Mock Draft Round Up

by Brandon on Apr 20, 2009 7:00 AM CDT

One week to go until the draft. Better take a look at the latest mock drafts.

Not that these guys know who to pick or who each team plans to pick, Fooch at Niners Nation discussed Mel Kiper recently, but they know the general range where each player should go. If the guy GM Ted Thompson wants isn't a top 10 player, then he better trade down to get the most out of his top 10 pick. It's the rare moment when a player like QB Aaron Rodgers falls so far in the draft. I don't have any problem with trading up or down, so long as he picks a good player.

Todd McShay, ESPN.com, DT B.J. Raji. There's nothing wrong with taking the best defensive tackle to fix one of the worst run defenses during 2008.

Mel Kiper, ESPN.com, DT B.J. Raji. Trend forming...

Tom Pelissero, Green Bay Press-Gazette, DT B.J. Raji. Trend alert!!!

Mike Mayock, NFL.com, Raji.

Don Banks, SI.com, Raji.

Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com, LSU DE Tyson Jackson. Not Raji alert! He let Raji slip to the 49ers at No. 10. He thinks Jackson is the safer pick of the two talent defensive lineman.

I would have taken Raji in the SB Nation writers mock draft, but he went number 8 to Jacksonville. I saw him going in the top five a few weeks ago, but not since rumors about failed drug tests surfaced. I expect the Packers know the truth, so they won't take him if they're concerned.

There are some other concerns. Not everyone who interviewed him came away impressed. And he missed the 2007 college season due to academics. But, again, I don't expect the Packers will draft anyone they have concerns about.

Nothing frustrated me more last season then the poor play by the run defense. So I've got no objection with drafting the best run stuffing defensive tackle in the draft.

Poll

Should Boston College DT B.J. Raji be the pick?

Yes

451 votes

No

205 votes

656 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

the more i think it about it

The more I really think that it’ll end up being a good thing to focus on defense with the first pick. Given how top-heavy this year’s offensive tackle prospects are, there’s no reason Green Bay can’t pick one up in the second round (so long as they actually do it!)

"I'm so clean, cats think I sip Ajax."

by Mitchell Maurer on Apr 20, 2009 5:06 PM CDT reply actions

NOO!!!

I want ORAKPO!!!!! But if Orakpo is gone I would like the Raji pick up!

I completely agree with Mitchell, we can always get a OT in the 2nd or even later in the draft. We have to solve our defensive problem first. Offense wins you games, Defense wins you Championships!!!

by bizzle4 on Apr 20, 2009 7:43 PM CDT reply actions

I think that Thompson, McCarthy and Capers are pretty comfortable w/ the players on the defensive side of the ball. So I don’t think defense will be the priority that fans and “experts” think it is. The Packers IMO, will have to chose from about 4 players at #9, does that mean a trade down is likely? NO. Cuz I don’t think too many teams want to move up. If Sanchez is gone, there will be no trade down! THats almost a guarentee…

4 players in the decision making process:
OT Oher
OLB Orakpo
DE Jackson
CB Jenkins

I would take Jackson out first, cuz I don’t think he deserves a top 10 grade, and 3/4 DE doesn’t deserve that high a pick.

Oher, doesn’t seem to be worthy of #9 pick either, so he would be next off my list. Though he does fit a bit as a need.

Leaving Orakpo and Jenkins… Taking into account Orakpo’s injury history, and whether Thompson is scared off by it. I think we are most likely going to take Jenkins!

Not excited about it, but it is what it is… LOL

A drop by either Raji or Crabtree will mean an easy decision for THompson!!! Of the 2 Raji is the most likely to fall to the Packers. I would guess our chance of him being there are about 40%! That is my first, but unlikely choice…

by Strohman on Apr 20, 2009 10:13 PM CDT reply actions