What Is The Packers Biggest Need Heading Into This Coming Draft?

[Maxie the Taxi]

this team needs so much but if last year taught us anything it reminded us that if our o can't carry it's weight the d, how ever heroic, can't hold up. i've bounced between ol and wr and i'm going with wr. we have two question marks coming off surgery, cobb, a forth, and two benchwarmers. we need a hit at wr.

If one of the top WR's is there at 27 (say Sterling Shepard), it would be tempting (and it would be so Tedish).

[Maxie the Taxi]

If a near sure thing prospect of an O Tackle is there when we draft, I suppose I agree. But two things about that: first, there probably won't be a sure thing OT, and second, we have a terrible history of highly drafted OTs. I really thought Sherrod was gonna be something special, but he was less than expected before the injury, and less than nothing after. And it ain't just the Packers. A helluva lot of high #1 pick OTs seem to flop or at least not perform like you'd expect based on where they were drafted.

I'd be leery of a ILB in the first round too, as even the best don't seem to merit picks that high.

So what does that leave? Things we mostly don't need. If something resembling a young Clay Matthews was available, I'd go with that.

Not to be negative or anything, but I've got a bad feeling that Thompson is gonna try and grab the new B.J. Raji.

You're right about OT's, especially possible left tackles. The three I mentioned rate pretty high among the pundits though. It is a crap shoot.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Offensive fricking line. Priority from outside in.

I sure don't want to be in the position again of having to start Sitton at LT.

[call_me_ishmael]

Leonard Floyd is gonna be a good player I think. I take him in an instant.

[woodbuck27]

It will be some one who plays on the DL.

[Carolina_Packer]

It will be some one who plays on the DL.

I agree with this, Wood. Maxie, I think you are right, but hope you are wrong about Billings being there. Ted's typically done a good job of reconciling need to draft position, and doesn't reach. Aside from drafting a franchise QB, I see no mistake in drafting for a position of need, as long as the value of the pick matches the draft board. Who doesn't need a good DT or an OT with excellent footwork who can play inside early in his career if necessary? I agree with the saying get the big guys early. Good big guys are rare. You know when you have average ones, that's for sure. The other team's big guys are pushing them around. You want ARod protected, get a big guy. You want the ILB's to do a better job? Get a big guy.

[pbmax]

I'm not saying first, or even third round, but they must sign a punter to scare Masthay.

[wist43]

ILB

I think we're all-but dead at the position, except in base. I think Barrington is better than Ryan, but that both of them are strictly base 3-4 LB's. We have absolutely no speed at the position, and teams will continue to scheme their TE's and RB's to take advantage of this major weakness. My most vivid memories of both Barrington and Ryan are of them helplessly trailing RB's down the field that have cleared them by 3-5 yards.

If TT doesn't make a move to fill the hole left by moving Matthews back outside - the defense as a whole will take a big step backward; and, I think that is enough of a downgrade to suggest that it is very unlikely that we'll be able to hang with the Big Boys.

[wist43]

It will be some one who plays on the DL.

There is a ton of depth at the DL in this draft - I can see TT playing cute, and spit on DL in the first 2 rounds figuring that he'll be able to get a good one further down... and he probably will be able to land a good one further down.

Still, if a good DT is there in the first round - Billings, Rankins, Clark, et al... it would be hard to pass on any of those guys.

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As I said in my other post, I think ILB is our biggest weakness, but if a good ILB isn't there in the 1st round, I'd be perfectly with any of those DT's, or Decker. I like Decker a lot.

[mraynrand]

ILB

I think we're all-but dead at the position, except in base.

I actually think the Packer's base nickel is where they need help at ILB - to free Matthews again to rove and rush from more spots. Packers are pretty well-suited at ILB for run defense on obvious running downs/against run heavy teams (all four of them).

[Carolina_Packer]

I'm not saying first, or even third round, but they must sign a punter to scare Masthay.

I'm beyond scaring him. I hope it's a serious replacement. I know it's a tough job, but punter is a weapon, and Masthay seems beyond sharpening at this point.

[Carolina_Packer]

ILB

I think we're all-but dead at the position, except in base. I think Barrington is better than Ryan, but that both of them are strictly base 3-4 LB's. We have absolutely no speed at the position, and teams will continue to scheme their TE's and RB's to take advantage of this major weakness. My most vivid memories of both Barrington and Ryan are of them helplessly trailing RB's down the field that have cleared them by 3-5 yards.

If TT doesn't make a move to fill the hole left by moving Matthews back outside - the defense as a whole will take a big step backward; and, I think that is enough of a downgrade to suggest that it is very unlikely that we'll be able to hang with the Big Boys.

With the release of Palmer, and lack of quality at the position, I have to believe that they have a plan for addressing the position. How could they not? If there is an ILB that fits at #27, I'm OK with that. If Ragland falls to #27, and the Packers draft him, no complaints, because who doesn't want Reggie Ragland on their football team? Also, with the depth of DL talent in the draft, you can likely get a productive DL in the 2nd round. That combo can help stop the run, and keep the Packers in favorable pass rush scenarios on 3rd down. Also, I think another rush backer like a Matt Judon type would be a good get. Someone to succeed Peppers.

[pbmax]

Joe Thomas, dime linebacker.

[Pugger]

With Raji gone DT is a big need IMO. Happily this is a pretty decent DL class so we'll end up with a good one in either the first or second round. ILB would be the next pressing need.

Why should we limit ourselves to just OT? Sitton and Lang aren't getting any younger and won't they both be FA after this coming season?

We can find a punter to challenge Masthay in FA after the draft.

[Maxie the Taxi]

With Raji gone DT is a big need IMO. Happily this is a pretty decent DL class so we'll end up with a good one in either the first or second round. ILB would be the next pressing need.

Why should we limit ourselves to just OT? Sitton and Lang aren't getting any younger and won't they both be FA after this coming season?

We can find a punter to challenge Masthay in FA after the draft.

Elite-type LT prospects will be gone after 1st round, second round for sure. There are a couple guys later on in the draft that are not elite LT prospects, but are the versatile types (OT/G, or OG/C) that Ted seems to like. I think he'll draft one of them 4th round or so.