Official "Who Do We Draft in First Round" Thread

[NYPACKER]

....we're in the 23rd slot. Who is available, who do we take. Do we reach for a need or take best player? If the RB from Cal falls to us do we jump? Why has Taylot Mays stock dropped in a year & is he worth taking at #23? Will the OT from Iowa be there? Let's start speculating!!!!

[Fantasy Ninja]

Originally Posted by NYPACKER

....we're in the 23rd slot. Who is available, who do we take. Do we reach for a need or take best player? If the RB from Cal falls to us do we jump? Why has Taylot Mays stock dropped in a year & is he worth taking at #23? Will the OT from Iowa be there? Let's start speculating!!!!

If Best is there, I think you take him. I've been thinking for about a year that we need an explosive playmaker in the Felix Jones mold.

We also need a guy who can cover but we know that TT won't draft for need unless that player is also the BPA. I like the philosophy myself. I just hope that a defensive back is that guy.

Bush is not NFL talent. Tramon is not starting talent yet. Blackmon is always hurt and so is Lee. We need bodies that can play back there.

[Mike F]

but I think you have to look at a couple of things that occur in the next month or so. First do they sign Pickett, Tauscher and/or Clifton, if they do that starts to tell you something. Then you have to plug in whether names like Cribbs, Cromartie, Clark, Merriman, Trueblood and others have any merit. I've seen Seymour's name several places as the Raiders apparently are interested in dumping him. He's that rarest of commodities the 310 pass rusher. He also has some motivational questions, but that's kind of an interesting name.

All that said, traditional, that is the spot to get a quality runner, a receiver and once in awhile a quality corner or lb who fell through. While I could see a weapon, I believe he would have to be a great talent much higher than some positions. One such player is Benn. I think Benn probably falls that far. He's an incredible talent, probably the best receiver ever at Illinois. But he also didn't produce to the talent, was injured enough to raise question, and generally didn't seem to play to his talent. Some of that was Juice Williams and poor coaching and scheming at Illinois. He has great speed, great hands and can return kicks. He is a weapon if you get him to play to the level, you've already mentioned others.

But I have to believe they would be drawn to a pass rusher, a corner, or tackle if one fell or they don't get anything in fa. Thompson was rumored to love Mays though.

[reck]

This one is easy: Take the "best player available" I'm hoping for a WR or QB.

[bulldog]

Originally Posted by reck

This one is easy: Take the "best player available" I'm hoping for a WR or QB.

I am hoping for a kicker or long snapper.

[retiredgrampa]

Normally, I ALWAYS go for OL or DL even earlier on this year. But now I may reconsider since the O didn't lose games for us this year, it was the D that did us in, the D secondary actually. So now I'm leaning on trying to get a primo DB, especially a S who helps in run support. While another OLB would be nice, I say at least 2 DBs and 2 OL plus 1 DL.

[kainen]

If I were GM, I'd stand by the BPA philosophy with the thought in mind of what postions are the areas of most need.

I think we look at replacing Clfton and Tausch first, then look to the secondary - specifically corner and safety.

[SoCalPackFan]

1. Patrick Robinson CB-FSU
2. Nate Allen FS-SFU
3. Selvish Capers OT-WVU

As is obvious, this is via the draft by need philosophy. With the depth of this year's draft, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Packers move down in the draft to pick up a few extra picks.

[Galileo]

A lot of the mock drafts have us taking an OT, like Bulaga or Charlie Brown of USC. That wouldn't be terrible.

But I think you should use your first round selections on people who can change games......offensive skill position players and defensive studs.

When you look at our 6 losses last year, you see a defense that gave up 30+ points in every one. Against Favre and Warner not only couldn't we slow them down at all we couldn't get any pressure on them either.

So I think the priority is defense, and I think that our greatest priority on defense is to get some pressure on the QB. The problem is that some of our front seven guys, like Pickett and Jolly, don't put a lot of pressure on the QB. Matthews, yes. Jenkins, yes. But we've got nobody coming off the edge opposite Matthews and nobody collapsing the pocket.

