Tramon Williams has struggled the past couple of seasons, but his coaches are confident he can make it back in 2013.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Tramon Williams is the third highest paid Packer behind Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews, but don’t tell that to all the Packers fans who have been disappointed in his play the past two years.

That said, Packers coaches and higher-ups are hoping the six-year veteran turns things around this season – in fact, they are doing everything in their power to make sure it happens.

Since suffering nerve damage in his shoulder in 2011, he hasn’t been the same player. He struggled through the injury in ’11 and wasn’t 100 percent in 2012. But he persevered … and showed improvement. And don’t even think about telling his position coach, Joe Whitt, that Williams’ play has degraded.

Tramon Williams intercepts against the San Diego Chargers.

This past week, Whitt told reporters that he has all the confidence in the world in Williams’ abilities. In fact, he takes some of the hit on his players’ performance in ’11 and ’12. With a better understanding of Williams’ strengths, Whitt said the Packers’ strategy this year will be to play him off the line more because that’s how he plays best. Whitt said that when he’s off the receiver he sees the ball better.

“I’m going to take some of that (responsibility,) for the fact that we asked those guys (last) year for as much as possible to get up and press, which he can press,” Whitt said. “[But] he gets the ball better when he’s off. He makes more impactful plays from playing off. Sam [Shields] makes more impactful plays being pressed. So [Williams] played better because he can see the ball and go get it. Well if you go back to 2010, most of his impact plays came from being off.”

It was the Super Bowl season in 2010 when Williams was at his best. In all, he had nine interceptions (three in the playoffs), 20 passes defensed, three fumble recoveries, 48 tackles and seven assists.

Who can forget his 70-yard interception in the playoff game against Atlanta’s quarterback Matt Ryan? That was as electrifying as they get and was probably the play that helped send the Packers toward a World Championship.

Can Williams get back to that level? The Packers sure hope so and so do Williams’ teammates. Last year the team awarded him the Ed Block Courage Award, which is given to the player on all 32 teams  who best exemplifies the “commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.”

While Whitt has said that every position in the defensive backfield will be up for grabs come Training Camp, he also feels that Williams has as good of a shot at being the starter on opening day as any of the players vying for minutes. But Sam Shields, Casey Hayward and Davon House are all quality players and could be starters.

Here’s Whitt again on Williams:

Tramon Williams is one of the more popular players in the Packers’ locker room.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

“When [Williams] is allowed to do what he does best, he’s pretty good, and that’s just what it is. And so I know some people are going to say, ‘(Whitt) is protecting his players.’ No, that’s just what it is because after the season I went back and watched every play, over 1,200 plays. The guy can play, and he played physical, too. Let me clear that up too.

“You go back and watch the games. Now, did he miss the tackle on [Peterson] from Minnesota? Yeah, but he went up there and hit it. We’re going to miss some tackles. We’re not going to be 100 percent on [running] backs. I’m not going to get into every single play, but he’s going to play fine this year.”

So as we inch toward Training Camp, it’s clear that Williams will get every opportunity to be the man at one of the starting corners. While the Packers have shown their commitment with Williams’ contract, they seem confident that he will earn every dollar of that commitment.

Starting in July we will find out.

Tramon Williams is one of the highest paid Packers on the roster. Will he be worth keeping around?
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

By now it’s not news that Green Bay Packers‘ cornerback Tramon Williams has struggled with inconsistent play for the past two seasons. It would appear that the soon-to-be 31-year-old cornerback has lost a step. Along with Williams’ age, he has also been hampered by the lingering shoulder injury he suffered two seasons ago in the first game of the 2011 NFL season.

Tramon returns an interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2011 at Lambeau Field.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

As an undrafted free agent out of Louisiana Tech

Tramon Williams is one of the highest paid Packers on the roster. Will he be worth keeping around?
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

, Williams may have already hit his ceiling in the NFL so his declining play may only get worse in the coming years. Personally, I think Williams still can be an elite corner in the NFL. Like I previously stated he has been hampered by the shoulder injury, which has impacted his play significantly, if he can come back healthy this season he will be fine.

The Packers have a very difficult decision to make with Williams, however, for a number of reasons.

First, can the defense continue to survive Williams’ poor performances as cornerback #1? Again, I think Williams will come back 100 percent healthy this season, which is huge for him since he hasn’t been healthy for two seasons. However, even if Williams comes back healthy stating that he can return to his 2010 form, may be a reach, but he has to become effective again.

