Yes, but we do have a practice squad and we could keep 6. I would rather be ahead of the game then wait until we are forced to do something. Lee has to show something. Blackmon is what he is. Harris and Woodson don't have much time left. I don't feel 100% comforatable with anyone other than perhaps Tramon starting at the CB spot.

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Fact is, we need a pass rush NOW.
Our cover guys still have something left in the tank. And if we can get someone to pressure the opposing QB's, that should make our DB's jobs even easier.
We WILL need to replace Harris, and Woodson soon, but the #1 need as far as i'm concerned is a pass rush. Which was non existant last year.

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If you're only allowed to keep players who are first-to-third year players in the Practice Squad, that would only leave Lee and the draft pick who could be put in there. Lee would be taken instantly, and that would be a huge blow considering his potential. If we draft a CB in the 7th round, he could be put in there, but during the first five rounds, some other team will get him.

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My preference would be that we take the best player available. My preference is a lovely concept, and it sounds real good in a forum discussion, easily defended with historical evidence and logic.

There is a rub, though, both with my preference and with the whole GB Packer situation going into 2009.

I think the word of the draft for me is extrapolation. 

Yes, we have a need for at least one Defensive End in this draft, imo.

We also have a need for an outside linebacker, again, I feel this needs to be addressed in this draft, because I personally feel like we have too many inside-linebackers compared to outside ones, at least as how I envision our defense moving forward.

Here is where my word comes into play, and this is a "need" thread, so I get to emphasize my point.

We need a Nose Tackle from this draft. How many are available? Well, you have Raji, Brace, and Baker, at a minimum, right? Wrong. Very wrong. We (and the expert/gurus) are "extrapolating" their size/speed/skill sets into the position. None of them have played a down as a Nose Tackle.

Neither has Ryan Pickett. It is a position that has a high failure rate amongst otherwise well-qualified Defensive Tackles in another scheme. The Cleveland Browns (You know, the ones that took one of our Defensive Tackles) are struggling to come up with a good one. The Miami Dolphins are bargain-basement trading their "can't-miss, but did miss" NT, to anyone that wants him.

So to me, when I look at needs, I cannot ignore potential solutions, or the lack of potential solutions, if you will, especially when factoring in the high rate of failure, especially in light of having to extrapolate the aforementioned size/skill etc.

DE's, CB's, OLB's= Dime a dozen
Compared to NT's.
Probably

Since # of NT's coming out of college=

0

Unless you extrapolate.

The reach is far greater than if Kampy can play linebacker, for example, imo.

What if Pickett is ineffective at Nose? Crabtree devotees should at least ask themselves that question, imo.

This article, written for Dolphins fans, should be required reading for Packer fans, imo. It sums up the question for me.

Need for young Nose Tackle 

(I am very proud of the fact that not once did I say either 3-4 or 4-3 until just now in this post, lol)

DT. I want another big stud like Sir Gilbert. A guy who takes up two blockers and stuffs the run up the middle.
Everything else works off of that.

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I'm really likeing raji or orakpo for our 9 ... still not sure which OT would be good. Meaning oher or andre ... and even which of all the above will be available.

I hope we dont trade down thou; I'm getting to like all these guys at the 9 spot

dd80forever's arguments are bullheaded at best and lame at worst. First, he's not convinced ANYONE on this team is a potential starter, which dents his credibility right there, and second, signing a pick like Jenkins to the practice squad would be virtual suicide. He'd be snapped up by another team before the ink on the deal was dry. In order to keep him, we'd have to end up cutting someone off our active roster anyway.

It would be really nice if you could stop letting your hatred of Ted Thompson overrule your logic.

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The problem that some overlook every year is that you cannot depend on any draft pick to step onto the field an immediatley become an impact player.

If a team is lucky they get 1 guy each year who becomes a starter, if they are really lucky they get a guy who actualy makes a difference and another who starts.

The draft is to build depth on a team, drafted players need time to develope, especially d-lineman and o-lineman.

Seems to me that the easiest position to make an impact is the RB position, seems every year you see 2 or 3 rb's drafted in rounds 3-7 end up starting and making a difference.

I really do think that Ted Thompson (if the chance is there)will trade down, looks like all the big OT's will be gone, and I just don't think he will take another D-lineman. That leaves M. Jenkins who probably will be available later in the first round.

Here's a question for everyone.

Things fall right, Crabtree, the #1 WR just might still be on the board when the Packers pick. Do you take him?

I wouldn't hesitate, another weapon for Aaron Rodgers in a couple of years.

Also watch for Philly to try and make a trade up to get him, Packers could be in a good position for this to happen.

Drafts are a crapshoot, let's hope it's a good year for Ted Thompson and crew at the table.

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I would take Crabtree too, but I think that would instantly make trait bait out of at least one of our other receivers.

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The Crabtree pick wouldn't be the worst pick, but it if we picked him, I'm pretty sure James Jones would be on the chopping block.

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