2010 NFL Draft Countdown: Green Bay Packers

The NFL Draft Countdown is where we take a closer look at an NFL franchise to see what its transactions have been and what its needs are.

Franchise

• Draft Position: 23
• 2009 Season Result: 11-5 (2^nd in NFC North; Lost in Wild Card Round)
• 2009 Head Coach: Mike McCarthy
• 2010 Head Coach: Mike McCarthy (38-26; 1-2)

Key Transactions

• DE Aaron Kampman (to JAX)

Draft Picks

• 1-23
• 2-24
• 3-22
• 4-24
• 5-23
• 5-38
• 6-24
• 7-23

Analysis & Outlook

In spite of putting up a Pro Bowl performance last season, QB Aaron Rodgers cannot be happy with his O-Line. He was sacked 50 times and the Packers will need to address this issue sooner rather than later. They’ve resigned Ts Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton but an overall better job needs to be done. The Packers might also look at adding another RB to complement Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Packers priority lies in substituting the loss of Aaron Kampman with someone who can play OLB in a 3-4 scheme. In the secondary, the Packers will look to retain Ss Nick Collins and Atari Bigby, but with CB Charles Woodson not getting any younger, the Packers would help themselves by getting a CB.

In the first round, I’m looking for the Packers to go with an O-Lineman, like Mike Iupati, Maurkice Pouncey or Bruce Campbell, a hybrid OLB like Derrick Morgan, Brandon Graham or Carlos Dunlap, or a CB like Kyle Wilson or Devin McCourty. In the second round, they’ll focus on the same positions depending on what they do in the first round. After that, they’ll look to add more depth at the O-Line and at CB.

The Packers are getting better, but to make the next step, their O-Line must hold up. If that happens, expect Greg Jennings’ production to go back up. I also expect Jermichael Finley to get a more featured role in the offense, especially in the red zone.