Second, and most importantly, the money Williams is set to make. Williams and the Packers agreed to a 4-year, $41.25 million extension in 2010 that has paid Williams a boat load of money. In 2013, Williams is set to earn $6 million in base salary with a roster bonus of $1.2 million and miscellaneous earnings of $1.4 million. Add all that up and Williams’ 2013 salary cap hit against the Packers is a whopping $8.5 million with $4 million considered “dead money.”

2014 is also a big money year for Williams, if the Packers keep him around. In 2014, Williams will make $7 million in base salary with a $1.2 million signing bonus and another $1.4 million in miscellaneous earnings. Add all that up and Williams could make $9.5 million in 2014.

Tramon Williams is just short of the end zone at the end of an interception return against the Chicago Bears in 2009.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Third, is Williams hampering the development of the younger corners on the roster? Davon House, Casey Hayward and Sam Shields are the future of the secondary at the cornerback position for the Packers. Hayward has already been quoted this offseason as saying he would love to be a starter on the outside.

This begs the question, should the Packers and Williams part ways? It’s an interesting argument at the very least. The money the Packers would save by letting Williams walk either this year in training camp or next offseason would be significant.

However, on the flip side, losing Williams could be a bad thing for the young corners who count on Williams for helpful veteran tips and an example of how to conduct oneself on and off the field. Williams will take on the Charles Woodson role as veteran leader in the secondary for the Packers in 2013, releasing him might put too much pressure on the young guys in the secondary.

All in all, arguments can be seen on both sides. The Packers will have to ask themselves, is veteran leadership and solid play enough to keep an aging player on the roster  - one who makes a significant amount of money”

The release of Charles Woodson, Cullen Jenkins, Nick Barnett and Corey Williams (traded to Browns) in recent years might be a clue as to what the Packers might be thinking for Williams’ future with the team.

The Green Bay Packers are one of the best run franchises in the NFL with a front office that gets the best value out of their players and organization.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Pro Football Focus (PFF), one of the most comprehensive and enlightened football Internet sites out in cyberspace, released an interesting post today that focuses on the Green Bay Packers and their Performance Based Value.

We all know Ted Thompson in a tightwad. He rarely takes the free agent carrot, though it’s the sexy thing to do; he seems to always be ahead of the ball in signing extensions to the right players at the right time (see Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson, to name just two); and he always holds his cards closely to his vest.

Charles Woodson was the highest paid Packer before being cut.

Those are good things, whether you like to think so or not. Just ask the guys over at PFF and take a look at their post. The writing is on their (website) wall. They go about backing up their claim that the Packers consistently go the right route in their handling of veterans. For instance, the recent release of Charles Woodson wasn’t done because the Packers’ brass thought he couldn’t play anymore – they did it because they weighed his overall value to the team and realized that it was time to move on. That thinking is backed up in PFF’s report.

The majority of the overvalued players on this list are either on their way out of Green Bay (Jermichael Finley, A.J. Hawk, Ryan Pickett, and maybe even Tramon Williams) or have already left (Woodson, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jeff Saturday). If there are players on this list who are to be kept, they most likely will play out their current contract and be moved on or will agree to have their contracts reworked – which rarely occurs. A couple of those include Bryan Bulaga and John Kuhn.

I don’t know of anyone who likes to make less money, do you?

Overall, the report places the Packers at +$7.6 million, according to PFF’s formula (which you can read about on their page).

Mike Renner, the author of this piece, had this overall statement to say about the Packers …

Not surprisingly after going 11-5 the Packers received good value from their contracts. The Packers made a living off of backups playing like starters in 2010, and it was no different again this year with two of our top five subs of the year. The good news is four of their overvalued contracts are already off the books for 2013, and with Ted Thompson’s disdain for overpaying players we could see even more moves this offseason.”

Don Barclay was one of the best values among the Packers players last season.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Those moves to which Renner points will most likely involve Jermichael Finley and A.J. Hawk. Finley is on the final year of a contract that will overpay him  more than $8 million this year alone. Hawk, who was a first round pick, has managed to stick with the Packers because of injuries and a penchant for playing well, but not well enough to be a full-time starter. The Packers can do better and Ted Thompson knows that.

