Rate the 2008 draft

[channtheman]

Three years later, how do you think this draft has panned out for us?

2	36	Jordy Nelson	        Wide Receiver	 6'3	217	Kansas State
2	56	Brian Brohm	        Quarterback	 6'4	225	Louisville
2	60	Patrick Lee	        Cornerback	 6'0	201	Auburn
3	91	Jermichael Finley	Tight End	 6'4	243	Texas
4	102	Jeremy Thompson	        Defensive End	 6'4	264	Wake Forest
4	135	Josh Sitton	        Offensive Guard	 6'3	324	Central Florida
5	150	Breno Giacomini	        Offensive Tackle 6'7	303	Louisville
7	209	Matt Flynn	        Quarterback	 6'2	227	LSU
7	217	Brett Swain	        Wide Receiver	 6'1	200	San Diego State

[HarveyWallbangers]

I looked at the first few names, and thought "not very good." Then, I got to Finley, Sitton, and Flynn. Add Nelson and it's pretty damn good. Probably four starting caliber players with two guys already near the top at their position in the NFL.

[channtheman]

Yeah 6 out of the 9 players we drafted are still on the team. Brohm was a total flop and even though Lee has stuck around he has yet to show much. The fact that we were able to get Finley and Sitton in the 3rd and 4th rounds while our 2nd round picks sucked is why I would never get overly concerned if TT traded away 2nd's to move up into the first (like with Matthews). The point not being that we were able to get Matthews (still such a great pick) but that great and even elite players can be found anywhere in the draft.

[Lurker64]

Finley and Sitton are great players and fantastic value for when they were picked. Flynn and Jordy are good. Lee and Swain are nothing special. It's sort of your quintessential "B+" draft. Could do better if Finley really, really becomes as good as he can be (for us). I think to really net an 'A' you need a true star or two, and Josh Sitton may be the greatest guard ever to put on pads, but he's still an interior lineman.

[Brandon494]

We got two top five players at their position in Finley and Sitton without even having a 1st round pick, you have to be pleased with that.

[Tarlam!]

I just starting a similar thread!! but for this draft class. I'm glad I added the phrase about judging it in three years!!!

I give the 2008 class an A. two starters, maybe three if Jordy replaces Driver. 3-4 major contributors equals a great draft for me.

[Deputy Nutz]

Two starters in Sitton and Finley. Main contributor in Jordy Nelson, but also some lack luster play with Breno, Lee, and Brohm. Good Seventh round.

B grade

[RashanGary]

B+ Finley and Sitton are studs. Nelson is good. Flynn is a nice piece. Normally teams get 8 picks (there are 32 comp picks) so hitting 4 out of 8 is 50%. That's really good. When Ted trades back, I don't think we should punish him on the grade by giving him a lower % hit. If he started with 8 picks and got 4 good players, that's 50% to me.

[Tony Oday]

Are you guys stoned? This is an A draft EASY. JF is a stud TE that creates a real mismatch, not just on paper, on every route, Jordy plays a ton and had 21 catches for 286 yards and 2 TDs in the playoffs...that was as good as our number 1 GJ, Sitton is a road grating stud and starts...thats a good thing. Matt Flynn is regarded as the number 1 backup in the NFL and will yield a 1st rounder if he plays in some mop up and plays like he did against the Pats. So basically we got three starters, yes Jordy is a starter, and a future Matt Shaub esq tradable asset. A

If you DONT think this is an A then there arent many that you would consider an A.

[get louder at lambeau]

I'm with Tony.

[Patler]

So far, this draft has netted just one reliable starter, Sitton, a high potential starter who is more promise than performance due to frequent injuries (Finley); a good third receiver, a backup QB that might bring a low draft choice as FA compensation, and a lingering question in Lee.

So far, that's a "C" with potential extra credit to be submitted this season to raise it to a "B".

You can talk all you want about Finley's potential, which I will not argue with, but the fact is he has just 82 career receptions after three years. So far, that's not huge contribution. If TT pulls the trigger and trades Flynn for a fourth or higher this year, that's a plus for the draft; but if Flynn leaves as a FA and the Packers get just a 6th or 7th, it doesn't count much.

There has not been huge production from this draft yet, but there are still possibilities.

[Tony Oday]

Sitton is a starter
Jordy is a starter in a league that runs 3 WR all the time
Finley did not start as a rookie had 55 catches his 2nd year and got dinged last year. Still a starter and will not have to compete for it in camp so I dont see the problem with labeling him as a starter
Flynn will be traded for MUCH more than a 4th. If Ponder is drafted in the 1st Flynn is worth a third AT LEAST.
Pat Lee and Swain have both contributed in small ways for the past three years.

My criteria for a draft to be successful is:
1 starter
3 contributers
2 potential

Out of this draft we had:
2 Starter/ Top 10 at their position
1 Starter that took a leap in the playoffs last year
2 contributers
1 potential

I have this as an A grade because of the fact we got two top 10 at their positions.

[Patler]

Sitton is a starter
Jordy is a starter in a league that runs 3 WR all the time
Finley did not start as a rookie had 55 catches his 2nd year and got dinged last year. Still a starter and will not have to compete for it in camp so I dont see the problem with labeling him as a starter
Flynn will be traded for MUCH more than a 4th. If Ponder is drafted in the 1st Flynn is worth a third AT LEAST.
Pat Lee and Swain have both contributed in small ways for the past three years.

My criteria for a draft to be successful is:
1 starter
3 contributers
2 potential

Out of this draft we had:
2 Starter/ Top 10 at their position
1 Starter that took a leap in the playoffs last year
2 contributers
1 potential

I have this as an A grade because of the fact we got two top 10 at their positions.

I think your criteria for a successful draft is much, much too low. At the rate of 1 starter, 3 contributors and 2 potential, you will never complete a starting roster, especially if you call Nelson a "starter". If the third WR is a starter, and the 3rd corner, you have to fill in 24 starting spots plus a kicker, punter and snapper. You need to find three of those each year just to keep it going. That would be a "C" in my grade book, an "average" year of filling spots.

I like what Finley might become very much. I'm just not certain he will get there, and if he does, it might not be as a Packer.

[Tarlam!]

I like what Finley might become very much. I'm just not certain he will get there, and if he does, it might not be as a Packer.

I hate the message, I love the messenger.

[Patler]

Flynn will be traded for MUCH more than a 4th. If Ponder is drafted in the 1st Flynn is worth a third AT LEAST.

When will that happen?
I think the Packers are in a sticky situation with Flynn. Clearly they have SB aspirations for 2011. Last year taught them that backup QBs really do have to play sometime. They almost have to keep Flynn this year, or find another capable backup. If they do keep Flynn, he will leave as a FA, and they will be lucky to get a 4th in compensation.