Cheese Curds, 4/27: Will Packers ever host the NFL Draft in Green Bay?

With the NFL hosting the 2015 and 2016 NFL Drafts in Chicago these last two years, the door has been opened for the event to travel around the country after finally leaving Radio City Music Hall behind. That opportunity has not been lost on the Green Bay Packers, who have already expressed an interest in hosting the league's second-most-visible event in the coming years.

However, it is assured that this will not happen before 2019 at the earliest, for a variety of reasons. However, that year in particular could make Green Bay a tantalizing option for the league, as you'll read in the curds below.

In the meantime, the team will continue to host fan events for the draft. Packers fans in the Chicago area will have an opportunity to meet up at a team-organized event for round one, the first time in our memory that the Packers have held an event like this outside of Wisconsin.

In addition, we look back at a pair of notable Drafts, the 2005 and 2011 editions, to get a look inside the process of some of the teams that made huge decisions that year. Learn why the 49ers passed on Aaron Rodgers and who the Texans wanted in lieu of J.J. Watt.

Packers ready to host 2016 NFL Draft party events | Packers.com
Whether you'll be in Chicago on Thursday or Green Bay on Saturday, you'll have an opportunity to hang out with Packers fans throughout that day's draft. If you go to Lambeau on Saturday, keep an eye out for at least one APC writer.

Packers want draft, but obstacles remain | Packersnews.com
It is not an insurmountable task though, and Packers PR says that 2019 is when the Titletown District developments should be complete. That would instantly make the area a more appealing destination for events like the Draft.

Green Bay Packers GM Ted Thompson says drafting late is gut-wrenching - ESPN
Gut-wrenching, yes, but he does note that when you pick 32nd (or in this year's case 31st), "there's nothing that can be done to you to make your smile go away."

Nolan explains taking Alex Smith over Aaron Rodgers - NFL.com
In short, Smith was viewed as the safe choice while Rodgers was "very cocky, very confident, arrogant." Then there's also the throwing motion factor, which Mike McCarthy was able to adjust over time.

29 players who could be 1st-round surprises in the 2016 NFL Draft - SBNation.com
The under-the-radar name that is picked for the Packers is Illinois DE Jihad Ward. My bet is that he's not a likely candidate because of less-than-impressive results in his athletic testing, but he certainly would be a positional fit at the 5-technique.

2011 NFL Draft: A Look Behind The Curtain, Including Who The Houston Texans Really Wanted Instead Of J.J. Watt - Battle Red Blog
This is a cool look at how the 2011 Draft worked out for the Texans, who had a trade ready to go if Patrick Peterson made it past Arizona. Instead, that's who took the cornerback and Houston had to choose between J.J. Watt and Nick Fairley.

DeMarcus Ware: Broncos will be better than last year - NFL.com
Consider me skeptical. Sure, the pass rush off the edge will be elite once again, but with questions still remaining at quarterback and on the interior of the defensive line, which Malik Jackson has vacated.