I also look at Hawk, who is a liability in coverage and not a very effective blitzer who is scheduled to make an obscene amount of money over the next two years. If it were possible to replace him with a stud defender who could help collapse the pocket on the blitz it'd probably make our secondary look better and also make it more difficult to double-team Matthews.

So my choice for our first selection would be Brandon Spikes, a very good all around ILB who excels at pass rushing. Put Chillar or Jones in Kampman's old spot and Raji and Jenkins in the middle and we'd have 5 guys who could really get some pressure on the opposing QB.

[bulldog]

Originally Posted by Galileo

A lot of the mock drafts have us taking an OT, like Bulaga or Charlie Brown of USC. That wouldn't be terrible.

But I think you should use your first round selections on people who can change games......offensive skill position players and defensive studs.

When you look at our 6 losses last year, you see a defense that gave up 30+ points in every one. Against Favre and Warner not only couldn't we slow them down at all we couldn't get any pressure on them either.

So I think the priority is defense, and I think that our greatest priority on defense is to get some pressure on the QB. The problem is that some of our front seven guys, like Pickett and Jolly, don't put a lot of pressure on the QB. Matthews, yes. Jenkins, yes. But we've got nobody coming off the edge opposite Matthews and nobody collapsing the pocket.




I also look at Hawk, who is a liability in coverage and not a very effective blitzer who is scheduled to make an obscene amount of money over the next two years. If it were possible to replace him with a stud defender who could help collapse the pocket on the blitz it'd probably make our secondary look better and also make it more difficult to double-team Matthews.

So my choice for our first selection would be Brandon Spikes, a very good all around ILB who excels at pass rushing. Put Chillar or Jones in Kampman's old spot and Raji and Jenkins in the middle and we'd have 5 guys who could really get some pressure on the opposing QB.

Tell me Galileo what defensive player lead the the team in QB pressures in the first 8 games.

[Jello]

I like the BPA philosophy, and I hope it's a Offensive Tackle. Cliffy and Tauch are not getting younger.

[Cblatz]

IMO, the Packers have so many holes that BPA is the only way to go. With the 23rd pick, I would think Safety or ILB would be available. No one else has mentioned it, but I think we need to look at a Guard to replace Colledge as well. I just don't see him ever developing into a servicable lineman. Finally, I could also see taking a TE to replace Lee. All four of those positions usually don't start going until later in the 1st round. I would have no problem taking the 2nd safety or 2nd guard taken as opposed to the 6th OT or 5th DE. But if someone good fell that far, we could also use any type of OT, CB, WR, DE, DT or OLB as well.

[Galileo]

Originally Posted by bulldog

Tell me Galileo what defensive player lead the the team in QB pressures in the first 8 games.

I don't know, but I'm guessing that it was Hawk. But I'm not guessing when I say we were 4-4 during that stretch, that we had given up 30+ points in each loss, and that we didn't get very good pressure on the QB in those losses. I also wouldn't be guessing when I state that Hawk was removed from the nickel package during the 7-1 stretch.

PackerUpdate had a blurb recently where they stated that Hawk hadn't made a particularly good impression on the coaches.

So that's all stuff I don't have to guess about. I also know that he's scheduled to make impossible money over the next two years and that he'll either have to be restructured or released. I also know that Brandon Chillar has a pretty good contract and is better in coverage and as a blitzer than Hawk.

The evidence of my own eyes tells me this: We don't collapse the pocket very well. Pressure came from the outside courtesy of Matthews or Woodson or some other blitzer but rarely up the middle.