In relation to the idea that the Packers continue to be one of the best-run franchises in the NFL, we also sought out a listing of every player on the Packers’ roster and came across this comprehensive list at rotoworld.com. This is a pretty incredible compilation. It provides all of the detailed contract provisions for each of the players – from the measly pickings of Don Barclay up to the monster contracts of Charles Woodson and Aaron Rodgers (though is should be noted here that Rodgers was one of several “undervalued” players on PFF’s list – I think you can understand why).

For instance, Barclay, who became a starter for the last six weeks of last season, signed a three-year, worth $1.44 million on April 30, 2012, that will pay him  $480,000 in 2013, $570,000 in 2014, before reaching restricted free agent status in 2015.

Compare that to Woodson’s team-topping contract that the Packers unloaded a couple of weeks ago – $11.4 million with a salary cap hit that was to be around $10 million. You could also compare it to Tramon Williams’ third-highest contract on the team.

In November 2010, Williams signed a five-year, $38.148 million contract. The deal contains $11.074 million guaranteed, including a $6 million signing bonus.

Here is what Williams is due the next two seasons before becoming a free agent in 2015:

• 2013: $5.9 million (+ $300,000 roster bonus),

• 2014: $6.9 million (+ $300,000 roster bonus), 2015: Free Agent

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) tries to get away from Green Bay Packers cornerback Tramon Williams.
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

You could also compare it to the contract Casey Hayward signed as a rookie last year: He signed a four-year, $3.3 million contract. The deal contains $1.4 million guaranteed, including an $847,000 signing bonus. 2013: $540,451, 2014: $690,901, 2015: $841,352, 2016: Free Agent.

Now, you can look at these contracts and think, “man, they come into the league as instant millionaires.” You are right, but they are paid what the market bears and can demand. The NFL is big business, it’s a tough business and these guys have to be at their best every single day to have any staying power. They’re not flipping burgers at McDonald’s

So, I suggest that you take a look at these two sites. They offer a wealth of information and, especially at this time of year when free agency is kicking off and player movement becomes a huge story, these numbers will help you put into perspective the types of contracts that teams and players are negotiating.

In addition, you might keep going back to the PFF page that illustrates in black and white why the Packers have been so successful on the field and in the front office.

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Sept. 9, 2012; E. Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) makes the interception on Buffalo Bills wide receiver Steve Johnson (13) at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/The Star-Ledger via USA TODAY Sports

Darrelle Revis has been the popular NFL player to take about with the possibility of him being traded this offseason being decently high.

The Packers have some talent at cornerback but there is no reason why the Packers can’t make another upgrade with a move for Revis.

Revis is the type of elite corner that you don’t get to have on your roster everyday and remember when Charles Woodson was an elite cornerback how the Packers went and won the Super Bowl?

Revis could be a great example for Sam Shields and Casey Hayward as a mentor for Green Bay’s great young cornerbacks. Revis is the type of elite cornerback that can allow the defense to become even better.

The Jets will look for a quality cornerback in return for Revis and Tramon Williams would be the perfect player to put in a Darrelle Revis deal. Williams would open up some cap space for Revis in the long term along with how Jeff Saturday and most likely Donald Driver are retiring.

Tramon Williams could also start immediately for the Jets and be a reliable performer which would interest New York.

Ted Thompson would have to package some picks in and a second round pick would have to be one of those picks. Thompson could throw a fifth and seventh round pick in with it and that could get Thompson the cornerback that would improve the defense while also still having enough picks to get some quality young talent.

Tramon Williams returns an interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2011.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

A couple of questions have been burning in my mind since the Green Bay Packers were beat down in their Divisional Playoff game by the San Francisco 49ers – the first is what’s happened to Tramon Williams? The second is what will we do with Jermichael Finley?

Williams suffered through his second straight down season. Two seasons ago it was attributed to a shoulder injury and while he showed flashes of his old self at various points this past season, he was burned more times than not. Maybe it was the scheme, but there were so many times that Tramon didn’t even seem in the same zip code. Unlike his inspiring season when he helped lead the Packers’ defense to a Super Bowl XLV win, this past season was a big disappointment. He did show flashes, but his inconsistency was more of an issue than we would have liked.

