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Happy Monday, Packer Nation!
With the baseball season now in full swing (pun not intended), that can only mean one thing: the NFL Draft is nearly upon us. At this point, the Packers' draft board is almost complete with the team holding their final pre-draft visits with prospective players.
Of course, Packers general manager Ted Thompson has not even tipped his hand one millimeter and really, would you expect anything less from him at this point? Predicting what Thompson will do at draft time is like playing darts with a blindfold: a useless and dangerous proposition.
As for today's curds, we look back at the Packers' draft history at outside linebacker, a mock draft that will make Dom Capers and Big Ten fans happy, and a review of the Packers' annual Tailgate Tour.
Packers mock draft heavy on defense, Big Ten Picks--Packers Wire
This mock from Packers Wire has the Packers taking Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley at the 29th overall pick, addressing an area of immediate need. They also have a certain Wisconsin Badger going to Green Bay in the second round.
The mock has three Big Ten players being taken by the Packers.
Personally, a draft like this would make this writer do cartwheels.
12th Tailgate Tour successfully concludes--Packers.com
The Packers wrapped up their annual tailgate tour after an 800-mile trip through Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The event offers a unique opportunity for fans to get up close and personal with their favorite players, past and present as well as team president Mark Murphy.
Ted Thompson's Outside Linebacker Draft History--Packer Report
Getting Clay Matthews was a coup for the Packers in 2009, but what about the rest of the outside linebackers Thompson has taken? A good look here at a vital position in Green Bay's 3-4 defense.
Ted Thompson's top hits and awful misses--Green Bay Press Gazette
Pete Dougherty looks back on the Packers' GM's best hits in the draft as well as his biggest whiffs. Spoiler alert: Justin Harrell is mentioned.
Draft unlikely to provide help the Packers need--Madison.com
Tom Oates takes a rather pessimistic view of the Packers actually getting the help they need in the upcoming draft.
Green Bay Packers: hard to go wrong with first round pick--NFL Spin Zone
Unlike in Oates’ article, the argument being made here is that it's pretty hard for the Packers to screw up in the first round of this year's draft.
Here's hoping they're right, but the are no guarantees in the NFL.
Except that the Bears still suck.