This is the seventh in a position-by-position series evaluating the Green Bay Packers needs entering the 2011 draft.
LINEBACKER
Need level: Low
On the roster: OLB Clay Matthews, ILB Desmond Bishop, ILB A.J. Hawk, OLB Erik Walden, OLB Frank Zombo, ILB Nick Barnett, OLB Brad Jones, ILB Brandon Chillar, OLB Diyral Briggs, OLB Brady Poppinga, OLB Robert Francois, OLB Cardia Jackson, ILB Matt Wilhelm.
Outlook: Defensive coordinator Dom Capers kept losing guys last year, but thanks to some outstanding scouting on the pro personnel side, he was able to plug the holes. Now he has three returning starters in Matthews, Bishop and Hawk and a whole bunch of guys hungry for playing time. Barnett is one of those and hes going to have to earn his place back in the lineup. The Packers might let him go through camp, see if there are injuries or if he outperforms somebody and then make a decision on his future. They could also wind up with an inside guy in the draft and let Barnett go right away. A lot has been made about GM Ted Thompson wanting a complement to Matthews on the right side. Its hard to know exactly what hes thinking, but one thing is clear: he doesnt have to take an outside rusher. He won a Super Bowl with Walden and Zombo sharing the position and Jones has starter potential. None of the three are proven playmakers and were low-round picks or free agents for a reason. Adding a beast on that side would help offset the loss of DE Cullen Jenkins and make it more difficult for Matthews to be double-teammed. Poppinga, Wilhelm and Francois will have a hard time making the team.
Eye-opening stat: Barnett, Jones, Chillar and Poppinga missed a combined 56 games last year, including playoffs.
Whats available: Its very possible a talented pass-rusher will wind up at the top of GM Ted Thompsons board at the end of the first round. Theres lots of debate about where Georgias Justin Houston and UCLAs Akeem Ayers will fall, but chances are neither will slip to the Packers. If theyre off the board, he could consider Arizonas Brooks Reed, but No. 32 might be too high. An intriguing prospect is Nevadas Dontay Moch, a raw athlete big-play potential who might be available at the end of the third round. Texas Sam Acho could fall there, too. After that, the pickings arent great and Thompson probably wouldnt be able to do much better than what he already has on his roster. There are a number of quality inside linebackers who could interest Thompson, including Georgias Akeem Dent and Oregons Casey Matthews, Clays younger brother.
Bottom line: As much as it has been speculated that this is a position Thompson will address, the truth is hes probably not going to use a high pick on an outside linebacker. Its more likely hell consider it in the middle rounds and then add a number of free agents when they are eligible to be signed.