Green Bay Packers 2013 NFL Draft Results

Day 1: Round 1, Pick 26: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA - I really love this pick. Ted Thompson did something that he usually doesn't do, and that's draft top needs vs. top available talent. I've been high on Datone Jones since I began my research on this year's draft. I didn't include him in any of my mock drafts because I figured Ted would pass. Boy am I glad I was wrong. Back in March I tweeted Jones would be a lock for Green Bay.

If the Packers snag Steven Jackson, sign it stamp it seal it: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA will be a Packer at the 26th pick.
— WI Sports Blog (@WISportsBlog) March 13, 2013

Granted we didn't get Jackson, the Packers saw no desire or need in taking a running back in the offseason or first round. Again, Ted drafting by need is truly a great thing. Makes me look forward to the upcoming rounds.

I said before the draft that I expected the Packers to select a defensive lineman, as they kicked the tires on Chris Canty and Steve McLendon in the offseason. Since Cullen Jenkins left, there has been problems with our pass rush from the linemen. Jones has the potential to be an instant game changer and huge play-maker for the Packers.

Everyone for the most part wanted Ted to trade down, which seemed logical with Geno Smith, Manti Te'o, and Eddie Lacy all falling in the draft. The Packers will likely still trade at some point. My guess is he'll trade the 2nd round pick for a 3rd and 5th round pick. 

Day 2: Round 2, Pick 55: (TRADED to 49ERS for their 61ST and 173RD PICKS)

Day 2: Round 2, Pick 61 (from 49ers): Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama - The Packers traded their 55th overall pick to the 49ers for their 61st pick and 173rd pick (6th round).

Well, this kind of fell into Ted's lap. Lacy had interest in joining Green Bay back at the Combine. I don't mind this pick. It makes sense. I was high on Lacy for a while. Listing him as our number one pick in one mock draft, and number two pick in another. Turns out, he did fall just like many suspected.

Lacy is a great runner who will be an instant number one running back in our system. He is also a great blocker, something the Packers needed in a runner for a while now. Packers executives aren't too concerned about his injuries. Lacy HAS to stay healthy for this pick to be acceptable. Good talent still to come in the third round for offensive line.

Day 2: Round 3, Pick 88: (TRADED to 49ERS for their 93RD and 216TH PICKS)

Day 2: Round 3, Pick 93 (from 49ers): (TRADED to DOLPHINS for their 109TH (4th round), 146 (5th round), 224 (7th round)

Day 2 Recap

We drafted Eddie Lacy. I've opened up to this pick and I'm going to let it run it's course. We needed a running back. Bottom line.

I liked that we were able to trade aggressively and get a total of ten picks to finish out the Draft tomorrow. We have two 4th round, three 5th round, two 6th round, and three 7th round picks. Busy day tomorrow for the Packers. The focus will be mainly on offensive and defensive line, linebacker, and safety. With those extra picks, the Packers could now take a wide receiver, a tight end, or even a kicker if need be. Should be fun to watch.

Only one pick fell off the board that I really liked. Safety J.J. Wilcox went to the Cowboys in the 3rd round. The Packers were really high on him. But, oh well. That's why you shouldn't get too attached with a player in the draft. Save the disappointment for something else more worthy, like the Milwaukee Bucks for example.

See you all tomorrow for Day 3!

Looking over the picks from yesterday, I forgot to mention another player that went off the board that I really liked. Sio Moore, OLB, Penn State would have been a nice addition to compliment Matthews on the other side.

Day 3: Round 4, Pick 109 (from Dolphins): David Bakhtiari, OT, Colorado - This pick is a steal. Bakhtiari was projected to be a second or third round pick, and he fell here. Good protection for Aaron Rodgers at left tackle, but David will likely be able to play guard as well.

Day 3: Round 4, Pick 122: J.C. Trenner, OT, Cornell - Man, the Packers are drafting like they have a QB to protect or something. Another offensive lineman. This time, it's J.C. Trenner. Like Bakhtiari, he is a left tackle that will likely learn to play the entire offensive line. Another solid pick here by the Packers.

Day 3: Round 4, Pick 125 (from Broncos): Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA - STEAL! Holy crap, Ted. The Packers moved up in the draft to take a 2nd running back in the draft. The Packers are serious about patching the running game, obviously. The trio of Lacy/Franklin/Harris is scary good. Franklin provides good depth in case Lacy does in fact get injured, which was the reason Lacy dropped to the second round to begin with. Thompson is a great man for this pick. Bravo.

Day 3: Round 5, Pick 146 (from Dolphins): (TRADED to BRONCOS for their 125TH PICK)

Day 3: Round 5, Pick 159: Micah Hyde, CB, Iowa - I figured the Packers would eventually draft a defensive back, and I don't mind it here at all. Micah is listed as a corner back, but I foresee the Packers converting him to safety. Either that or they will convert a current corner to safety. Either way, the Packers got a very good DB. Takes good routes. His top of the line talent if he's in front of a play. Listed at 5'11"3/4, so he's 6 feet tall.

Day 3: Round 5, Pick 167: Josh Boyd, DT, Mississippi State - This is a great pick, especially considering that we don't know the future of our defensive line following this season. Multiple reports indicate he has a good motor. He is 310 pounds but is said to carry his weight well. Big fan of Josh. Pickett, Raji, and Boyd could be great on many levels.

Day 3: Round 6, Pick 173 (from 49ers): (TRADED to BRONCOS for their 125TH PICK)

Day 3: Round 6, Pick 193: Nate Palmer, OLB, Illinois State - The pick makes a whole lot of sense. The Packers were his only workout during the pre-draft process. He lead all of college football in quarterback hits, which is highly appealing. Somewhere, Clay Matthews smiles. Pass rush is looking awfully promising heading into the season.

Day 3: Round 7, Pick 216 (from 49ers): Charles Johnson, WR, Grand Valley State - I like the value in Charles Johnson and where we drafted him. He ran a 4.38 and a 4.39 40 yard dash at his Pro Day at GVSU. Scouting reports have nothing but good things to say about this kid. He's been compared to Miles Austin and Marques Colston, and I'm okay with that.

Day 3, Round 7, Pick 224 (from Dolphins): Kevin Dorsey, WR, Maryland - Ted really did a great job addressing the wide receiver position in the 7th round. Dorsey is another great talent. Had a 38 inch vertical and ran a 4.47 40 yard dash. Standing at 6'2", he will have a height advantage over a lot of DBs. Dorsey and Johnson could be making us say "Greg who?" sooner than we think.

Day 3: Round 7, Pick 232: Sam Barrington, ILB, South Florida - Last but not least, the Packers took an inside linebacker to add depth to a much injured and inconsistent ILB core for the Packers. Barrington was heavily scouted by the 49ers, which makes me even more thrilled Green Bay got him. During his Pro Day, he ran a 4.69 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He recorded a 37-inch vertical leap and went 10-foot-2 in the broad jump. Barrington also went 4.25 in the short shuttle. He's going to fit right into the scheme of linebackers for the Packers and contribute well on special teams.

Undrafted Free Agent Signings

Lane Taylor, OG, Oklahoma St. (confirmed signing)

Ben Erickson, S, Illinois St. (confirmed signing)
Matt Brown, QB, Illinois St. (confirmed signing)
Gilbert Pena, DT, Mississippi (confirmed signing)
Jake Stoneburner, TE, Ohio State (confirmed signing)
Patrick Lewis, C, Texas A&M (confirmed signing)
Andy Mulumba, DE/OLB, Eastern Michigan (confirmed signing)
Angelo Pease, RB, Kansas State (confirmed signing)
Myles White, WR, Louisiana Tech (confirmed signing)
Jeremy Vujnovich, OT, Louisiana College (confirmed signing)
Ryan Roberson, FB, Texas (rumored)
James Winchester, LS, Oklahoma (rumored)
Devin Willis, CB, Northern Arizona (camp tryout)
Damond Smith, CB, South Alabama (camp tryout)
Cedrick Moore, S, Stony Brook (camp tryout)

This was a great draft by Ted Thompson. And many agree. Many draft experts are grouping the Packers with the Steelers, 49ers, and Ravens. Ted addressed every area on the team that needed attention. He made many trades that turned out to be very beneficial. I like all of our picks and have nothing bad to say about it. On Walterfootball.com, the Packers didn't receive a draft grade lower than a C. Truly great job by the Packers staff over the past three days. Onto training camp!