If we want to get better pressure on the QB...and IMO, that's the single greatest area where we need to improve....then we're going to have to put some players in that front seven who can defeat blockers one-on-one. Assuming that Jolly and Pickett are part of that front seven we've only got 5 possibilities for players who might be able to pressure the passer. Hawk plays one of those positions. I'd like to see him replaced with a younger, cheaper, better player who could help Raji and/or Jenkins collapse the pocket on passing downs and I think Brandon Spikes is that guy.

You could also move Chillar outside to Kampman's spot and your four backers would be Matthews, Barnett, Spikes and Chillar....not a bad quartet of pass rushers there.....Barnett would actually be the weak link in that regard.

[bulldog]

(You could also move Chillar outside to Kampman's spot and your four backers would be Matthews, Barnett, Spikes and Chillar....not a bad quartet of pass rushers there.....Barnett would actually be the weak link in that regard.)

Kampman lead the team in QB pressures the first 8 games almost 4 to 1 a game,no one on the line or at linebacker where near him.And you want to replace Kampman with Chillar. Chillar had 30 tackles in 12 games and 2 sacks Kampman had 30 tackles in 9 games and 3 sacks.And people want to trade him.

Matthews and Kampman where your best pass rushers and in fact I believe Kampman had more pressures than Matthews for the season and thats in only 9 games.
Yeah Let Chillar replace Kampman not to smart.

[Galileo]

Bulldog....do you not realize that Kampman is probably history???

He's a UFA regardless of the whether or not there's a new CBA. He's 30 and coming off a serious injury. His best football is probably behind him and his best position is as a 4-3 rush end and we don't play a 4-3.

This is probably going to be his last contract. As a 4-3 rush end in free agency he could command the kind of contract that premium pass rushers get. As a OLB in a 3-4 do you really think the Packers will match that kind of contract.

And then there's the little matter of what Kampman wants. According to at least one report, Kampman would rather play for a 4-3 defense than return as a 3-4 OLB.

Seriously......do you think the Packers should pay Kampman in the neighborhood of $30 million for four years for Kampman to play OLB? Because it's going to take at least that.

If it's up to me, I transition tag him and then trade him because I could probably get at least a high second round pick for him.

[bulldog]

Originally Posted by Galileo

Bulldog....do you not realize that Kampman is probably history???

He's a UFA regardless of the whether or not there's a new CBA. He's 30 and coming off a serious injury. His best football is probably behind him and his best position is as a 4-3 rush end and we don't play a 4-3.

This is probably going to be his last contract. As a 4-3 rush end in free agency he could command the kind of contract that premium pass rushers get. As a OLB in a 3-4 do you really think the Packers will match that kind of contract.

And then there's the little matter of what Kampman wants. According to at least one report, Kampman would rather play for a 4-3 defense than return as a 3-4 OLB.

Seriously......do you think the Packers should pay Kampman in the neighborhood of $30 million for four years for Kampman to play OLB? Because it's going to take at least that.

If it's up to me, I transition tag him and then trade him because I could probably get at least a high second round pick for him.

If and I say if thats the case I agree with you,lets see what happens.
You know Chillar is not an upgrade over Kampman and Hawk and Barnett have shown nothing in pass rushing.People do not want to believe but Kampman was one of our better pass rushers if not the best.
All people see is the sacks and right away the player is in the hall of fame.
Do not get me wrong I love Matthews so far but next year will till how good he really is.

[think]

Originally Posted by Galileo

I don't know, but I'm guessing that it was Hawk. But I'm not guessing when I say we were 4-4 during that stretch, that we had given up 30+ points in each loss, and that we didn't get very good pressure on the QB in those losses. I also wouldn't be guessing when I state that Hawk was removed from the nickel package during the 7-1 stretch.

PackerUpdate had a blurb recently where they stated that Hawk hadn't made a particularly good impression on the coaches.

So that's all stuff I don't have to guess about. I also know that he's scheduled to make impossible money over the next two years and that he'll either have to be restructured or released. I also know that Brandon Chillar has a pretty good contract and is better in coverage and as a blitzer than Hawk.

