Draft Target #1: WR Michael Crabtree

by Brandon on Feb 9, 2009 11:04 PM CST

With the 9th overall pick in the 2009 draft, and no consensus top pick, not even a consensus top 5, it's possible that nearly any player could slide down to the Packers. The first couple players I'll take a look at are almost certainly not sliding down to number 9, but it's possible. I'll take a look at players from any position, except QB. I can't imagine GM Ted Thompson drafting a top 10 QB.

NFL Draft Scout's top 64 currently has Texas Tech's WR Michael Crabtree as the best player overall. Football's Future (as of 2/2/09), and a couple other mock drafts I've read, have him going to Seattle at number 4. Obviously a 6'3" WR with 4.5 speed is always going to be in demand. It's also good to see that Crabtree wasn't a one year wonder; he had two great collegiate seasons. Ex-Packer WR Robert Ferguson was someone that played only one year in college and it fooled scouts.

Why would the Packers draft another WR? Thompson has drafted a WR in either the 2nd or 3rd round in every draft he's ran; 2005 2nd round WR Terrence Murphy, 2006 2nd round WR Greg Jennings, 2007 3rd round WR James Jones, and 2008 2nd round WR Jordy Nelson. It's not an obvious selection, but it's possible. But if he slips out of the top 5 and down to number 9, there might be a very good reason for it and it's likely he'll keep sliding past the Packers. Although that didn't stop Thompson from drafting QB Aaron Rodgers in 2005 after he slid out of the top 10 and down to the Packers at number 24.

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I highly doubt we take a receiver in the first 3 rounds

and I don’t think there’s any way Crabtree slips past the Seahawks

by mittens on Feb 10, 2009 9:05 AM CST reply actions

+1

She-hawks will get run out of town if they don’t get a WR. Hasselbeck went from pro-bowler to……well, whatever he is now.

by Lee-Roy Jenkins on Feb 11, 2009 4:58 PM CST up reply actions

murphy

Man, Terrance Murphy could have been a huge asset for the team by now… besides his freaky athleticism and impressive recieving stats at A&M, he was also a very intelligent player. His injury was a real tragedy since we lost out on a kick returner and a speedy/high leaping wr.

by Dave Z on Feb 10, 2009 10:59 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

Dont think so...

1. He wont slide down to the number 9

2. With the #9 pick we would have to dish out some money to him and why give a guy that would be at best a #3 WR on our team a ton of money? If we were the Yankees and had no salary cap then that would be great but not for what he will cost and to be a #3 WR.

by bizzle4 on Feb 10, 2009 11:29 AM CST reply actions

Yeah, Murphy was a sad story. He could have been a good receiver.

While I think the Seahawks would be stupid to pass on Crabtree, I wouldn’t mind if he fell to us. I just hope that TT would trade down if he did.

by Weldon on Feb 10, 2009 3:37 PM CST reply actions

If Crabtree is gone

But Jeremy Maclin is still around, I think the Packers should take a good hard look at him. I am 100% biased because I watched him the last two seasons at Mizzou, but I think he is going to be one hell of a player in the NFL.
I know we have a ton of other needs, but J-Mac is a great player, if Crabtree is gone, why not Maclin.

Let the Blaine Gabbert era begin.

by nji232 on Feb 10, 2009 9:35 PM CST reply actions

best available

i am so naive that i think the Packers are built to win now. i don’t see any NEEDS anywhere on the team (except maybe punter-not even a consideration for the first day of the draft).
TT will have to strongly consider taking the best player available in the 9 spot.
I don’t think there is a QB or WR in the draft that are one of the top 10. Therefore, there is no way we draft this position in the first round. Crabtree and Maclin have their stock rising because of what Fitz was able to do this year (yeah, that freak is what put AZ in the Super Bowl). Crabtree will not be that kind of game changer. if he is that good (some people think he is), it would be worth taking a guy that is going to get wins, no matter what you already have. SF didn’t pass on Jerry Rice and Minnesota didn’t pass on Randy Moss. Those teams were not addressing NEEDS at the time. They recognized talent and took it. Receivers like Rice, Moss and Fitzgerald only come around once a decade. Crabtree isn’t that guy.

by Lee-Roy Jenkins on Feb 11, 2009 4:55 PM CST reply actions