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

- Andrew Vrchota (@AndrewVrchota)

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks and more. Live in game commentary, breaking news, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @AndrewVrchota, @JoeP_Norton, @SMahon2Go, @Mik3_Schu, @jheldred, @olewr7, and @Stevie2Westside. Finally, find us on Instagram! (wisportsblog)

Packers 7 Round Mock Draft 5.0

We are less than two days away from the NFL Draft. It's a very exciting moment for football fans as they see their teams draft players that could potentially fix holes, patch problems, replace old parts, and strike gold with the next MVP. I've previously completed four other Mock Drafts for the Green Bay Packers, profiling potential picks the Packers could be looking at. After studying the college talent pool, here is what I have come up with for the Packers and what you can expect starting this Thursday night. But first, take a look at the previous mock drafts before reading this article (recommended).

Packers Mock Draft 1.0
Packers Mock Draft 2.0  
Packers Mock Draft 3.0
Packers Mock Draft 4.0

To start this very detailed Mock Draft, it's going to start out with a move that most Packer fans will not favor if it does end up happening. This move will only work if one major factor plays out, which could very well play out. That factor is Geno Smith.

The Packers have a lot of holes to fill and there really isn't anyone the Packers will want to take at the 26th pick in the first round. Taking a look at the draft order, there are three teams that could spoil this move, one of them being their potential trade partner. First, the New York Jets. Rex Ryan and the front office seem dead set on Mark Sanchez, however they could end up feeling the pressure from their fans and take Geno Smith to compete for the quarterback job. But, it's very unlikely they take him with either of their first round picks (9, 13). If you think the Jets have problems on offense, I won't even get into their defense. They need to replace Revis and someone develop a pass rush.

The second team that could rain on the Packers parade is the Buffalo Bills. The Bills will be taking a quarterback with the 8th overall pick and they could very well pick Geno Smith, except that he doesn't fit their offense well at all. The Bills run a West Coast offense, which is more appealing to quarterbacks on the board like Matt Barkley and Ryan Nassib. They could ignore that and still take Geno as the best QB on the board, but again it's unlikely.

The third and final team that could spoil things for Green Bay is the Philadelphia Eagles, who I have as the Packers trade partner. The Eagles have the 4th overall pick, but their quarterback need doesn't amount to taking one at the 4th pick. They have bigger holes to fill, like protecting their quarterback for example on the offensive line. But, I don't think that will stop the Eagles from getting a shot at Geno Smith. He would mess well with Chip Kelly's style of offense, and would be backup to Michael Vick which almost guarantees he'll get a few starts this season and eventually take over as the full time starter. Geno could easily fall out of the Top 10, heck even the Top 20 if it all plays right. (See: Alex Smith/Aaron Rodgers draft). All of the other teams drafting are very stable at the quarterback position. Let's take a look: (Teams are in order of the draft)

1. Alex Smith, Chiefs
2. Blaine Gabbert, Jaguars
3. Matt Flynn, Raiders
4. (Philadelphia Eagles)
5. Matthew Stafford, Lions
6. Brandon Weeden, Browns
7. Carson Palmer, Cardinals
8. (Buffalo Bills)
9. (New York Jets)
10. Jake Locker, Titans
11. Philip Rivers, Chargers
12. Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins
13. (New York Jets)
14. Cam Newton, Panthers
15. Drew Brees, Saints
16. Sam Bradford, Rams
17. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
18. Tony Romo, Cowboys
19. Eli Manning, Giants
20. Jay Cutler, Bears

21-25 are picks that are owned by the Cincinnati Bengals who have Andy Dalton, another pick by the Rams, two picks by the Vikings who have Christian Ponder, and one pick by the Colts who have Andrew Luck. This draft is not quarterback heavy, nor is the quarterback a big need currently in the NFL. Smith is a starter-quality quarterback, so being a backup isn't ideal for him.

So you see, Geno could fall hard in this draft, which is where we land with the Packers.......... and with the 26th pick, the Green Bay Packer elect to trade their first round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for the Eagles' second and third round picks. And with that, here is the rest of the Packers Mock Draft.

Round 2 Pick 35 (from Eagles): Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State - I said in the previous mock draft that the Packers would have no chance to get Bjoern Werner. Well, this trade with the Eagles makes it possible. The Packers are clearly going to focus on the defensive line in this draft. It was quite evident this offseason. They brought in Chris Canty and Steve McLendon to meet with them, who unfortunately didn't strike a deal with Green Bay and signed elsewhere. The fact the Packers kicked some tires with defensive lineman shows it's a concern for them. It wouldn't hurt the Packers to look for defensive line help. Jerel Worthy had knee surgery at the end of the season, Raji was a little banged up last year, and C.J. Wilson needs someone to compliment him better. Pass rush pass rush pass rush. When talking about Werner's figurative engine, he's got a Hemi. Great blocker and great instincts. He might be outsized a few times, but that happens with a lot of players.

Round 2 Pick 55: Cornelius Washington, DE/OLB, Georgia - I can't even begin to tell you how much Washington's stock has risen in this draft class. When I first started looking at mock drafts back in January, Washington was maybe a 6th or 7th round pick, some even had him as a undrafted free agent. Then, in mid to late February, he started popping up as a 4th or 5th rounder. Finally, after his pro day he jumped up again. This time, he was being tossed in as a 2nd or 3rd round pick. He had the fastest 40 yard dash at the Combine for his position. Washington is listed as a defensive end, but would likely convert to an outside linebacker for Green Bay. Erik Walden is gone, and no one could be happier then me. What's even better is that horrid contract the Colts gave him. A.J Hawk's contract was restructured (cut in half) because of his rather high salary. Desmond Bishop and Nick Perry will be coming back from injury. Washington is another pass rusher, which is a need for the Packers as Clay Matthews needs someone to compliment him opposite of him.

Round 3 Pick 67 (from Eagles): J.J. Wilcox, S, Georgia Southern - As I've said previously on Twitter and in blogs, the Packers have had a void in the defensive back field since losing Nick Collins a few years back. Charles Woodson was cut by the Packers this offseason. They will need to address this in the draft at some point, and I don't have a problem with them doing it here, especially with the extra pick thanks to the Eagles. The Packers should look for a versatile player who could play either corner or safety, but preferably safety to add depth to Jennings, Burnett, and McMillian. The Packers are said to be extremely high on Wilcox and will take him here if available. Wilcox has great instincts and reads offenses well. Attacks the line really well on running plays. He has good hops and great hand-eye coordination.

Round 3 Pick 88: David Quessenberry, G/C/OT, San Jose State - If I had to say one of these picks would be a lock for the Packers, it would be David Quessenberry. According to multiple sources, the Packers have recently expressed major interest in drafting David. I've been a huge supporter of his since February. What he brings to the table is remarkable and exactly what the Packers need. The Packers had major problems at the offensive line after letting Scott Wells walk away, so they'll have to address that area in the draft. Evan Dietrich-Smith seems to be the center of the future for the Packers, but in case that doesn't turn out for Green Bay, Quessenberry is an option as he plays all three offensive line positions. The Packers need to beef up the tackle position this offseason as well. I'm not a big fan of Marshall Newhouse nor do I see him as a viable option at left tackle going into next season. There have been rumblings this offseason that the Packers are considering moving Brian Bulaga over to left tackle next season.

Round 4 Pick 122: Stepfan Taylor, RB, Stanford - James Starks has yet to prove that he can stay healthy for a full season. Alex Green has done nothing with the opportunities sent his way. Cedric Benson and Ryan Grant will likely be gone after this offseason. Although DuJuan Harris was impressive down the stretch in his few games where he shined, I'm not sure if he is ready to take on a full starting workload. McCarthy said in an interview that Harris could be the starter, but it's his spot to earn in training camp. Still, the Packers may address the running back position early in the 2013 NFL Draft. Taylor is a great running back prospect in this draft and is seriously underrated. He's a great ball catcher and has great down field awareness with great explosive legs. If the Packers want to fix their running game without wasting it on a high draft pick, Taylor is their man.

