guy like Brooks Reed maybe.

[ND72]

I think TT has a 50-50 shot at trading down, there is a lot of debate over where QB's like Locker, Mallett, & Dalton will be drafted, and the Packers are in a sweet spot for trading down and still getting a guy like Brooks Reed maybe.

I would love for Teddy to trade down if for a QB...could get a future #1 or #2!!!

[VermontPackFan]

Ok, here we go - here's what the Pack will do on Draft Day.

5. OLB. Actually, the emergence of Zombo & the play of Walden + the return of Jones, make this much less of a hot
priority than is generally reported.

I agree Shadow. I liked what Zombo showed last year, he should only get better. Jones is in his make or break year, if he stays healthy there will be a competitive atmosphere for this position between these two and Walden.

[VermontPackFan]

I belive OL will be our first pick imho...

[swede]

I belive OL will be our first pick imho...

An investment in the O-line is an investment in Aaron Rodger's unconcussed brain.

[King Friday]

Agree completely on the trading down theory. I feel pretty strongly that Thompson will trade OUT of the 1st round...unless he trades UP to grab someone with great talent who falls into the 20s. With the number of 2nd tier QBs in this draft and teams drafting early 2nd round with QB needs, I could easily see someone wanting to move up to the end of the 1st to take the guy they want. So I expect Thompson to move back since he likely will have the opportunity to do so. I think the odds actually might be even better than 50-50.

[bobblehead]

An investment in the O-line is an investment in Aaron Rodger's unconcussed brain.

I thought we invested in a helmet.....

[Lurker64]

I belive OL will be our first pick imho...

I think our first pick will have nothing to do with need, and everything to do with value.

[packrulz]

Belichick has made "value" a household term in New England. When grading New England's drafts, it's almost more about future draft picks accumulated than current talent collected. Few might remember where great players are selected, but the Pats' ability to manipulate the draft board fascinates fans. Before the draft is even over, there is a clamor to discuss the promise of next year's picks.
While these tactics make draft night exciting, they can "mistake activity for accomplishment," as John Wooden used to say. The result of trading down is teams can receive many serviceable players instead of one really good one. Take the 2009 draft, when the Pats could have selected all-star Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews. Instead they ended up with Pat Chung, Darius Butler, Ron Brace and Sebastian Vollmer. Chung, Butler and Brace are serviceable while Vollmer has shown himself to be a respectable tackle, but none of the above is a game-changer like Matthews.

[VermontPackFan]

I think our first pick will have nothing to do with need, and everything to do with value.

Agreed, but there still will be very good OL available at #32.

[The Shadow]

Well, I think a defensive end - or Ryan Kerrigan-converted-to-OLB (Purdue) might just be the pick.