need may play some part in Packers' pick

eagle13 · Post #1 » by **eagle13** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:13 pm

Thompson says need may play some part in Packers' pick

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/41764977.html

Finally TT being honest - sort of. Like I've said you combine BPA with need.

Team has several needs.
Do NOT lock into one position.
But odds are a prospect at one of your several need positions will be darn close to overall BPA.

BPA's are a guess anyway and are often wrong and silly to put ALL your faith in. Lesser prospects often surprise. Pragmaticism must be considered.

Post #2 » by **ReasonablySober** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:18 pm

I let the draft class drive my strategy.

If my top needs are DT, DE, OLB and OT I look at the class, figure out where I'll be able to pick who to maximize the value and go from there.

Post #3 » by **Wade-A-Holic** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:06 pm

I agree with Drugbust, which is why I don't see us taking a nose tackle unless Raji falls to us at #9. Otherwise, there is little to no value to be had at the position in this year's draft, especially when compared with what will be there next year. It's a pretty good year for offensive tackles. I definitely see us taking one, and it's a very deep class of 3-4 OLB types, so even though Thompson doesn't think we need anybody there, there will likely be a value at that position that is too good to pass up sometime in the early rounds.

Post #4 » by **ReasonablySober** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:31 pm

Agreed on all counts.

If Raji is there at #9 I think he's a no-brainer pick. There isn't anyone close to him in the rest of the class.

LUKE23 · Post #5 » by **LUKE23** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:55 pm

I'm starting to lean towards Jackson if Raji is gone. He's only projected at most 5 spots down from us anyway, and I like him quite a bit. A good OLB will be there at #41 (Barwin/English).

aaprigs311 · Post #6 » by **aaprigs311** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:22 pm

LUKE23 wrote:I'm starting to lean towards Jackson if Raji is gone. He's only projected at most 5 spots down from us anyway, and I like him quite a bit. A good OLB will be there at #41 (Barwin/English).

From what I've seen Jackson's stock is dropping. He hasn't done anything special enough to warrant a top ten pick. I think he slides into the early second. Barwin is a different story. He's a guy who has worked his way into the first round. I'll be furious if we take Jackson at 9.

LUKE23 · Post #7 » by **LUKE23** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:27 pm

I've been reading that Jackson's stock is rising, not dropping. He's not a elite pass rusher but he's amazing against the run and immovable. McShay/Kiper both had him projected at #12 I think. But no chance he makes it to the 2nd round.

I'm not against taking one of the OLB's at 9 either, but I wouldn't be upset with Jackson. He's no question a starting 3-4 DE.

aaprigs311 · Post #8 » by **aaprigs311** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:52 pm

I like Jackson, don't get me wrong. Just not that high. If Jackson is TT's guy then he needs to be looking to trade down and aquiring another first day pick. That I'd be fine with. But if we sit at 9 and playmakers like Brown and Jenkins are still on the board and we take Tyson Jackson, I will be pissed.

automatic44 · Post #9 » by **automatic44** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:31 pm

I want nothing to do with Jackson in the first. IMO, we'd be better off getting a 5 technique DE later in the draft. Jackson's work ethic and motivation scare me, even though he physically fits the bill. Would not use our first or second on him.

Post #10 » by **ReasonablySober** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:59 pm

I was fine with Jackson as a 4th, maybe even a 3rd option behind Raji and Jenkins before his workouts. I thought he would test out to be a much better, perhaps elite, athlete. They were basically horrible. Average to below average strength, agility, quickness, speed. Combine that with performances that left a lot to be desired and mediocre production and I think he falls like stone into the second round,

MikeIsGood · Post #11 » by **MikeIsGood** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:02 pm

Wade-A-Holic wrote:I agree with Drugbust, which is why I don't see us taking a nose tackle unless Raji falls to us at #9. Otherwise, there is little to no value to be had at the position in this year's draft, especially when compared with what will be there next year.

I disagree, though with only one other player in mind. Ron Brace. True NT, and showed it at Boston College. While I absolutely do think Raji is the better prospect, Brace is the guy with experience playing the position, and is a great prospect in his own right. Has been rising up draft boards. I would love him in the second round if Raji isn't taken in the first. Guess that depends on the scenario, though.

automatic44 · Post #12 » by **automatic44** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 9:01 pm

Im a bit torn on Ron Brace. Obviously he does have the size. But I think taking him in the second would also be a bit of a stretch for him. Im not saying he wont go there, but Ive considered him more of a 3rd round pick. Im thinking because of the lack of talent this year at NT, he will go higher than he probably should. After Raji, there isn't much to get excited about this year.