UPDATE (4/25): Brandon Saine was released yesterday after failing his physical. Saine injured his knee last season vs. the Texans and was shut down due to it. With Saine gone, the Packers will need to add a running back for depth, even if they go about re-signing Cedric Benson. Training camp will make the cream rise to the top.

Round 5 Pick 159: A.J. Klein, ILB, Iowa State - As the Packers need to add depth at outside linebacker, they also need to start thinking about inside linebacker as well. I'm not sure how long the Packers are going to have AJ Hawk. I don't mind him, but with all the injuries we had at linebacker last year it makes sense to add more depth. Ted Thompson likes Klein. Ted scouted him during the East-West Shrine game. Klein was a standout player and caught Ted's eye. The Packers would benefit with drafting Klein in the 5th round here, especially with another pick just 8 spots away.

UPDATE (4/25): With the departure of D.J. Smith yesterday after he failed his physical, this pick makes a lot more sense now then it ever did before. Smith played only 6 games last season before injuring his knee. Desmond Bishop needs to prove he is healthy after his hamstring injury last year. Klein provides a nice safety net.

Round 5 Pick 167 (Compensatory): Ace Sanders, WR/KR, South Carolina - I think we all know the reasoning for this pick. Greg Jennings is with the Vikings. In addition, Donald Driver announced his retirement from the NFL and made it official February 6th, 2013. It looks like the Packers will need to look to add a wide receiver in the draft. The Packers have made it clear that Randall Cobb will not be returning kicks next year. Ace Sanders has elite speed and is said to be dangerous once he has the ball in his hands. For only being 5'7", he has good vision and sets up for blocks really well. Good hand-eye coordination and has really good hands. He isn't afraid to cut across to the middle of the field as he has good toughness and concentration. He would fit in well as our new kick returner as well as a number four or five wide out.

Round 6 Pick 193: Demetrius McCray, CB, Appalachian State - With the exit of Charles Woodson and looking back on what I said earlier, the Packers need some depth when it comes to our defensive backs. And, with news coming out from the Packers that Tramon Williams will have to potentially compete for a spot on next year's depth chart at cornerback, McCray would give Williams some good competition. McCray ran a 4.46 and jumped a 36" vertical at the NFL Combine. He has a knack for interceptions, having 10 in his college career. He's got great speed. Good on redirection and making good choices on routes.

Round 7 Pick 232: Garrett Gilkey, OT, Chadron State - Same reason to add Quessenberry. The Packers needs oodles of depth for lineman, as it is clearly the most vulnerable position on our team for the past couple of seasons. If we going to be paying Aaron Rodgers a sixth of our team's salary cap, we better put the right people in front of him to protect our investment. The Packers are set at the guard position with TJ Lang and Josh Sitton. The tackle position is the one that worries me a lot, so adding extra depth won't hurt us at all. Garrett Gilkey is 6 foot 6 inches tall and weight just over three hundred and twenty pounds. He's going to have to mature a bit to make it, but with his natural size and talent the Packers should be comfortable drafting him.

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

- Andrew Vrchota (@AndrewVrchota)

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks and more. Live in game commentary, breaking news, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @AndrewVrchota, @JoeP_Norton, @SMahon2Go, @Mik3_Schu, @jheldred, @olewr7, and @Stevie2Westside. Finally, find us on Instagram! (wisportsblog)

Steve's 7 Round Packers Mock Draft

The 2013 NFL Draft is only two days away, so it is time to break out the ultimate Packers draft.  All of the Packers picks will be explained and used in either a trade or a draft pick.

To start off the Packers draft activity, the Green Bay Packers have accepted a TRADE with the Buffalo Bills.  The Bills receive the Packers 1st round pick (26) for the Bills 2nd round (41) and 3rd round (71).  I don’t believe the Bills will take Ryan Nassib, QB from Syracuse with the 8th overall pick.  The run of quarterbacks will start late in the 1st round and the Bills want a QB of the future.  It doesn’t hurt that Nassib just scored a 41 on the Wonderlic test this week. 

With the 41st selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select Eddie Lacy, RB, University of Alabama. 

The Packers have a huge hole to fill at RB, however Lacy is a reach in the 1st round.  Lacy will be a great value pick early in the 2nd round.  Lacy is faster than he looks and can receive the ball out of the backfield.  He was successful in Alabama and would be  perfect fit for Mike McCarthy’s offense.

With the 55th selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select DT, Kawann Short, Purdue University.

It is no surprise that the Packers need help on the defensive line.  Jerel Worthy is coming off of surgery, so he is still a question mark.  The Packers have not really hit on a defensive lineman besides Raji lately, so it is time to take another stab at it.  Short has potential to be a long time starter for the Packers.

With the 71st selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select Travis Frederick, C, University of Wisconsin.

Jeff Saturday was a colossal bust.  He had a great career, but should have retired instead of joining the Packers.  Dietrich-Smith filled in fine, but taking a center early in the 3rd round is a steal for the Pack.  Frederick would challenge DS for the starting position right away and everyone knows, competition at positions is never a bad thing.

With the 88th selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select J.J. Wilcox, S, Georgia Southern.

News out of Green Bay says the Packers are very high on Wilcox.  Hard to tell now a days what is a smoke screen and what is not.  The Packers do need help at the safety position and Wilcox can come in and compete right away.  The Packers have been looking for an answer at safety since the loss of Nick Collins.

TRADE : The Packers send 2014 4th round pick, 2013 5th round pick (159) and 2013 6th round pick (193) to the New York Jets for their 4th round pick (106).

With the 106th selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select Marquise Goodwin, WR/KR, Texas.

Aaron Rodgers was vocal about not wanting Randall Cobb returning kicks or punts.  It would not be a shock to see the Packers take a kick returner that can work on his receiving game over the next few seasons.  Goodwin is a talented return man that could start returning immediately and let Cobb focus on the offensive side of the ball.

With the 122nd selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select Luke Marquardt, T, Azusa Pacific.

Marquardt is a beast of a man.  6’8”, 315 pounds, holy cow.  He is still very raw and would need a little time to develop, however his frame is worth taking him in the late 4th round.  Marquardt has been on the rise the last month or two.  Originally, he had a 7th round grade, but the potential is there and he has risen quite a bit in value.

With the 167th selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select Nico Johnson, ILB, University of Alabama.

Some may argue that the Packers have LB depth, however with Desmond Bishop coming off injury, as well as DJ Smith, it definitely would not hurt.  Johnson is a smart player, playing in Nick Saban’s 3-4 style defense and he started the last years without missing a game. High quality backup right away, with time to develop into a starter.

With the 232nd selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select Sam Brenner, G, Utah.

Brenner seems to be right up Ted Thompson’s alley.  The Utah guard started the first two games of the 2012 season at RG and finished the final 10 games at LT.  Another body to throw into the offensive line mix.

There it is.  The Packers have restocked and are ready for the 2013 season!  If Jordan Rodgers goes undrafted, look for the Packers to sign Aaron’s younger brother and put him on the practice squad.  The Packers will most likely sign a few other undrafted free agents right away and hopefully finding a few gems.  Happy almost draft day everyone!!

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

- Steve Perhach (@Stevie2Westside)

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks and more. Live in game commentary, breaking news, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @AndrewVrchota, @JoeP_Norton, @SMahon2Go, @Mik3_Schu, @jheldred, @olewr7, and @Stevie2Westside. Finally, find us on Instagram! (wisportsblog)

Packers Nation, Take a Deep Breath

This offseason has gone exactly as Ted Thompson had planned.  Maybe not to the t, but pretty close.  Draft and develop.  Draft and develop.  No matter how many times TT comes out and says this, Packers fans erupt in madness when NFL Free Agency opens every offseason.  The fans are frustrated by the lack of free agents signed by the Packers and letting some of their own players get away for modest prices.  He let Charles Woodson go?!  He wouldn’t pay Greg Jennings?!  Fans were enraged, calling for his head.  Let’s take a step back and look at what TT HAS done for the Packers.

