Ted Thompson has always been one who seems to have a master plan. I mean, he’s always been one unafraid to make moves, and today, he was the third NFC General Manager to trade a defensive tackle for a draft choice.
Corey Williams, the best of a transcendentally bad 2004 draft from Mike Sherman, goes to the Browns. The Packers get pick #54 in return.
Now, outside of potentially having to rely on a man as raw as steak tartar to replace him, this leads to one interesting question for Packers fans.
Who’s Coming Back?
After all, the Packers don’t have a lot of needs. They are pretty well set at the skill positions. They are in decent shape pretty much everywhere else. So where are they not deep enough?
Tight End, Guard, Linebacker, and Cornerback.
Sure, I can understand that Ol’ Double T is willing to deviate from needs and draft for the year after. But it is Feburary. I have no sources within the Packers organization. So we go with what we know.
So who’s intriguing? Let’s break it down.
Tight Ends
There is great value in the 2nd-3rd round level of the draft. I would not be disappointed at all if they pick at #54 or #59. There are four players that would be a great fit here. They are more receiver than blocker, but still. The Packers offense was at its best when they have a receiver-type as the #2.
Martin Rucker (Missouri): An athletic passcatcher who knows how to get open.
Dustin Keller (Purdue): A high-motor home run threat.
Martellus Bennett (Texas A&M): The largest boom and bust candidate, I would figure that Ted Thompson is going to pass on him. He could be Antonio Gates, he could be a giant version of Freddie Mitchell.
Jermichael Finley (Texas): If you do expect him to contribute a lot this season? This pick won’t be too shabby. He can get open now, but he has to learn the game.
Guards
It’s less likely that they’ll go here during day one. They are going to have something akin to an open competition, and there are enough bodies to keep things servicable. Also, there’s really only one guard who wouldn’t be a reach. If I had an ear to the personnel people, I’d look for a free agent.
Branden Albert (Virginia): His quickness is something to behold, though his functional strength leaves something to be desired.
Linebackers
This may be an ill-fit in terms of need. Most of the linebacking depth of a late 2nd round value is of the weakside speed linebacker variety. The weak link in the Packers armor is Brady Poppinga (and even then it is still solid), but he is on the strongside. And the backups? Mediocre at best. Sadly, Abdul Hodge looks like a bust, and Desmond Bishop is still an unknown. Who could join them in round 2?
Erin Henderson (Maryland): An instinctive talent, but injury prone and weak at shedding blockers. He is another that could play the Sam, but would be better as a Will type. Also, has a girls name.
Xavier Adibi (Virginia Tech): An undersized sppedster who fits best in the cover-2? Can he be any more of a Derrick Brooks type?
Jerod Mayo (Tennessee): A three position player (Weakside is where he’s strongest), he can play fast and hit hard.
Tavares Gooden (Miami Fla.): Physically gifted, but he could very easily get lost stepping up to the pros.
Cornerbacks
Put it simply, Al Harris and Charles Woodson are on the wrong side of 30. Jarrett Bush, Trammon Williams, and Will Blackmon are not starter material yet. They need an heir apparent. If they don’t go Antione Cason, Aqib Talib, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, or Leodis McKelvin Round 1? They do have options.
Reggie Smith (Oklahoma): May be better suited at Free Safety, but he would have the sort of physicality that would fit in perfectly with what the Packers want to do.
Tracy Porter (Indiana): Came into his own as a senior. Shows a good cover game, even if he may not be the most physical of players. Also, has a girls name.
Charles Godfrey (Iowa): He is more athlete than football player, but his athleticism is awesome. Get a good Defensive Backs coach and you may have a bargain even at the end of Round 2.
Patrick Lee (Auburn): A one-year starter who may be exactly what the packers are looking for. He knows how to press, he can be effectively stashed on special teams, and he is not afraid to stick his head in and hit.
The 14th Name?
Josh Johnson (QB-San Diego): A gritty, mobile (4.45 40 at the combine!) quarterback who crushed his lower level of competiton for three seasons (43 to 1 TD/INT Ratio, Johnson may not grade as a late second round pick now, but as Chad Henne and Andre Woodson (sadly) fall, Josh Johnson may find himself in the Joe Flacco second-tier.
There. 820+ words on the Green Bay Packers second round. Am I a sucker for doing this? Probably. But now you know.
And if your team gets Jerod Mayo, consider yourself lucky.
