2012 NFL Mock Draft: Could Green Bay Packers Trade Up to Nab Pass Rusher?

The day was April 25, 2009, and Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson had a big decision to make. 

As he sat in the Packers war room, having already acquired nose tackle B.J. Raji from Boston College with the ninth overall pick, there was a name he couldn't shake and a need he knew he needed to fill. 

The name was Clay Matthews, and the need was 3-4 rush linebacker. 

A man notorious for trading back in the draft to stockpile picks, Thompson sent a second and two third-round picks to the New England Patriots for the No. 26 pick in the first round and a later fifth rounder. 

Seconds later, Roger Goodell announced Matthews as the Packers' pick, and the rest, as they say, was history. Matthews turned into a superstar, registering back-to-back 10-sack seasons while helping lead the Packers to a Super Bowl win over the Pittsburgh Steelers just less than 22 months later.

This April, Thompson might be in the market to make a similar move.

The Packers have a gaping hole at both outside linebacker opposite Matthews and defensive end, where Cullen Jenkins vacated last offseason.

While the Packers will likely be just fine picking the best player available at No. 28, Thompson showed with Matthews that he is willing to make a big move up to get a player he desperately needs. And at this point, the Packers' pass rush from both the aforementioned positions is bordering on desperation.

An upgrade needs to be made there this offseason, or it could be another long season for defensive coordinator Dom Capers in 2012.

The Packers should receive a number of decent compensatory picks, so trading a few middle picks (not including the comp picks, which can't be traded) wouldn't be as damaging to Thompson's strategy of holding picks.

The pieces are in place. However, Thompson's overall draft history suggests that trading up is a long shot. But he has made exceptions, and if there were a time when he might be willing to make another, it could be this April.

2012 NFL Mock Draft    

1.  Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2.  Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (Via trade with St. Louis Rams)  

3.  Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4.  Cleveland Browns – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

5.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

6.  St. Louis Rams – Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa (via trade with Washington Redskins)

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars – Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

8.  Carolina Panthers – Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

9.  Miami Dolphins – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

10.  Buffalo Bills – Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

11.  Kansas City Chiefs – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

12.  Seattle Seahawks – Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

13.  Arizona Cardinals – Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

14.  Dallas Cowboys – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

15.  Philadelphia Eagles – Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

16.  New York Jets – Nick Perry, OLB, USC

17.  Cincinnati Bengals – Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

18.  San Diego Chargers – David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

19.  Chicago Bears – Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

20.  Tennessee Titans – Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

21.  Cincinnati Bengals – Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

22.  Cleveland Browns – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

23.  Detroit Lions – Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers – Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

25.  Denver Broncos – Devon Still, DL, Penn State

26.  Houston Texans – Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

27.  New England Patriots – Mark Barron, S, Alabama

28.  Green Bay Packers – Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

29.  Baltimore Ravens – Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

30.  San Francisco 49ers – Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

31.  New England Patriots – Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

32.  New York Giants – Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama