Packers Draft: Green Bay Goes Defensive with Justin Harrell

The Packers are fortunate that Miami fans were still booing loudly enough to drown out the catcalls coming from the Green Bay faithful seven picks later.  

 

The first-round running backs were off the board by the time Green Bay picked at 16 overall.  But if you listen to GM Ted Thompson, it's no guarantee the Pack would have pulled the trigger on a back even if one were available.  

 

Thompson stuck to his guns, drafting the Packers' highest rated player, in this case, Tennessee defensive tackle Justin Harrell—regardless of the team's position needs.  In a division that's home to Matt Millen, I guess you can get away with that kind of narrow-mindedness.  

 

Still, if that's the Pack's stated approach, how do they explain taking Brandon Jackson in the second round?

 

The CliffsNotes on the Nebraska running back aren't a pretty read: lacks size, breakaway speed, and overall strength.  To me, that pick screams, "Well, we needed a running back."  

 

Understandably, injuries scared the Packers (among others) away from Louisville's Michael Bush.  But a bicep tear that kept Harrell out of all but two games this season didn't seem to bother them.

 

It's hard to argue with the defense that Thompson has built through the draft—Aaron Kampman, Nick Collins, and A.J. Hawk, just to name a few gems.  So yes, we owe the Pack the benefit of the doubt regarding Harrell...but this was supposed to be the year their GM turned his draft-day genius to the offensive side of the football.   

 

Instead, Brett Favre will be handing off and throwing to question marks in the backfield and at tight end.  Ready for yet another year of fumbles and interceptions? I hate to say it, but the Packers will remember 2007 as the year they passed on Greg Olsen, who wound up in the hands of division rival Chicago at number 31 overall.  Here's hoping Olsen won't tear Thompson's defense apart twice a year for the next decade.

 

At the end of the weekend, the Packers had selected 11 players over seven rounds...and failed make an offensive splash with any of them. 

 

Go ahead and cash in your chips Brett—we don't blame you.