If there’s one thing that has become obvious during Ted Thompson’s tenure as general manager of the Green Bay Packers, it’s that he doesn’t listen to pre-Draft hype at all.  When you’re watching the Packers draft, you can throw all your pre-draft rankings and Mel Kiper’s Big Board out the window.  Because Ted Thompson and the Green Bay front office is going to go out and scout the players for themselves.  They will leave no stone unturned in the search for unrecognized talent.  This year has been no different.  And while the Pack didn’t land many big-name players (with the exception of Brian Brohm) this year, there is plenty of talent to be found in the 2008 Green Bay draft class.  So without further ado, here’s Green Bay’s Day 2 picks.

Jermichael Finley, TE, Texas:  Aaron Rodgers (and/or Brian Brohm) is sure to have some firepower in the passing game to help the Packers stay explosive on offense post-Favre.  Ted Thompson is making sure of it.  Jermichael Finley is purely a pass-catching tight end.  Many have compared him to a tall possession receiver rather than a tight end.  He’s got a nice tall, athletic build.  He probably won’t start ahead of Donald Lee, but in passing situations expect to see a lot of Finley, both as a tight end and lined up as a receiver.

Video Highlights

Jeremy Thompson, DE, Wake Forest:  A quick defensive end with a lot of upside, Thompson has been compared by some to current Packers end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.  He’s pretty agile, but needs to get quite a bit stronger, because he can’t fully utilize his speed until he can get around the corner without being manhandled.  Overall, this is a pretty solid pick, although there may have been some better players available, particularly at offensive tackle, at the time.  On an interesting side note, Thompson is the younger brother of Green Bay offensive tackle Orrin Thompson.

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Josh Sitton, OT, UCF:  The Packers finally addressed their need for some future starters at offensive tackle by drafting this big lineman out of Central Florida.  He’s a very strong, heavy lineman who plays best when he doesn’t have to move a lot.  Just let this guy run into the guy lined up against him, and he’ll win 90% of the time.  There’s some concerns that he didn’t play enough tough competition in college to be ready for the NFL.  This pick may have been a bit of a risk, but if he can learn quickly to improve his footwork he will make a name for himself in the NFL.

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Breno Giacomini, OT, Lousiville:  Huge offensive tackle (6′7″, 304 lbs.) with huge potential.  He’s a fierce player and gives 100% on every play, battling in the trenches with every bit of his hefty frame.  He’s a little bit of a liability in run blocking, but he’s an incredibly effective pass blocker, whose weaknesses in technique can be solved with good coaching and through Giacomini’s own outstanding work ethic.  This pick might be a steal.

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Matt Flynn, QB, LSU:  The seventh round is really hit-or-miss, and this pick of Matt Flynn is no different.  He showed flashes of greatness in his senior season, and managed games well enough to lead the Tigers to a national championship.  Yet overall, he had a statistically poor senior season.  He’s very instinctive, moving around well in the pocket and sensing the rush, but he’s also consistently inaccurate and waits too long to get rid of the ball.  In any case, Flynn is going to be a 3rd stringer at best this year for Green Bay, and for a 3rd string QB, Flynn’s not bad at all.

Matt Flynn Video Highlights

 Brett Swain, WR, San Diego State:  I’ve actually seen Swain play in a couple of games for SD State, and I can tell you that he’s not a bad receiver.  He’s pretty speedy, and is also a potential punt returner.  Swain was brought in for a workout by the Packers, who immediately seemed to like him.  As I’ve said, the 7th round is hit-or-miss, and this is a perfect example.  Brett Swain, Green Bay’s last pick of the 2008 NFL Draft, could be the next Marques Colston, or he could be cut a week into training camp.

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The best picks of the day are probably Jermichael Finley and Breno Giacomini, both of whom will probably see some playing time in their rookie seasons.  Keep an eye on Brett Swain as well.  See if he makes it through training camp.

