Packers: 2010 Draft Grades

Jclombardi reviews Packers 2010 Draft grades. 

Simply, the Packers beefed up both sides of line.  Summary: 2010 Green Bay Packers draft picks.  Meanwhile, a brief review of the grades for this draft in the sports nation:

1. Todd McShay (Scout’s Inc.) B-.  The Packers’ best-case scenario was realized when top-four OT Bryan Bulaga fell to them at No. 23, but things fell apart from there.  DT Mike Neal (No. 56) is a reach. We’re not sure he’s a good fit as a 5-technique in their 3-4 scheme.

2. Mel Kiper (ESPN) B -.  Green Bay stuck to a good plan in the first round and got an ideal fit in Bryan Bulaga. In the second and third rounds, I think they may have reached a bit with Mike Neal and Morgan Burnett. Good players, but I think in both cases there were some better options. Neal’s skill-set isn’t a direct fit for the 3-4 they run. The grade goes up a notch with the addition of James Starks….A really good size-speed package when he’s right. 

3. Pete Prisco (CBS Sportsline) C+.  Best pick: Third-round pick Morgan Burnett is a playmaking safety who has the range you want in a modern-day player at that position. Questionable move: Taking defensive tackle Mike Neal in the second round over some other tackles will be a move watched closely. Was he worth a second-round selection? Third-day gem: Defensive end Wilson has a chance to stick as a seventh-round pick. He was a quality player at East Carolina. Analysis: Getting tackle Bulaga to fall to them in the first round was a good thing.  2nd round pick brings the grade down. They reached on that one.

4. James Joyner (Outside The Beltway) C.  The Packers needed to get younger at offensive tackle and did so with the Bulaga selection. Neal provides some bulk for the run defense. Burnett is a ball hawk at the back end. He intercepted 14 passes at Georgia Tech.

5. Nolan Nawrocki (Pro Football Weekly) B-.  The Packers landed a potential long-term blind-side protector to replace Clifton in LT Bulaga. The brute-strong Neal was tabbed to stack the edges of the Packers’ “30” front. Thompson nabbed S Morgan Burnett early in the third round. All three players could see action readily. Fifth-round TE Quarless could develop into a solid role player. OT Newhouse fits the Packers’ zone-blocking scheme, as does one-cut runner James Starks. DE C.J. Wilson could also provide depth as a five-technique. The Packers could come away with three starters and recognized value throughout the draft.

COMMENTARY: For the Packers, it was a B- value draft. On this weekend, rookie orientation camp begins for the Packers.