Tramon Williams has been known as the Packers’ best cover guy.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

The season ended for Williams and the Packers as we watched Michael Crabtree eat him alive. It was just plain ugly and prompted Packers cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt to say that Williams isn’t a lock as a starter next season … and he shouldn’t be. With the strong play of rookie Casey Hayward and second-year player Davon House, as well as Sam Shields, Williams may be the odd man out next year. Whitt said Williams will have to compete for a starting spot, which at this point is probably best for everyone.

On the other side of the line of scrimmage is tight end Jermichael Finley. The talented 25-year-old has one more year left on his two-year contract and from the way Mike McCarthy talked about him in his season-ending press conference it seems the Packers will bring him back for that final year. Where they go from there isn’t clear, but what is clear was the play of Finley the last half of the season.

Here’s what McCarthy had to say: ”I really felt Jermichael Finley was a different man, a different player from the bye week on. I had an opportunity to talk to him about that at length in his exit interview, so I feel very good about the way he finished the year.

“There was a change in that young man. We obviously have to look at the first half, too, and make sure that’s part of the evaluation because we’re all judged on 16 games.”

In fact, it was the Sunday after a Bob McGinn story that claimed the Packers would cut Finley once the season was over that Finley came out like gangbusters, piling up receptions with nary a drop. By season’s end, Finley collected 61 receptions which broke Paul Coffman’s 33-year-old franchise record and gave the team reason to bring him back for at least one more run.

In his first six games Finley has six drops, something he publicly claimed was due to his lack of chemistry with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Coupled with that was Finley’s agent coming out with bad things to say about Rodgers.

Jermichael Finley has been bashed in the media, but is still considered the Packers’ best option as a tight end.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

But that all changed after the Packers’ bye. Here’s what he had to say about it: “I’d say more than anything I was just determined. Just determined to prove people wrong and just determined to make myself better overall. But that’s what I do; I play football for a living, and I put all of it in. And at the end of the day I get what I put out.”

When one considers the other tight ends on the roster – D.J. Williams, Andrew Quarless, Tom Crabtree and Ryan Taylor – one can see why Finley continues to be the starter and the possible player of the future.

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Aaron Rodgers is the NFL’s reigning MVP and is on course for another shot at that title. The Packers have to keep him healthy. Dean Hall photograph

The Green Bay Packers have weathered an early storm of controversy, bad luck, and injuries to post a 6-3 record. The bye week could not have come at a better time for the Packers – even though we only have 7 games left, it’s a tough road ahead.

That road ends at New Orleans on the third of February 2013 for Super Bowl XLVII.

In order for the Packers to complete that journey they are going to need these 10 players to stay healthy and productive. They are ranked below in order of value.

A.J. Hawk.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

10. A.J Hawk

I used to think A.J Hawk was overpaid, overrated, and on his way out of Green Bay. Now I view him as the most valuable linebacker not named Clay Matthews. Why the change? Because he’s played better. His tackling is better, he’s more impactful, and he’s reliable. Coach McCarthy has said Hawk is always the same guy every day. In the past that has usually been a bad thing, not this year.

T.J. Lange
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

9. T.J Lang

Lang has always been pretty solid. He is willing to battle with anyone, and is among the most efficient statistically of all the Packers lineman. However his true value lies in his versitility to move around the offensive line. The news coming out of Green Bay is that Bulaga’s injury is more serious than expected. This does nothing but make Lang even more valuable

Jordy Nelson
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

8. Jordy Nelson

Jordy had taken the place of Greg Jennings in the offense. It took a little time but he has definitely hit his stride.  He now looks like a legitimate go-to receiver. Also, as we have witnessed lately there is a noticeable drop off in the offense when he is not playing.

Tramon Williams
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

7. Tramon Williams

Tramon has been a little up and down this year. That being said, he is still our best cover corner. He is very effective at times and has a knack for the big play. He is by no means a shutdown corner the likes of “Revis Isle,” but he is a former Pro Bowler cornerback and they do not grow on trees.

Charles Woodson
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

6. Charles Woodson

He is no longer playing at the elite level that he once was, but make no mistake, he is still very valuable. He is effective in so many different ways and is on the field more than any other player.  He is also the leader of the defense, and a great communicator to the other young members of the secondary.

