2011 NFL Draft Grades: Green Bay Packers Pick Derek Sherrod in First Round

Green Bay Packers 2011 NFL Draft Grade, Derek Sherrod

The Green Bay Packers had selection No. 32 in the 2011 NFL Draft, and they used it to select Mississippi State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod.

Most experts had Sherrod ranked as a late first round to early second round prospect.

I personally think Sherrod was a decent pick for Green Bay, and I gave them a "B-plus" for selecting him, but I don't think he was the best pick they could have made.

Some of the players who were still available when the Packers were put on the clock include outside linebackers Akeem Ayers, Justin Houston and Brooks Reed.

I would have liked to have seen them go with one of those guys.

Although I think Sherrod will be a decent tackle in the league, I don't think he'll ever be a star. I don't think he'll ever be as good as Chad Clifton was either.

Which is why I'm not too happy with it.

Green Bay has a need at outside linebacker, and there were three, that's right three, top 30 prospect outside linebackers available when Green Bay got to pick.

And they all have star potential.

Brooks Reed has been compared to Clay Matthews, Justin Houston has drawn comparisons to Terrell Suggs, and Akeem Ayers was a top 10 pick before the combine meltdown and still has the talent to play like a top 10 pick.

Getting any of these three would have helped the team immediately, as all three would have been an instant starter across from Clay Matthews.

They also would have gotten a fantastic mentor in Matthews, to teach them what it takes to succeed at the next level.

Let's hope Green Bay plans to trade up for one of the three as they likely won't last too long in the second round.