TT did not have CJ Wilson rated ahead of Shields. If you learn how GMs, especially TT, do their job it would help you on your Blues-Brothers-type Mission from God to rid the universe of Packer Fans that nonsensically gush over TT. BTW, I know and met many and read several Packer Boards for a # of years and I have yet to see any Packer Fan nonsensically gushing over TT. You should question either the mission or the God that sent you on it.
You envision Ted Thompson drafting like you would, knowing what you know. You find a draftnik top 100 and if at pick #62, Ted Thompson takes #63, you’ll scream REACH! All your instincts of how a draft should be conducted are just wrong and this is why you have such difficulty accurately evaluating them. You dont understand tiers, you dont understand how scouts develop relationships, you dont understand how GMs/scouts gather intel on what other teams are thinking and because you dont understand it, you deny its reality. Please pay attention and learn a nugget or two:
In reality, at this point in the draft Ted Thompson will have between 10-50 players in a tier. CJ and Shields were in the same tier, no one rated higher than the other. Ted Thompson then sorted through several variables to determine who’s picked: special teams play; depth of team’s position group; is there an outstanding trait; max upside; who, if not picked can likely or less likely be signed as an UDFA; etc. The Packers had been gushing over Sammy for a year since he was converted to CB at Miami’s spring game. Shields was a 4.3 WR that could not get on the field because he could not grasp the playbook; a very poor candidate to learn a new position so late. He had a daughter at 17 and another 3 years later; suspended twice for academics and was arrested for pot a week before his pro day. Eliot was the only one on the Sammy trail until he ran that 4.3 at his pro day, then the pretender GMs took notice. Ted Thompson saw his HUGE upside; he was a good gunner and ran a 4.3 at a position of need; and Ted Thompson was assured Sammy was not a character risk despite a resume to the contrary. There is NO WAY Ted Thompson passes on Shields if he is not assured he’s signing as an UDFA, just like Wolf w/ Driver, only difference is Driver gave no assurance like Sammy did, so Ron had to draft him.
Again Ted Thompson did know Shields wouldn't be drafted; just like he knew Worthy/Reyes/Still wouldn’t last ‘til 2nd round pick; just like he knew CM3 was about to be picked; just like Wolf knew Driver wouldn't be drafted. And sure other teams are going to want a 4.3 UDFA to kick the tires on; but Ted Thompson knew he'd get "last look," which happened: The Pack offered 5K, it was I believe the Bears that offered 7,500; Ted Thompson matched it and Shields came to GB; just as Ted Thompson stellarly anticipated.
Originally Posted by: Barfarn