B.J. Raji
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

5. B.J Raji

B.J Raji is our best defensive lineman. He gets a great push in the pocket and is great against the run. He is the perfect 3-4 tackle and is exactly what Thompson thought he was when he drafted him in the first round. The Packers defense played well without him for a two-game period, over the long haul I am not so sure the results would be as inspiring

Randall Cobb
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

4. Randall Cobb

Randall is our most explosive receiver, who can do it all and is only going to get better. He leads the Packers in receptions (45), yards after the catch (250) and plays over 20 yards (9). Combine this with the fact he is a great returner and that makes him a very valuable weapon in the Packers offense and special teams.

Marshall Newhouse
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

3. Marshall Newhouse

Marshall has shown steady improvement since he has been a starter. That being said, he is still probably just a slightly-above-average tackle in the NFL. However he protects “the blindside” and the options behind him are far worse… If he goes down (and with Bulaga already out) they would have to turn to undrafted rookie Don Barclay. This, at best, is not ideal, and at worst … catastrophic

Clay Matthews
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

2. Clay Matthews

He is the best overall defensive player in the NFL. He is great in coverage, against the run and rushing the passer. The only thing that exceeds his talent is his motor. He never quits and leaves everything on the field.  A long-term injury to the Claymaker would result in a huge drop-off to an already inconsistent defense.

Aaron Rodgers
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

1. Aaron Rodgers

He is former Super Bowl MVP, reigning NFL MVP, near the top of the NFL in every major statistical category and could still possibly get better. If that doesn’t sell you, how about the fact that his backup is Graham Harrell? It’s safe to say the 2012 Green Bay Packers will only go as far as #12 takes them.

August 9, 2012, San Diego, CA: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers (12) calls an audible in the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jody Gomez-US PRESSWIRE

Turnovers, Injuries, dropped passes, a poor running game and just general inconsistency plagued the Packers in their preseason opener against the San Diego Chargers Thursday night on national television.

It’s not an uncommon scene and certainly not something that should concern Packers fans too much. There is never much one can take away from that first game of the year – other than the fact that, thankfully, it doesn’t count.

But there are some things for certain – the Packers have to get healthy and they have to show vast improvement in consistency next time out.

When Nick Perry opened the game with a sack on Philip Rivers, Packers fans cheered. But when the flag came out for unsportsmanlike conduct because of his post-sack enthusiasm, Packers Nation could only grow. I guess it was the harbinger of the the night.

The Packers gave up a 23-yard touchdown to Antonio Gates after fumbling the ball away on their first drive of the night. Another fumble on the ensuing kickoff only spelled out what type of night it would be. Though the defense held its own throughout the game and Graham Harrell finally led the Packers to a score just before halftime and another touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter, it wasn’t enough.

Aug 9, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop (55) is tended to by members of the Packers

But Donald Driver said patience is required, especially at this time of year. “That was the whole thing,” Driver said. “You have to get the rust off, and then you start playing ball. You see exactly what he can do. Right before half, he drives the ball right down there and scores. That was big for us. He has the confidence that he can play on this level, and he’s proven it.”

To his credit, Harrell didn’t get down. He kept working and the coaching staff showed their confidence and stuck with him.

“That’s kind of the attitude and mentality I try to bring in every day,” Harrell said. He who finished 15 of 27 passing for 135 yards and a TD. His passer rating was 81.6. “Whatever just happened, whether it was great or whether it was really bad, let’s play the next one and see what happens.”

The game ended after the Chargers had scored a late touchdown to give them a 21-13 lead. Rookie B.J. Coleman was then thrust into the lineup to lead the Packers on a last ditch attempt to try to score. On the last play of the game, Coleman completed a pass to rookie RB Marc Tyler who was stripped of the ball by former Packer Ricky Elmore.

It was a fitting end to a game where inconsistence ruled the day.

Aug 9, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk (50) yells out defensive calls before the snap against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

Positives that came out of the game? Randall Cobb, Tim Masthay, D.J. Smith, Davon House, Tramon Williams, and even Harrell once he got his legs under him. One could also include the play of Tyler, but his fumble to end the game put a damper on that.

Negatives: Injuries to House and Desmond Bishop. Bishop’s could be serious and would be an extreme blow to the Packers middle defense. House is to have X-rays to see the extent of the damage.

The Packers have a week of practice ahead of them where one hopes the coaching staff stresses ball security. They are in action again Thursday, Aug. 16, when they host the Cleveland Browns at Lambeau Field.

