With the 23rd Pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select...

Holy Cow! It has been months since our last post and a lot has happened throughout the league. Tomorrow is also the first round of the NFL Draft.

First of all, I need to mention how disappointed I am that they changed the draft schedule and we will now be watching the 1st Round on Thursday, the 2nd and 3rd on Friday, and then the rest some other time during the weekend. I remember the good old days when I could sit on my couch for all of draft weekend, eat snacks and drink beer. That was fantastic. Now, I will have to get pumped up to watch the draft after a long day of work, and then do the same thing the next night. Complete garbage if you ask me.

Ok! Now that my rant is over, lets talk about the draft.

The Packers have very specific needs that they will look to address throughout the draft. Those needs are at CB, Safety, O-Line, D-Line, and then possibly RB. For a long time, the offensive line looked to be the top priority for the Pack, but after re-signing Clifton and Tauscher, and given that the draft seems very deep at that position, it sounds as if the Pack may look elsewhere with their first pick.

My thought is that the Packers will look at grabbing a top tier defensive back in the first. With rumors of the Pack being interested in trading up in the first round, the options grow larger. Lets take a quick look at some of the players available in the first:

1. Eric Berry - Safety: Unless the Packers are looking to trade way up in the draft, it sounds like Berry will be long gone.

2. Earl Thomas - Safety: Thomas is projected to go around 10 or 11. If the rumors about the Pack trading up into that area are true, Thomas could be the guy targeted by the Pack.

3. Joe Haden - Cornerback: Haden is the top CB in the draft. Again, Haden would be in the same boat as Thomas and would only be available to the Pack if we were to move up in the draft.

4. Kyle Wilson - Cornerback: Wilson is a solid cornerback and has been talked about a lot this week as one of the top DB's in the draft. Wilson once thought to go late in the first round had a great Senior Bowl and could end up being taken earlier than originally expected. I don't anticipate him being on the board @ 23, but he may be another potential trade up opportunity.

5. Taylor Mays - Safety: Mays is a beast at safety. He is big, strong, and fast. However, I have heard mixed reviews on him. Regardless, Mays has a huge upside and I think unless someone better drops down tomorrow, he would be hard to pass up at #23.

So I started off by talking about the defensive back, mostly because that's who I want the Packers to take in the first, and also because they are more exciting to talk about that Offensive Lineman. There is also talk about the Pack looking for pass rushers in the first and I think it may be likely to get one of the top guys to play OLB/DE in our 3-4 scheme. I also think we can assume that TT won't be drafting a RB in the first round.

We will attempt to make posts over the next few days regarding the Packer's draft results and thoughts. So for our follower out there, check back later!

The Definition of Versatility by Brian Orakpo

"A versatile guy is a guy who can be very versatile," Brian Orakpo said while describing his game.

I was reading a recent compilation mock NFL draft on ESPN.com by Chris Sprow from ESPN the Magazine and found this quote from Orakpo. I think that Orakpo is a really great football player, but lets be honest, the guy is clearly not "Versatile" off the football field and he shows it with this quote. I think Orakpo is my favorite potential player for the Packers with their first pick and this quote by him doesn't worry me at all. I mean, look at the picture above and tell me honestly that you wouldn't be happy to have him. I know that come draft day, I am really hoping that he falls to the Pack at #9.

Orakpo slated as potential pick for Pack at #9

Mel Kiper and Todd McShay are ESPN's "Draft Experts" and just today on ESPN.com they posted a combined Mock Draft where each of their mock drafts were put together with the hope of ironing out some answers for draft day. I have watched the NFL Draft in it's entirety for the last 5 or 6 years and I follow it pretty closely, so I consider myself somewhat of a "Draft Dork". Up until this point, Malcolm Jenkins was slotted to be drafted by the Pack, even though I didn't think a CB should be high on our priority list. Finally today, Kiper and McShay gave me some hope as they listed both Brian Orakpo and Aaron Maybin for the Packers' first round selection.

This got me very excited because Orakpo has such huge potential and raw talent. He is a beast and I would absolutely love to see him on the Packers. He reminds me a lot of Javon Kearse or Julius Peppers. I think that he could make a great OLB/DE that we need for the 3-4 Defense, and I think he would make Ted Thompson look really good in the eyes of Packer Fans. Check out the video above and let me know what you think.

CB Williams Holding out?

Rumors are circulating that Packer Cornerback Tramon Williams may be holding out for more money. Williams is the #3 CB on the depth chart for the Packers and could play a big role in the future should Woodson and Harris be moving on towards the end of thier careers.

