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The Green Bay Packers appeased fans on both sides of the need/value debate last night, drafting Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in an effort to improve the safety position and getting what is almost unanimously considered to be a great value with the 21st pick.
The Packers blogosphere is of course all over this pick, as we have been for the last 11 hours or so, and here are a number of the reactions to the pick, as well as a look ahead to round two.
Darren Perry says 'We have to be better' | Packers.com
The Packers' safeties coach had this to say about the unit moving forward: "Obviously (the safeties) weren’t good enough. That starts right here with me, it starts with our coaching staff. We don’t shy away from that."
Notes - Safety Clinton-Dix adds energy where it's needed most | JSOnline
Ted Thompson on whether he thought Ha Ha would be available at 21: "We try not to anticipate too much of anything because you wind up with a broken heart. We thought there was a chance."
Thompson takes first step to shoring up defense | Packersnews
A critical factor to Clinton-Dix's arrival is that he will likely play more of a deep center-field safety position, allowing Morgan Burnett to play closer to the line of scrimmage and help out more in run support.
NFL Draft, Day 2 Schedule
Day: Friday, May 9Start time: 6:00 PM Central
Rounds: 2 and 3
Packers' Picks: 2.53, 3.85, 3.98
Trade back would have been a gamble - ESPN
As Rob notes, the Packers could have moved back with the Browns to 26 and picked up a third-round pick, but it seems very likely that Clinton-Dix would not have been available five picks later.
Packers players react to Clinton-Dix selection on Twitter | ESPN Wisconsin
I was going to round these up but Jason Wilde beat me to it. It's no surprise - the Packers are excited to welcome the new #21 to the team.
Q&A with New Packers Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix | Cheesehead TV
Brian Carriveau talked to Clinton-Dix at the Scouting Combine. An interesting note: Ha'Sean is pronounced "ha-seen" not "ha-shawn".
2014 NFL mock draft: 2nd-round predictions - SBNation.com
The SB Nation draftniks project round 2 with the players still on the board, and they send tight end Troy Niklas to the Packers. It looks like they listened to our pick in the SB Nation mock draft a few weeks back.
Johnny Manziel drops back to the Cleveland Browns in the 2014 NFL Draft - SBNation.com
Brady Quinn. Brandon Weeden. Johnny Manziel. Each of those players was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 22nd overall pick, after the Browns traded up to acquire them. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Finally, we're glad to have you, Ha Ha:
Glad to be a Cheese Head! #PackersNation
— Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (@haha_cd6) May 9, 2014