Green Bay on Draft Day

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers spent a lot of time on his back last season. Packers fan Jared Sandler believes the team needs to address that issue with their first pick - and a few more down the road.

Watching the Green Bay Packers for the first eight weeks of the season was absolutely one of the most frustrating experiences for any Packers fan. No matter the team, every defensive end or edge rusher had a field day on Aaron Rodgers because of the Packers’ horrendous offensive line play.

The problems, which existed due to injuries (read: Chad Clifton) and inexperience (read: T.J. Lang) and players playing out of position (read: Darryn Colledge and Scott Wells), were still inexcusable. The Packers have one of the brightest stars in the league in Aaron Rodgers and they damn sure better do everything they can to protect him. Chad Clifton is back but is not getting any younger or healthier. Mark Tauscher is also not getting any younger or healthier.

With the wealth of talented offensive linemen, now might be the best time for Green Bay to grab an impact offensive tackle in the first round, like a Trent Williams or Bryan Bulaga (because neither Russell Okung or Anthony Davis will fall) and add a few interior offensive linemen as the draft progresses.

If Green Bay did not draft an offensive lineman in the first round, they need to try add depth and youth to their secondary, particularly their cornerbacks. While they had one of the best secondary groups in 2009—a group that single-handedly won them a game or two— their corners, the feature part of their secondary, are getting up there in age. Charles Woodson is 33 and still looking good, but for how much longer? Al Harris is 35 and missed most of last season due to injury. Tramont Williams and Jarrett Bush are both young, but proved to be very inconsistent as starting cornerbacks.

Green Bay won’t get a guy like Joe Haden, but maybe they will get a guy like Kyle Wilson or Devin McCourty. Maybe the answer isn’t in the first round, but the secondary positions, specifically on the outside, present a few needs for Green Bay.

Next on the agenda for Green Bay is finding young players who fit the role of Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme on defense. They let Aaron Kampman go because he simply did not fit that mold. They got better as the season progressed, but it was very evident early on that they did not quite have the best personnel. In order to do this, Green Bay needs to grab a young nose tackle to clog up the middle, and some athletic defensive tackles to play on either side of the line. There were rumors Green Bay was interested in Taylor Mays as an edge rusher. And while he might not be the answer, they need a force off the edge—someone with size and speed.

The final need, although not one that needs to be addressed in the first round, is the running back position. Ryan Grant has been very inconsistent since his breakout 2008 season. He isn’t great in the passing game and is only okay as a pass blocker. A more consistent running game would open up the Green Bay offense, which is most effective when they can use the run to open up holes downfield.