OLB, DE, S, CB, OG/OC, OT, and TE (if Finley leaves). Those are the positions I have rated as bigger needs than RB. I hope Thompson doesn't spend more than a 4th or 5th rounder on one. Here's why:
1. The Packers are a passing offense. One of the major innovations of the WCO was using the short passing game to replace rushes. McCarthy's offense takes that one step further by relying upon the short to intermediate passing game to replace rushes. And the team has the talent to do it.
2. I disagree with the notion that if the passing game is not in sync, as was the case in the playoff game, a RB can carry the offense to victory. IMO because the Packers offense is built on the passing game and if that's not working, defenses can load up vs. the run and no team can be dominant both passing and running the ball.
3. The Packers have Starks, Green, and Saine. If Starks can stay healthy we know he's good enough to win a title with. Green showed potential but of course has to get and then stay healthy. I liked what I saw of Saine. He obviously needs experience. And if they feel they're shaky at RB, they can bring Grant back relatively cheap. IMO they already have three options on the roster who could be the answer at RB.
4. The OL was/is built with an emphasis on pass blocking.
5. A salient argument can be made that for a passing team, it's the number of rushes that matters most to keep defenses honest. And I believe McCarthy is near the league average in pass/rush ratio, although he throws the ball slightly more than the average.
6. In 2011 the Packers led the league in scoring without the RB some are advocating they acquire. They averaged 35 ppg. IMO spending valuable resources on a RB could only improve that marginally.
The trend in NFL rule changes has made the passing game more and more important so I'm glad McCarthy's offense emphasizes it as does Thompson's talent acquisition. IMO some of the insistence on signing a UFA RB or drafting a RB high is based upon the failure of the Packers passing game in their last game. IMO to win a title the Packers passing game can't have an off day in the playoffs as it did vs. the Giants. IMO there's no "fix" for that. If the strength of any team fails in the playoffs they are likely to lose. If the Packers passing game is in sync, the running game just has to be good enough to keep defenses off balance. The way James Starks played at the end of the 2010 is plenty good enough IMO. I think the biggest challenge for the RBs in 2012 is to find one who can block blitzing LBs and DBs and I think that player is already on the roster. And have I mentioned the defense is crying out for more talent?! IMO the Packers shouldn't spend valuable resources improving the running game because no matter who they acquire, they will still be a passing offense. And with Rodgers and his targets, I'm happy they are.