The Packers have addressed all of their needs, but for the most part took a “best player available” approach to this year’s draft.  See the Brohm and Nelson picks in the 2nd round.

While the 4th and 5th rounds could have been handled better (if you’re going to trade up in the 4th round, why not trade up to pick #2 instead of pick #3 so that you can add Justin King at cornerback?), this was a pretty solid draft.  This isn’t a group of players who will step in and make an immediate impact, but that’s not what Green Bay needs anyway.  The Packers are in a position where they can let these rookies mature and replace players who get injured, traded, or lost to free agency in the future.  Check back 3 years from now, and you’ll see that most of these players are still playing well for the Pack.

Overall Draft Grade:  B

The Packers have just traded the 5th rounder they just received in the deal with St. Louis to the Minnesota Vikings.  The Packers now have the #15 pick in the 5th round as well as another 7th round selection.

Green Bay now has three 7th round picks.  The Packers could very well look to trade into the 6th round with all those extra 7th round picks they’ve got.

Green Bay has traded its #128 pick overall to the St. Louis Rams, in exchange for the second pick in the 5th round.  The Packers still have pick #135, a compensatory selection, and the Rams also gave the Pack a 7th rounder.  A great deal for the Packers, who get back into the 5th round and gain a 7th rounder as well.

Green Bay sent a 4th round pick, #113 overall to the New York Jets for the #102 pick overall.  The Packers also shipped their 5th round pick to the Jets.

The Packers used the #102 pick to grab Wake Forest defensive end Jeremy Thompson.  We’ll have more on him tonight.

The Packers still have the #29 pick and the #36 pick (a compensatory draft pick that the NFL gives to teams who suffer overall losses in the previous year’s free agency), but for now they have no 5th or 6th round picks.

Jordy Nelson, WR, Kansas State:  Many Packers fans may have been disappointed after this pick.  The Packers already have 5 talented receivers who, by Coach McCarthy’s admission, could be starters on any team in the NFL.  That being said, I can tell you exactly what Ted Thompson was tyring to do here.  He wanted to be able to get an extra pick and still get CB Brandon Flowers, who would have been a reach in the first round.  However, Flowers went right before the Packers picked, which probably set the Packers war room scrambling.

But don’t despair Packers fans.  Nelson is actually a great pick.  He’s an incredibly hard-working and versatile athlete.  He played QB in high school (and he can still show off his arm on trick plays), then played at defensive back his first two years in college, and then finally transitioned to a receiver.  He’s also a dangerous kick returner.  He’s got pretty good size, not just vertically, but horizontally.  He’s got a wide, strong frame that will allow him to get good position on defenders, and he’s got great hands.  Ted Thompson has proven himself adept at drafting talented, relatively unknown wide receivers.  See Greg Jennings and James Jones.  And then add Jordy Nelson to that list.

Jordy Nelson Highlight Video:

 Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville:  The Packers dropped quite a bombshell by picking Louisville QB Matt Ryan with the #56 pick.  In terms of value, it was an outstanding pick.  But it does raise an unsettling question.  Is there doubt about Aaron Rodgers?  Hopefully not.  This pick is probably a very good insurance policy.  If Rodgers is hurt, we’ve got a great young quarterback to step in.  If Rodgers performs extremely well and holds out for an absurd contract, well, Brohm can step in.  If Rodgers is injured, Brohm can step in.  Brohm was the second best quarterback in the draft.  Sorry, Joe Flacco.  No matter how you look at this pick, it was a steal.

Patrick Lee, CB, Auburn:  Thompson finally adressed Green Bay’s need at quarterback.  And he did a pretty good job given the fact that all the corners seemed to go right before Green Bay was on the clock.  Patrick Lee is a great cover corner.  He is very fast and instinctive.  Lee can be physical, but he has not yet proven that he can play with the play-to-play physicality of a bump-and-run defense.  With the proper coaching, Patrick Lee could develop into a premier defensive back.