The Packers have done pretty much nothing this free agency, so they have plenty of Cap room to rework Williams' contract, but is he worth it? Williams started in over half of the games this year and ended up with over 100 tackles and 5 picks, but he also gave up the most plays greater than 20 yards. There is a lot of potential with Tramon Williams and I see him as the type of talent that will be a great asset to the Packers Defense for years to come. Although I never like to see players hold out for more money, sometimes it is inevitable and sometimes it is worth it in the long run. With all of the so called "experts" saying that the Packers need to address the cornerback position, it would seem logical that the Packers would make an attempt to keep Tramon around and happy. Ted Thompson is the only one who has an idea of what the Packers will look for with their first round selection, and some say it will be Malcolm Jenkins, CB from Ohio State with the 9th Pick Overall. If the Packers are thinking about picking up Jenkins, maybe they have different thoughts on keeping Williams around. I think that at this point, there is too much uncertainty regarding the strategy of the Packers' front office this offseason to know what we can expect.

Do you trust Ted Thompson?

Anyone who knows a little about the Green Bay Packers and follows them some, knows what kind of General Manager Ted Thompson is. Thompson is not known to be a big player in free agency, but rather likes to take a more active approach to the NFL Draft. He is known for trading draft picks on draft day and he seems to focus most of his attention on that.

This brings up my concern for Ted Thompson. In an offseason like this where the team is making a large transition between a lot of new coaching changes and most notably a defensive scheme change, would the Packers be better off trying to add depth and value to the team through free agency, or continue to build the team through the Draft? The more important question is this: Do you trust Ted Thompson? Do you trust that the Pack is in good hands and that we are making steps in the right direction towards winning another Super Bowl?

I have mixed thoughts. I have a lot of faith in Ted Thompson. I dont think that what he does is very exciting, but I feel that he is consisent in the front office. The Packers are one of the youngest teams in the league. We have very talented core of young players that the team is being built around. I think that concentrating on the Draft is beneficial while the team is so young and they can all get better and come together at the same time. I'm picturing the team building up to a point where they can be Super Bowl winners or contenders for 3 or 4 years in a row. On the other hand, the draft carries with it a lot of uncertainty, and with the changes we are making on defense, it would be nice to know if the players we add to the team are going to be able to contribute right away. I dont see the Packers picking up anyone though free agency this year, so hopefully our draft picks will pan out and we will be able to find a couple steals in later rounds. Like I always say, only time will tell.

Free Agency rapidly approaching; what can we expect out of the Packers?

The NFL scouting combine is in progress and teams are all trying to figure out how to come out ahead on Draft day. But the draft is still two months away and there will be plenty of time for everything to fall into place. In five days however, some teams will be looking to pull the trigger in free agency which starts this Friday. Ted Thompson is not typically a big player in free agency, but with a lot of needs, can we expect any moves to be made by our front office?

There are several positions that the Packers need to address this offseason. With the defensive switch this offseason, there is a lot of talk revolving around the OLB/DE position and that is the position that I expect the Packers to draft in with their first round selection. So that will be one position that will be addressed right away, and hopefully that player makes an immediate impact, but can we expect our second and third picks to make any impact? There is so many question marks that go into the draft, so why not try to acquire someone who has already proven themselves as a solid NFL player? I would like to see the Packers find a quality player through free agency this year, an offensive lineman perhaps, or maybe someone that has played in a 3-4 defense in the front 7. I don't expect the Packers to be very active in free agency this year, but i always enjoy seeing the Packers adding quality contributors to the team. I hope to be pleasantly surprised next week.

NFL Combine Underway; Crabtree injury steals spot light

The NFL Combine has started in Indianapolis and teams are going through interviews with potential targets, offensive lineman are starting to run their drills, and the offseason picture is becoming clearer for every team as the weekend progresses. Along with the combine comes a lot of articles and blogs attempting to make predictions for draft day. I have read several blogs posted on ESPN.com that are following the happenings in Indy, but this morning, the main story followed the injury of Michael Crabtree. Crabtree got a stress fracture in his ankle, and he is projected to be out for 6-10 weeks. Some think that this may shake up the draft a little bit and he may slide down the board on draft day. I personally dont think that his draft stock will be that effected. He has a lot of time to make a full recovery before any training camps start and he is clearly the top WR and one of the most dynamic offensive threats in the draft this year. I would be very suprised if he fell out of the top 10 and if he wasn't the top wideout taken. But you never know what could happen, only time will tell.

Draft Prospects: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State

Unanimously projected as a first round draft pick, Everette Brown could fit perfectly into the Packers’ new 3-4 defensive scheme. He is big enough to play defensive end at 6’4” 260lbs (although he could stand to put on a few more pounds in the weight room), and fast enough to play linebacker. Although at FSU he was strictly on the defensive line, Brown is talented enough to adapt to any position in the front 7.

