Oct 8, 2011; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers defender Jared Crick (94) lines up against Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Mike Adams (75) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-US PRESSWIRE

The Packers are putting together a really good NFL Draft with Nick Perry, Jerel Worthy, and Casey Hayward. So, how will the Packers finish off their 2012 draft class?

The Packers have two fourth rond picks and plenty of sixth- and seventh-rounders so the Packers have some flexibility if they want to make a trade for a player like Ole Miss’s Bobby Massie to provide more depth on the offensive line after Chad Clifton was cut. If they stay where they are in the fourth round, they should look at running back and another defensive lineman.

Feb 26, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Utah State running back Robert Turbin runs the 40 yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

The first thing the Packers should do in the fourth round is pick up a running back. Miami’s Lamar Miller is a definite possibility if he continues to fall but a more realistic option is Utah State’s Robert Turbin.

Turbin was productive and college and has shown a great combo of size and speed. I think Turbin has the tools to be a really good NFL running back.

Despite picking up Jerel Worthy, the Packers still need some help at defensive end and the two players that are now steals are Boise State’s Billy Wynn and Nebraska’s Jared Crick.

Wynn will probably be off the board by the time the Packers pick, but Crick will probably still be there and he would be a great pick as he could start at defensive end.

A defensive line of Crick, B.J. Raji, and Worthy would be able to dominate in the trenches.

In the sixth round, the Packers will probably look at taking a young quarterback like Ryan Lindley out of San Diego State.

Lindley has an impressive arm but he lacks in the areas of consistency and accuracy. However, I think Lindley will be at least as good as Rex Grossman with the potential to be similar to Brett Favre.

Lindley can be a backup that the Packers can develop which is eactly what they want.

December 17, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Diego State Aztecs quarterback Ryan Lindley (14) against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns during the first quarter of the New Orleans Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

In the seventh round, the Packers have four picks and plenty of possibilities.

The Packers could take some chances on some players like Arizona State’s Vontaxe Burfict as he is a high ceiling guy that would not be much of a loss if he does not pan out.

Notre Dame safety Robert Blanton could be another possibility if he is still on the board.  Colorado offensive guard Ryan Miller is a player that has a high ceiling and could be very effective.

A player that is off the radar but a very good talent that would be worth taking in the seventh round is Utah cornerback Conroy Black.

Black has all the skills to develop into a starting cornerback in the NFL as he could be a dime cornerback next season even.

November 19, 2011; San Diego, CA, USA; Boise State Broncos defensive defensive lineman Shea McClellin (92) reacts after a stop during the first half against San Diego State Aztecs at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIRE

Each team editor affiliated with Fansided was given a shot to be on the clock and to make their team’s pick for the first round of the NFL Draft. This is their mock draft.

Packers fans – check out who I selected at pick #28 – Ok, maybe I gave it away with the picture … BTW, no trades were allowed – something that I think will be on the mind of Ted Thompson throughout tonight’s selection process.

Here is how each made their selections … at the end of the day, you might want to pull this back up and compare it to what the actual selections were … that should be fun.

The editors of each FanSided group played general manager for all of their respective teams in a mock draft. I got to play general manager for our Bolts, but I was not able to make any trades and had to sit around and wait for the 18th pick in the draft. I am pretty sure I would have tried to trade up to get Mark Barron. Here are your results:

1 Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck QB Stanford
2 Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III QB Baylor
3 Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil OT USC
4 Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson RB Alabama
5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Morris Claiborne CB LSU
6 St. Louis Rams Justin – Blackmon WR Oklahoma State
7 Jacksonville Jaguars – Quinton Coples DE North Carolina
8 Miami Dolphins – Ryan Tannehill QB Texas A&M
9 Carolina Panthers – Fletcher Cox DT Mississippi State
10 Buffalo Bills – Luke Kuechly MLB Boston College
11 Kansas City Chiefs – David DeCastro OG Stanford
12 Seattle Seahawks – Melvin Ingram OLB/DE South Carolina
13 Arizona Cardinals – Michael Floyd WR Notre Dame
14 Dallas Cowboys – Dontari Poe DT Memphis
15 Philadelphia Eagles – Michael Brockers DT LSU
16 New York Jets – Andre Branch DE Clemson
17 Cincinnati Bengals – Mark Barron S Alabama
18 San Diego Chargers – Dont’a Hightower ILB Alabama
19 Chicago Bears – Stephon Gilmore CB South Carolina
20 Tennessee Titans – Nick Perry DE USC
21 Cincinnati Bengals – Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama
22 Cleveland Browns – Kendall Wright WR Baylor
23 Detroit Lions – Peter Konz C Wisconsin
24 Pittsburgh Steelers – Cordy Glenn OG Georgia
25 Denver Broncos – Devon Still DT Penn State
26 Houston Texans – Whitney Mercilus DE Illinois
27 New England Patriots – Courtney Upshaw OLB Alabama
28 Green Bay Packers – Shea McClellin OLB Boise State
29 Baltimore Ravens – Jonathan Martin OT Stanford
30 San Francisco 49ers – Kevin Zeitler OG Wisconsin
31 New England Patriots – Riley Reiff OT Iowa
32 New York Giants – Coby Fleener TE Stanford

LeRoy Butler congratulates former Packers safety Nick Collins after an interception of Payton Manning at Lambeau Field in 2009. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Former Packers safety LeRoy Butler is even excited about tonight’s first round of the NFL Draft.

He put together his own mock draft and posted it on JSonline.

Take a look … and enjoy.

1. Indianapolis – QB Andrew Luck, Stanford. Comment: My advice to him in his first year is don’t be afraid to throw the checkdown pass. Remember that.

2. Washinston – QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor. Comment: Same advice I gave to Andrew Luck.

3. Minnesota – CB Morris Claiborne, LSU. Comment: The Vikings need to be able to compete against Greg Jennings, Brandon Marshall and Megatron.

4. NY Jets via trade with Cleveland – RB Trent Richardson, Alabama. Comment: The Jets trade Mark Sanchez and the 16th pick to move up to get the best RB in the draft.

5. Tampa Bay – OT Matt Kalil, USC. Comment: They’ve got to rebuild their offensive line to help protect Josh Freeman.

6. St. Louis – WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State. Comment: Here’s a big target for their $50 miliion QB, Sam Bradford that they can pair up with Brandon Lloyd.

7. Jacksonville – CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina. Comment: They need help on defense.

8. Miami – QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A & M. Comment: Tannehill worked with offensive coordinator Mike Sherman and he can learn from Matt Moore and David Garrard.

9. Carolina – LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College. Comment: They have a lot of problems at LB and Kuechly helps address that.

10. Buffalo – DT Fletcher Cox, Mississippi St. Comment: He will pair great with Mario Williams.

11. Kansas City – DT Dontari Poe, Memphis. Comment: They need cornerback help, but Romeo Crennel is happy to get more help on defense.

12. Seattle – DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina. Comment: Seattle is building a pretty good defense.

13. Arizona – OT Riley Reiff, Iowa. Comment: They gave up a ton of sacks last year and need to protect Kevin Kolb better.

14. Dallas – S Mark Barron, Alabama. Comment: I’d love to see the Packers move up here, but it would take too much to pull off the trade.

15. Philadelphia – WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame. Comment: This pick is for Michael Vick.

16. Cleveland, via trade with Jets – CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama. With him and Joe Haden, they have two very good young corners.

