"I think it was the Thursday before the draft started, (GM) Ted (Thompson) and I were sitting there watching film and we had a TV on and Mike Mayock was going through a mock draft," Schneider said. "And he had Aaron -- because it was like if you got past 12 or 14, right in there, all those teams in there had quarterbacks. So we looked at each other like, 'That could happen'."

Mayock not only suggested Rodgers could fall in the draft, but he projected Green Bay to take him at No. 24 .

"Teams (picking ahead of Green Bay) either didn't need a quarterback, didn't have cap space for a quarterback, or had head coaches whose jobs were on the line and probably didn't want a rookie quarterback," Mayock said of his projection.



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NFL.com wrote:

I think Mayock is the best as well. He was always good on DBs; but he has evolved and improved his evaluation skills on other positions over the years.

But on Rodgers, he got it right for the wrong reason! Rodgers was never a top 5 player that fell because a bunch of teams didn't need a QB. If he was, he'd have never made it past 20 as someone would have traded up to take him. Rodgers went right about where most teams projected him, that is, same tier as Campbell, late 1/really early 2.

Schneider is a conniving flake, nothing he says can be blindly trusted.

Originally Posted by: Barfarn 

I don't know how you rank players but if I were a GM or even the HC I would not rank players on their immediate impact. I would try to rank them based on their long term development. Or at least give more weight to the long term potential over what they can do for me this year or next year.

Since we now have the benefit of looking at Aaron's career I can't see how anyone would say he is was not a top 5 pick that everyone else missed out on. The QB position is one that has to be looked at 3-4 years down the line. There are almost no QBs that come in and are successful their first season. I was thrilled when they drafted Aaron knowing he would have a min of 2 years and as many as 4 years on the bench. While I could not say that he would be a 2 time MVP I knew he would be one of the best QBs in the NFL once he got onto the field.

Originally Posted by: wpr 

I'm really not commenting on how I would have ranked Rodgers. I'm just saying if several teams saw him as a top 5 pick, he's probably not falling past 10. Most if not all of the other teams did not view Rodgers as a top 5 pick and I don't think Ted did either. If he thought he could get his QB of the future, who is a top 5 talent who had fallen to say 20; Ted Thompson is trading up to get him. He's not taking a chance that a top 5 pick is snatched at 20-23.

He knows Wash is right behind him looking for a QB. Now let's say Wash thinks GB wants a QB; Wash is going to give up a 4th rounder to move up 2-3-4 spots to get that top 5 pick. If they think GB dont want no QB; they are still trading up for fear that GB will trade that pick to a team at front of 2nd round, who all needed QBs. If Wash viewed Aaron Rodgers as a top 5 pick there is NO WAY, Wash doesn't move up 2-3-4 spots to get that top 5 pick.

You can make the same argument for each team: EG: Dallas had 2 picks and 33 YO Bledsoe at Qb; if they see Aaron Rodgers as top 5, they probably snatch him at 11; but for sure they take him at 20. Oakland with 33YO Kerry Collins is not taking Fabian Washington at 23 if Rodgers is top 5 to them, no freaking way! And on and on...

We cant look at Brady's career and say he was a high pick that fell; its obvious no team saw Brady as much more than a 5th or 6th.

And I'm not so sure the teams "missed" on Rodgers or Brady. Maybe if Brady, who was a top HS QB and disappointed in college is drafted by Cleveland or Chicago in 6th, you dont even know who I'm talking about; I think the stars aligned with Brady and Belichek/McDaniels. I think Aaron Rodgers was developed by McCarthy and his staff into what he is; just like they're doing with Hundley. Hundley was a 5th rounder, nothing more; but he has a chance in hindsight to be a huge "steal."

Originally Posted by: Barfarn