But as a CB.. yes, that is one area at the moment the Packers don't need to address in the draft.

Originally Posted by: Pack93z 

Good post.. I think it will be interesting already for the Packers and keeping players in the secondary. Adding another talent is questionable.. but for me, his value would be as a returner next season to keep Cobb (whom will be counted on even more in the offense) free from the duties.

But as a CB.. yes, that is one area at the moment the Packers don't need to address in the draft.

Originally Posted by: Pack93z 

LCB 38 Williams, Tramon SFA06 31House, Davon 11/4 24Bush, Jarrett W/Car
RCB 37 Shields, Sam RFA 29Hayward, Casey 12/2 23Nixon, James SFA12

Don't they normally carry 5 CB? Let's say they do keep 6. I don't see him jumping over Hayward at all. He could get past House down the road but not at the start of the season. Bush and Nixon are the bubble players. Everyone loves to bash Bush but he is a standout on ST. Will Mathieu come in and do the same? If not the best he can do is land the #6 spot on the team with an opportunity to move up in the future.

That said I would not want to use the # 5 pick on the # 6 CB on the team.

Originally Posted by: wpr 

Drafting players, especially in the later rounds, isn't about getting a starter in their rookie season, necessarily. Things change so fast in the NFL. He could start his rookie season as the #6 CB, but could end up being #3+ in his 2nd or 3rd season given any number of circumstances. Viewing the pick of a talented player through the above lens just doesn't make much sense to me. Additionally, as mentioned, he likely would have a lot of special teams value, as well. Besides, Tramon Williams has been regressing it would seem for two seasons (can it all be attributed to injury?), and House really hasn't shown a whole lot yet during the actual season, although mostly due to injury. Bush is becoming somewhat expensive, and may be replaced in a season or so. He shouldn't be on the field for the defense, anyway.

Corner back is one of the Packers deepest positions, but there are still several questions about the group, for sure. Adding a good to very good talent late in the draft would be nice.

Originally Posted by: doddpower 

This guy won't amount to anything until he's on his second team. Book it.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

The main concern I have with him, that I'm surprised no one has mentioned, is that he has been out of football for a year. What kind of shape will he be in? Also that's one less year he has had to develop as a football player.

Originally Posted by: Bigbyfan 

He's been working out with Patrick Peterson (former teammates at LSU).

The only way I see Teddy Ballgame drafting him is if he can play safety. Thompson has never had a corner under 5' 11" but has had a few 5' 10" guys at safety (Derrick Martin is the only one I recall at the moment).

Ron Wolf had a rule of "never drafting short corners." What Wolf never said was what constituted a "short corner." The cutoff for Wolf apparently (outside of bowing to his new DC - Ray Rhodes w/T-Buck), Wolf never dipped below 5' 11" and preferred guys 6' and above. Teddy Ballgame has stuck to that... rigidly.

As for the original question, I would take a late flier on him. Someone compared him to Woodson. Mathieu reminds me of a young Antoine Winfield. Smallish, ferocious in run support, coverage skills that make up for short stature. Like Winfield, I think the play-making opportunities drop, playing on Sundays.

Originally Posted by: JustJeff