17. Cincinnati – DE/OLB Melvin Ingram, South Carolina. Comment: They need help on defense.

18. San Diego – OG David DeCastro, Stanford. Comment: The Chargers have to rebuild their offensive line and DeCastro is the best lineman available.

19. Chicago – DT Michael Brockers, LSU. Comment: The Bears need help in the middle of their defensive line.

20. Tennessee – WR Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech. Comment: The Packers could try to trade up to this spot, but if they don’t the Titans go for WR help.

21. Cincinnati – ILB, Dont’a Hightower, Alabama. Comment: They need CB help, which they didn’t get with their first pick, but they go with a linebacker.

22. Cleveland – RB Doug Martin, Boise St. Comment: The Browns need someone to replace Peyton Hillis and give newly acquired Sanchez some help.

23. Detroit – CB Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama. Comment: He’s got a lot of off-the-field problems, but he’s maybe the best cover guy in the draft and the Lions need help in the secondary.

24. Pittsburgh – DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State. Comment: He’ll help replace Aaron Smith and eventually Casey Hampton.

25. Green Bay, via trade with Denver – LB Whitney Mercilus, Illinois. Comment: The Packers move up by trading their fourth-round pick and No. 28. He’s a little raw, but he’s a good pass rusher. You can stand him up at ROLB opposite Clay Matthews and put him down in nickel. He’s the best pure pass rusher available at this point. He’s got good size and range. He’s kind of like Kamerion Wimbley from Florida State.

26. Houston – OG Corrdy Glenn, Georgia. Comment: They have a lot invested in Matt Schaub and they have to keep him protected.

27. New England – OLB Shea McClellin, Boise State. Comment: He’s a smart rusher. If you close your eyes, he’s Mike Vrabel.

28. Denver, via trade with GB – C Peter Konz, Wisconsin. Comment: He can help them out at guard and center.

29. Baltimore – Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama. Comment: The Ravens are always going for defense and he can help them inside or outside.

30. San Francisco – Nick Perry, DE, USC. Comment: He would have been good for the Packers, but they can’t get over the chance to have Mercilus.

31. New England – OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford. Comment: They lost Matt Light and need help on the offensive line.

32. New York Giants – TE Coby Fleener, Stanford. Comment: They lost two TEs to knee injuries in the Super Bowl and with Eli Manning throwing to a guy like this, look out.

Hopefully, Mike McCarthy will be smiling after the draft.

It’s finally here. NFL. Draft. Day.

After all gnashing of teeth, indigestion and heated arguments, it’s time to throw all the mocks away and get ready for the reality check that is the actual naming of names.

When Commissioner Roger Goodell heads to the podium tonight to announce the first pick of the much ballyhooed first round, we can all start with a tabula rasa – a blank slate.

Frankly, I’m looking forward to it. I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of the bazillion mocks, the upsides, downsides, 40-yard dash times, the vertical leaps and the best player available. I feel all those things should kept to those in the war rooms and to let them do their jobs.

Now, as journalists, our job is to take a look at what transpires and then use our worldly knowledge to pick apart team drafts and start assigning grades and opinions about the winners and losers.

As for the Green Bay Packers, it’s time to Trust in Ted. Though we know the general manager is probably in control in the Packers’ draft room, we also know that he is getting information and birds tweeting in his ear right up until the time the phone call is made and the trigger pulled … but you also know that head coach Mike McCarthy is getting his two cents worth in as well. We wonder just how influential he is in the final decision. He’s got to have some say. After all, he is the guy who has to work with these players.

Anyway, get excited. I, for one, am looking forward to this draft. While I feel the team has got to draft defensive players up front, I am really excited to see if the team goes away from what all the experts are saying and pulls players that might not be at the top of everyone’s list. Thompson has been known to do that before. Let’s just forget about Justin Harrell and Mike Neal and move on.

So, without further adieu, here is a look at the Packers potentials for tonight. Take a look.

However, a bit of advice – you might want to ignore it once the teams are on the clock. Just like all the mocks that have been developed over the past few months, this piece will probably be null and void once the action starts tonight. But we’ll see.

You can also see this posting at NFL Mocks.

Q. What are the team needs for the Green Bay Packers heading into the draft?

The loss of Nick Collins could play a major role in how the Packers draft this weekend. Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

A. Defense. Defense. Defense. The Packers ranked dead last among the 32 teams in 2011 and it was no accident. The Dom Capers-led unit was clearly hurt by the losses of defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins and the injury to Nick Collins. They were a unit without leadership and purpose.

Ted Thompson’s first goal will be to restock the defensive line and linebacker positions. If he can also throw in a solid defensive back, he will be even further ahead. With 12 total picks, Thompson might just do some wheeling and dealing, especially in the first couple of rounds, but he could also surprise everyone and deal down to accumulate even more picks. But given the fact that 12 drafted rookies would have a very difficult time cracking the lineup of a team that went 15-2 last season, I highly doubt Thompson would look to add quantity over quality.

Look for the Packers to draft either a defensive lineman or outside linebacker with the first couple of picks; and then follow those picks up with an offensive lineman, a defensive back, a running back and a quarterback in the later rounds. The rest will be simply players to pad the roster and add competitive depth.

Q. Who are some prospects you’d like to see end up with the Green Bay Packers?

USC's Nick Perry could be a great pick if he's still on the board. Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

A. I would love to see the Packers add a defensive lineman such as a Melvin Ingram, Quinton Coples or a Courtney Upshaw, but we all know they most likely will be quickly nabbed in the early picks of the first round. However, if a Nick Perry or Whitney Mercilus is still on the board when the Packers pick at 28, Thompson should pull the Trigger. However, we wouldn’t kick a Vin Curry, Andre Branch or a Chandler Jones out of bed either. Peter King says the Packers will pick Michigan State’s defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, which could be a coup for the longterm and a solid pick for the Packers. Another intriguing prospect who might be an interesting defensive pick and who would be a great pick for the Green Bay Packers is Boise State’s Shea McClellin – I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Thompson go after him.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Packers’ need for depth and longterm effect on the line is evident. Left tackle and center are the two most glaring needs, but quality is always most important when considering drafting for the line. Of course, Peter Konz’s name always comes to the forefront, but Thompson’s effort to grab center Jeff Saturday has softened the need for the team to go after a top-rated center right away. Thompson’s ability to pick solid linemen in the later rounds is well-known and he may even be able to land an undrafted free agent who could help the team.

Picking a running back and even a quarterback, in my estimation, is just as important. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Packers put a premium on a running back who could add to its already somewhat solid stable. Ryan Grant is probably gone, and with injuries to James Starks and last year’s rookie Alex Green, the Packers are left with second year man Brandon Saine. You might see the team try to draft Chris Polk out of Washington, or a Doug Martin out of Boise State.

Would Kirk Cousins be a good pickup for the Packers? Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

At quarterback, the Packers have more of a need than Thompson has admitted. The loss of Matt Flynn moves untested Graham Harrell to number two. The need is evident, but Thompson most likely will draft to develop at the position. A Kirk Cousins from Michigan State is an intriguing prospect, and might be available to the team around the fourth round. But don’t count out a Ryan Lindley of San Diego State or even Russell Wilson from right here in Wisconsin.

