Something Realistic: Grade the 2003 Packer draft

[Fritz]

I've been quite vocal about how thrilled I am over this draft. I really think TT did an excellent job and this draft will be the core of a Super Bowl team some day.

The truth is, though, I don't know, and none of us will for awhile. Conventional wisdom says it takes three years to be able to really evaluate the draft.

So let's do that. Take a stroll down memory lane with me, to Mike Sherman's 2003 draft, his second as Packer GM...

1 29 Nick Barnett LB Oregon State
3 79 Kenny Peterson DE Ohio State
5 147 James Lee DT Oregon State
5 166 Hunter Hillenmeyer LB Vanderbilt
6 212 Brennan Curtin T Notre Dame
7 245 Chris Johnson DB Louisville
7 253 DeAndrew Rubin WR South Florida
7 256 Carl Ford WR Toledo
7 257 Steve Josue LB Carson-Newman

Well, let's see. Nick Barnett is the starting middle linebacker, Kenny Peterson is in the defensive tackle rotation (so far), Hunter Hellenmeyer was cut but now starts at outside linebacker for Da Bears and is considered an average player. I don't know if Chris Johnson is still with the Rams.

So it looks like Shermy got one starter and one backup player out of that draft. I sure hope TT's second draft as Packer GM is a lot better than Shermy's.
[/b]

[Guiness]

I believe Carl Ford is playing ST for Philly.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I smell a poll.

Johnson signed with some other team this offseason.

That's like a D- draft. I can't imagine it getting much worse. At least, Sherman got one starter. Does that keep it from being an F?

[Fritz]

Well, it was probably Shermy's worst draft. Here's his 2002 draft:

1 20 Javon Walker WR Florida State
3 27 92 Marques Anderson DB UCLA
4 37 135 Najeh Davenport RB Miami (FL)
5 21 156 Aaron Kampmann DE Iowa
5 29 164 Craig Nall QB Northwestern State
6 28 200 Mike Houghton T San Diego State

Out of that came one Pro-Bowler, one very solid starter, a backup running back and a backup quarterback.

[RashanGary]

His best draft is average at best.

[Fritz]

Hey, Nick, here's a question for you: was his '04 draft better than the '02 draft? Here's the '04:

1 25 25 Ahmad Carroll DB Arkansas
2 3 7 70 Joey Thomas DB Montana State
3 3 9 72 Donnell Washington DT Clemson
4 3 24 87 B.J. Sander P Ohio State
5 6 14 179 Corey Williams DT Arkansas State
6 7 50 251 Scott Wells C Tennessee

Let's see...he got two starters out of that (Oh my God, I just called BJ Sander a starter!), maybe three is Wells starts this year. Actually, Corey Williams, a backup on the line, might be the best of the bunch.

Carroll, I don't know. It takes corners longer to develop, and he's very young, but he's starting to seem more like a head case than an immature kid.

[HarveyWallbangers]

2002 = C-
2004 = D, unless Williams and Wells eventually become solid starters

[billy_oliver880]

Certainly never worked with many picks did he.

[Pack0514]

I smell a poll.

Johnson signed with some other team this offseason.

That's like a D- draft. I can't imagine it getting much worse. At least, Sherman got one starter. Does that keep it from being an F?

I believe Johnson signed a two year deal with Kansas City.

[retailguy]

Certainly never worked with many picks did he.

And therein lies the quandry.... Few picks, few starters, little impact.

Lots of picks, then the odds are in your favor.

All of you know that I hold a high opinion of Mike Sherman, however, his lack of picks, and the crazy low values he put on draft picks, eventually doomed his tenure and doomed his job.

I agree with Fritz, I am optimistic, albeit cautiously.

Bretsky - You've been a pretty vocal critic, what say you?

[Homer Jay]

I give it a strong B and it could go up. At the very least he will make all spots competitive and our special teams should be greatly improved. If a couple of these guys step up it could easily be an A grade.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

You guys forgot that Sherman the genius traded his 2nd rounder to the Eagles for Al Harris. Harris made the Int that debunked Hasselback. Harris alone makes the draft a "C." Harris and Barnett makes it "B."

[Tarlam!]

You guys forgot that Sherman the genius traded his 2nd rounder to the Eagles for Al Harris. Harris made the Int that debunked Hasselback. Harris alone makes the draft a "C." Harris and Barnett makes it "B."

O.K. Tank, so you're saying you give a B to Sherm cause he landed 2 outta 10 starters? That's 20%.

So, if TT lands 3 outta 12 and gets 25%, he grades higher than Sherm?

[Anti-Polar Bear]

So, if TT lands 3 outta 12 and gets 25%, he grades higher than Sherm?

A big IF. Thompson's first draft only produced 2 starters thus far, or 18% (2/11). Whitticker started out of desperation and is on way to the bench, making it 9%.

[Fritz]

Oh for crying out loud, Tank, they were rookies last year. Let's wait and see - at least - until the end of this season.