Packers GM Ted Thompson is known as a “draft genius”. He and his personnel department are at or near the top when it comes to scouting college players that are entered in that years NFL Draft. But there is a myth I would like to dispel when it comes to Thompson’s methodology, he doesn’t take the “Best Player Available” -or BPA- when it is his turn to select the Packers newest player.



I went back and looked at all of Thompson’s drafts as the Packers GM, and it shows he doesn’t take the BPA, but in-fact he takes the BPA based on his teams needs (according to HIS draft board). Let’s take a look back at Thompson’s first three draft picks in each of his drafts and what the Packers perceived “need” was that year.



Read the rest at The Average Joe Show  blog

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LOL! That's what I've been saying all along. I said 🇹🇹 picks the BPA of what we need.

I'm really glad you just did the 1st 2 rounds. First two rounds of this draft, 🇹🇹 will most likely choose between LB, DL, DB, and OL. He's NOT gonna get a RB, TE, or QB in the first two rounds. Not gonna happen unless the next Wallie Payton is there, and as far as I know, he's not in the 2012 draft.

Even among LB, DL, DB, and OL, I can probably make that more specific with OLB, DL, DB, and C; and the only way he goes outside that is if there's someone who's so freaking good that nobody but the Vikings would be stupid enough to pass him up.

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"Perceived Needs:" is all that needs to be said here.

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I just assumed that when someone says BPA they mean based on needs and not strict BPA. That goes for any team not just the Packers.

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First of all, BPA, inmy mind doesn't mean you split hairs on ranking. If one player is rated 6.8 and another is rated 6.6 cetainly need comes into play. Actually, to me it looks a though Ted Thompson drafts BPA pretty consistently.

2005-Rodgers is a good example of BPA. There was much "moaning and gnashing of teeth" on that pick because there were more pressing needs and we had Favre.

2006-Hawk was consensus BPA with our pick. If someone had picked him earlier, which some mocks drafts did, then most had Williams coming to us. That would have been nice.

2007-TT really likedHarrell as evidenced by turning down a trade with Clevland that would have brought their 2nd, a very high second, and their 1st the following year. I think Ted Thompson felt Harrell was not only BPA, but too good to pass up.

2008-Brohm, I feel, was a definite BPA, we had Rodgers already and Brohm would have been a top 10 pick the year before so, again, I think Ted Thompson thought he was too good to pass on. With Lee my delief is that after Ted Thompson tried to trade out of rd 2 there were a number of playerhe was equally unenthralled with so he logically went with an area of need.

2009-We were fortunate we got Raji, which was a need. The only player that was argueably mmore talented was Crabtree and he had a lot of bagage.

2010-As you said Bulaga was a no brainer. He was a pretty definte BPA. Unlike Rodger he was an area of need and we were fortnate to get him. Neal is argueable, but I think Ted Thompson had him rated higher than most and liked him for our D.

2011-I believe Sherrod was a better pick than Houston, he was really falling on most boards and hasn't done anything(much like Sherrod). Moch,I don't know how he's done. I don't see any evidence to indicate Ted Thompson didn't go with BPA. If anything what little evidence there is points to the factrs he did, as we had a huge need at OLB.

These are just my perceptions. Not trying to be arguementative, just discussing. Certainly need comes into play. We have been fortunate in a number of cases where BPA has also been an area of need. One additional thought is that the importanc of position, I believe, comes into play also. If there is a CB or LT rated the same as a S or OG the CB or LT has more value. So by and large I believe Ted Thompson has stuck to BPA.

Edit: Sorry for all the errors but everytime I tried to correct it made me retype to the end.

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Traxx - Good stuff. Here's the counter. The tough thing is it will be hard to prove.

If Ted picks OLB and DL for his first two picks, it could be coincidental we went with needs or it could be argued proof that we pick needs.

Now if he picks something way outside, like TE and G, it proves me wrong and that Ted goes straight BPA.

I'm guessing that for our first two picks, we go OLB, DL, C, and DB only. Both rounds only between those choices.

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I think for awhile, Ted would pick BPA, but with future need in mind. Like if you look two years into the future, who is going to be a free agent? Ted's been taking OTs. Now we're ok after the loss of Tauscher and soon that of Clifton. Last year he stocked up on TEs. The year before he drafted Starks. He drafted Harrell and Neal when Jolly and Jenkins' futures were in doubt.

Then again, Ted often goes into a season with a bare cupboard at one position or another. Like G his first year. Or the year Ryan Grant emerged off the scrap heap in week 10, we had no RB on the roster who could get it done. Last year it was OLB/DL.

Thing is, our roster is getting pretty well stocked, so we don't have AS MANY areas of need.

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You are correct. If Luck, RG3, Blackmon or Ricardson falls to us and he picks them - then we'll know.LOL I think we'll have a good chance in the first 2 rds to get a DL and OLB that's as good as anyone else at any position. Konz is the one player that could make it difficult, but I don't think he'll be there.JMHO

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Konz seems way overrated to me. I bet he's there before and after our selection at 28. Our needs for pass rush, while helped with the addition of Hargrove, are far too great to go unaddressed in this draft. I think Ted will draft the big DE talent first, unless an OLB that is too good to pass on is available. I bet we go DE, OLB, DT/NT in our first 3 picks.

This draft, for him, is all need. We may have more need positions to fill than we might think, but anyone can see we need pass rush. Even me... properly addressing that could go a long way towards making us legit contenders this season.

C'mon now...that's a Wisconsin boy...he can't be overrated!!!LOL

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