 Patrick Lee Highlight Reel

Recap:  While Green Bay fans might be disappointed that the Packers traded out of the first round, there’s still plenty of reason to be optimistic about the results of the first day of the ‘08 draft.  The Packers found first-round talent in quarterback Brian Brohm, and may have found a real gem of a wide receiver in sleeper Jordy Nelson.  Additionally, Green Bay addressed their needs at cornerback by selecting Auburn’s Patrick Lee, a solid player.

What to look for on Day 2:  The Packers will likely want to address their needs at offensive line and tight end.  A backup running back wouldn’t hurt either.  There’s a lot of talent that has slipped past Day 1, and if any of the really gifted athletes are still available when the Packers pick again, it would be in their best interest to go after them, regardless of positional needs.

1.)  Miami Dolphins:  OT Jake Long, Michigan;  We already knew this one, as this stud on the O-Line had already been signed to a nice big contract by the ‘Phins.

2.)  St. Louis Rams:  DE Chris Long, Virginia; The Rams add a very strong, powerful, and explosive pass-rusher to their defensive line.

3.)  Atlanta Falcons:  QB Matt Ryan, Boston College;  The Falcons fill their gaping hole at the position with the consensus best quarterback available.

4.)  Oakland Raiders:  HB Darren McFadden, Arkansas;  With this pick and QB Jamarcus Russell, the Raiders now have a very talented, young, and explosive pair of playmakers in the offensive backfield.

5.)  Kansas City Chiefs:  DT Glen Dorsey, LSU; Glen Dorsey didn’t drop on draft boards so much as other players rose.  The Chiefs will be happy to have the defensive monster many had going #1 late last year.

6.)  New York Jets:  DE Vernon Ghoulston, Ohio State; Ghoulston is a quick, athletic end who will be very versatile in the Jets’ 3-4 defensive scheme.

TRADE:  The Patriots trade the #7 pick (from a trade with San Francisco) to the New Orleans Saints for the Saints’ #10 pick and a third-round selection.

7.)  New Orleans Saints:  DT Sedrick Ellis, USC;  The Saints really wanted a defensive tackle, and Ellis was the best one on the board, but probably wouldn’t have made it to the Saints had they stayed at #10.

TRADE:  The Ravens trade the #8 pick to the Jaguars for Jacksonville’s #26 pick, two third round picks, and a fourth round pick.

8.)  Jacksonville Jaguars:  DT Derrick Harvey, Florida;  Last season, the Jaguars had a fierce defensive line, but injuries, free agency, and some offseason trades have decimated Jacksonville’s once feared defensive front.  This pick is a step in the right direction for the Jags.

9.)  Cincinatti Bengals:  LB Keith Rivers, USC;  The Bengals have a need at the linebacker position, and Rivers is a versatile and instinctive player.  Perhaps more importantly, Rivers stays out of trouble.

10.)  New England Patriots:  LB Jerod Mayo, Tennessee;  Mayo adds some much-needed youth to the aging Patriots linebacking corps.

11.)  Buffalo Bills:  CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy;  The fast, hard-hitting McKelvin is the first corner taken.

12.)  Denver Broncos:  OT Ryan Clady, Boise State;  This tall, athletic tackle will fit well into Denver’s zone-blocking scheme.

13.)  Carolina Panthers:  HB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon;  Possibly a steal, because Stewart would have been picked even higher if there hadn’t been doubts about an injured toe.

14.)  Chicago Bears:  OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt;  The Bears could have, and probably should have, taken a quarterback such as Joe Flacco or Brian Brohm here, but they chose to solidify their offensive line.  Hey, maybe Grossman will actually be a competent quarterback if he is given more time to throw.  Just kidding.

TRADE:  The Lions trade their #15 pick and a 3rd round pick to the Chiefs for Kansas City’s #17 selection, 3rd round, and 5th round picks.