He does not overspend on players.  The NFL salary cap is a delicate issue and TT knows how to play with it.  He let Charles Woodson walk because as valuable as Woodson is, he is not worth the $10 million cap hit.  So many teams go out into free agency to fill needs and end up over paying (Hello, Colts and Erik Walden).  In the long run, the Packers are much better off, paying their own players who perform, which is exactly what TT does.  Aaron Rodgers is due the largest contract in NFL history and contracts for Matthews and Raji are not far behind.  TT is trying to put together as much cap space as possible for players he KNOWS will contribute.

You have no idea who this is.

He knows how to draft.  Every GM has a few misses in the draft, but let’s focus on the positives for a minute.  Aaron Rodgers (best pick yet) Greg Jennings, James Jones, Randall Cobb, Jermichael Finley, Casey Heyward, Bryan Bulaga, James Starks, BJ Raji, Clay Matthews, TJ Lang, Brad Jones, Josh Sitton, Desmond Bishop, Mason Crosby, AJ Hawk, Daryn Colledge, Nick Collins.  All big impact players and he drafted countless other role players that fit well in the Packers scheme. Don’t forget about all of the undrafted rookies he signs that turn into talents such as Frank Zombo, Sam Shields, Don Barclay, Dezman Moses, to name a few.  The man flat out drafts well and this is why the Packers have been so good since he took over in 2005.

He puts a winning team on the field.  TT has a knack for finding talent and putting the team possible out there to represent the green and gold.  Since 2005 (the year TT took over GM) the Packers are 78-50, tied for 5th best in the NFL.  Now, if 2005 is taken out (team was 4-12) because that wasn’t really TT’s team on the field and start in 2006, the Packers are 74-38, second to only the New England Patriots.  Throw in a Super Bowl victory, three division titles and five playoff appearances in TT’s tenure, Packers fans don’t have much to complain about.

Packers fans need to take a deep breath and have some faith.  TT knows what he is doing.  Barring a major injury, the Packers should win the NFC North again and be in the playoffs.  All Packers fans should be ecstatic that TT is their GM.  It could be a lot worse, since 2006, the St. Louis Rams are 30-81-1. The Packers don’t sign free agents, get used to it! 

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

- Steve Perhach (@Stevie2Westside)

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks and more. Live in game commentary, breaking news, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @AndrewVrchota, @JoeP_Norton, @SMahon2Go @ryan_937, @Mik3_Schu, @jheldred, @B_Toom_3, @olewr7, and @Stevie2Westside. Finally, find us on Instagram! (wisportsblog)

Packers 7 Round Mock Draft 4.0

Here it is. The last last one. The Packers 7 Round Mock Draft 4.0. The Combine is over. Pro Days are wrapping up. Free agency is pretty much over and as many expected, the Packers laid low during the whole process. If you would like to catch up on the previous three mock drafts I've done for the Packers, feel free to click the following links.

Packers Mock Draft 1.0
Packers Mock Draft 2.0
Packers Mock Draft 3.0

Round 1 Pick 26: Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M - It wouldn't hurt the Packers to look for defensive line help. Jerel Worthy had knee surgery a month ago, Raji was a little banged up last year, and C.J. Wilson needs someone to compliment him better. The first round is going to be a tough decision for the Packers because the pick is so late and the exact viable needs the Packers are looking to draft will more than likely going to be gone. For example, the Packers would love to get their hands on D.J. Fluker (OT), Chance Warmack (OG), or Bjoern Werner (DE) but it is very unlikely the three of them make it out of the Top 20. So, this pick is essentially more of what the Packers will have to settle for of what's left unless they value someone who could go early second round and want to gamble a bit. (See next pick for example.) Damontre Moore is a defensive end out of Texas A&M. The Packers need to improve on pass rushing and Moore is the guy for that job. Moore has the potential to rank among the league's top pass rushers as he can play both the 4-3 defensive end or as a stand-up pass rusher out of the 3-4. He also obtains a very good spin move, allowing him to go inside or outside to prevent a run game.
(Previous Pick: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama)

Round 2 Pick 55: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama - I originally had Lacy going first round for the Packers, but it sounds like Lacy could fall to the second round and still be available for the Packers to draft as he did not participate at the Combine, which results in his stock to go down. James Starks has yet to prove that he can stay healthy for a full season. Alex Green has done nothing with the opportunities sent his way. Cedric Benson and Ryan Grant will likely be gone after this offseason. Although DuJuan Harris was impressive down the stretch in his few games where he shined, I'm not sure if he is ready to take on a full starting workload. McCarthy said in a recent interview that Harris could be the starter, but it's his spot to earn in training camp. Still, the Packers may address the running back position early in the 2013 NFL Draft. Eddie Lacy heading into the NFL Combine has been compared to a few running backs that are in the NFL now, but the two I keep hearing is Frank Gore and Michael Bush. Lacy values the potential of what Green Bay could offer him and his career. He was quoted saying this at the Combine:

“I feel as though they wouldn’t just be able to spread the field out,” said Lacy on the prospect of joining the Packers. “They’d have to actually have to defend the run as well. If Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback, you’re not going to put nine guys in the box. So it’ll kind of balance out.”

Eddie Lacy did not work out at the Combine due to a small hamstring tear but will partake in Alabama's Pro Day. If his injury doesn't seem to be a major concern, I wouldn't mind Green Bay drafting him as the first running back in the 2013 draft, especially if free agency isn't an option for Ted Thompson (which it clearly wasn't). The Packers still could take Lacy first round if they want to gamble a bit, but I think at this point Lacy could be an option second round.
(Previous Pick: Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor)

Round 3 Pick 88: Marquise Goodwin, WR/KR, Texas - I think we all know the reasoning for this pick. Greg Jennings is with the Vikings. In addition, Donald Driver announced his retirement from the NFL and made it official February 6th, 2013. It looks like the Packers will need to look to add a wide receiver in the draft. The Packers have made it clear that Randall Cobb will not be returning kicks next year. Marquise Goodwin, a former track athlete, could be our new kick returner as well as a wideout and deep threat to add to Aaron Rodgers' arsenal. He has great speed, which was evident at the NFL Combine as he ran a 4.27 40. He also showed he had great hands as he caught nearly every pass thrown his way during his senior season as well as at the Combine. The Packers are likely to address the WR hole early, and Goodwin would be a good pick here for Green Bay.
(Previous Pick: David Quessenberry, G/C/OT, San Jose State)

Round 4 Pick 119: Oday Aboushi, G/OT, Virginia - The Packers had major problems at the offensive liveafter letting Scott Wells walk away, so they'll have to address that area in the draft. Evan Dietrich-Smith, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, has been in talks with the Packers to sign long tern with the Packers and be the center for out future. Even if EDS signs, we will still need some sort of depth at center in case the inevitable occurs, an injury. The Packers need to beef up the tackle position this offseason as well. I'm not a big fan of Marshall Newhouse nor do I see him as a viable option at left tackle going into next season. There have been rumblings this offseason that the Packers are considering moving Brian Bulaga over to left tackle next season. At 6-5⅜, 308 lbs, Oday Aboushi can play both guard and tackle on the offensive line, so that should appeal to Ted Thompson. He can play left or right tackle. He plays very aggressive and physical. He is exactly what Green Bay needs for an offensive lineman. Just a quick note to finish...if David Quessenberry (G/C/OT) somehow makes it through the third round and is still available for this pick for Green Bay, expect the Packers to pounce on the San Jose State utility offensive lineman.
(Previous Pick: Cornelius Washington, DE/OLB, Georgia)

