Jclombardi’s first preview about Packers draft needs.
The cumulative Packers mock drafts have more than 25 different players being picked including 3-4 defensive linemen, 3-4 outside linebackers, offensive tackles, interior offensive linemen, running backs, cornerbacks, wide receivers and safeties. However, we first preview the immediate Packers needs:
1. Offensive Lineman. RT Tauscher and LT Clifton have durability issues. RT Tauscher can’t stay healthy losing his starting job. He may not be back at his 2011 $4.1 million base salary. Bulaga is fine at RT. The Packers need to find aging LT Clifton’s ultimate successor. He is healthy with a bad knee having probably one more year. Granted, the Packers may move Bulaga to LT or LG. Also, they may try T. J. Lang at tackle or guard. Further, with Colledge may be gone, they probably need to find a reliable starter at LG. This is a tough call, LT or LG or both. The top tackle prospects available include Boston College’s Anthony Castonzo, Wisconsin’s Gabe Carimi, Colorado’s Nate Solder, Mississippi State’s Derek Sherrod, Villanova’s Benjamin Ijalana, and East Carolina’s Willie Smith.
2. Outside Linebacker. We’re talking about a starter at OLB. If we get another OLB pass rusher, defenses cannot focus their protection against OLB Matthews forcing many singular matchups that favor the Pack. Poppinga is gone. Zombo and Walden are better options than Jones, but we need a solid stud starter. Two options include Texas Sam Acho and UCLA Akeem Ayers in the late first round. Meanwhile, at ILB, aging Nick Barnett kept getting injured and is probably gone replaced by starters Hawk and Bishop.
3. Defensive Lineman. DE Cullen Jenkins is probably gone. DE Johnny Jolly is gone with legal troubles. DE Ryan Pickett is in his thirties. DE Justin Harrell gets one more chance. Further, the Packers have tenacious and talented DE Neal has the Jenkins-like talents to assume the lead DE role and young prospects C.J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn. Yet, the Packers could use depth here.
4. Wide Receiver. WR Donald Driver is 36. Free agent WR James Jones wants to be a starter with its consequential salary. Also, the Packers probably like Nelson’s 2011 $1.029 cap number better than what Jones is going to get. We need to have another quality top receiver for one of the game’s top quarterbacks.
5. Defensive Back. Aging CB Woodson is still fine. CB Sam Shields and CB Williams are solid starters, but CBs Patrick Lee and Brandon Underwood need to improve. We need another quality starter here for the dime position.
Commentary: All right, we are making initial draft preview about potential Packers needs and draft choices. Last year, the Packers drafted to meet immediate needs and good backups. They made good quality choices in tackle Bulaga, defensive end Neal, and safety Burnett with no immediate focus on OLB. Now, this year, fans, what do you think?