15.)  Kansas City Chiefs:  G Brandon Albert, Virginia;  The Chiefs move up a tad to ensure that they get a solid offensive lineman here.

16.)  Arizona Cardinals:  CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State;  Rodgers-Cromartie shot up draft boards after an incredibly impressive Senior Bowl and combine.  He has blazing speed and will offset the move of Antrel Rolle to safety for the Cardinals.

17.)  Detroit Lions:  OT Gosder Cherilus, Boston College; How many strikes does Matt Millen get?  Goose-der Cheri-who?  With Rashard Mendenhall still available?

TRADE:  The Ravens trade their #26 pick, which they had received earlier in a trade from Jacksonville, and their 3rd and 6th round picks, to the Texans for the #18 pick.

18.)  Baltimore Ravens:  QB Joe Flacco, Delaware;  With McNair gone, the Ravens hope that Flacco lives up to all the hype he’s gotten lately.  Scouts suddenly realized that a 6′6″ QB with a rocket arm might just make it in the NFL.

TRADE:  The Panthers get another first round pick by trading their second-round pick, a fourth round pick, and their ‘09 first round pick to the Eagles for their #19 pick.

19.)  Carolina Panthers:  OT Jeff Otah, Pitt;  Another solid offensive tackle in a draft class full of them.  What’s really amazing here is how much Carolina was willing to give up to draft this guy.

20.)  Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  CB Aqib Talib, Kansas; Talib may have the best raw talent of any corner in the draft, and the Bucs needed a complement to the aging Ronde Barber.

TRADE:  The Redskins traded the #21 choice to the Atlanta Falcons.  The Redskins also sent one of their third-round picks, the 81st overall, and their fifth-round choice, the 154th overall, in exchange for two of Atlanta’s second round draft choices, the 34th and 48th overall, and Atlanta’s fourth-round draft choice, the 103 choice overall.

21.)  Atlanta Falcons:  OT Sam Baker, USC; This may have been a bit of a reach, but Baker had been rising on draft boards and the Falcons need some protection for Matt Ryan.

22.)  Dallas Cowboys (from a trade last year with Cleveland):  HB Felix Jones, Arkansas;  Everyone knew that Jerry Jones loved the two running backs from Arkansas.  So while this isn’t really a team need, the Cowboys took what they saw to be the best available player.

23.)  Pittsburgh Steelers:  HB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois;  The Steelers should be thrilled that the Lions let Mendenhall slip away.  It’s amazing this bruiser fell into Pittsburgh’s hands.

24.)  Tennesse Titans:  HB Chris Johnson, East Carolina;  This insanely fast back was clocked at an incredible 4.24 seconds in the 40-yard dash.  Johnson lit up Conference USA.  Will he light up the NFL?

TRADE:  The Seattle Seahawks traded the #25 pick to the Cowboys in exchange for Dallas’ #28 pick, 5th round pick, and 7th round pick.

25.)  Dallas Cowboys:  CB Mike Jenkins, USF;  Jenkins is a great cover corner, and will help the Cowboys immensely as long as he stays out of trouble off the field.  This is a guy the Packers had an eye on.

26.)  Houston Texans:  OT Duane Brown, Virginia Tech;  An underrated tackle who might be better than Sam Baker or even Jeff Otah later in his career.  This will help the Texans’ still-weak offensive line.

27.)  San Diego Chargers:  CB Antoine Cason, Arizona;  After Drayton Florence left in free agency, the Chargers needed some depth at corner.  Meanwhile, this pick all but eliminated any prospect of the Packers taking a corner in the first round.

28.)  Seattle Seahawks:  DE Lawrence Jackson, USC; Southern Cal continues to churn out first round picks.  Jackson is effective against both the run and the pass.

29.)  San Francisco 49ers (from a trade last year with Indianapolis):  DE Kentwan Balmer, UNC;  The 49ers had a choice to make here.  Revitalize an aging D-Line or give QB Alex Smith some offensive weapons to throw to.  They went with defense.

