I had the Packers selecting Barrett Jones in the first round, however, recent news of foot injuries for Jones and the possibility that he will end up on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list to start the season, has his draft stock plummeting.

Many “experts” had the Packers also selecting between former Stanford tight end Zach Ertz or former Norte Dame tight end Tyler Eifert, but because Finley was awarded his roster bonus and will be staying in Green Bay, at least for the 2013-14 season, taking a tight end in the first round would be foolish.

Other experts have slated the Packers to take former Alabama running back Eddie Lacy in the first round. Personally, I would never take a running back in the first round unless it is a home run like Adrian Peterson, Bo Jackson, etc. The lifespan of a NFL running back is too short on which to waste a first round pick, especially in the pass-happy Packers’ offense.

That would leave us at the defensive line and linebacker positions. Personally speaking, if the Packers can’t get Margus Hunt of SMU, Alex Okafor from Texas or Kevin Minter from LSU then they shouldn’t even waste their first pick on anyone else on the defensive side of the ball.

As for the offensive line, if the Packers aren’t able to get tackle Lane Johnson from Oklahoma or tackle D.J. Fluker from Alabama then why waste the pick?

With the majority of the true “first round” talent within the top 13-17 picks, it would make no sense for the Packers to reach on a player in the first round that they could easily see in the second or third round. It would make a ton of sense for the Packers to acquire more draft picks, especially with how deep this draft is at the wide receiver, safety and defensive line positions, all positions of “need” for the Packers, to go along with the offensive line and linebacker positions.

By trading out of the first round the Packers could get another second round pick and maybe a fourth or fifth round pick. Another direction they could head in is to ask for a third, a fifth and sixth round pick all for the No. 26 pick. There are a number of options for the Packers to acquire more picks in the draft, which would be the smart route to go at this point.

All in all, the closer we get to the draft, the more obvious it is becoming that the Packers must trade out of the first round.

Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban is in a tough spot with the announcement that four of his players have been alleged to have been involved in criminal activity.
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Two years, 20 years in jail … that’s what four Alabama Crimson Tide players who have been charged with second degree robbery charges are facing today after being arrested for allegedly committing the offense that also includes a charge of fraudulent use of a credit card.

Alabama coach Nick Saban, who has built the Crimson Tide into the best program in the nation, now has some decisions to make about the four sophomores who had seen playing time in 2012.

One thing is for certain – incidents like this (and yes, we have to presume innocence in all cases) don’t sit well in the court of public opinion, which tends to lump all athletes into the “criminal element” lifestyle when they hear of these things.

Our hope here at Lombardiave is that Saban and the university allow the system to work and should the players be convicted, that they act swiftly and decisively in handling the situation – but we’ve got to let the system do its job.