Round 5 Pick 152: David Bass, DE/OLB, Missouri Western - Hopefully I'm not the only one who thought Erik Walden's 4 year/16MM contract with the Colts was absolutely hilarious. He was a free agent and will likely be one of the biggest busts of this year's offseason. (Did the Colts even watch the game with Green Bay vs. San Fransisco?) With his departure, there would be a void at the line backer position. A.J Hawk's contract was restructured (cut in half) because of his rather high salary. Desmond Bishop and Nick Perry will be coming back from injury. Brad Jones is in talks with the Titans. There are a lot of questions surrounding the linebackers on the Packers and they need answers. In the fifth round, David Bass would be a great pick and a possible steal. He would be the pass rushing outside linebacker that the Packers so desperately need to compliment Clay Matthews. Bass has excellent college career numbers with 39.5 sacks and 56 tackles for loss as a four-year starter.
(Previous Pick: Kwame Geathers, DT, Georgia)

Round 5 Pick 167 (Compensatory): Luke Marquardt, OT, Azusa Pacific - (See: Oday Aboushi above.) Note: I originally had Marquardt as a possible undrafted free agent for 3.0. Since then, Luke's draft stock has skyrocketed. I wouldn't be surprised if he was taken off the board in the fourth round, to be honest. He's 6-foot-8 inches tall and three-hundred fifteen pounds. The Packers need some serious upgrades at the line if they want their soon to be hundred million dollar quarterback healthy. The Packers get this extra pick in the fifth round for the departure of quarterback Matt Flynn last season. Because of Flynn's playing time with the Seahawks last year, the Packers were only rewarded with a fifth round pick rather than the expected fourth round. Thanks, Russell.
(Previous Pick: Jordan Reed, TE, Florida)


Round 6 Pick 193: Earl Wolff, S, N.C. State - The Packers have had a void in the defensive back field since losing Nick Collins a few years back. Charles Woodson was cut by the Packers a few weeks ago. They will need to address this in the draft at some point, and I don't have a problem with them doing it late. The Packers should look for a versatile player who could play either corner or safety, but preferably safety to add depth to Jennings, Burnett, and McMillian. Wolff is a guy that could mesh well right away with Green Bay, as long as our pass rush improves significantly next year. He's got great arm strength and has great back pedal ability. He had 340 tackles in his Sophomore thru Senior seasons at North Carolina State. He's great when it comes to run defense. If he works on his change in directions/cuts, he'll be a great snag late in the draft.
(Previous Pick: Zeke Motta, S, Notre Dame)

Round 7 Pick 232: Michael Williams, TE, Alabama - In 3.0 I had Green Bay taking a tight end way earlier in the draft. Fourth round to be exact. But, since Greg Jennings is gone, it seems as though Jermichael Finley is now going to be staying with the Packers instead of being cut like it was originally expected. The Packers still took a hit in the tight end depth chart as they lost Tom Crabtree to free agency to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Crabtree was mostly used primarily for blocking as well as on special teams. Crabtree's shining moment as a Packer was his touchdown catch on that trick 4th and 26 fake field goal play last season. Michael Williams is a much better blocker than Crabtree and could be used as a goal line option for Rodgers because of his size and great hands. This isn't necessarily are needed pick in this spot, but it will be something Green Bay will consider with their last pick of the 2013 NFL Draft.
(Previous Pick: Caleb Sturgis, K, Florida)

Undrafted Free Agent Watch 

Mike Shanahan, WR/TE, Pittsburgh - Ted Thompson loves himself some versatile players and Shanahan is exactly that. He's 6-foot-4 tall which gives him size. He also offers strength and very reliable hands. He was recruited to Pittsburgh to be a basketball player, but turned it down to play football. The defense he picked up while playing basketball shows in his strength and blocking in football.

Travis Long, DE/OLB, Washington State - This move is to simply add depth to our linebackers as we lost Erik Walden and could potentially lose Brad Jones as well. Plus, we really lacked depth at linebacker last season as it seemed they are were injured at some point during the season.

Braden Wilson, FB, Kansas State - This won't be a popular choice, but it may be time to start looking at replacing John Kuhn. He's owed $2.3 million in the final year of his deal in 2013, so it is quite possible the Packers could start looking for his potential replacement.

Justice Cunningham, TE, South Carolina - This simply because we may or may not take a tight end in the draft. If we don't, Justice Cunningham would serve the purpose of what we lost in Tom Crabtree.

Jordan Rodgers, QB, Vanderbilt - Nostalgia purposes only here. But, it would be pretty cool. Packers need some comfort in a back up quarter back if Rodgers were to go down ever. Graham Harrell hasn't showed me much of anything that would hint he could step up to the plate. Jordan, Aaron's brother, could provide that cushion. If not, a veteran free agent signing or trade may be in order.

Dan Conroy, K, Michigan State - "Mason is our guy." I don't know about you all, but I was really sick of hearing that from Mike McCarthy last season. That fact that it was a weekly quote all season long shows there are questions at our kicker position, which is one of the more highly important and vital positions on the football team. The Packers could sign Conroy as someone to get Mason Crosby focused in training camp after the forgettable season Crosby had in 2012. Conroy has the strength and the accuracy to give Mason Crosby a good potential battle in training camp.

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

- Andrew Vrchota (@AndrewVrchota)

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks and more. Live in game commentary, breaking news, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @AndrewVrchota, @JoeP_Norton, @SMahon2Go @ryan_937, @Mik3_Schu, @jheldred, @B_Toom_3, and @olewr7. Finally, find us on Instagram! (wisportsblog)

What Ted Thompson Could Do With Four Million Dollars

It's been one of those weeks if you are a Green Bay Packers fan. It's been another "Ted Thompson" free agency period that we have become so accustom to where Ted sits back and doesn't pounce on any big free agents. It's a sign of confidence that I highly admire in Thompson. My own philosophy is that teams that are desperate are the one's who feverishly sign as many free agents as possible and break the banks and salary caps. Ted has an extraordinary amount of trust in his homegrown talent and is hesitant to sign free agents year after year.

This piece I have put together does not insist that I think Ted Thompson should go out and get free agents, nor do I think he will. This is simply to take a look at what is left out there that (in the case Ted does open up his check book and spend a little) could help the Packers in areas where they wouldn't have to waste a draft pick on. Heading into the draft, Our biggest needs are offensive line, defensive line, safety, and linebacker.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers are sitting around 22 million in cap room. (Was at 18.7 million until today when A.J. Hawk's pay cut was announced that he went from 7.05 million to 3.6 million) Ideally, the Packers would end up spending that on extensions for Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews. Also, with the draft approaching, teams usually spend about 5-6 million on their draft picks. With that said, it is expected that the Packers could continue cutting some players on the roster. One move that Green Bay could take a look at is cutting Tramon Williams, who is set to make just under a down payment on a house of 6 million dollars in 2013. He's 30 years old which isn't terrible for a defensive back. His number declined in from 2011 to 2012. It has been rumored that he may have to compete for a starting spot heading into trainings camp this year. The possibility is definitely there.

So, going with that and a few other cuts (Marshall Newhouse, for example), let's say Ted Thompson has a good 10 million dollars sitting on his desk staring him in his eyes. 5 million for free agency, the other 5 million for draft picks. What kind of talent is out there that Ted could get the most for his money? Basically, TT is Macklemore and free agency is his thrift shop. Let's see how Ted could pop some tags.

Ted Thompson on his offseason vacation enjoying a soft drink with two locals.

Rashad Jennings - RB - Age: 27 - 2012 salary: $574,612
Ted's 2013 Contract Offer: 2 Years, $1,500,000 ($250,000 signing bonus) 

Rashad Jennings spent most of his 2012 backing up Jaguars star running back Maurice Jones-Drew until MJD was injured and Jacksonville went with a running back by committee for the rest of the season. Jennings saw more touches, but not as many as scouts would have liked to see to see Jennings' full potential. It's worth noting that the Jaguars had the second worst record in the NFL last year, thus gave up on their season quite early. Rashad is a big, power runner which would compliment the Packers' speedy DuJuan Harris really well. He's a great blocker and a great pass catcher. He can also break for big runs at straight speed as well as break through arm tackles like it's nothing. His durability is a question, but so was Cedric Benson's and we ended up signing him last year. Speaking of Benson, Ted paid under a million dollars for Cedric so I can't imagine he wants to spend more than that on another runner. The upside for Rashad Jennings and the Packers is far to great to ignore.

