For anyone curious (as I was) about what picks we still have, here's the rundown:

Day 1:
1st round, 9th overall: BJ Raji (DT/NT)
1st round, 26th overall: Clay Matthews (OLB)

Day 2:
4th round, 109th overall: T.J. Lang (OT/G)
5th round, 145th overall: Quinn Johnson (FB)
5th round, 162nd overall: Jamon Meredith (OT)
6th round, 182nd overall: Jarius Wynn (DE)
6th round, 187th overall: Brandon Underwood (S)
7th round, 218th overall: Brad Jones (OLB)



Trade Summary

Trade #1 -- New England Trade:
Gained: 1st round pick (26th overall) and 5th round (162 overall)
Lost: 2nd round (41st overall), 3rd round (73rd overall) and 3rd round (83rd overall)
Net Summary: +1st (26), +5th (162), -2nd (41), -3rd (73), -3rd (83)

I am quite happy with our first day acquisitions. I've heard a few football people say this draft is weak so I am sure TT saw it the same way. TT filled two major needs and he probably looked at his board and thought GB would be better off just taking the best guys at the need positions. WR, QB, TE, RB, QB, and CB are not needs. I would not be suprised if TT trades up to the 3rd to get a OT. TT will have to give up a lot - 4th and both fives to get to the end of the third. OT tackle depth is the next major need to fill.

The math works for our 4th, first 5th, and first 6th in order to get back up in the end of the 3rd IF an OT falls to that point.

That would give us a late third, 5th, 6th, and 7th yet.

After watching the draft today and researching the picks all night, I can't say I am completely sold on either of the picks but from watching film here is what I gathered. Obviousely alot of people know alot more than I do but I think Raji could be a star, but he could also be a bust. He has the ability and strength to really collapse the pocket from the inside as well as hold his gap at the point of attack. I really don't know about his role in the 3-4, I guess seeing him in the 3-4 makes me think of him more as a Tommy Harris or a premeir 4-3 DT. When I think about the 3-4 I think about big hole fillers like Gabe Watson, Vince Wolfork, and Casey Hampton. I really hope he can develop into that type of player for our defense. Matthews is a really intriguing pick to me as well. I could see him holding down a LB spot for the next fifteen years and being a team leader and a solid pro- I am not sure I see the pro-bowl upside right now but I sure hope he can suprise me. I like his speed sideline to sideline and his NFL pedigree. Lets hope we can add some more talent tomorrow and hope Thompson can fit the peices to the puzzle to help us contend in the NFC next year & beyond.

Day One Draft Review

Let’s start with the Lions. They finally got their QB of the future, the new face of the franchise. Let’s face the facts no matter how many new faces of the franchise over the years the Lions have had; it doesn’t fix the fundamental issue with their team. Matt Stafford may have the tools, but will he be given the time and the tools to do what he is capable of doing? The answer is most likely “No”. The Lions have a long history of losing and there are reasons that are deeply rooted within the franchise. The Lions have new management and coaching staff. It will take two to three years to implement their systems. The management will have to fix the torched building Matt Millen has left behind as far as talent goes. Louis Delmas has done fairly well against extremely inferior talent. Being a rookie defensive back from a small school is different than being a rookie receiver from a small school. The speed and reaction time are not going to be very good for a rookie defensive back with his experience level. Overall the talent drafted is good, but may not be given the proper chance to succeed due to current lack of talent team wise and the winds of change that happen every 2-3 years in Detroit.

The Vikings took a major risk with their first round pick. Percy Harvin is a very small receiver with speed. His catching ability isn’t all that great, only good. He may get a big play once and awhile. However he couldn’t take a hit in college and the NFL is a lot tougher. Harvin has a higher chance of being a bust than succeeding as a receiver. He may excel as a kick returner. Phil Loadholt may have a decent future for the Vikings. He is a massive blocker with size. However is a bit slower off the ball than what most NFL prospects are. He has worked very well against one dimensional smaller pass rushers. He may have trouble with the average experienced NFL defensive end until he can adjust to the way the game is played in the NFL.

The Bears pretty much sunk themselves this year and it is self explanatory.