TRADE:  Green Bay traded its #30 pick to the Jets in exchange for the #36 pick in the second round and a fourth round pick.

30.)  New York Jets:  TE Dustin Keller, Purdue:  This guy was overrated.  I’m glad the Packers didn’t waste their first round pick.

31.)  New York Giants:  S Kenny Phillips, Miami:  The Super Bowl champs replace Gibril Wilson with a solid all around free safety.

Unfortunately, I will not be near a computer during the day all weekend, so I won’t be able to give you up-to-the-minute coverage of this year’s Draft.  Each night, however, I will post the picks of all 32 teams and give a thorough analysis of Green Bay’s picks.  Check back tonight around 9:00 p.m. for the first of our NFL Draft coverage.

With less than a week until the NFL Draft, most are expecting Ted Thompson to play it safe.  So am I, but let’s just imagine that Thompson decides to mix things up a little bit, what might he do?  Here’s some ideas(in order from most likely to least likely):

1.)  Trade Green Bay’s first round pick for another second round pick and some later picks (this would give Green Bay 3 picks in the second round).  Then, try to get corners Reggie Smith and Brandon Flowers, both of whom would fit well into the physical bump-and-run coverage schemes the Packers love.

2.)  Draft a quarterback with the first pick.  There’s virtually no chance Matt Ryan will be on the board when Green Bay selects.  There is, however, a pretty good chance that Louisville’s Brian Brohm will be availabe late in the first round.  With Rodgers slated to start, would Thompson really be willing to risk his first-round pick on what might end up being a backup for his whole Green Bay career?  We’ll see.

3.)  Trade up…Way up.  The Packers could use some help at offensive tackle.  What if the Packers decided to trade all the way up to the No. 1 pick to take the best offensive lineman in the draft, OT Jake Long (It is common knowledge that Miami has so many needs that they would love to trade down for more picks).  Green Bay has a surplus of picks this year, including 2 second round selections.  If the price is right, would Ted Thompson and the Green Bay front office pull the trigger on what would most likely be the biggest trade of the draft?

I can probably give you the answer to whether or not any of these scenarios will happen:  No, no, and definitely no.  Still, it’s fun to speculate.  In any case, PACKERwatch will be bringing you up-to-the minute news and analysis of the NFL Draft next weekend, so remember to check back on Saturday!

The Packers have officially re-signed hard-hitting safety Atari Bigby.  Bigby was what is called an exclusive rights free agent, meaning that he hasn’t been in the league long enough to test the waters in unrestricted free agency or restricted free agency.  Bigby has been signed to a 1-year deal, and when it expires at the end of next season, he will have played in the league for 3 years and will therefore be eligible for restricted free agency, which basically makes him much more accessible to other teams than he currently is.  His base salary for the 2008 season will be about half a million dollars, in addition to performance bonuses.

Two other key exclusive rights free agents, Ruvell Martin and Ryan Grant, have not yet been resigned.  It seems inevitable that Grant will be re-signed, but there is a small chance that the Packers might decide to let the wide receiver Martin go.  In my opinion, that would be a dumb move, because Martin’s presence makes it possible for the Packers to use their 5 WR set that was very effective last season.  Additionally, Martin’s salary would not hurt Green Bay at all because the team has so much cap room, especially with Favre’s departure.

Green Bay added some depth and a possible starter to their linebacking corps when they signed former St. Louis Ram Brandon Chillar to a 2-year, $5.4 million deal that will have Chillar wearing green and gold for the 2008 and 2009 seasons.  Chillar will compete for the starting job at strong-side linebacker with last year’s starter, the solid but underwhelming Brady Poppinga.  Poppinga has not yet been re-signed, but the Packers are rumored to be close to a deal to bring Poppinga back on board for another season with the Packers.  That will set up a training camp battle between Poppinga and Chillar.  Whichever player doesn’t get the starting job will probably still play an important role as a backup and a special teams player.