Packers cornerback Charles Woodson could be moved to safety in 2012. Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

The Packers have had to move on from the Nick Collins days … he has been cut due to the major question about whether he will ever play again in the NFL.

So, who will replace Nick Collins?

Charles Woodson is the first candidate to replace Collins as Woodson no longer has the speed to be effective at cornerback but still has the ball-hawking abilities to be an effective safety. Woodson’s skills will allow him to be a very effective safety that quarterbacks will have to watch. This move is a realistic possibility due to the fact that the Packers added Casey Hayward to the group of cornerbacks they already have in the fold as Tramon Williams and Sam Shields can both be NFL starters. Woodson seems like the best fit to move from cornerback to safety for the Packers.

Packers safety Charlie Peprah could be tapped to replace Nick Collins. Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

Veteran safety Charlie Peprah replaced Collins this past season and seems like another realistic candidate to be the starter to replace Nick Collins. Peprah already knows how to play safety and has the ball-hawking skills that would make him a good replacement for Collins. However, Woodson has the potential to be a really good safety and Peprah might not be able to beat out Woodson in training camp as Woodson will start somewhere in the secondary next season.

Jerron McMillian is a long but has the upside to be really good. McMillian is very agreesive and knows how to shut down the running game from his time at Maine. However, McMillian is a raw prospect and needs some time to develop before the Packers think about putting him into the starting lineup.

Nick Collins will be difficult to replace but the Packers will find someone who can be at least as good as Collins.

Feb 28, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; North Alabama defensive back Janoris Jenkins participates in pass interception drills during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

The Packers made a big splash last night with the addition of USC DE/OLB Nick Perry.

Now, what will the Packers do tonight to make this draft class excellent.

The Packers will have the option to make some trades as they could look to climb up the second round to get North Alabama CB Janoris Jenkins. Jenkins has some red flags but is a great talent and could allow the Packers to move Charles Woodson to safety to replace the recently released Nick Collins.

Jenkins also could compete for a starting spot immediately with Sam Shields and Tramon Williams. Jenkins is an elite cornerback prospect that would not be on the board if he did not have the red flags.

However, I think Jenkins will be able to stay out of trouble and be a successful NFL cornerback.

If they stay where they are, the Packers have a few options that they can do. Conerback is a need and both Montana’s Trumaine Johnson and UCF’s Josh Robinson are possibilities.

Johnson will likely not be on the board at that point as he is the next best cornerback after Jenkins on the board. Robinson, however, could be still on the board as he has a lot of potential.

Robinson has great speed but needs to develop some cover abilities. Robinson would be more of a developmental pick and not an immediate impact player.

A lot of people have linked Miami RB Lamar Miller to the Packers in the second round but I do not think he will still be on the board at that point as he is the best running back left on the board.

Even if Miller is on the board when the Packers pick, Green Bay can wait to get a running back prospect that is just as good later on – such as Temple’s Bernard Pierce in the third round or Utah State’s Robert Turbin in the fourth round.

NOV 25, 2011; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes running back Lamar Miller (6) runs for a touchdown past Boston College Eagles defensive back Spenser Rositano (47) and Boston College Eagles defensive end Kasim Edebali (91) in the first quarter at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-US PRESSWIRE

In the third round, the Packers should look at a defensive lineman like Boise State’s Billy Wynn or Nebraska’s Jared Crick. Both can be 3-4 defensive ends but Crick could end up being available in the fourth round and that would be a steal.

Wynn and Crick are two very capable defensive ends who will be successful NFL players. I am a huge fan of Jared Crick as I think he will be a steal in this year’s draft no matter where he goes.

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.

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.

One of the major needs the Packers need to address this offseason is finding a complement to Clay Matthews on the defensive side of the football. Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

The Super Bowl on Sunday was a tremendous game that will definitely take its place as one of the more memorable games – ever. Watching the game as a Packers fan, however, got me to thinking about what we should expect for the Packers future and how we will get back to the big game next year.

Unlike last year, where we really did not need to make any immediate changes to the starting line-up, we will need to make changes on all sides of the ball. Of course, the main focus will be on the defensive side, but there will be some changes on the offensive side as well.

Let’s start on the easier side – the offense.

The Packers offensively last year was one of the most efficient offenses in NFL history. Aaron Rodgers won MVP and the Packers receiving corps was on top of its game. The running game was subpar but it could have been worse. Then finally, the o-line, despite the many injuries, was fairly consistent throughout the season giving Rodgers enough time to find the open receivers.