Danario Alexander - WR - Age: 24 - 2012 salary: $490,000
Ted's 2013 Contract Offer: 4 Years, $4,000,000 ($1,000,000 guaranteed)

Alexander caught everything last year, including Champ Bailey

Where do I begin here? Let's get the negatives out of the way first I suppose. He's had five knee surgeries during his football career, starting when he played for Missouri. Last year in November, Alexander was asked on how his knees feel and commented that "My left knee felt just like my right knee...No thought goes into how it feels, and no effort is spent trying to baby it. Same with the hamstring. After everything I’ve dealt with, I consider myself blessed to feel this way." Shortly after this interview with San Diego Union-Tribune, Danario had one of the best two-month stretches by any wide receiver in recent memory. In November to December, Alexander racked in 37 catches for 657 yards and 7 touchdowns. He definitely shined in a very lackluster Chargers offense. He finished the season with the highest per-play efficiency rankings among receivers for many analysts. So essentially, if he can pass your team's physical inspection, he sound be a nice, cheap steal in this free agent class. The Packers need for him is obvious. Greg Jennings went to the Vikings. Donald Driver retired. The Packers need depth at wide receiver as James Jones' contract is set to expire after this season and Jordy Nelson's the next after. Alexander could be a legit deep threat for Aaron Rodgers, which could add yet to the already elite arsenal for our offense.

Sebastian Vollmer - OT - Age: 28 - 2012 salary: $650,000
Ted's 2013 Contract Offer: 2 Years, $2,000,000 ($650,000 guaranteed)

Here is Vollmer ripping Chris Long's head off.

By now you should all know I'm not a fan of Marshall Newhouse. But, if you didn't, well now you do. Bryan Bulaga is going to get a look at left tackle during training camp, which puts a partial void at the right tackle position. I like Don Barclay, don't get me wrong. However, I know our track record with offensive linemen and injuries so in my eyes the extra depth can always help. Sebastian Vollmer is six-foot-eight, three hundred thirty pounds. He bounced back from an injury in 2011 and had an outstanding season in 2012 for the Patriots. He's very good at both run and pass blocking. Vollmer is quite versatile as he can play both left and right tackle. Ted wouldn't have to spend much on Vollmer, and giving him a look would be very smart if they want to keep Aaron Rodgers around for a while. Eric Winston is another free agent offensive tackle on the market, but would likely require a contract where he would be making a few million dollars a year, which is something Ted wants to avoid as he doesn't like big gambles and "all-ins" for free agents.

Michael Hoomanawanui - TE - Age: 24 - 2012 salary: $540,000
Ted's 2013 Contract Offer: 3 Years, $1,900,000 ($700,000 guaranteed)

We lost Tom Crabtree to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which was poor management by the Packers for not tendering him. But, it's water under the bridge now. The Packers have four other tight ends, with Jermichael Finley at the top of the depth chart. Then you have the injured Andrew Quarless, the unproven D.J. Williams, and Ryan Taylor who has caught one pass for 11 yards in 3 NFL seasons. Hoomanawanui was 3rd in command with the Patriots last year under Gronkowski and Hernandez. Hoomanawanui is a much better blocker than Crabtree, is a better offensive threat than Crabtree, and has a way cooler name than Crabtee. I say Ted grabs him, just so I can see all of the Packer fans attempt to spell his name on social media outlets.(especially since "traitor" was so difficult).

With these four signings, Ted Thompson just spent $3,633,000 with just over 6 million to use for draft picks. Now these would be perfect scenarios, however they aren't at all farfetched. The Packers might take the high road and focus strictly on the draft to patch their holes, but I wouldn't be surprised if we brought in one or two players to help our needs.

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

- Andrew Vrchota (@AndrewVrchota)

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks and more. Live in game commentary, breaking news, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @AndrewVrchota, @JoeP_Norton, @SMahon2Go @ryan_937, @Mik3_Schu, @jheldred, @B_Toom_3, and @olewr7. Finally, find us on Instagram! (wisportsblog)

Mailbag: Brewers, NFL Draft, Brandon Jennings, and More

Q1: If Ryan Braun is found "guilty", who ends up in LF? - @NotFakeBenWeege

I don't think there is enough evidence against Ryan to even make a case to suspend him. His name on two pieces of paper surely isn't valid. I don't think anyone should be at all worried at the moment unless MLB releases something on a decision. Cause all of the reports saying Braun will be suspended are all false, and they were proven false by a few reliable sources. To answer your question, I think Khris Davis or Caleb Gindl would get the call to play left field for 50 games just based on how they are playing this spring.

Q2: Do you think there's a chance the Packers sign Micheal Turner and pair him with DuJuan Harris? - @davidjames2004

Five years ago, Michael Turner would have been a great free agent pick up. I don't think Ted Thompson has any interest in signing a free agent running back, especially Michael Turner. Now, if he was looking to sign Steven Jackson, Reggie Bush, or Ahmad Bradshaw, then I'd be interested. I see Ted using one of the nine draft picks on a running back. Eddie Lacy, Montee Ball, and Christine Michael have been linked to the Packers for a few months now. I am in favor of having Harris paired with a veteran. I like that idea a lot. Good question.

Q3: Who do you think could be a surprise contributor for the Brewers next season? - @zdugan3

I'll answer this from both sides of the ball. First, pitching. I think Marco Estrada has himself set up for a fantastic season as the Brewers' number two pitcher. He has tremendous upside and is a big sleeper for 2013. In 2012, Estrada put up ace-esque numbers with 5.32 K/BB ratio, a 9.3 K/9 ratio, and a 2.0 BB/9 ratio. If Estrada can pitch a full season, which would be a first in his career, I think he could really turn some heads. As for offense, I think the obvious choice is Rickie Weeks. There is no way he can be as bad as he was last year, and I feel he will bounce back nicely in 2013. After the All-Star break, Weeks batted .261 with 13 home runs and 10 stolen bases.

Q4: If the Bucks let Brandon Jennings walk, who do you use cap space on? - @patrickbucky

I can assure you that the directive of the Bucks is that they will match any offer Jennings receives. The idea is to Let Ellis walk, resign Jennings and Redick and pair them with Larry Sanders and Ersan Ilyasova. With the cap space that becomes available, the Bucks will obviously target Josh Smith, much like they did before the trade deadline. Al Jefferson, Corey Brewer, Josh Howard, and Kyle Korver all appeal to me as well. Since the Bucks are the least valuable team in the NBA, establishing a legit "Big 3" would go along way to draw a crowd at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Drawing interest in your team is how you start to make money as a franchise. It doesn't matter how many wins you have at the end of the year, it's about who you put on the court. 

Q5: Do you think Sam Dekker will make it in the NBA? All-Star? - @L_Myers12

Too early to tell right now. He certainly has the potential. He'll be entering his second season with the Badgers next year. Let's see how that plays out before we start predicting NBA futures. He has a legit shot at Big 10 6th Man of the Year, though.  

Q6: What is the condition of Aramis Ramirez? - @packbrewfan1

The Brewers released yesterday that Aramis Ramirez will be sidelined for 7-10 days with a sprained knee. The club was trying to give Aramis more at bats in spring to quicken his slow start process so he would be hot by Opening Day. That idea backfired when Aramis jammed his knee sliding into second base. Ramirez will rest up and will test his knee out in about a week. With Ramirez aging, the signing of Alex Gonzalez looks even better now as he can provide depth at third base. 

Q7: Jenkins or Canty or neither? Position for first round pick? - @NeisesTom

I wouldn't mind either. Jenkins said he would love a Packers reunion, but I don't think Ted Thompson feels the same. Canty is scheduled to come into Green Bay to meet with the staff and have a physical. A lot of people view Canty as a high profile player that would be a perfect fit for the Packers, and the organization is well aware of that. I think the Packers understand the importance of filling the holes that developed over last season. As far as drafting in the first round, I would like to see a running back, wide receiver, or offensive line.  

Q8: Thoughts on Hiram Burgos in the Bigs this year? - @AlexTJohnson

He'll be in Triple-A for the duration of the 2013 season with a few spot starts for the Brewers throughout the year. He'll be a September call up for sure. Looking further, Burgos will make a strong case to be in the Brewers starting rotation heading into the 2014 season.

