Best Player Period.

This is a great post from C.D. over at Tundra Vision regarding the (incorrectly in C.D.'s and my opinion) widely held view that the Packers desperatley need to draft an outside linebacker with their first pick in the draft later this week. (This week!) Where I differ slightly is where C.D. posits the following about what this would tell us about Thompson:

* He wasn't completely satisfied with the talent or the starters at linebacker.

* He believes so highly in taking the BPA that he overloaded a position group at the expense of others

* He has an irrational faith in Justin Harrell to finally contribute

Number two is close.

If Thompson pulls the trigger on an Orakpo or Maybin this Saturday, it's because they graded out as the best player remaining on Thompson's board, no more, no less. The man is simply not driven by need when it comes to the draft. Oh he'll conceded a need now and then, but it is never the overriding theme of any Thompson draft and that won't change this weekend. He simply doesn't view it as "at the expense of others". It's the best football player - you get him. It's like the Crabtree debate - if he's there at #9 (he won't be) Thompson takes him. It's too good a player to pass on for a 'need' somewhere else. You get the talent, not the guy who fills a hole.

But as far as the original thrust of the post, I could not agree more. I was looking at the list of Mock Drafts over at the JSOnline draft section and the vast majority of them have the Packers taking an OLB with the occasional B.J. Raji thrown in. The one dissent, of course, is Mike Mayock, who has the Packers taking offensive tackle Michael Oher. And we all know how I feel about Mayock. Needless to say, I hope Oher likes living in Wisconsin... ;)

 

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Comments (2)

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Andrew n Atlanta's picture

April 20, 2009 at 09:16 am

Aaron
As you can probably tell, I've been fairly quiet lately. I've just been enjoying the banter on the blog. Highly entertaining stuff. I think Ron should be more forward in his comments tho. Come out of your shell a little Ron :)
I'm of the opinion that OL, DL and OLB are where the #9 pick should go. I'd be happy with any of those. In fact, if we did take someone like Crabtree with #9 and went heavy from the 2nd round on with OL, DL and OLB (and maybe a DB) I'd be happy.
So, I guess what I'm saying is I generally agree with you, but just don't have your confidence in the existing personnel on defense. As I've said before, I would LOVE to be wrong about this. Really I would. I just keep going back to 2007 and the 13-3 year. The defense gave up a lot of yards that year. It's not like 2008 was a fluke year. Worse than 2007 in a big way, but not totally a fluke in my mind. I'm thrilled Sanders is gone and I agree with you Capers will make a difference. Time will tell how much of a difference.

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Ron La Canne's picture

April 20, 2009 at 11:17 am

I'm in accordance with Mayocks's pick. Let me rephrase that, I'm am despertely hoping for that pick. I don't think Raji is there at nine. Maylin is no better than many other under-weight DE's or OlB's projected for the 34 this year. The second round will have many options available for that position.

Hey Andrew, I'm trying hard to restrain myself. Heh, Heh!

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