MikeIsGood · Post #13 » by **MikeIsGood** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 9:21 pm

He generally was considered a third round pick, and it is what I considered him when he was first brought up here months ago, but that was before all the workouts, combine, etc. I think he's been performing well enough to rise up draft boards. Some of that can be due to the (lack of) talent at the position in this draft, but I think some of it also must be attributed to Brace himself.

Talking about the DTs in this class after Boston College's pro-day, Kiper said Brace was a borderline first-round talent. Yes, I do think that's a stretch, but to me this comes back to the trade-down scenario someone mentioned here a couple weeks back that led to us acquiring a second second-round pick. It's in that scenario I would like Brace in the second round.

All of this said, there's a reason I bolded the part I did in WAH's post, and not the part about compared to the talent in next year's draft (potentially). I have no problem with that view point. It's the same one I took a few months back in regards to the DE position. My point was to say that, while Raji is definitely the #1 guy on the board for DTs (NTs specifically), I don't think you can say there's no more value to be had. I think Brace is a worthwhile prospect and someone the Packers should have their eye on if Raji isn't taken in the first.

dbrodz7 · Post #14 » by **dbrodz7** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 2:07 am

What are your guys' thoughts on Aaron Maybin from Penn State? I know was considered to small and was a speed guy and did not help his cause at the Combine. But Penn State recently had their pro day and Maybin has put on 25 pounds of muscle since January and shaved his 40 time from the mid 4.7s to 4.59 where it should be. He is now 252 LBS up from the 227 at the combine. I saw a recent mock draft that had us taking him and after seeing his recent dedication to improving his draft stock I think he would make an interesting option. I would rather have us take Maybin than Everette Brown.

http://blog.pennlive.com/bobflounders/2 ... rs_40.html

aaprigs311 · Post #15 » by **aaprigs311** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 2:50 am

He's starting to move more comfortably after putting on those 25 lbs. It took him awhile to break into his new frame, but apparently he has. Although I'd prefer not to take an OLB in the first because more than likely there will be some good ones on the board in the second, I wouldn't have a problem with him.

Post #16 » by **ReasonablySober** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:05 am

I wouldn't a problem with any of the top three OLBs. They're honestly 1a, 1b and 1c to me. Maybin's got the most upside and is probably the best natural athlete. He was actually the most productive too. Normally you weigh the production, upside and the natural ability and if he's tops in all of the above it's a no-brainer. Not in this case. Brown is so polished at a young age. No, he isn't the athlete that Orakpo and Brown are, but he's got the best pass rushing ability of any of them and doesn't have to rely simply on speed and a quick step. Orakpo is obviously the strongest and probably has the best combination of moves, athleticism and production. When healthy he might have been the most dominant. He offers the best ability against the run, though Brown is close.

If you were dead set on a OLB I don't know if I could make a real order. I guess interviews would play a huge part. Injury risk would be another.

I'd just rather take Raji or Jenkins and worry about OLB in the 2nd or 3rd.

aaprigs311 · Post #17 » by **aaprigs311** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:09 am

Right on DB.

MikeIsGood · Post #18 » by **MikeIsGood** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:23 am

DrugBust wrote:I wouldn't a problem with any of the top three OLBs. They're honestly 1a, 1b and 1c to me. Maybin's got the most upside and is probably the best natural athlete. He was actually the most productive too. Normally you weigh the production, upside and the natural ability and if he's tops in all of the above it's a no-brainer. Not in this case. Brown is so polished at a young age. No, he isn't the athlete that Orakpo and Brown are, but he's got the best pass rushing ability of any of them and doesn't have to rely simply on speed and a quick step. Orakpo is obviously the strongest and probably has the best combination of moves, athleticism and production. When healthy he might have been the most dominant. He offers the best ability against the run, though Brown is close.

If you were dead set on a OLB I don't know if I could make a real order. I guess interviews would play a huge part. Injury risk would be another.

I'd just rather take Raji or Jenkins and worry about OLB in the 2nd or 3rd.

I'm not totally sold on Maybin, but in general and if we stay put, QFT.