Q9: Are the Brewers improving this year? - @EthanWotruba

Improving is tough to say. I think what the Brewers are doing right now is feeling out the farm system and seeing what works and doesn't work. They are looking to have a contending team again by 2014/2015 and they are putting themselves in the perfect position to do so. They cut the salary by almost 25% and still have a viable offense with a decent bullpen and an inexperienced starting rotation. They are sitting well with player development. Pitchers and position players in the minor have strides before they are at a major league level and considered legitimate by baseball writers.

Q10: How do you feel about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar being the next coach of the Milwaukee Bucks? There's talk and he said he'd do it. - @HarrisonFtw

I would love Kareem as the head coach for the Bucks. It relates to what I talked about before about drawing a crowd. Milwaukee would love to see Kareem on the Bucks again, only this time as a coach. Granted, Jabbar has said some things about Milwaukee that were rather not nice. But, in a recent interview he expressed interest in coaching the Bucks. Therefore, I am absolutely an advocate for it. Other names that have been brought up for the coaching vacancy are Jerry Sloan, Stan Van Gundy, and Brian Shaw.

Thank you all who have participated! See you all again in April for the next Mailbag Blog!

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

-Andrew Vrchota (@AndrewVrchota)

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks and more. Live in game commentary, breaking news, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @AndrewVrchota, @JoeP_Norton, @Brandon_BFP, @SMahon2Go @ryan_937, @Mik3_Schu. Finally, find us on Instagram! (wisportsblog)

Packers 7 Round Mock Draft 3.0

Here it is. Mock Draft 3.0 for the Packers. I was only planning on doing two different ones before the NFL Draft, but changed my mind after seeing Mel Kiper and Todd McShay released their first two for the first round with a month to go before the draft. So, I'm going with three, which is what you're about to read right now. You can read 1.0 here and 2.0 here. This is the last mock draft I'm doing before the actual NFL Draft in April. So, here we go...

Photo: Zimbio.com

Round 1 Pick 26: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama - James Starks has yet to prove that he can stay healthy for a full season. Alex Green has done nothing with the opportunities sent his way. Cedric Benson and Ryan Grant will likely be gone after this offseason. Although DuJuan Harris was impressive down the stretch in his few games where he shined, I'm not sure if he is ready to take on a full starting workload. Still, the Packers may address the running back position early in the 2013 NFL Draft. Eddie Lacy heading into the NFL Combine has been compared to a few running backs that are in the NFL now, but the one I keep hearing is Frank Gore. Lacy values the potential of what Green Bay could offer him and his career. He was quoted saying this at the Combine:

“I feel as though they wouldn’t just be able to spread the field out,” said Lacy on the prospect of joining the Packers. “They’d have to actually have to defend the run as well. If Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback, you’re not going to put nine guys in the box. So it’ll kind of balance out.”

Eddie Lacy did not work out at the Combine due to a small hamstring tear but will partake in Alabama's Pro Day. If his injury doesn't seem to be a major concern, I wouldn't mind Green Bay drafting him as the first running back in the 2013 draft, especially if free agency isn't an option for Ted Thompson.
(Previous pick: Desmond Trufant, Washington, CB)

Round 2 Pick 55: Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor - I think we all know the reasoning for this pick. Greg Jennings putting his home in De Pere, Wisconsin up for sale, as well as showing interest in signing with the Dolphins, Vikings, and other teams. There are a few reports saying Green Bay might franchise tag Jennings, but I really hope they let him walk instead of over pay him. In addition, Donald Driver announced his retirement from the NFL last week and made it official February 6th, 2013. It looks like the Packers will need to look to add a wide receiver in the draft.
Previous pick: Kyle Long, OT/G, Oregon)

Photo: NCAA.com

Round 3 Pick 88: David Quessenberry, G/C/OT, San Jose State
The Packers had major problems at center after letting Scott Wells walk away, so they'll have to address that area in the draft. Evan Dietrich-Smith, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, has been in talks with the Packers to sign long tern with the Packers and be the center for out future. Even if EDS signs, we will still need some sort of depth at center in case the inevitable occurs. The Packers need to beef up the tackle position this offseason as well. I'm not a big fan of Marshall Newhouse nor do I see him as a viable option at left tackle going into next season. There have been rumblings this offseason that the Packers are considering moving Brian Bulaga over to left tackle next season. Ted Thompson will like David Quessenberry's versatility, as the San Jose State product can play every position up front, including center.
(Previous pick: Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M)

Round 4 Pick 119: Cornelius Washington, DE/OLB, Georgia - Hopefully I'm not the only one who doesn't want Erik Walden back on the Packers next year. He is a free agent next year and I don't see us bringing him back in. With his departure, there would be a void at the line backer position. A.J Hawk has also been brought up in regards to not being back next year because of his rather high salary. Desmond Bishop and Nick Perry will be coming back from injury. There are a lot of questions surrounding the linebackers on the Packers and they need answers. In the fourth round, Cornelius Washington would be a steal for the Packers and he could honestly still be on the board. A month ago, Washington was projected to be an undrafted free agent. Now, he's being projected anywhere from third to fifth round. He's a great tackler. He's fast. He's an elite pass rusher. He's exactly what the Packers need. He's going to shine on passing downs, but could struggle with the run game. However, that's what the other ten guys are for.
(Previous pick: Gerald Hodges, OLB, Penn State)

Round 4 Compensatory Pick (For QB Matt Flynn): Jordan Reed, TE, Florida - There's a chance that Jermichael Finley could be cut this offseason to preserve some cap room. Finley has been quoted a lot this offseason by saying there's a "50/50 chance" he will return to Green Bay as well as him saying "the Packers haven't talked to me much this offseason." The most resent quote from Finley is "I couldn't take a pay cut" but would "maybe" restructure, something the Packers could do if they extend his deal beyond 2013. All signs put to Finley possibly being on his way out. The Packers have some depth at tight end, but no one is a stand out as the leader. Full Finley quote here. Jordan Reed would be a great pickup for Green Bay with this compensatory pick. Widely compared to New England's tight end Aaron Hernandez, Reed is a huge threat that has wide receiver speed and deadly in yards after catch. From what I've dug up on him, he needs to bulk up a bit to be a better blocker as well as learn patients to avoid false starts. Those are easy fixes.

Photo: Fanside.com

Round 5 Pick 152: Kwame Geathers, DT, Georgia - It wouldn't hurt the Packers to look for defensive line help. Jerel Worthy had knee surgery a month ago, Raji was a little banged up last year, and C.J. Wilson needs someone to compliment him better. The Packers are scheduled to meet with free agent DT Chris Canty next week in Green Bay. However, if we look to the draft for help, Kwame Geathers (right) is six-foot six, three-hundred and fifty-five pounds of absolute dominance. He made the All-SEC Freshman Team the in 2010. Geathers played in all 14 games in 2012, finishing with forty tackles, including five for losses and one sack. ESPN ranks Geathers 5 out of 5 in pass rushing, which would compliment B.J. Raji and company extremely well.  
(Previous pick: Stepfan Taylor, RB, Stanford) 

Round 6 Pick 182: Zeke Motta, S, Notre Dame - The Packers have had a void in the defensive back field since losing Nick Collins a few years back. They will need to address this in the draft at some point, and I don't have a problem with them doing it late. The Packers should look for a versatile player who could play either corner or safety, but preferably safety to add depth to Jennings, Burnett, and McMillian. Zeke is a guy that could mesh well right away with Green Bay, as long as our pass rush improved significantly next year. He's got great arm strength and has great back pedal ability. He's great when it comes to run defense. If he works on his tackling, he'll be a great snag late in the draft.
(Previous pick: Caleb Sturgis, K, Florida) 

