My thoughts on the draft

[Partial]

Do 3rd+ round picks really look very good ever? I guess they look alright if your team lands someone you know or have seen them make a play, but that isn't always how it works.

This wasn't a very good draft. Period. Not just for TT, but for everyone. It was very top heavy. I know people were insisting that this draft had a lot of depth; I completely disagree. In fact, I have never heard one person who does this for a living make any sort of claim to that. I've heard the contrary many, many times though.

TT should have traded up in the second. That was a poor move on his part. He could have still gotten Jackson in the third and we would have been given a red zone target.

Arm chair quarterbacks are rarely correct. See Ernest Shazor and TE Delaware. If teams thought so highly of these players, they wouldn't have gone in the 7th.

TT is eventually going to have to stop trying to land 20 guys and start landing some first day guys instead.

TT didn't draft a single sexy player. By sexy, I mean a big name. We'll see what happens with these guys. Some could turn into great players.

I don't expect huge things from this draft simply because the talent pool from start to finish wasn't great. That isn't TTs fault or anyone. If you look at the players other teams picked, I wouldn't say too many teams had impressive hauls after the 2nd round.

Of course, it just so happens that our division was loaded with bad teams. They didn't draft better, they drafted higher and thus had shots we did not at the blue chip players. That is the reason they pick in order of worst to best.

[packers11]

I agree that T.T. next year has to trade up and try to land a big player or just take quality players, not quantity...

O wait nevermind the packers will be #1 anyway... (joking... knocking on wood)...

[Charles Woodson]

I dont think that that draft was horrible, i basically say give this draft at least a year then call for TT's head but lets be honest, first of all, by saying this wasnt a good draft doesnt do anything, personally the vikings had amazing 1st day picks, dono bout 2nd day, Oakland came away with a lot of big namers. But yea i think that this draft could turn out pretty good if clowney, jackson, harrell and rouse end up doing something

[Partial]

I agree that T.T. next year has to trade up and try to land a big player or just take quality players, not quantity...

O wait nevermind the packers will be #1 anyway... (joking... knocking on wood)...

No, I don't think he has to trade to the top. I am not saying that at all. I think it was Ted's responsibility to say OK, this draft is not deep and at about the start of the third round the talent is going to drop WAY OFF. That's when you throw the chart out, realizing that drafting one good, solid player in the 2nd is better than adding a 2nd and 3rd that are only adequate and linger around for a few years before getting replaced.

He should have recognized the teams glaring need for a big target. With the Moss trade obviously falling through by that point, he should have realized it may have taken a few picks out of their total amount, but that adding a player they rated highly on their board would have a bigger impact than adding two marginal players later on.

Man, Jarrett or Rice would make this draft look 10x better.

[Partial]

I dont think that that draft was horrible, i basically say give this draft at least a year then call for TT's head but lets be honest, first of all, by saying this wasnt a good draft doesnt do anything, personally the vikings had amazing 1st day picks, dono bout 2nd day, Oakland came away with a lot of big namers. But yea i think that this draft could turn out pretty good if clowney, jackson, harrell and rouse end up doing something

Oakland had the first pick. No shit their draft is going to look good when they add an AAA prospect. Same with Detroit. The draft was not at all deep. Conviently, those teams took names you had recognized. I would say that if you were a college football fan living in a different part of the country, this draft could look very different. It's all about what players you know and recognize. I hardly recognize any of TTs picks.

To those who criticize TT for not filling a need with a pick, why did the Vikings select a great RB prospect when they could have added Quinn, when they already have Chester Taylor?!?

[BallHawk]

The Packers, without a doubt, have the least "sexy" draft of any team. There aren't any big names or superstar college players, but we got guys who play hard, work hard, and should ultimately become a very solid base for this orginzation. I could see 8 players from this draft making the team this year and 4 of those guys making a significant contribution in the future.

[Lurker64]

Man, Jarrett or Rice would make this draft look 10x better.

It's less important how this draft looks now, and more important how this draft looks on the field. I was never particularly high on Rice or Jarrett, and I suspect people's desire for them is largely motivated by the fact that those are guys we've heard of. Unfortunately, neither of them are in any way "can't miss" kind of guys and "having heard of them on draft day" is no guarantee that a guy will actually do something in the NFL.

