I remember several mock drafts that had Nick Perry mocked to or around the Packers pick. Same for Hawk. Raji was rated high. Datone Jones was mocked to the Packers by some. Ha-Ha was often mocked to the packers. Sherrod was within his predicted range. But you're still missing the point. You're using ESPN, NFL Network, and internet analysts opinions as a "consensus." That doesn't mean it's what the consensus in the NFL is, at all. In my opinion, you put far too much stock in this so-called "consensus."
Originally Posted by: DoddPower
I believe this to be quite true. The NFL has turned the draft into a marketing free for all. They promote mock drafts on their own web site, and support the fueling of speculation and anticipation. This is all business, designed to keep their fans engaged year round.
The spin off sites are in it to make money too, and to carve out their own piece of the pie, from fans who consume what they have to say like they had never eaten before.
Fans get married to their ways of thinking how the draft should fall, and where their favorites place in the 7 round order. Based on very little info. I mean, it really is quite ridiculous. Fun? Of course. But fans are just that, fans, and they wish to speculate on who their teams will pick to make their team better.
The personnel staffs take all different kinds of info into making these decisions. Things many of us simply do not consider specific to the team they are building, with far more info. I liked that they had an emphasis on sure handedness in their selections of WRs. I like that they went after a guy, who in those tight personnel circles was moving quickly up many boards, like Thornton, who has what appears to be a non-stop motor, has great size and speed, and can play all the DL positions. I thought, after the fact, after learning of the "why's" of the pick, that it was a brilliant move in R3. There is risk involved that it won't work, but the consensus in the Packers war room appears to have been a solid "yes" for Khyri Thornton.
TEs fell off the board with their next pick, but there Richard Rodgers was, on their board, and they stuck to it and made the pick. I cannot argue with that, as much as I disliked it at the time, as a fan. I guess, being a fan, I read up on their logic behind making the selection, and I support it after hearing about the player and what they had to say. I'm not going to say I know better, because I really, really don't. Can't possibly with the garbage, sensational, pedestrian info we get.