Satisfaction Flows From Packers Draft Day War Room 
Thompson Feels Team Is Stronger Following Draft


By Scott Beedy
Staff Writer
Channel 3000

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers ended the 2010 NFL draft with seven draft picks. One in each of the first three rounds, none in the fourth round, two in the fifth round and one in each of the sixth and seventh rounds.

"I am pleased to get to this point," said Packers General Manager Ted Thompson. "The work that our guys put into it, it's nice to get to the end of it and feel like you've helped the team."

Instead of two long days, the new draft format, which Thompson is on record saying he is not a fan of, turned into three-not-quite-as-long days. But what was added was a lot of waiting around, especially since the Packers started Saturday with a lengthy wait until their round five pick.

"There are all different kind of scenarios that you think a way the draft might fall or who might be available at a certain time," said Thompson. "But considering the guys we got, where we got them, we were surprised, especially Saturday."

Going into the draft the Packers seemed to have a handful of needs, including offensive line, linebacker and defensive line depth, and secondary depth.

The Packers picked offensive tackle Brian Bulaga to start things out on Thursday night. They added a defensive tackle on Thursday in Mike Neal and then traded up in the third round to choose safety Morgan Burnett.
"When it got to be the fourth-round pick, considering who we could have taken at our original pick in the third, we said we were very happy we had Burnett," said Thompson. "Not that we wouldn't have picked there and hopefully gotten a good player, but we felt like it was worth it."

After that you could be a bit more critical of the Packers' choices. They went with a tight end in the fifth round who had some off-the-field issues in college and an offensive tackle that will likely play guard in the NFL. In the sixth round they drafted a running back with a history of injury problems and they wrapped up the draft with a defensive end.

Here's what they didn't pick. They passed on drafting any cornerbacks. That indicates the Packers are optimistic about the health of Will Blackmon, Pat Lee, and Al Harris.

"Again, it would have been fine if the board would have worked out where we had taken a (cornerback)," Thompson said. "But it just didn't work that way. Yeah, we have a large number of guys (at cornerback) and we're working through some of the young guys that haven't played very much, and certainly the injury things that you mentioned."

The Packers also could have opted for a linebacker to play opposite Clay Matthews in the teams' 3-4 defensive scheme. That too, indicated the green and gold are pleased with the options they have already in place.
"Brad Jones and Brady Poppinga are lined up over there," said Thompson. "Brad did pretty well during the limited time that he played there last year, and we're going to work at it. We didn't draft any linebackers this year, but still we're going to be trying to add some stuff to that position, sure."

The Packers, like 31 other teams in the league, now have turned to signing rookie free agents. It's very possible to see the team pick up players at linebacker and cornerback to compete for roster spots.

One area that the Packers feel very strong about is the additions they made on the offensive line through the draft, including Bulaga and Marshall Newhouse.

"I feel good," Thompson said. "I feel better now that we've added these two young men to the group. I think they'll fit in really good. We'll see how they match up with our existing guys. We have several classes of younger players on our team at that position, and of course we have the two tackles that have been here for a while. But I feel good about our offensive line. I like the two guys that we added and I think they'll fit in with our room very well."

Overall, the Packers draft grade will be decided in the years to come rather than the days ahead, but at least publicly, Thompson and his staff seem pleased with seven picks they made in the 2010 draft.

"I don't know how to quantify how much better, (but) I think we're a better team," said Thompson. "I think we're a stronger group and a more solid 53-man throughout."

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