Photo: Zimbio.com

Round 7 Pick 216: Caleb Sturgis, K, Florida - "Mason is our guy." I don't know about you all, but I was really sick of hearing that from Mike McCarthy last season. That fact that it was a weekly quote all season wrong shows there are questions at our kicker position, which is one of the more highly important and vital positions on the football team. In the 2012 season, Caleb Sturgis (left) was 24 for 28 in field goals (including the Sugar Bowl). In the 2011 season, Sturgis went 22 for 26 in field goals. Sturgis was named to the 2012 All-American Third Team, as well as the 2012 All-SEC First Team. The Packers could draft Sturgis as someone to get Mason Crosby focused in training camp after the forgettable season Crosby had in 2012. Ted Thompson was in attendance at the East-West Shrine game to scout Caleb. In that game, Sturgis made both field-goal attempts, including one from 48 yards out that was said to have been "good from 60 yards". Sturgis has the strength and the accuracy to give Mason Crosby a good potential battle in training camp.
(Previous pick: Marcus Davis, WR, Virginia Tech)

Round 7 Compensatory Pick (For C Scott Wells): Melvin White, CB, Louisiana-Lafayette - With the exit of Charles Woodson and looking back on what I said earlier, the Packers need some depth when it comes to our defensive backs. And, with news coming out from the Packers that Tramon Williams will have to compete for a spot on next year's depth chart at cornerback, Melvin White could give Williams a run for his money, and spot. Melvin is six-foot-three, one-hundred and ninty-three pounds, which is outstanding length for a cornerback. He had a pretty good 40-yard dash at the combine, clocking in at a 4.50. From what I found, Melvin would not work well in a zone scheme, but would excel as a press corner.

Top 5 Projected Undrafted Free Agents the Packers could/should have interest in:

1. Matt Brown, QB, Illinois State - Packers need some comfort in a back up quarter back if Rodgers were to go down ever. Brown could provide that cushion. If not, a veteran free agent signing may be in order.

2. William Campbell, DT, Michigan - Ted Thompson scouted this guy a few months back. He should be on the radar still and will likely go undrafted. Look for Green Bay to pursue.

3. Rodney Smith, WR, Florida State - The Packers have made it clear that Randall Cobb will not be returning kicks next year. Smith could be our new kick returner as he has great speed and hands.

4. Luke Marquardt, OT, Azusa Pacific - Packers need to focus on keeping Rodgers healthy and protected. Six-foot-nine, three-hundred and fifteen pound Luke Marquardt could help that cause.

5. Braden Wilson, FB, Kansas State - This won't be a popular choice, but it may be time to start looking at replacing John Kuhn. He's owed $2.3 million in the final year of his deal in 2013, so it is quite possible the Packers could start looking for his potential replacement.

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

-Andrew Vrchota (@AndrewVrchota)

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks and more. Live in game commentary, breaking news, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @AndrewVrchota, @JoeP_Norton, @Brandon_BFP, @SMahon2Go @ryan_937, @Mik3_Schu. Finally, find us on Instagram! (wisportsblog)

Three More Tasks For The Packers This Offseason

In light of the recent release of Charles Woodson and the retirement of Donald Driver, it's evident that the Packers are about to embark on lots of changes this offseason. They have no choice. For the past two season, there have been pivotal areas the Packers needed to fix and came up short. Whether that may have been caused by injury or just pushing the issue aside, it is time to come face to face with these concerns and get the Packers back to the Super Bowl. I have come up with three more things the Packers need to do with offseason in order keep pace with the success they've had in the past three years.

Photo: SI.com

1. Let Greg Jennings walk. The Packers should be comfortable without Jennings being there, regardless of what some may argue. Jennings was injured for nearly half the season last year, yet Aaron Rodgers was still able to put up NFL leading numbers last season by finding and trusting the other targets he has. Jordy Nelson, James Jones, and Randall Cobb are a formidable trio that I am one-hundred percent behind if that is the direction Ted Thompson wants to go. And we don't need to sacrifice a high pick in the NFL draft for a new wide receiver, either. A wide receiver in the that should be available in the fourth round that Green Bay could look at is Josh Boyce out of Texas Christian University. He's six-foot tall and two-hundred pounds and could be a possible kick returner and easily a great fourth wide out option for Aaron Rodgers. If we go deeper into the draft, in the fifth round Corey Fuller from Virginia Tech should be there. Sixth round, six-foot-two Chris Harper from Kansas State could be still available. If we do go for a wide receiver early, I've been really high on Marcus Davis our of Virginia Tech, and so has Ted Thompson. Davis was originally projected to be a seventh round pick but has raised a few eyebrows and is quickly rising on many draft boards. In any event, I am not at all concerned over our wide outs because of the talent we have already and for the fact that Aaron Rodgers knows how to play his position from what I hear.

2. Sign free agent running back Steven Jackson. We all know it. The running game has been a concern for the Packers for a while. Even before they won the Super Bowl. We haven't had a legitimate run game to balance our passing game since Ryan Grant's 2009 season. I still argue we haven't had a running game for a decade back when Ahman Green was the Packer's running back. The next testimony is that "Ted Thompson doesn't like signing free agents." Yes, I know. Ted can't even hold a candle to Ron Wolf when it comes to free agent signings as Ron was responsible for bringing in the likes of Reggie White, Desmond Howard, Frank Winters, and Santana Dotson just to name a few. If Ted wants to improve the team at the running back position, he'll give Steven Jackson a long look this offseason. Unlike Cedric Benson, Jackson is a league veteran that Green Bay needs. Jackson has had eight straight seasons of 1,000+ rushing yards. He's a proven runner that would excel with Green Bay as well as mentor the new blood that comes in. The Packers rarely make mistakes in cap management, and I don't see them starting a bad trend any time soon. The Packers will be coming into the 2013 season as a Super Bowl contender again. They will need an established running back to take them to the next level of success.

3. Focus on defense in NFL Draft. The Packers are projected to have nine total picks in the 2013 NFL Draft. They are slated for one pick every round along with compensatory picks, one in the fourth (Matt Flynn) and one in the seventh round (Scott Wells). (Note: Pat Lee will not get Green Bay a compensatory pick.) The order of the compensatory picks has yet to be determined, but those rounds should be accurate.

Photo: CBS Sports

I'm not saying all the picks need to be focused on defense, but it needs to be a focal point. I'm suggesting that two of the top three picks should be directed towards the defense. Top voids are replacing Charles Woodson in the secondary, matching a linebacker with Clay Matthews to improve the pass rush, and a defesive end to replace Mike Neal and provide a plan B for an unproven Jerel Worthy. First, the secondary. Since losing Nick Collins, the Packers haven't been able to solve that puzzle on that position. The Packers need to take a chance somewhere in the draft and take a safety/corner back to add depth to Morgan Burnett,  Jerron McMillian, and M.D. Jennings. I doubt Ted will draft early on that position, but a guy like Robert Lester from Alabama or Zeke Motta out of Notre Dame would be a great sixth round pick for the Packers. Looking for a pass rushing linebacker will come a lot sooner than the late rounds. I'm thinking fourth round is most likely, just because of the two picks we will have on the table for us. Gerald Hodges from Penn State, Jelani Jenkins out of Florida, or Sean Porter out of Texas A&M would all be great pick ups for Green Bay at that stage of the draft. Finally, the Packers need to beef up the defensive line. This needs to happen in the top part of our picks. I would love to get it out of the way with the first pick, to be honest. Dion Jordan from Oregon would be the guy to go with who would be still available at that point of the draft. He's six-foot-seven, two-hundred thirty-one pounds of brute strength. He could compliment B.J Raji and C.J. Wilson when Ryan Pickett isn't in there. He'd add the depth we need on that line.

The rest of our picks will be geared towards a wide out, offensive line, and hopefully a kicker. I see the Packers bringing back Jermichael Finlay so we won't need a tight end. I stated before that a running back won't be necessary if we sign a free agent running back. There's a lot of upside coming into this offseason and heading into the NFL Combine that is already underway as I type this. Regardless if my ideas are right or not, I just hope the Packers draft smart and get the best available people and not just necessarily what we have voids in. In Ted Thompson I trust.

Until next time, Beers, Brats, and Championships.

-Andrew Vrchota (@AndrewVrchota)

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks and more. Live in game commentary, breaking news, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @AndrewVrchota, @JoeP_Norton, @Brandon_BFP, @SMahon2Go @ryan_937, @Mik3_Schu. Finally, find us on Instagram! (wisportsblog)