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.