Green Bay Green Bay's pick of defensive end Mike Neal in the second round of the NFL draft was more about the future than the present.
Oh, Neal might see occasional time in the base defense this fall and operate as an inside rusher on some passing downs.
But barring something unforeseen, Neal has virtually no shot at supplanting starters Cullen Jenkins and Johnny Jolly in 2010.
When this season ends, though, Jenkins and Jolly both could be unrestricted free agents. Jolly also has an ongoing legal situation in Houston.
So for now, Neal is an insurance policy the Packers probably won't cash until 2011.
"You can never have too many of those guys," Packer defensive line coach Mike Trgovac said.
"I kind of focus my area in one position. I think he's a guy that can come in and compete with the guys that we have in there. Certainly he'll be given every opportunity."
Some projected Neal (6 feet 3 inches, 294 pounds) as a three-technique tackle in a 4-3 scheme because of his short arms (33 1/2 ).
But Green Bay saw the powerful Neal as an end all the way in its 3-4 base.
By far, Neal's most redeeming quality is strength. He set school records at Purdue in the bench press (510), squat (615) and clean (385).
Then, at the NFL combine in February, Neal did 31 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench.
After doing next-to-nothing his first three years at Purdue (one redshirt), Neal came on strong his final two seasons.
Starting 23 of 24 games at left defensive tackle, Neal had 11 sacks, 21 1/2 tackles for a loss and 68 tackles.
Neal was terrific at the East-West Shrine game, a performance that undoubtedly raised his draft stock.
He's also drawn praise for his movement skills and agility, but his 40-yard dash time (4.89) is slow for defensive end.
"He was very impressive in the all-star games practices and in the games themselves when they are going against all seniors and guys that are getting drafted at the same time," Packer general manager Ted Thompson said of Neal.
"We think he fits very well into our system. He played defensive tackle mostly in college. . . . We feel like he'll be a good asset for us in our sub packages rushing the passer from the inside."
Neal was criticized in some circles for his effort level and lack of consistency. But the Packers said that's because Neal almost never came off the field at Purdue.
Neal estimated that he played 80-plus snaps some games, while Trgovac said, "they played a lot of defensive football at Purdue."
"The guy is in the game the entire time," said Shaun Herock, Green Bay's assistant director of college scouting. "Eventually a big guy like that is going to wear down a little bit at the end of the game, but he has a motor about him."
Neal has stayed healthy the past two seasons but had a wide array of injuries before that.
Neal was granted a medical hardship in 2005 after undergoing knee surgery; then he missed five games in 2006 with a turf toe injury that later required surgery.
He also had surgery that same off-season for a torn labrum, but he returned from all of those to play good football the past two years.
"I am a hard-nosed football player," Neal said. "I know when I get off the ball and get to blockers I'll knock them off the ball. I think I'm a tough football player, and that's what I will bring to the Packers - another added dimension to the physical defensive line."
Neal should certainly fit in well with a defensive line group that was terrific a year ago.
The Packers ranked No. 1 in the NFL in rushing defense, setting a franchise record for fewest yards allowed per game (83.3).
With nose tackles Ryan Pickett and B.J. Raji, along with ends Jenkins, Jolly and now Neal, Green Bay should have terrific depth up front.
"I'm a big fan of defensive linemen," Thompson said. "As you know, before when we ran a 4-3, I think we'd keep sometimes 12 on our 53-man. You start running out of those guys, you run out of them pretty fast and there's no well to go get any more water."
That's why Thompson went to the well for Neal, and later East Carolina's C.J. Wilson in Round 7. While most don't expect either rookie to make major contributions in 2010, Neal won't be one of those people.
"I want to play as much as I can and contribute to the team," Neal said.
"If they drafted me this high, they expect me to come in and work my butt off and get on the field. I definitely want to get in and contribute as a rookie."