The Packers took BJ Raji. Many consider him to be the best NT to come out of the draft this decade. That maybe true of his potential. But he needs to prove that he is not just another hyped player that is going to get a big contract. Raji has natural power in his lower body that isn’t matched by any DT his size that currently plays in the NFL. He may have trouble shedding blocks due to his shorter than normal arms when it comes to facing top level offensive linemen this year. However he will still take up a lot of space. Clay Matthews is the most ready to start LB with the most potential in this draft. What makes him different than Cushing is that he hasn’t even come close to reaching his full potential while Cushing is just starting to peak. Cushing will just be a solid LB. Matthews will at minimum be a solid LB with the potential to be a great LB.

My day 1 Draft Grades:
Lions: B
Vikings: C+
Bears: F (The trade did more harm than good)
Packers: A-

I hope the next three years proves you right.

Why was my thread title changed? Please change it back.

I think they merged yours and Randy Hiedler's thread

Talk about getting hijacked!

sinatra, could you please sing a few verses of "Fly Me To The Moon"? Because I am elated at this draft at this point. I think the Packers dodged a major bullet in choosing Raji rather than Crabtree. Crabtree going to SF? I believe this is deja vu. That is where TO started (I'm still upset about the championship "loss" to the 49'ers, wher Jerry Rice clearly fumbled the ball he caught, but the officials called it a non-catch. The next year, Mike Holmgren led the charge to get "instant replay" installed. And (eventually) worst of all, TO caught the game deciding TD.

Rats! Nerts! Onions! Whew- I feel better now, thaks.

Added Lang to recap summary.

I haven't felt this optimistic about the first round of a Packers' draft since Sterling Sharpe!

I think one way to judge the Packers moves in the 2009 draft will be to watch Sintim and Beatty, the Giants two second-rounders. The Packers could have easily used the picks they spent on Matthews to get those two players instead (by staying put in RND Two for Sintim, and trading the two 3RD-rounders to go up for Beatty).

So, it will be interesting to see if Matthews can outplay Sintim over the next few years, and how Beatty compares to T.J. Lang.

Anyway, IMO (which isn't worth a hill of beans) TT is having his best draft as Packers GM.

Johnson and Meredith added.

This draft is shaping up nicely. We appear to have gotten our NT, which is the key to this defense. We also got a very athletic, talented OLB to help add some bite to that defense. We also appear to have taken strides in building our run game by drafting an absolute demolisher at FB. It looks like he'll be a great asset in clearing the way for Grant, not to mention a potential bruiser for those goal line situations. The draft of the two OT's is key for replacing our current, aging Tackles. Not to mention the boon they could bring to road paving for the run game.

I'm really big on what we've done so far.

Overall, TT drafting need first and fore-most: Stablized the front seven with likely two quality starters by mid-seasn; plus, two potential OL starters in 2-3 seasons, or at least, decent backup which should add competition for what is currently on the roster. Nice Draft by TT and company-happy!

Added Wynn.

Added Underwood.

1. Harvin is 5' 11", 190 lbs. That is not "very small" for a WR. Harvin missed all of five games at Florida. His total offense was well over three thousand yards and his team won two titles while he was there. Scouts comapre him to Steve Smith.

2. Oh really? Better than Casey Hampton?

3. More ready than Aaron Curry?

4. Are you serious? They only solved their QB problem for a decade.

The Bears picked up a very good QB, no doubt.

However, if OT Pace can't play well anymore, the Bears OL is paper thin given the retirement of Tait, something they could have addressed with the 1st round picks they gave up.

Picking up Cutler was smart, I agree with you Gregg on that. But, I think Hiedler makes a valid point about the price Chicago paid, especially if they don't have an OL to protect Cutler.

If Pace disintegrates in his old age this season, the Bears OL could become the laughingstock of the NFL in 2009.

BJ Raji - I wanted him or Tyson Jackson @ #9. I think a rotation of Pickett and Raji will be great.

Clay Matthews - As most of us were, I was stunned with the trade up. When one of my friends alerted me that the Packers were on the board, I thought he was messing with me. At first I felt that we gave up too much, but after watching Day 2 and getting TJ Lang and Meredith, I'm actually pretty please with this pick. Here's to hoping that Matthews is the next Kevin Greene!

Added Jones, our final pick of the '09 draft.

Appears to have been a very productive draft, imo. Would have like to have seen perhaps one offensive skill player, but looks like a good draft anyway.