Unlike Mitchell, I’ve come to like the OLB Clay Matthews trade, and don’t mind the loss of two 3rd round picks.

The two biggest needs were outside linebacker and defensive line. Both of those needs have been addressed. The Packers have six picks today, although the first one isn’t until No. 109 in the 4th round. They can still add some young players to add depth up and down the roster. What other positions need fresh blood:

1. Defensive end. Didn’t we just draft Raji? Yes, but he provides depth at defensive tackle. Injury prone Jenkins and Harrell are currently projected as starters when in the 3-4 and there is no one behind them. All the other DEs from last season are undersized to play in the 3-4. They need to find a couple undersized defensive tackles, guys right around 300 lbs., who can compete for backup spots. This might be something they look for with undrafted free agents too.

2. Offensive tackle. With RT Mark Tauscher unsigned, and he wouldn’t be ready to start the season as he recovers from ACL surgery, this could be a need if they are letting him leave. No one in the 4th round or later is a candidate to walk into camp with a starting job, the possible replacement for Tauscher is someone currently on the roster (Tony Moll? Daryn Colledge? Josh Sitton?), but without Tauscher the Packers could use depth.

3. Safety. This would be a future need. Collins and Bigby are the starters but they are both possible free agents in a couple years. Rouse is still there as the top backup, but despite having three excellent to good players, this position was a big problem last season due to injuries. Finding a promising young player that could step in as an injury replacement should be considered.

4. Wide Receiver. Why? He always drafts a wide receiver.

5. Running Back. They could use a big back to compete with RB Ryan Grant. They’ve already got other big backs, RB Kregg Lumpkin and RB DeShawn Wynn, around to compete as the starting big back, but they could use some other candidates in case Grant’s poor 2008 season wasn’t a fluke.

Did I miss anything?

Jamon Meredith

MITCH KING, as a 3-4 DE, out of Iowa.

Now that all the picks traded for the 1st round pick used on Clay Matthews, here’s what the Packers hypothetically gave up.

No. 41 – CB Darius Butler. The Packers wouldn’t have taken him, but could have had Florida State DE Everette Brown. But could have he made the switch to pro OLB? Carolina drafted him at No. 43 and intend to use him on the DL.

No. 73 – DB Derek Cox. Probably not someone they would have drafted, but could have had Wisconsin OLB DeAndre Levy. But Levy isn’t smooth in pass protection and undersized.

No. 83 – WR Brandon Tate. I don’t who the Packers might have taken at this spot that isn’t still available in the 4th round.

Overall I’m pretty happy with the giving up that for Matthews.

Jamon Meredith was projected earlier, but so was T.J. Lang. He wasn’t even invited to the combine, but had been projected as a late 2nd, early 3rd round pick.

He’s similar to last year’s 4th round pick OL Josh Sitton. A small school player who rocketed up draft charts last year after the combine. Now both players are Packers.

The Packers needed to address three positions; defensive line, outside linebacker, and offensive line. And they’ve addressed all three with their first three picks. Not all these guys will work out, but they’ve made the picks they needed and all three look good so far.

Lang doesn’t project to be an OT in the NFL.

I think all 3 were good picks. Raji is going to be a stud in the nfl. He is 330 pounds but still very nimble. He could come in on running downs at DE along with pickett and jenkins. Also imagine the d-line when we’re in a nickel or 4-3 package. Jenkins at LE, Pickett and Raji at DT, and Kampman at RE. We shouldn’t have trouble getting to the quarterback this or stopping the run.

Matthews is a guy who could become a very good player. He was a very late bloomer weighing only 166 pounds his freshmen year at USC. He grew a couple inches and is now at 240 pounds. He ran a 4.6 and had the fastest and second fastest time in the 20 yard shuttle and 3 cone drill. Which shows he has good accerlation and can drop and move his hips relatively well. All those things would indicate that he could be a very good OLB in a 3-4 defense.

Lang is a guy who was projected as a 2nd-3rd round pick and has good value. He is about 6-4 315. I have read on a couple draft sites that he could play any of the 5 positions and read on some that he will most likely be a guard. Either one is completely fine with me.

I really was hoping we would take a cb in one of the earlier rounds of the draft but it’s hard to complain about our draft so far. We drafted our 3 greatest needs.

It is easier to get a good CB in the late 1st round than a good OT or OLB. If we are good next year and have a low 1st round pick,one of the better CBs may still be on the board so we could get one of them with the approaching departure of Al harris and Charles Woodson.

Might be a nice player to provide some quality depth as a 3-4 DE. He’s listed as a DT but he looks like he has the athletic ability to play end. Apparently he had a groin injury this year so maybe that’s why he’s slipping.

Really, a FB?
Whatever…

Apparently he’s a good blocker. And he transitioned from LB to FB in 2006.

Perhaps a reverse-Korey Hall?

I’m not thrilled, but who knows?

Why would we pick a FB?? We have 2 solid ones already. I thought for sure it was going to be Jamon Merdith. I was hoping he would be there and he was and then we go and take a FB?? I just don’t get it. Clifton is old and we might not even get Tauscher back. Even if we do they both are like 33, and their play seems to be declining. We got Lang which was a good pick, and Meredith only made sense. I just read on nfl.com that he has played all positions except C, and they think he could play any of those in the nfl similar to Lang.

With our remaining 4 picks:

3-4 DE Mitch King is a guy who I liked a lot before the draft and he’s still on the board. Adding a guy who here who can provide depth in case Harrell and Jolly can’t make the transition is a must.

HB Our backfield was a bit of a weakness last year. Grant got off to a very slow start and Jackson has proved he isn’t a #1 option. Wynn is pretty one-dimensional, and Lumpkin is still a relatively unknown quantity. With guys like Ringer, Peerman, and Sheets on the board, I’d like us to add some new blood to the backfield.

OT We did take Lang, but he might move to the inside. Additionally, we have upcoming needs at both tackle spots. Taking a guy like Jamon Meredith, who may have some “Issues,” would still be a great value pick this late.

Yes they took Meredith! What a steal!

Haha well wouldn’t you know it, we took Meredith.

And Meredith is a solid guy. I never really heard much against his character in the time he was here, and I would have if it was an issue. I mean, we’ve had some serious troubles there and Jamon has been a class guy. Smart kid, all things considered, and started a ton in the SEC.

RB or DE in 6th.

nycpack- thanks for posting that link. That is a very interesting site with a lot of good information on it. I loved how they gave the viqueens an F for drafting Harvin, and later going on to call Childress, Brad Clueless. Thanks again.