Q. What would represent a successful draft in your opinion?

A. If the Packers can nab a solid defensive lineman (defensive end or tackle), an outside linebacker that can be a bookend for Clay Matthews to draw some attention away from him, an offensive lineman, a running back and a quarterback, the Packers will have had a successful draft. I don’t see Ted Thompson moving too far away from the team’s obvious needs, though he says he doesn’t draft that way. According to him, it’s always the best player on the board. Well, in my estimation, that’s fine, but at some point the team has to address the team needs as well. Last year, Thompson decided to go with who he had at defensive lineman and outside linebacker and it came back to bite the team in the long run. Hopefully, Thompson learned a lesson with that tactic and will look at the overall picture more intently this time around.

Q. Give us a bold prediction for your team.

A. My bold prediction is that Thompson will trade up at least five picks to select USC’s Nick Perry in the first round, giving up a couple of later round picks to do so. Much like he did when the team selected Clay Matthews, I feel that if the Packers can hang on to their 28th pick and nab another in the early to mid-20s, they will have two solid first round selections that will have an immediate impact. The team can afford to give up a couple of later round picks to make that happen.

Apr 28, 2011; New York, NY, USA; NFL draft logo prior to the start of the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Overwhelming, that’s what the NFL Draft means to me.

Like many others who would like to soak in as much information about the thousands of players who would love to be drafted by an NFL team, there is just so much information out there that trying to keep it all straight is a full-time job in itself.

Because most of us already have full-time jobs, trying to study the draft is like finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. There’s just simply no way one can keep it all straight.

Come to think of it, even the experts can’t get it right. Name me one individual on the planet who has been able to predict beyond the first 3 to 5 picks of any NFL Draft and I’ll show you a Republican who is convinced Obamacare is a good thing.

So, with that in mind, I am going to at least give you some websites below where you can get information about how many think the Draft will go. Many of these sites also have valuable information that you can take a look at and follow along as the picks unfold starting Thursday night with the first round.

In the meantime, if you want to take a peak at some of these sites just to bone up on what the experts are saying, have at it. You might want to even put your own mock draft together … BTW, good luck with that.

Anyway, take a look at these awesome sites and have fun with the NFL Draft …

http://nflmocks.com/

http://www.draftpulse.com/#

http://withthefirstpick.com/

http://dcprosportsreport.com/mocks/MockDraft.htm

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2012

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/scouting_department.html

http://draftheadquarters.com/

The 2012 NFL Draft will again be held at Radio City Music Hall. Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

The NFL Draft is right around the corner and many questions rise to the top for the Green Bay Packers.

Defensive line? Outside linebacker? Offensive line? Running back? Cornerback or safety? Quarterback?

The answer to all of those questions for the Packers is a resounding yes.

All of those positions must be addressed in some manner. Just how general manager Ted Thompson, the man of the hour, will deal with it remains to be seen. He’s surprised us in the past with moves like he made with Clay Matthews. He’s also fallen flat with first round selections such as Justin Harrell. I remember the collective shout of “who?” that resonated across Packers Nation when that pick was announced.

Overall, Thompson has struck gold in his effort to concentrate on the concept of building a team with good football players and I suspect his strategy again this year will be similar.

While he has said many times that he doesn’t target specific players and specific positions, but rather selects the best player on their board, this year might be a bit different.

Clearly, the Packers need to draft defense. Last year’s embarrassment on that side of the football has got to be echoing strongly in Thompson’s ears and if the shouting from fans and head coach Mike McCarthy isn’t strong enough, the general manager might be experiencing a revolt if his first two or three picks aren’t made on that side of the ball.

Will a Quinton Coples or Courtney Upshaw be available when it comes time for the Packers? No. However, a player such as Vin Curry, Andre Branch or a Chandler Jones just might be. Peter King thinks the Packers will draft Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, but should be drafting a running back with the first round selection. I beg to differ. The Packers are a throw first team and I think Thompson has enough confidence in his current backfield to keep him from pulling the trigger on a ball carrier.

What I would like to see Thompson do is trade up six or seven spots – give up some of those late round picks – in an attempt to get Nick Perry, the DE/OLB out of USC. If there’s one weakness on the Packers’ defense, it’s that OLB position opposite Clay Matthews. The experts were saying before the draft last year that the Packers needed to shore up that position to take pressure off Matthews. Thompson didn’t do it and it came back to haunt him last year.

So, if Thompson can unload some picks to get a quality first round selection in the mid-20s, as well as keep the number 28 pick, he will have two first-round selections that will have an immediate impact.

From that point, he will have several other selections across the board to pick an offensive lineman, a quarterback, a running back and maybe one or two defensive backs.

This is a crucial draft for the Packers. They are one season removed from a Super Bowl championship and to get back to the big game they need to address the glaring needs that kept them from that goal in 2011.

I wouldn’t relish Thompson’s job. No doubt he will be criticized by many no matter what he does. But if he keeps the focus on the goal of improving the overall team concept, the Packers will continue to be a Super Bowl contender for years to come.

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Lombardiave.com's Tim Thomas thinks Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Brandon Boykin could be the Green Bay Packers' second overall choice in next week's NFL Draft. Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

By Tim Thomas

Contributing writer – Lombardiave.com

Tim Thomas, Lombardiave.com’s newest contributing writer, takes a stag at all seven rounds and 12 picks the Packers have in this year’s NFL Draft.

Take a ride along with Tim as he considers some of the best fits for the Packers.

The NFL Draft is now two weeks away and the Packers are finishing up their draft board and should be ready for the draft by now. Ted Thompson is one of the best general managers at finding talent through the NFL Draft which is why the Packers have won so consistently and one Super Bowl with Thompson as GM. So, what will the Packers do this year to put together a Super Bowl caliber team?

Round 1, Pick 28, The Green Bay Packers select USC DE/OLB Nick Perry.

Nick Perry was a very successful player at USC and has the potential to be an immediate starter at outside linebacker as he could form a great tandem of outside linebackers with another former Trojan, Clay Matthews. Perry fairly productive at USC as he garnered tons of sacks including 9.5 last season to lead the Pac-12. Perry also has good speed and strength for a 3-4 outside linebacker as he ran a 4.64 in the 40 and benched 35 reps at the NFL Combine. Perry has proven he could be an immediate upgrade over Brad Jones at outside linebacker and a long term solution opposite of Clay Matthews.

Round 2, Pick 59, The Green Bay Packers select Georgia CB Brandon Boykin.

Brandon Boykin was a very impressive player at Georgia as he has a great work ethic which led to Boykin having a productive career. Boykin has great speed which allowed him to be a dangerous playmaker on special teams. Boykin could take the kick and punt return man role from Randall Cobb which would allow Cobb to focus on becoming the elite receiver everyone expects him to be. Boykin’s speed will allow him to stay up with some of the speedier receivers in the NFL like the Eagles’ DeSean Jackson. Boykin will also have time to develop before he becomes a starting cornerback for the Packers. Boykin could be an impact player for the Packers for a long time.

Round 3, Pick 90, The Green Bay Packers select Nebraska DE Jared Crick.

Crick is one of the most underrated players in the entire draft as he could be a great pass rusher as a five-technique defensive end in Dom Capers’ defensive scheme. Crick is a perfect fit for the Packers as a 3-4 defensive end due to the fact that he has experience as a 4-3 defensive tackle and a 4-3 defensive end at Nebraska. Crick also has good strength and decent speed as he ran a 4.99 at the Combine and had 26 reps at Nebraska’s pro day. The one concern for Crick is his health. That is why he has fallen from the last of the first round to the end of the third round. Crick could be a major steal at this point in the draft as he could be an instant starter at Lambeau.

