If the NFL draft was nerve-wracking for the players coming out of college, how must the veterans on current rosters feel?
Draft picks show up with the sole focus of taking someones job, and its no different in Green Bay. There were clear winners and losers on the Packers' roster in light of the draft.
Winners
Brad Jones has to be the happiest player on the team. The starting outside linebacker job is his to lose after Aaron Kampman departed in free agency and General Manager Ted Thompson ignored that position in the draft. Jones chief competition will be a few undrafted free agents, who in most cases are lucky to make the team let alone contend for a starting role. Jones no doubt is pleased by the Packers loud, ringing endorsement.
Kicker Mason Crosby struggled last season with field-goal accuracy but it appears he will have no competition. Crosby hasnt reached his potential, but the Packers are giving him every opportunity to work out his kicking kinks.
Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Brett Swain can sleep easier these days. The Packers found no compelling reason to draft a receiver and seem satisfied with their backups behind starters Greg Jennings and Donald Driver.
The Packers are holding a table for Pat Lee and Will Blackmon, the oft-injured cornerbacks who have spent more time in the training room than on the field. But in a draft loaded with cornerbacks, Thompson chose to look the other way and put his faith in the potential of Lee and Blackmon. Second-year player Brandon Underwood also comes away from this draft with a smile on his face and a spot on the roster that is his for the taking.
Aaron Rodgers can close his eyes, take a deep breath and relax. No longer will the Packers quarterback have to look over his shoulder as oncoming pass rushers move in for the kill. No longer will Rodgers have his neck on a swivel and wonder when the next boom will be lowered. No longer will he fear for his life and well being if tackles Chad Clifton or Mark Tauscher cant play. The Packers have brought in line reinforcements and for the first time in a while have quality tackle depth.
Losers
Like a Donald Trump TV show, someone is going to get fired after the Packers drafted Penn State tight end Andrew Quarless in the fifth round, and it will likely come down to Donald Lee or Spencer Havner. Lee presumably makes too much money ($2 million salary) to serve as the third-string tight end behind starter Jermichael Finley and Quarless, so unless he is clearly better than the rookie, his days in Green Bay are numbered. Havner has his own issues after injuring himself in an offseason motorcycle accident.
Theres only so much room along the offensive line, and a couple of 300-plus pound veterans Allen Barbre and Breno Giacomini will be hard-pressed to make the final roster. Someone must go with the drafting of Bryan Bulaga and Marshall Newhouse.
Ahman Green returned in the middle of last season to back up Ryan Grant and in the process broke the Packers' all-time record for rushing yards. It was a nice going-away present for Green, an unrestricted free agent who still lives in the area and was hoping to receive a call from the Packers. His cell phone most likely wont ring after Thompson drafted running back James Starks.
The gig is up for 2007 first-round bust Justin Harrell after the Packers drafted not one but two defensive ends. Next year, Cullen Jenkins, who will become an unrestricted free agent, might be packing his bags as well. With the addition of defensive end Mike Neal in the second round, the Packers wont feel compelled to shell out big money to keep Jenkins.
Perhaps no player receives more criticism from fans than Jarrett Bush, who has been around since 2006. Its not entirely fair because Bushs strength is playing special teams, yet injuries have forced him to moonlight too often as a defensive back. The Packers traded up to draft safety Morgan Burnett in the third round, which could make Bush unneeded for secondary duty. Unless the Packers choose to keep him strictly for special teams, Bush is expendable.