With the Ninth Pick in the NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers Select...

While the 2009 NFL Draft maybe more than four months away, it's never too early to start looking at possible candidates for each team's respective drafts.

The Green Bay Packers, who finished 6-10 in 2008, have the ninth overall selection this April. Here is a look at possible collegiate athletes who could help the Packers at the ninth pick.

Brian Orakpo, DE, University of Texas

The lines on both sides of the football should be the Packers' biggest concern this offseason. The defensive line really struggled to apply consistent pressure on the quarterback, and Orakpo would immediately improve a Green Bay pass rush that only accounted for 27 sacks last season—good for 25th in the NFL.

Orakpo was awarded the Lombardi Award for the nation's best lineman and the Nagurski Trophy for the nation's best defensive player. Nicknamed "O-Sack-Po," the Texas defensive end would provide speed and athleticism to a front four that severely lacks it.

Joined with Aaron Kampman and Cullen Jenkins (who was lost for the season in the Packers' fifth game), Orakpo would give the Packers one of the premier trios of pass rushers in the NFL.

The 6'4", 260-pound Longhorn registered 10.5 sacks with four forced fumbles and 19 tackles for losses. In Texas' biggest win this past season against Oklahoma, Orakpo sacked Sooner quarterback Sam Bradford twice and forced one fumble in a 45-31 win.

Taylor Mays, S, University of Southern California

While safety might not be one of the Packers' bigger concerns, Mays is the type of player that will make an immediate impact on a defense. Playing for the nation's top defense at USC, Mays is a big hitter who also has the speed to cover a lot of ground in a hurry.

Coming in at 6'3", 230 pounds, Mays has been clocked in the 40-yard dash in the 4.3 range. If he posts numbers anywhere near this during the combine, Mays could be long gone by the time the Packers are on the clock. However, if he's still on the board, it's going to be tough for any franchise to pass up on such a special player like Mays.

Depending on the progression or regression of Atari Bigby, Mays could immediately start alongside Pro Bowler Nick Collins. This would give the Packers a secondary full of athletic playmakers, and Mays should be much better then Bigby in run support.

Trojans head coach Pete Carroll went as far as saying he's the best safety he's had at USC, and that's a list that includes Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu.

Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech

Like I said with Orakpo, the Packers need a pass rusher to go along with Kampman and Jenkins. There's a pretty good chance that Orakpo could be off the board by the time the ninth pick comes, so the next best defensive end would be Johnson.

Checking in at 6'7" and nearly 270 pounds, Johnson is more of a speed rusher that uses his 4.65 40-time to elude blockers and get to the quarterback. 

There is concerns about Johnson, however. Because he is strictly a speed rusher, Johnson is a liability in run defense and has gained a reputation of disappearing in games.

The Packers have struck gold with players like that in the past (KGB ring a bell?), but for such a boom or bust prospect, Johnson may not be the answer at defensive end.

In 2008, Johnson recorded seven sacks and two forced fumbles. He also blocked one field goal and had an interception for a touchdown.

Everette Brown, DE, Florida State University

Same story here for Brown. The Seminoles' pass rushing specialist is rocketing up draft boards, and judging by his performance against my Badgers in their bowl game, he could cause a lot of trouble at the next level.

At 6'4", 255 pounds, Brown is a tad undersized, but he makes up for it with a Kampman-like motor. He is solid is run defense as well, something the Packers have struggled with this season.

At this point, Brown is somewhat of a reach—something Packers general manger Ted Thompson absolutely cannot do this draft—but with a solid combine workout, Brown could easily become the prized pass rusher of this draft.

Brown registered 13.5 sacks this season, including four games with over two sacks.

Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma University

According to ESPN.com, McCoy is the highest rated defensive tackle in this year's class. McCoy is only a sophomore this season—leaving doubt that he will even come out—but his explosiveness off the ball separates him from others at his position. 

At 6'4", 300 pounds, McCoy possesses the size and athleticism to cause havoc in opponents' backfields, a la the Bears' Tommie Harris—a fellow Oklahoma Sooner.

McCoy can be effective against both pass and run, and many scouts believe that he will be a top-line tackle that will draw double teams on nearly every play. The Packers' defensive tackles were suspect in 2008, but Thompson might be scared away after selecting Justin Harrell.

There might also be concerns that McCoy won't be an impact player right off the bat, which would probably drop him off the Packers' board.

In 2008, McCoy accounted for 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for losses. He anchors a Sooners defensive line that will be playing in the National Championship, so keep your eye out for 93 in that game.

Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss

While I think the Packers should focus on defense with their first pick, Oher would be a nice selection if Green Bay went that way. Both Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are showing signs of age, and Tauscher went down with a major knee injury a couple of weeks ago.

If Tauscher can't come back, or is slowed in recovery, the Packers might have no choice but to select a tackle to fill that hole.

Oher was a First Team All-American this past season, and ESPN is on record saying he could be the next Orlando Pace. It's possible that Oher could go before the Packers have the chance to take him, but if not, don't be surprised to see Green Bay snatch up the 6'5", 320-pound mammoth blocker.

Oher's speciality is surely run blocking, but scouts say his pass blocking has improved every season at Ole Miss. Add on that Oher hasn't missed a game in his career in Mississippi, and you get a solid offensive lineman prospect.

Eugene Monroe, OT, University of Virginia

Monroe is in the same boat as Oher. Another dominating tackle, Monroe has the chance to go before the Packers select. But like Oher, he looks to project into a a top-line pass protection tackle who could step in for either Clifton or Tauscher.

One question mark with Monroe could be his durability, as he has missed games in each of his seasons as a Cavalier. ESPN rates his pass protection as first class, and his run blocking close behind. He also appears to be a high character player, which is something that the Packer organization has always valued.

Monroe checks in a 6'6", 315 pounds. With a solid combine, he could slid into the top seven or eight picks—eliminating him from the Packers' grasp.

Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma University

While I wouldn't call the Jermichael Finley Experiment over quite yet (he caught a touchdown in the finale), Gresham would immediately push Donald Lee for the starting position. Some scouts he is the most polished tight end to come out in quite some time, and I think Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers wouldn't mind having Gresham in his offensive huddle.

Gresham has the size (6'6", 265 lbs.) to be an effective blocker, and his pass-receiving skills are well documented. In the Sooners' high-powered offense, Gresham routinely exploits the middle of the field and gives his quarterback a big target to hit. His hands are above average, and it appears his football IQ would far exceed Finely's.

With that said, it's probably too early to pick a tight end with the ninth pick. However, I can foresee a situation where Thompson trades down and nabs two late, first-round picks for his ninth. This is where you would see Gresham going to the Packers.

Gresham finished his regular season with 58 catches for 888 yards and 12 touchdowns. He will be playing for the National Championship as well, so look out for No. 18.

What will Thompson do come draft day? Who knows? He has been as unpredictable as any GM in the NFL when it comes to drafting, so pretty much any possibility is open. Most likely, however, is that Thompson will trade down from his ninth slot and pick up two choices for later in the first round or early second.

When it comes down to it though, Thompson needs to have a monster draft in 2009, because his job is on the line next season.