Round 4, Pick 128, The Green Bay Packers select Michigan C David Molk.

David Molk is a great young center who will get the chance to learn and develop behind one of the best centers in NFL history, Jeff Saturday. Molk has great awareness for a center which is a key trait of great centers and he also showed excellent leadership. Molk also has impressive strength as he had a very impressive NFL Combine in which he pushed 41 reps on the bench. Molk has a high ceiling and should be a great center that could be as good as Jeff Saturday.

Round 4, Pick 132, The Green Bay Packers select Notre Dame S Robert Blanton.

Robert Blanton was a fairly productive defensive back in his time at Notre Dame and he has the potential to be a really good safety. Blanton has good speed for a safety and he proved he has a great ability to jump up and get the ball as he showed that at the NFL Combine with a vertical jump of 34 inches. Blanton can be that safety who replaces Charlie Peprah in the long term.

Round 4, Pick 133, The Green Bay Packers select Utah State RB Robert Turbin.

Robert Turbin is one of the most underrated running backs in the NFL Draft and was very productive last year with 1,517 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. Turbin also showed an impressive combo of speed and strength necessary for a starting running back at the NFL Combine by having 28 reps on the bench and running a 4.5 in the 40. Turbin has a very high ceiling, and he has the potential to be an upgrade over James Starks and the best running back the Packers have had in a while.

Round 5, Pick 163, The Green Bay Packers select San Diego State QB Ryan Lindley.

The Packers need a young quarterback to develop into a good backup and Lindley is exactly that quarterback. Lindley has an impressive arm but the one thing that is lacking right now is Lindley’s lack of consistent accuracy. When Lindley is accurate, he is a very good quarterback and is a first two round quality quarterback. When he is inaccurate, he is not a draft-worthy quarterback. Lindley’s potential is high and he could be as good as Brett Favre but he should be at least as good as Rex Grossman.

Round 6, Pick 197, The Green Bay Packers select Arizona State ILB Vontaze Burfict.

Burfict has first round talent but the one problem with him is that he loses control of his emotions on the field which causes to rack up lots of penalties. Burfict has the potential to be a great middle linebacker if he controls his emotions. He proved that by being very productive in college. Burfict also has good strength and the potential to be a starter for a long time if he controls his emotions.

Round 7, Pick 224, The Green Bay Packers select Oklahoma DE Frank Alexander.

Frank Alexander is a good defensive end that could be a very successful NFL player. Alexander has the talent to be an outside linebacker or a defensive end as he has the right size to be a defensive end in Dom Capers’ system. Alexander showed good strength at his pro day with 24 reps on the bench. Alexander could be a good steal this late in the draft as he could be useful as depth in the long term or even start.

Round 7, Pick 235, The Green Bay Packers select USC FB Rhett Ellison.

Rhett Ellison is one of the best fullbacks in the draft and has an ability to be a threat in the passing game along with the running game. Fullbacks don’t have the best longevity in the NFL so Ellison could be groomed behind one of the NFL’s best fullbacks, John Kuhn. For being a potential late round pick, Ellison is already a good player who could make a decent impact in his rookie season.

Round 7, Pick 241, The Green Bay Packers select Oklahoma State OT Levy Adcock.

Adcock is the prototypical size for a NFL starting offensive tackle as he is 6 feet 6 inches and 320 pounds. At his pro day, he showed off his strength by having a total of 26 reps which is better than potential first round pick Ohio State OT Mike Adams. Adcock also has the potential to move inside to play offensive guard as his size will allow him to do that. Adcock is a high upside pick this late but he could really be a steal.

Round 7, Pick 243, The Green Bay Packers select Utah CB Conroy Black.

Black is the type of player you would expect the Packers to take at the end of the draft, a raw talent that has all the skills capable of becoming a really good cornerback. Black has elite speed and good height for a cornerback and could be a long term replacement for Charles Woodson or Tramon Williams. Black has high potential and could be a steal at this point in the draft.

The Packers have 12 picks in this draft but knowing what Ted Thompson has done in the past, it would not surprise me if he pulls off some trades to climb up in the draft and maybe he will trade back into the first round like he did when the Packers got Clay Matthews. The Packers will definitely be able to bring in the improvements that can help them win more Super Bowls.

Apr 28, 2011; New York, NY, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell introduces the 32nd overall pick of the Green Bay Packers during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

What a crazy offseason it has been … Peyton Manning being released from the Colts, Tim Tebow being traded to the Jets, and the Saints bounty scandal are the big headliners.

As an average Packer fan, you may think the Packers did the usual thing this offseason which was … nothing at all.

Though they may not be headline news, the Packers did make some key acquisitions and have somewhat lessened the importance for the upcoming draft for the Packers. GM Ted Thompson lives and dies by the draft which means his presence in free agency is hardly ever felt. Heck, before this year, he had not signed an unrestricted free agent since 2009.

So what makes this season so different for Thompson?

Maybe having the worst-ranked defense had something to do with it. Also, losing All Pro center Scott Wells left a large hole to fill. One that a rookie just could not fill.

So Thompson went out of his comfort zone and signed former Colts center Jeff Saturday, who played with Peyton Manning his entire career. With Saturday getting way up there in age, his value in free agency was slightly diminished. His age has not caught up with him yet, so adding Saturday to the Packers O-line fills a large hole.

After Saturday, the Packers picked up defensive tackle, Daniel Muir, who also played with the Colts. Muir has not played in a year, but when he did play he was a very effective tackle on every team he was with and could add some needed depth to the Packers’ defensive line.

The final transaction for the Packers was with former Seattle Seahawks defensive end Anthony Hargrove. With his size being around 270, he could play as a defensive end in the Packers 3-4 scheme or at outside linebacker. I do believe, however, the Packers picked up Hargrove in hopes of him being able to fill the shoes of a position once held by Cullen Jenkins, who is now playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.

So with the offseason winding down, what’s next for the Packers?

It’s what Ted Thompson lives for. The NFL Draft.

The Packers have 12 picks with which to work this year which ties for the most picks Thompson has had since 2006, his second year on the job. With the very nice compensatory picks the Packers received, the team have a very nice selection of picks capable of making some moves in the draft. This could mean trading down in the draft for even more picks or trading up and getting a certain player the organization have had their eyes on. This means the Packers have some leverage in this draft which is where Ted Thompson shines as a general manager.

Who the Packers should look to draft in the early rounds would be either be a pass rusher who can play outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme or draft another young offensive lineman, because center Jeff Saturday is only a short-term solution.

Players who would seem logical include Clemson defensive end Andre Branch, USC defensive end Nick Perry, or Wisconsin center Peter Konz. If Konz is available, this would seem to be a logical pick and would fill a need for the future.

With another crazy offseason coming to an end in the NFL, all that is left before players begin practicing again is the NFL Draft. An event where teams gain more depth and players begin living the dream which they have had ever since being a kid. So, though free agency is basically over, there is still something to look forward to very soon.

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When the Packers signed center Jeff Saturday this week they upended the draft strategy - negating the need to draft an offensive lineman like Bryan Bulaga. Now the team can concentrate on its most pressing need - defense. Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

The eyebrows of general managers across the NFL must have collectively risen late this week when it was announced that their Green Bay brethren had done something that has been become increasingly rare in the Ted Thompson era: He completely changed the Packers draft strategy by signing a starting-caliber center, Jeff Saturday, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts.

Since losing Scott Wells to the St. Louis Rams in free agency, draft experts and pretty much every Packer fan expected that in 2012 the high-powered Packers offense would have to downshift to allow for the inclusion of a rookie center. Packers fans are accustomed to the Packers philosophy of ‘draft and develop.’

In the case of Wells leaving, however, the Packers did not have a ‘developing’ player to plug into the hole. The contract given to Jeff Saturday is a two-year deal, allowing the Packers to draft a center with the body type they prefer (recent reports have suggested that the Packers thought Wells too small to be an effective center) in the later rounds of this year’s draft.

So, earlier in the week, it looked like center had overtaken the need to go big on defense early in the 2012 draft. Now, the Packers can dedicate at least the first 2 rounds (I would go first three rounds) to their defensive deficiencies at defensive end and outside linebacker.

Much like the Packers’ 1999 draft, in which they selected three cornerbacks in a row to start the draft (Antuan Edwards, Fred Vinson and Mike McKenzie) in order to fill a huge hole at cornerback (and try to stop Randy Moss), the Packers need to do the same with this draft and selected a combination of at least three to four defensive ends and outside linebackers, hoping that at least one of them contributes immediately. Then the Packers can tackle the center position and grab a backup safety and another cornerback.

Remember, because the Packers lost so many high profile free agents last summer, they are due to receive up to four extra selections as compensation, giving them a total of 11 picks. This will allow them to re-stock some positions as they look to eventually replace starters like Ryan Pickett, Greg Jennings, Charles Woodson, John Kuhn and others in the span of the next two to three years.

So, let’s recap – assuming that no other starting-caliber players are signed, the Packers need to address the DE and OLB positions with the first three to four picks. Then the Packers should grab a center, a safety and a cornerback. If they see a running back or fullback they like, they should grab one toward the fifth round. In the seventh round, with likely three picks, they should go DT, WR and take a flyer on one more DE or OLB.

Of course, I’m sure no fan would be upset if Thompson traded up for either a better first round pick or for an extra second round pick to really find a stud outside linebacker.

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Mike McCarthy (left), president Mark Murphy (center) and general manager Ted Thompson are looking toward a productive draft. Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

A draft expert I’m not, but when it comes to the Packers mock draft I’m all eyes and ears.

I simply know that when it comes to team building, Ted Thompson, relies on the draft, but rarely tries to hit home runs in the draft.  He prefers to draft and develop players.  However, I’m a sucker for mock drafts.  When I was a kid, I’d scour the nascent Web for such articles.  At most three or four would be available online.  A quick google search now, however, reveals that everyone involved in the game from sports writers to bloggers to equipment managers are putting their mock drafts up on line.

As a Packers fan, I don’t really care about the top of the draft.  For my fellow Packer fans, I thought it might be helpful to record the picks of experts from across the “internets,” since I had dedicated some time to seeing who the Packers might get.

As most would guess, a majority of the experts have the Packers and their awful defense picking a  defensive lineman.  What scares me is that there seems to be some disagreement among the experts of which Clemson defensive linemen is the real deal. Whenever two players from the same team from similar positions are grouped so closely in the draft, I tend to think that their combined successes are not reflective of their individual prowess.

Only a few experts have the Packers going offense with the first pick.  It wouldn’t surprise me if the Packers did go offensive line with the first pick and then devote the rest of their draft to the defensive side of the ball.  Anyone agree with this?

In the meantime, here’s what we’ve recently seen:

So, how do you feel about this trade that has the NFL abuzz today?

Rookie D.J. Smith (51), played well near the end of 2011 when he was forced into action because of injuries to the Packers' linebackers. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

This four-part series concludes by showing the correlation between the Packers’ 2011 draft and their strategy for long-term team-building.

The 6th Rounders
Caleb Schlauderaff, OL, Utah
D.J. Smith, LB, Appalachian State
Ricky Elmore, LB, Arizona

This is what Ted Thompson loves: Hoarding late-round picks and taking as many players as possible, hoping that at least one becomes a starter. In the 2011 6th round, Thompson had one bust, one break-even and one big hit.

Ricky Elmore, projected as an OLB, was a complete bust in training camp. His college teammate, Brooks Reed, selected in the second round, and who had fewer sacks in college than Elmore, was a key cog in the Texans’ defense.

Schlauderaff couldn’t beat out Ray Dominguez, an undrafted free agent and was shipped to the Jets in exchange for most likely a 6th round pick this year. Thompson made sure this mistake wasn’t compounded by getting equal compensation for the light-weight guard.

Smith was the surprise of the draft. He stepped in and started when the Packers had both inside linebackers go down. He even played well enough that some people unhappy with A.J. Hawk’s play (and contract numbers) suggest that Smith could be a starter as soon as this season. In the least, Smith offers solid play from a backup and if he does become a starter, this pick will look like one of Thompson’s best in years.

The 7th Rounders
Ryan Taylor, TE, North Carolina
Lawrence Guy, DT, Arizona State

-between these two, Thompson selected Lawrence Taylor (we wish)

With Taylor, Thomspon finally found a guy who has a passion for special teams – a trait sorely lacking on the 2011 Packers. Taylor brought attitude and feisty play to a squad that previously tried to not be embarrassed on special teams plays. Taylor contributed in small ways on offense. His long-term value is special teams.

A long-term project, Guy spent 2011 on the Packers’ practice squad. He will face a lot of competition to make the 2012 roster.

Green Bay Packers cornerback Davon House (31) tackles Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28). Bruce Kluckhohn-US PRESSWIRE

Round 4
Davon House, CB, New Mexico St.

After going offense three times to start the draft, Ted Thompson used the fourth round pick on a cornerback. No doubt worried about Charles Woodson’s ability to continue to play cornerback (notice I didn’t just say “play”) at a high-level for the next couple years, Thompson chose a tall cornerback with speed to put into the Packers’ draft and develop pipeline.

Most probably thought Thompson’s first defensive pick should have been at OLB or DE, since it looked like the defensive backfield was well-stocked. House didn’t even play until the meaningless regular season finale. Fast-forward one year and this pick looks pretty prescient. Why? Because a year after Tramon Williams and Sam Shields played almost lights-out football, they both visibly regressed. Shields was even pulled from the playoff game in favor of special-teamer Jarrett Bush. This pick also looks smart now because Charles Woodson may be forced to play safety to fill-in for the injured Nick Collins. Let’s just hope that House can actually play.

Green Bay Packers tight end D.J. Williams (84) during the game against the Oakland Raiders at Lambeau Field. Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

Round 5
D.J. Williams, TE, Arkansas

With his fifth selection, Thompson picked a replacement for Jermichael Finley. With Finley coming into this last contractual season, Thompson needed to hedge against the possibility of Finley leaving the Packers for a humongous contract elsewhere. With the labor strife, no one knew whether or not franchise tags would exist for the Packers to use on Finley, or if they would be prohibitive. It turns out though that the Packers were able to sign Finley to a compromise contract, much like they did with Greg Jennings, that allows Finley the opportunity to hit the free agent market when he is still in the prime of this career.

Meanwhile, that means that Williams, who was an occasional contributor for the Packers in 2011, can take two more years to get up to speed (much like Finely took 1-2 years) with the offense before he’s expected to play a big role, assuming that Finey does leave for more green. In the meantime, Williams should compete with fellow tight end Andrew Quarless for the backup TE spot.

2011 second round draft choice Randall Cobb should contribute more to the Packers receiving game in 2012. Raymond T. Rivard photograph.

Round 2
Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky

Randall Cobb fulfilled an immediate short-term need for the Packers: A kick and punt returner who actually scared teams with his potential. He performed fairly well, but his real value will be as a wide receiver. At the time the Packers chose Cobb, their wide receiver position, though stacked, was not built for the long-term. It looked like James Jones would depart via free agency, Jordy Nelson was coming off a hot playoff run but wasn’t locked down with a long-term contract, Donald Driver was mostly likely playing in his last season and Greg Jennings’s contract was up after the 2012-13 season.

With that much unknown about his ultra-important receiving corps, Thompson wasn’t about to pass on Cobb. Now that the receiving corps is in a bit of a different state – Driver is most likely not coming back in 2012, Jones is locked-in as the Packers’ No. 3 receiver, Nelson is the No. 2 and Jennings is the No. 1, at least through this year – Cobb will be apprenticing for the slot receiver role which so often goes to Jennings. If Jennings does leave via free agency, the Packers will have come out on top with this draft pick. If Jennings stays, the Pack will devote many more plays to get this guy on the field as much as possible.

Brandon Saine was thrust into the lineup when rookie running back Alex Green went down with a knee injury. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Round 3
Alex Green, RB, Hawaii

Thompson took a look at his running back situation after the 2010-11 season, decided that Brandon Jackson wouldn’t be re-signed (despite this awesome move he put on Urlacher http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cjyuZQv80U ) and worried that Ryan Grant’s injury won’t allow him to play at the same level as he did in 2010. With James Starks as his only “sure thing,” Thompson went offense again and grabbed a back early in the 2011 draft.

We didn’t learn much about Green and his ability to run in the NFL during his rookie season. An injury early in the season prevented him from taking advantage of late season injuries to Ryan Grant and James Starks. Instead, Brandon Saine, an undrafted free agent known more for his catching ability than running ability, actually graded out better on yards after contact than Grant and Starks and now with Grant expected to depart the Packers, Green and Saine will battle in training camp for the backup running back spot. Still looks like a good pick, especially because it seems like Starks has cold streaks from time to time.

See part III about the 2011 Packers draft tomorrow …

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The imprecise science of predicting which players will go to which team flip-flops more than any presidential candidate and when it comes down to the actual draft day, the final tally doesn’t look anything like the thousands of speculative draft boards drawn up prior to the draft.

But we must admit that’s half the fun. And that’s why we will take a sampling of boards and look specifically at how they think the Packers will pick at the 28th position.

These sites, chosen at random, go with different players. They all focus on either a defensive lineman or linebacker … and rightly so. Though Ted Thompson has surprised us over the years with his picks, the consensus is that the Packers simply must select a player who is going to help them on the defensive side of the ball. Whether that player is a linebacker opposite Clay Matthews or a defensive lineman who will add to the strengths of B.J. Raji and the aging Ryan Pickett, we really don’t care.

Take a look and throw in a comment or two about how you think Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy will pick.

And while you’re at it, don’t forget to Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

• NFL Mocks

28. Green Bay Packers: Fletcher Cox, DL, Mississippi State
Packers need depth on the defensive front and get it with Cox, who can rush the passer.

With the 1st Pick

National Football Post

28. Green Bay Packers: South Carolina OLB/DE Melvin Ingram                                                          Finding another pass rusher off the edge is becoming more of pressing need for the Packers and Ingram has the ability to reach the QB in a number of ways both from a two- and three-point stance.

#28) Green Bay Packers- Dont’a Hightower (LB Alabama)

Dont’a Hightower to the Packers makes so much sense that it should be a lock in my opinion. Hightower has been a big time player for the Crimson Tide that many thought he was better than his former teammate Rolando McClain who went in the top 10 a couple of years ago. But he suffered a knee injury 2 years ago, and in his return, he didn’t look like the same player, but this year he was back to 100% and was dominant. Green Bay runs a 3-4, but we all know that they sometimes play with four or five linebackers. Hightower would fit because he can do it all at linebacker. He fits as a ILB because he is very good against the run, sheds blocks, and can blitz. Alabama also lined him up at OLB on passing downs to take advantage of his pass rushing skills.  With a creative DC in Dom Capers he would find so many ways to utilize Hightower.

Christian Barrett poses in front of a mock NFL draft set during Play 60 Kids Day at the NFL Experience at the Indiana Convention Center. Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

The NFL draft may still be a couple months away, but it’s never too early to start talking predictions and to offer a Mock Draft. This took a lot of time and I will hope all NFL fans will be able to relate to this mock draft. So without further adieu, it’s time to begin the 2012 NFL (mock) draft…With the 1^st pick in the 2012 NFL (mock) draft, the Indianapolis Colts select…

# 1 Pick: Andrew Luck-QB-Stanford- Colts- This is the easiest prediction I will do in any mock draft I will ever do. Andrew Luck is predicted as being the next Peyton Manning. The thing is, though, Manning is still on the roster and the Colts may move on from him if they choose to go quarterback with the #1 pick. Just take this into consideration, Cam Newton, the rookie of the year, had a scouting rating of 93 when he was coming out of college…Luck has a 99.

#2 Pick: Robert Griffin III-QB-Baylor- Seahawks (Trade) – This is obviously being clever with the 2^nd pick but it’s actually a very likely scenario. The Seahawks and Tarvaris Jackson is not a long term thing by any means. Robert Griffin III still has a rating of 95 which is still higher then Cam Newton. They may have to trade basically the whole draft to do this, but it’s for a franchise quarterback and nothing is more valuable then that.

#3 Pick: Matt Kalil-OT-USC- Vikings- Matt Kalil is rated as being the top prospect besides Andrew Luck in the draft. He could be even compared to as a Jake Long of the Miami Dolphins a few years back. I always have been a believer in o-line men as being the safest pick in the draft so I expect the Vikings to start rebuilding their o-line with this pick.

#4 Pick: Justin Blackmon-WR-Oklahoma State-Browns- Many mock drafts have Justin Blackmon going #2 to the St.Louis Rams but since I have them trading with the Seahawks, I believe the farthest Blackmon will fall will be to the fourth pick of the Cleveland Browns. Colt McCoy has potential, but he cannot live up to his expectations if he does not have any weapons around him. Adding Blackmon will bring an explosive side to the Browns’ offense that has not been seen in quite some time.

#5 Pick: Morris Claiborne-CB-LSU- Buccaneers- This would be a very smart pick for the Buccaneers. Buc’s corner, Ronde Barber, is getting up there in age and Aquib Talib has been having personal issues with the organization. Claiborne is rated as the top cornerback in the draft so rebuilding their defensive backs with a quality young cornerback could go a long way towards becoming a playoff team once again.

#6 Pick: Ryan Tannehill-QB-Texas A&M- Redskins- The Redskins don’t want a quarterback…they NEED a quarterback. Rex Grossman will never be a long term solution by any means at all. I can easily see the Redskins being the team instead of the Seahawks to trade up for the #2 pick and get RG3 but I just decided to go with my gut feeling. Regardless, if Luck and RG3 are picked before the Redskins have a chance at them, then I could see them going for Ryan Tannehill of Texas A&M. He is projected as probably being a late 1^st round or 2^nd round pick but, like we saw with the Vikings last year, teams will be willing to pick quarterbacks early if they are in desperate need for a franchise quarterback.

#7 Pick: Dre Kirkpatrick-CB-Alabama- Jaguars- Honestly the Jaguars have a lot of issues that need to be cleared up. So grabbing a quality cornerback in Dre Kirkpatrick would seem to be a smart move…quite frankly, any position drafted at this spot would seem to be a smart pick.

#8 Pick: Devon Still-DT-Penn St. – Panthers-The Panthers showed last year that they are a team on the rise. They did so with a very effective offense but not a very strong defense. Being ranked 26^th in stopping the run would mean that adding the best defensive linemen in the draft would be a pick that would be another building piece towards a team that seems to be bound for the playoffs very soon.

#9 Pick: Trent Richardson-RB-Alabama- Dolphins- Trent Richardson is one of my favorite players in this draft. He has power, speed, and is a winner. Oh and he also won the Heisman 2 years ago. Last year was somewhat less productive then his Heisman year but still has a lot of potential in him towards in a NFL career. The Dolphins may have Reggie Bush but I just cannot see Bush being a full-time 25 carry a game running back. I can see Trent Richardson being able to this though, and that is why I think they will choose him with this pick.

#10 Pick: Quinton Coples-DE-North Carolina- Bills- The Bills defense has been in a state of disarray the past couple of years. They tried the 4-3 defense, then converted to a 3-4, and now are going back to a 4-3. It seems like they cannot make up their mind. Since they will once again switch to a 4-3 defense, they will need another pass rusher opposite of Shaun Merriman who is expected to play defensive end this season. Quinton Coples of North Carolina would be a safe pick at this position. He is 6’6 272 and has the ability to get pressure on the quarterback. If the Bills still cannot make up their mind about a defensive philosophy and decide to return to the 3-4 then Coples would still be a good fit because he has the ability to play the 5 technique and stop the run.

#11 Pick: Riley Rieff-OT-Iowa- Chiefs- The Chiefs could actually have been a playoff team last year but with so many injuries including Jamal Charles and their quarterbacks in Matt Cassel and Kyle Orton.  A big reason for some of these injuries could be put on the offensive line.  Although they were ranked #14 in total offensive line play, they were ranked 28^th in average yards per rush. They were also ranked in the middle of the pack when it came to quarterback hits. Although they have Brandon Albert of the left side, they have no body on the right side so with the #11 pick in the 2012 mock draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select Riley Rieff from Iowa.

#12 Pick: David DeCastro-OG-Stanford- Rams (Trade) – Since the Rams traded down in this draft, the Rams end up with the #12 pick in the draft instead of the #2 pick. At this position, I would think drafting David DeCastro of Stanford would be a solid pick. He is arguably the best offensive guard in the draft. When we look at the interior line of the Rams, we see them being age 31, 32, and 31. Their tackles are much younger so they can look elsewhere in the 1^st round but with such an aging interior line, it would be logical to draft DeCastro at this pick.

#13 Pick: Jonathan Martin-OT-Stanford- Cardinals- The Cardinals really are not as bad as to what their record was last year. They have a solid defense and a good running back in Beanie Wells. Not to mention they also have arguably the best receiver in the game in Larry Fitzgerald. Not entirely sure if Kevin Kolb is their future so I do expect the Cardinals to draft a quarterback…but not in the 1^st round. With having three quarterbacks already gone in the 1^st round, it is pretty easy to say that their best bet is to wait a round or two and get a quarterback like Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weedon or Arizona State’s Brock Osweiler. I would think the position in need of a more immediate impact would be the offensive line, particularly the tackles. Drafting Jonathan Martin of Stanford would be a nice pick-up for a team that has been struggling in its protection.

#14 Pick: Alfonzo Dennard-CB-Nebraska- Cowboys- The Cowboys last year had some issues on defense. Sure they got the sacks from DeMarcus Ware but defending the pass as a defensive whole was an issue. They were ranked 23^rd in defending the pass last season and are in need of another playmaking defensive back. This is why the Cowboys will draft Alfonzo Dennard of Nebraska. He is an all-around cornerback that seems to be NFL ready immediately. This would be a huge asset to a team in desperate need of another defensive back.

#15 Pick: Luke Kuechly-ILB-Boston College- Eagles- The so-called ‘dream team’ of last year was truly a disappointment. Their management went out and signed all the best free agents last year because they had the money to do so. Let alone, they did not really take into consideration their biggest need…linebackers. They just went with what they had and it really costed this team from making the playoffs. So, to me, this is a no brainer and a linebacker of some sort should be chosen with this pick. At pick #15, I would think the Eagles would take a good look at Luke Kuchely of Boston College who is considered to some as being the best interior linebacker in the draft. This would be one huge step to becoming a playoff team once again.

#16 Pick: Kendall Wright-WR-Baylor- Jets- Plaxico Burress did pretty well for the Jets last year. Unfortunately, it seems as if the Jets will decide to part ways with veteran receiver. This would leave the Jets with Santonio Holmes and…umm yea I don’t know. So if they want Mark Sanchez to upgrade his game instead of a major downgrade last year, they will need to add some sort of big time receiver now.

#17 Pick: Janoris Jenkins-CB-North Alabama- Bengals- Cornerback is not necessarily the most vital need for the Cincinnati Bengals. But as we look back on the Bengals history, we tend to see a trend. They will take chances of so-called ‘bad influential’ players like Pacman Jones, TO, and Ochocinco just to name a few. So Janoris Jenkins of North Alabama would be a perfect example of these types of players and I would not be surprised to see the Bengals picking this player well

#18 Pick: Courtney Upshaw-OLB-Alabama- Chargers- The Chargers defensively, struggled extremely on defense. There is not a real pin point problem to their defense but if I had to choose a player that I would think would fit perfectly into their scheme, it would be Courtney Upshaw of Alabama. Coming from a school built by defense, Upshaw made a name for himself as being one of the top defensive players in the country. He would make an immediate impact for the Chargers.

#19 Pick: Michael Floyd-WR-Notre Dame- Bears- Everybody who watches football would be able to tell you the biggest problem for the Bears for many years now. They have no receiving threat. Yet they for some reason keep trying to build from within but eventually you have to cave in and go and get a big time receiver. No, Roy Williams does not count. So getting Michael Floyd from Notre Dame with the 19^th pick could become a steal in the draft. Floyd in many mock drafts is predicted as being the #2 receiver behind Justin Blackmon. He has the size and strength to be what the Bears always dreamed of with Roy Williams.

#20 Pick: Mark Barron-S-Alabama- Titans- the Titans defense last year was not all that bad. There is a chance this year, though, that they will lose Courtland Finnegan, Michael Griffin, and many other players on defense to free agency. If this is the case, the Titans will surely need to draft a defensive player early in order to try and at least preserve what was actually a pretty adequate Titans defense last year. Drafting Mark Barron out of Alabama would help replace Michael Griffin if they were to lose him to free agency. He has the ability to stop the run and has nice hands for the ball.

#21 Pick: Peter Konz-C-Wisconsin- Bengals-The o-line for the Bengals has been looking for an upgrade for quite some time now and adding Peter Konz out of Wisconsin would be a very smart decision.

#22 Pick: David Wilson-RB-Virginia Tech- Browns-This is where the #2 running back in the draft, David Wilson of Virginia Tech, comes off the board. Peyton Hillis had a very disappointing year for the Cleveland Browns and if anybody in that organization thinks Hillis is the long term answer at running back, I would be astonished.

#23 Pick: Stephon Gilmore-CB-South Carolina- Lions-If anybody watched a Lions game last year; anybody could tell you their big issue. Poor defensive back play. So to fix this, or at least help it, they will draft Stephon Gilmore out of South Carolina with their 1^st pick in the draft. He may not be the total answer to their problems but he will definitely help provide much needed depth at the cornerback position.

#24 Pick: Cody Glenn-OT-Georgia- Steelers-The Steelers always seem to have a dissipated line by the end of the year due to injuries. Maybe drafting Cody Glenn of Georgia would be a perfect pick for them then. Glenn has the ability to move from tackle to guard when needed. His versatility could prove vital towards maintaining a solid o-line in Pittsburgh.

#25 Pick: Jerel Worthy-DT-Michigan State- Broncos-Last year’s transition to a 4-3 defense made the need for defensive tackles more vital. As of right now, they have two solid tackles in Kevin Vickers and Brodrick Bunkley but they do not have much depth beyond that. Also, Buckley is now an unrestricted free agent and probably will opt to sign elsewhere. That’s why they will draft Jerel Worthy with the 25^th pick out of Michigan State.

#26 Pick: Mohamed Sanu-WR-Stanford- Texans- When you think of the Texans, you think of their high powered offensive attack. The thing is though, all they have as a receiver is Andre Johnson. Yes, Andre Johnson is the best receiver in the NFL still but he struggled with injuries last year and he actually is getting up their age. So adding Mohamed Sanu out of Stanford will be an insurance pick for a team that could need a receiver very soon.

#27 Pick: Michael Brockers-DT-LSU- Patriots- After giving up on Haynesworth, the Patriots really did not have spectacular defensive tackle play and they really suffered from this. Maybe adding Michael Brockers out of LSU, could improve their rush defense and start to build upon a defense who really was not existent last season.

#28 Pick: Andre Branch-DE-Clemson- Packers- The Packers need to get someone else besides Clay Matthews to be able to rush the quarterback. Although Matthews is great and all, he cannot do much when being double teamed on every snap. That’s why drafting Andre Branch from Clemson would be a perfect fit for the opposite side of Matthews. The guy was a sack machine in college and, although he struggled against the run, with his size and athleticism he would be able to continue to improve on his game and become better against the run.

#29 Pick: Dont’a Hightower-ILB-Alabama- Ravens- Yes, the defense of the Ravens is their strong suit but if they would like to continue with their consistent dominance of the defensive side then they will need to begin to build upon the next wave of Raven defensive players. One that is going to need a replacement very soon is Ray Lewis who is still playing his game at a high level but at age 36, the end has to be near. So drafting Dont’a Hightower out of Alabama would be a good pick if they would like to extend upon their defensive dominance.

#30 Pick: Alshon Jeffery-WR-South Carolina- 49ers- Last year the 49ers proved everybody wrong by playing football just like the days of Montana and Young. Well, maybe not all the way to that extent, but they still played very solid football for a team that was not expected to do much at all. Their defense is set but their offense is about average. Alex Smith played well by not turning the ball over and always giving his team a chance to win the game. But if they could add another receiving threat besides Vernon Davis then this offense could become just that much better and their team as a whole. Alshon Jeffery has a lot of potential out of South Carolina and could be one of those players who are a total bust or an immediate superstar. We will just have to wait and find out.

#31 Pick: Zach Brown-OLB-North Carolina- Patriots-The Pats defense last year was not good at all. They were so bad that they didn’t even know if they were playing a 3-4 or a 4-3 defense so they did a mixture of both throughout the season. It seems as if they will be going towards the 4-3 defense so adding a player who is actually projected to go higher in Zach Brown of North Carolina could help in their transition.

#32 Pick: Coby Fleener-TE-Stanford- Giants- Despite winning the superbowl, there is still some work to be done to the Giants if they would like to continue their winning ways. One thing they really missed last year was production from the tight end position. They lost Kevin Boss to the Oakland Raiders who was their big time threat for a while. Adding Coby Fleener out of Stanford, who is projected as being the top tight end in the draft, could be that that little piece to make the Giants become even more lethal next year.

So there we have it. The 1^st round has come to a conclusion. I hope I gave some useful insight to each and every team out there. I realize that this is probably way too early to even predict the first five picks of the draft but this is a very sad part of the year for football fans. There’s no free agency, no games, and basically no news at all surrounding football. This is why I did the first full round of the draft now, so fans of all teams can at least get some hope as to what their team may try to accomplish in the coming off-season.

Fantasy Knuckelheads feels that Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Courtney Upshaw could be the Green Bay Packers' first round selection. John David Mercer-US PRESSWIRE

Look around the Internet and you will find mock draft after mock draft with first round projections for all 32 teams, but try to find one the takes a look at all seven rounds for individual teams and you will search for a long time – they are few and far between.

However, I did find one – produced by Fantasy Knuckleheads – that takes an interesting look at what the Packers’ brass may be considering come April.

Everyone’s in agreement that defense, defense, defense has got to be the rallying cry for the Packers this year. Not only does the team need an outside linebacker to complement Clay Matthews, but the team also is in need of a pass-rushing defensive end, a cornerback to groom to take the place of Charles Woodson, an offensive tackle to step in on the left side when Chad Clifton finally says goodbye, and even a running back that will bolster the still-uncertainty that is the Packers offensive backfield.

All of these holes in the Packers roster are addressed by the Fantasy Knuckelheads’ mock draft, with a couple of surprises thrown in.

As we suffer through the Pro Bowl this weekend, we have to admit that it’s time to start thinking the draft, even though it’s still three months away. Between now and then there will be plenty of speculation as the stock in players rise and fall through the player combine and up to draft day.

So, take a look at this mock … it’s an interesting one that will pique your interest. In addition, here is our first mock draft we put together earlier this week.

And while you’re at it Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

This mock draft is also featured at DC Pro Sports Report, WalterFootball.com, Sports Jabber, hailredskins.com and fftoolbox.com mock draft databases. Each site keeps track of a huge number mock drafts all over the web.

Also, don’t forget to check out NFL Mocks and With the First Pick for comprehensive NFL draft coverage year-round … and be sure to Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Here’s our first and everybody’s consensus for the first pick:
1. Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck

QB, Stanford

See the other remaining 31 picks after the jump …

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NFL Mocks does a great job of covering the draft. Check them out as you get ready to watch the Packers vs. Bucs today.

It’s early … it’s WAAAAY early, but for some, like NFL Mocks, it’s never too early to start thinking about the NFL draft.

With the Packers undefeated, probably the furthest thing from Packers fans’ minds is the draft that comes up in April 2012.

Well, it’s certainly not too early for Fansided’s NFL Mocks, a site that specializes in the NFL Draft, mock draft database, scouting reports and fantasy football.

In fact, they haven’t forgotten about the Packers. Recently, they put together a seven round mock draft for the Packers.

It’s something to think about and look forward to as the Packers get ready to go 10-0 today at Lambeau Field vs. the Tampa Bay Bucs and make their run toward the post season.

Check out their page and Don’t forget to Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.