Ted Thompson doesn't draft any differently than 90% of the leagues decision makers. Every team has a bunch of potential needs, how guys like Thompson rank those needs is the only difference between general managers and coaches.
You can go through any Thompson draft and call that pick a need, and I could go through any GM/coaches draft around the league and find the same thing.
Even though we have a great roster have a ton of various needs.
1. A new QB to develop behind Matt Flynn who will be traded this year.
2. A 3rd down RB.
3. A WR to develop behind Jordy Nelson.
4. A RT to develop behind Bulaga who will move to LT soon.
5. A LG to develop behind TJ Lang if Colledge leaves.
6. A C/G to develop behind Scott Wells.
7. A DE to develop behind our young DE's.
8. A DT to compliment B.J. Raji and his heightened PT.
9. A LOLB
10. A MLB to groom behind Bishop
11. A CB to develop behind Shields
12. A SS to compete with Morgan Burnet
13. A return specialist.
There are a ton of different scenarios.
I agree with much of what you have listed but I also think most of your "needs" are already taken care of by players already on the team.
1. As much as I like Flynn and wish he could stay we all know he can help us out if traded..and most likely for draft picks..I dont know how high the coaches are on Harrell but he's been in McCarthy's QB school for a little while now so he might be servicable, who knows. Not worth a pick IMO.
2. I think and kinda hope B-Jax will resign, I know he wants to start and I'm sure he'll explore FA but I dont think a team is going to overpay him cause he's proven he isnt a starter, so I think the Pack will resign him and retain one of the better 3rd down backs in the league.
3. James Jones? He will be back in green and gold. He has just as much potential as Nelson, I think very highly of both of them and I think they both clearly dropped too many passes this season..and easy ones at that..its not that they dont have good hands they just need to work on having better focus.
4. 1st round draft pick will cover this in my mind...I will continue on this at #9
5. Marshall Newhouse..big strong kid who should improve this offseason and provide some solid depth..wouldnt be against drafting a stud if one falls though, but I dont think it's a need.
6. Nick McDonald..havnt seen much of him but McCarthy has been high on him since training camp. Again if a solid player falls in the draft I think TT will pull the trigger but I dont think this is a need.
7. CJ, Neal, Wynn. All young plus throw in Jolly possibly who is still young as well. Theres pretty good depth here already, but obviously if Jenkins leaves an early to mid round pick could/should be used here.
8. I like what Green did since becoming a Packer but I wouldnt mind TT spending a mid round pick on a player who could play both NT and DE, a big athletic body who is still a little raw.
9. Im guessing you mean ROLB here..but continueing on what i was saying at #4 I think if we swing a trade with Fylnn we could possibly end up picking twice in the first round, #32 and an earlier spot for Flynn and one of our picks (probably 3rd roundish) thus we can address the two true needs on our team. OT, and OLB to play across from Clay.
10. I think Hawk will be back and Barnett is gone..but Chillar will be healthy and will be very solid as a back up to Hawk and Bishop. But I wouldnt mind us spending a late round pick here for depth.
11. I think Lee provides some nice depth but with woodson only getting older I think spending a early to mid round pick here is nessecary.
12. Charlie Peprah? Resign him and I like having both him and
Burnett at SS fighting for the starting spot. Both pretty solid players.
13. I dont like the idea of spending a draft pick on a "return specialist" unless A. they are Hester jr. or B. they are solid players at another position WR or CB.
