Green Bay Packers: Pre-combine seven-round mock draft

Those who live and die with the Green Bay Packers on a down-to-down basis during the season are well aware of the issues deterring this perennial playoff contender from staking its claim on the brass ring—that’s the easy part.

But devising an effective plan to fill these holes is a multi-pronged process that will combine our front office’s ability to sign moderately-priced free agents and draft prospects that can hit the ground running.

But make no mistake: GM Ted Thompson remains someone who will continue focusing on the draft as his primary method of reinforcing the roster until further notice.

Yes, releasing the likes of Sam Shields and James Starks from their respective contracts does put the Packers at nearly $43 million under the salary cap, but an old leopard doesn’t change his spots overnight.

Anticipate Thompson using a bulk of those extra funds to lock up some of his own veterans, including leading sack artist Nick Perry, who will surely command an exorbitant multi-year deal following his breakout campaign.

This year’s allotment of picks consists of eight selections that may see more added down the line following the league’s annual distribution of compensatory draft picks in late March.

If last year proved anything it’s that Thompson isn’t averse to trade up in the draft if he identifies the type of prospect that presents all the qualities consistent with being a long-term starter in the immediate future.

But while we all take great pleasure in concocting a myriad of scenarios of how things will go down over the next two-plus months, it is still pretty early in the game and thus we can only limit ourselves to working off the premise of the Packers having eight picks to work with during that last weekend of April.

Therefore, the following mock draft should merely serve as a primer that spotlights our primary positions of need along with a handful of individuals that have the types of physical skills and intangibles that can help propel the boys from 1265 Lombardi Avenue back to promised land.

So feel free to pull up a chair and lean back. Here is your seven-round Packers’ mock draft.