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NFL Mock Draft 2009: Green Bay Packers

Written April 2, 2009 by Black Widow

green-bay-packers-nfl-mock-draft-040109 The Packers didn’t waste any time making changes in the offseason after a seven-game plunge in the standings that was the most dramatic in team history. They released six coaches eight days after the season, including defensive coordinator Bob Sanders. GM Ted Thompson will be looking to upgrade the league’s youngest team, which will be the case for a third straight year, with four of the first 100 picks in the draft. They have a first, second and two third round selections upcoming. NFL Touchdown wants the Packers to look at the offensive and defensive line in this season’s draft. I wholeheartedly agree. Here are my top five holes the Packers need to fill in the ’09 NFL Draft.

1.) Defensive Line - The Packers’ defensive struggles can be attributed to a lack of pass rush from every player up front except DE Aaron Kampman. This guy was pretty much a one-man wrecking crew after DE Cullen Jenkins suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in the second half of their fourth game. Jenkins’ lost seemed to create a domino effect, with dwindling pressure making it hard on the secondary and linebackers to operate in man coverage. Even if Jenkins comes back fully recovered, the Packers still need to bolster their defensive line. DE Mike Montgomery is a free agent, and DT Colin Cole used his free agency to sign with the Seattle Seahawks. DRT Johnny Jolly could be facing legal problems stemming from his arrest in July for possession of codeine. Also DT Justin Harrell has played only 13 of a possible 32 games since the Packers selected him as their first pick in the ‘07 draft. Good Fits in ‘09 Draft Class: DE Tyson Jackson (LSU), DE Paul Kruger (Utah), DE Corvey Irvin (Georgia).

2.) Offensive Tackle - OLT Chad Clifton and ORT Mark Tauscher underperformed in 2008 after solid ‘07 seasons. Tauscher is a free agent who might not be in the picture next season after tearing the ACL in his left knee against Houston on December 7th. The Packers like the potential of ‘08 rookie Breno Giacomini at right tackle, but more depth is needed at both tackle spots regardless of whether he or versatile Jason Spitz end up replacing Tauscher. Good Fits in ‘09 Draft Class: OT Michael Oher (Ole Miss), OT Troy Kropog (Tulane), OT Xavier Fulton (Illinois).

3.) Defensive Back - Veteran CB’s Charles Woodson and Al Harris are a year older, and Woodson may move to SS full time after getting action there late last season in place of the injured Atari Bigby. After a solid ‘07 showing, Bigby started only seven games in ‘08 and ended up on the injured reserve with an ankle injury that required surgery. Rookie CB Patrick Lee also finished the season on the IR list with a knee injury, and second-year S Aaron Rouse is only a spot-duty player. Good Fits in ‘09 Draft Class: CB Coye Francies (SJSU), CB DeAngelo Smith (Cincinnati).

4.) Running Back - Featured back Ryan Grant’s yards/carry average plummeted from 5.1 to 3.9 in ‘08, and he had only four runs of 20 yards or more after registering 11 in ‘07. Grant suffered a severe hamstring pull early in the season after sitting out for part of training camp with a contract impasse, and he wasn’t truly effective until the second half of the season. The Packers wouldn’t mind giving him a push with some competition in the backfield. Good Fits in ‘09 Draft Class: RB Glenn Coffee (Alabama), RB Donald Brown (UConn).

5.) Linebacker – The Packers were emphatic at the end of last season about announcing that all of the team’s linebackers would be re-evaluated after an uneven campaign. The team is hoping that MLB Nick Barnett, who suffered a torn ACL on Nov. 9, will be ready for the start of training camp but that’s not a guarantee. Additional linebackers who can add depth to the team’s new 3-4 defense and bolster a special-teams unit that took a step backward in ‘08 would be welcome. Good Fits in ‘09 Draft Class: OLB Cody Brown (UConn).

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