So what changes do we need?

The running game could be improved so adding another running back in the draft would never be a bad thing. Ryan Grant’s contract is expired and will most likely be gone, so adding depth could be a benefit to the Pack when considering James Starks’ injury history.

More after the jump and don’t forget to Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The receiving group is deeper than ever but this could result in a departure of Packer’s all-time leading receiver in Donald Driver. Randall Cobb showed his potential this year in many different games and now it seems more likely than ever that Driver could be heading out.

Matt Flynn showed tremendous potential in his one game vs. the Detroit Lions where he broke single-game records in yards and touchdowns. With his contract up this year, it guarantees his departure to a team like Miami or Washington – teams in desperate need of a franchise quarterback. This could mean the Packers going after another late round quarterback or even an undrafted one like they did with Graham Harrell. If the Packers do add another quarterback, it will probably just be a practice squad addition until the Packers groom him to where they feel comfortable to add him to the active roster.

The tight end situation is a little iffy as to what the Packers may do with Jermichael Finley. Finley was expected to be thrown the franchise tag during this offseason because of how big of an asset he is to the Packers organization. The thing is though, this year was quite disappointing. This was supposed to be the year Finley broke out and had a season over a thousand yards and became one of the NFL’s elite player at the position. Finley could have done this but he had a major case of the drops this season and put the Packers into a much tougher situation than they were in before. Should they pay a player that has the potential to be great the money of a great? Or should they just do the unthinkable and let him walk?

Then finally, the o-line for the Pack. Scott Wells is a free agent and needs to be a primary target for the Packer organization to get this guy back on the roster as he probably outperformed everyone else on the Packer o-line this season. Chad Clifton seems to be nearing the end of his career and could be another axe by the Packers this off-season. This would put T.J.Lang and Derek Sherrod in a position to battle for the left tackle position this training camp. Adding o-linemen in the draft is never a bad pick-up but I would not expect the Pack to use an early pick on one as they have much bigger issues to worry about…

Like the defense.

When the NFL Draft comes around in April, the Packers will surely be looking at prospects to help fill needs on the defense. I expect the Pack to use their first round pick on a linebacker to play opposite of Clay Matthews. With the end of Erik Walden’s time in Green Bay nearing, this issue becomes an even more of a priority. This will solve some problems but surely not all of them.

When we look at AJ Hawk and Desmond Bishop commanding the middle, we think we are pretty set at that position. Some would think so, but others would argue that one of the big reasons why the Packer’s defense took a turn for the worse this year was because of the lack of a true leader like we once had in Nick Barnett. Desmond Bishop had a great year but AJ Hawk seemed, almost at times, non-existent. What I mean by that is how it seemed he just did not make enough plays this year. I give him credit for being a sure tackler but it just seemed he was not around the ball-carrier to make the tackles. I don’t expect the Packers to make any significant changes at this position but I think something has to be at least considered involving this position. Maybe give the next guy up some more playing time in DJ Smith who actually played very well when he filled in at times this year.

Besides the Packers #1 priority in the linebacker unit, the Packers will surely be focused on the defensive line as well. It became well known early in the season, that the Packers were greatly missing Cullen Jenkins and his ability to not only stop the run but get some needed pressure on the quarterback. Many players tried to fill this role but none were truly successful in doing so and, therefore, should be a position the Packers will look to upgrade on in the coming off-season.

When the draft and free agency rolls around this year, if there was one position the Packers should try and stock up on it would be the defensive back unit. There is no immediate need for an upgrade in this unit except for the issue with Nick Collins and the possibility of his career actually being over. Hopefully the Packers will be able to know the status of Collins before the beginning of the off-season so they can plan accordingly.

Regardless, we still have Morgan Burnett and Charlie Peprah that can help preserve the depth at safety. Woodson is getting up in age so adding depth at cornerback is always a smart pick for the Packers. The future seems to be Tramon Williams and Sam Shields but there really is no third guy that can be counted on. Although it may not be the first round or two, the Packers will surely be looking to adding depth at the defensive back position to prepare for the future.

Many changes are expected this off-season but Ted Thompson can surely be counted on to help bring the Packers back to where they should have been on Sunday.

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Get set for next week’s home playoff game … this should pump you up.