Green Bay Packers: Draft Strategy

Green Bay has a few urgent needs for next season, and a few positions that could use more depth.  They have three primary needs; a Left Tackle to develop under Chad Clifton, an Outside Linebacker to play across from Clay Matthews, and a Corner Back to eventually step in for Green Bay's aging Charles Woodson and Al Harris.  Green Bay would also like to add explosiveness to their Running Backs, and find a strong safety who excels in coverage.

Green Bay has many options drafting 23rd in the first round.  Obviously they have three choices; stay put at 23, trade up for another first rounder, trade down.  What they should do completely depends on who is available.  

If a top Left Tackle is available Ted Thompson will have to take him.  There are four top tackles in this draft.

• Russell Okung
• Trent Williams
• Bryan Bullaga
• Anthony Davis

Assuming those four players are picked Thompson will simply have to go with the best available player. Here is a mini draft board for the 23rd pick

1. Any extreme faller, such as Joe Haden, C.J Spiller, Dez Bryant, or Eric Berry
2. Sergio Kindle (OLB, Texas)
3. Kyle Wilson (CB, Boise State)
4. Devin McCourtney (CB, Rutgers) 

If none of the above players are available Green Bay should consider trading.  A logical trade would be with New England because they have three second round picks.  Trading the 23rd for 44th and 47th would favor the patriots heavily, but a trade of Green Bay's first for New England's two seconds and a fifth would be relatively even.  

If two or more of the above players are available, the Packers may consider trading up for the 22nd or 24th picks.  

trading the second, third and fourth round picks would be equal trade value according to the draft pick value board.  This might seem pricey, and it is, but first rounders succeed far more often than later rounds and are worth the price.  Clay Matthews is a perfect example of how trading into the first can be a great technique.  

So here are a few first round possibilities with the strategies above:

• Trent Williams and Sergio Kindle or Kyle Wilson
• Trent Williams or Sergio Kindle or Kyle Wilson
• Sergio Kindle and Kyle Wilson
• Sergio Kindle or Kyle Wilson and Taylor Mays

Those are just a few possibilities that would be terrific for Green Bay.  They all are stretches, but are something to hope for.  

Second Round...

Green Bay will have many options in the second.  If they do not select a Tackle in the first, Jared Veldheer would be a terrific pick 

If they have multiple picks the following may be considered

1. Jerry Hughes (OLB, TCU)
2. Patrick Robinson (CB, FSU)
3. Jared Veldheer (LT, Hillsdale)
4. Charles Brown (LT, USC)
5. Jahvid Best (RB, Cal)
6. Golden Tate (WR, ND)
7. Rashad Jones (SS, Georgia)

A few players for the Packers to consider later in the draft:

• Chris Cook (CB, Virginia) He is a great athlete with great size
• Donavon Warren (CB, Michigan) He is a play making corner with great experience
• Zoltan Mesko (Punter, Michigan) Green Bay needs to improve their punting 

Green Bay really needs to take advantage of this draft.  They just have a few more pieces to fill, and they will be Super Bowl contenders.  If the follow my draft strategy I believe they will fill ALL their pressing needs and have room for a few "luxury" picks.