The questions have to do with Brown’s ability to cover tight ends and running backs in the 3-4. But his absolute upside outweighs his downside immensely. I had the privilege of watching Everette play in Tallahassee and at the Bowl game in 2008, and he is the type of player that fits the mold of Mickey Andrews’ FSU defense. He has the potential to have a career worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as FSU and NFL greats such as Peter Boulware, Darnell Dockett, Cameron Wimbley, and Broderick Bunkley. He is fast enough to run around and strong enough to run through offensive linemen and running backs, he stands up well to a double-team, provides good run support, and seems to always find his way to the opposing QB regardless of the offensive blocking scheme.

Teams that run the 3-4 prefer their outside linebackers to be 6-3 or taller, and the weight generally ranges from 240 pounds to 265 pounds. Teams look for long and streamlined athletes such as Miami’s Joey Porter (6-3, 255), because they have to be versatile enough to rush the passer from the outside, hold up adequately at the line of scrimmage against the run, and cover at least the flats, and often more, in pass coverage. I believe that with the obvious need being in the front 7 for the Packers, Everette Brown would bring depth and explosiveness to the d-line and linebacking corps, making him a perfect fit at the 9th pick. Need more proof? Just watch the video below…

Did the Pack make "The List"?

Julius Peppers is without question one of the most sought after free agents on the market in 2009. Peppers has made it very public that he does not want to be in Carolina any longer, and that he wants to play in a 3-4 defense. Just to point this out, the Packers are switching over to a 3-4 defense and they are in need of an OLB/DE hybrid. It seems to me like a pretty logical fit. However, the Carolina Panthers will most likely slap the franchise tag on Peppers sometime today and then they will be asking for something equivalent to a first round pick and two third round picks in return. The team that picks up Peppers will not only have to be willing to give up significant draft picks, but they will also have to be on "THE LIST!!!"

Yesterday, Julius Peppers aparently approached the Panthers with a list. The list included 4 teams that he would like to be traded to. Of the 4, only the Dallas Cowboys were released as being part of the list. So who else is on it?

There is part of me that wants to Packers to be on the list, and part of me that wants nothing to do with it. Julius Peppers would without question improve the Packer's defense if they signed him, but would he be worth it? I would love to see Peppers in a Packer uniform come Fall, but I dont really like the idea of having to give up several draft picks and give up so much in salary cap space for one player. The Packers are a very young team. I think that this is the time for the Packers to pick up the young talent in the first round of the draft. I think that the Pack needs to be patient and look at the long haul rather than break the bank to have a mediocre shot at the Super Bowl with Julius Peppers. There are a lot of good defensive players that will be available with the 9th pick in the draft that can make an immediate impact in 2009, my vote is to add more depth through free agency by signing a few players, than going for the home run with 1.

Draft Prospects: Brian Cushing, OLB Southern Cal

The Malnarn has gone into some detail regarding the needs of the Packers that will arise due to the change in defense from the 4-3 to the 3-4. I believe that the packers will need to address the front 7 of their defense by picking up a linebacker or defensive lineman either in Free Agency or the Draft. This is why the next Draft Prospect for the Green Bay Packers is Brian Cushing, OLB from USC.

Brian Cushing has moved to the top of the list for players that I like for the Packer’s first pick for 2009. He is fast, strong, and he flies around the field with intensity and emotion. I have watched his highlight video a few times and he really impresses me. I believe that the Packers need to acquire players this offseason that will make an immediate impact on our defense in order for us to be successful with the 3-4. I think that Cushing can take a lot of pressure off of Nick Barnett and more importantly, A.J. Hawk, and could also play a crucial role in blitz schemes and pass coverage with his speed.

Draft Prospects: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

This is the first installment of "Draft Prospects" on The Malnarn. I am going to take the next few weeks to highlight those players who may be potential first round selections for the Pack in 2009.

Thus far, the majority of the Draft experts have the Pack taking Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins from The Ohio State University with the 9th pick overall.

Malcolm Jenkins is the top Defensive Back that will come out of the Draft this year. He has good size at 6'1", he has great speed, and although he is not a big hitter, he does not shy away from run support.

I believe that Jenkins is the type of player that would make immediate contribution to the Packer's Defense and he would be the type of player that the Pack could rely on for many years to come. At this point, many believe that the Packers need to look at finding replacements for the aging Al Harris and Charles Woodson, and Jenkins would definately be that player. I personally think that Woodson and Harris have a couple good years left in them and that addressing the CB position is not the greatest priority, but I think that Jenkins would be a very safe pick for Green Bay, but he may not end up fitting with our needs at this point in time, considering the defensive changes that the Packers are looking to make this offseason from the 4-3 to the 3-4.