Green Bay Packers: Return To Glory—the Draft

Ah yes, spring is here. Love is in the air. Everything about this time of year suggests all things are renewed. And yes, it is the time of year for the greatest marketing/brand equity scheme in sports and arguably even within the circles of Wall Street. It is time for the NFL draft. The time when NFL GM’s sell team futures to build product interest and. ticket sales. Bless them one and all!

Draft day is about intrigue, smoke screens, and especially strategy to address needs. The Green Bay Packers have a defense that too often caved in last year. In order to return to 2007 form and results,  "The Pack" must address this side of the ball.

The two most glaring needs are for additional interior line help and a complimentary pass rusher, preferably an edge rushing hybrid DE/OLB to relieve double team pressure on Aaron Kampman. So without any further drum rolls the Green Bay Packers select with their number nine pick:

Everett Brown: Why Brown? Three reasons: First, Orakpo will not be available. Second, Maybin is too slow to be able to drop back in coverage and is reported to be a straight line runner who struggles with directional changes. This will be a liability for any coverage packages that involve OLB’s. The third reason is that the Green Bay Packers will pass on Raji to bolster the interior of their defensive line because they will choose as their second round pick:

Ron Brace: This is a one dimensional DT who is an exceptional run stuffer, but does not get great interior pushes to pressure the QB. The Packers can rely on Cullen Jenkins to provide interior pass rushing pressure. Brace is needed to counter the NFC teams that focus on running the football. The recipe for winning the NFC North Division is to first and formost, STOP THE RUN. So why not choose Raji in the first round? Because an impact DE/OLB will not be available in round two and the Packers must address both pass rush and run stopping needs with immediate contributors.

Ah, yes, the NFL draft…Let the games begin! And you thought futures were only sold on the Chicago and New York Mercantile Exchanges.