The evidence of my own eyes tells me this: We don't collapse the pocket very well. Pressure came from the outside courtesy of Matthews or Woodson or some other blitzer but rarely up the middle.

If we want to get better pressure on the QB...and IMO, that's the single greatest area where we need to improve....then we're going to have to put some players in that front seven who can defeat blockers one-on-one. Assuming that Jolly and Pickett are part of that front seven we've only got 5 possibilities for players who might be able to pressure the passer. Hawk plays one of those positions. I'd like to see him replaced with a younger, cheaper, better player who could help Raji and/or Jenkins collapse the pocket on passing downs and I think Brandon Spikes is that guy.

You could also move Chillar outside to Kampman's spot and your four backers would be Matthews, Barnett, Spikes and Chillar....not a bad quartet of pass rushers there.....Barnett would actually be the weak link in that regard.

Wasn't Raji drafted to provide pressure up the middle? Will he live up to that billing? He hasn't impressed anyone so far.

[Galileo]

Raji was drafted to help bring pressure up the middle. His contract holdout and subsequent ankle problems contributed to a slow start for him although he still made the all-rookie team.

He generally wasn't rushing from the middle. I'm hoping that like a lot of defensive linemen he makes a jump from his first to his second year and that'd help collapse the pocket. Add in Jenkins and an ILB that can get home on the blitz and we'd have a pretty good interior push.

[think]

I hope Raji comes into his own next year. I was disappointed in his performance in the senior bowl before he was drafted. He looked like a marshmallow. I was worried about his holdout but there were reports that he was working out. The injury slowed his progress but he doesn't seem to have much stamina. He's on the field for two or three plays then on the sidelines sucking on oxygen.

He needs to get serious about conditioning in this offseason to prove he was worth the pick.

I've always said that a first round pick has to make an immediate impact on the team, unless you select a QB to groom for the future. I hate to say it but a returner like Percy Harvin would have had more of an impact. Then again, it doesn't make any difference what kind of returns you get when it's called back for a stupid penalty.

It sounds like Kevin Greene is the man to talk to players to see if they have the drive and desire to play football or if they're just there for the money.

[Fantasy Ninja]

Originally Posted by think

I hope Raji comes into his own next year. I was disappointed in his performance in the senior bowl before he was drafted. He looked like a marshmallow. I was worried about his holdout but there were reports that he was working out. The injury slowed his progress but he doesn't seem to have much stamina. He's on the field for two or three plays then on the sidelines sucking on oxygen.

He needs to get serious about conditioning in this offseason to prove he was worth the pick.

I've always said that a first round pick has to make an immediate impact on the team, unless you select a QB to groom for the future. I hate to say it but a returner like Percy Harvin would have had more of an impact. Then again, it doesn't make any difference what kind of returns you get when it's called back for a stupid penalty.

It sounds like Kevin Greene is the man to talk to players to see if they have the drive and desire to play football or if they're just there for the money.

This is absurd.

[think]

Originally Posted by Fantasy Ninja

This is absurd.

Which rookie had more of an impact in the Packer-Viking games, Raji or Harvin?

[cgc73]

Raji didn't have the big, DRoY candidate type season that you'd love to get out of the first defensive linemen chosen. But there were certainly plays where he blew up offensive linemen and showed why he was drafted where he was. Though it was an up-and-down rookie season for him he showed me enough that I have pretty high hopes for him going forward.

[bulldog]

Originally Posted by think

Which rookie had more of an impact in the Packer-Viking games, Raji or Harvin?

Now I wonder who is absurd.

[bulldog]

Originally Posted by cgc73

Raji didn't have the big, DRoY candidate type season that you'd love to get out of the first defensive linemen chosen. But there were certainly plays where he blew up offensive linemen and showed why he was drafted where he was. Though it was an up-and-down rookie season for him he showed me enough that I have pretty high hopes for him going forward.

Your right lets see what he has next year he had his ups and downs.