[Partial]

Man, Jarrett or Rice would make this draft look 10x better.

It's less important how this draft looks now, and more important how this draft looks on the field. I was never particularly high on Rice or Jarrett, and I suspect people's desire for them is largely motivated by the fact that those are guys we've heard of. Unfortunately, neither of them are in any way "can't miss" kind of guys and "having heard of them on draft day" is no guarantee that a guy will actually do something in the NFL.

My motivation is that they are tall and have long arms, and produced during big games. I really like Jarrett. If you recall, for awhile I thought he'd be better than Johnson. The kid is a great receiver.

[Partial]

The Packers, without a doubt, have the least "sexy" draft of any team. There aren't any big names or superstar college players, but we got guys who play hard, work hard, and should ultimately become a very solid base for this orginzation. I could see 8 players from this draft making the team this year and 4 of those guys making a significant contribution in the future.

Most second day picks aren't sexy. TT's past two drafts have indicated to me he likes smaller conference players.

I think we'd be better off with Harnell, Jarrett, Jackson than we would have been with all those trading down. Remember, you can find decent starters anywhere. You need people that are going to score touchdowns. Most of these second day players will become just another guy in the league.

[RashanGary]

Pretty solid take Partial.

I'll argue this though;

You don't really know what you have untill you line them up with NFL talent. If you take more picks, you can afford to shed 3 or 4 and still come away with 6 or 7 contributors and maybe 3 or 4 starters in each draft.

I don't like to say crapshoot because I believe good scouts make a big difference but I think there is a strong uncertainty drafting that is unavoidable and because of that; you really don't knwo untill you line them up. Like I said, there is skill to talent evaluation but I think you can win in the long run more often by getting more guys in to see how they play with your guys.

[BallHawk]

Remember, you can find decent starters anywhere.

Tell that to Art Shell and Al Davis.

[Partial]

Remember, you can find decent starters anywhere.

Tell that to Art Shell and Al Davis.

They have tons of guys on their roster. They don't have any studs. That is the problem. We could have gotten Jarrett who I think has a better chance to be a stud than any of the 3rd round or later picks combined. As a GM, you cannot be afraid to make a mistake and I think TT is avoiding making a mistake through strength in numbers.

In reality, he'll never be fired on his basis for refusing to trade up. If he did move up and it didn't pan out, that could cost him his job.

[Partial]

Pretty solid take Partial.

I'll argue this though;

You don't really know what you have untill you line them up with NFL talent. If you take more picks, you can afford to shed 3 or 4 and still come away with 6 or 7 contributors and maybe 3 or 4 starters in each draft.

I don't like to say crapshoot because I believe good scouts make a big difference but I think there is a strong uncertainty drafting that is unavoidable and because of that; you really don't knwo untill you line them up. Like I said, there is skill to talent evaluation but I think you can win in the long run more often by getting more guys in to see how they play with your guys.

I agree its a crapshoot. Especially after the second round. I will say this though.

Jarrett was rated as a first rounder on his board. If it costs him a 2nd, third and fourth to get him (even if he loses draft board value on it), wouldn't it be better to take a shot on a guy you think could really turn out to be a great player rather than moving down and adding guys who you think less of? Depth is good and all, but you can pick up average players anytime anywhere. You've gotta take those shots at one of those receivers.

[packinpatland]

Well said........ everyone.
When I look at the real play makers the Packers have on the roster, most were not drafted early. Most were not 'big name' picks. Maybe, just maybe we'll be ok.

[Bretsky]

I agree that T.T. next year has to trade up and try to land a big player or just take quality players, not quantity...

O wait nevermind the packers will be #1 anyway... (joking... knocking on wood)...

No, I don't think he has to trade to the top. I am not saying that at all. I think it was Ted's responsibility to say OK, this draft is not deep and at about the start of the third round the talent is going to drop WAY OFF. That's when you throw the chart out, realizing that drafting one good, solid player in the 2nd is better than adding a 2nd and 3rd that are only adequate and linger around for a few years before getting replaced.

He should have recognized the teams glaring need for a big target. With the Moss trade obviously falling through by that point, he should have realized it may have taken a few picks out of their total amount, but that adding a player they rated highly on their board would have a bigger impact than adding two marginal players later on.

Man, Jarrett or Rice would make this draft look 10x better.