Round 1 Draft Impressions

GENERAL COMMENT
Mock Drafts are definitely only a mock- I am just happy I got the first five right.

PACKERS
On the surface, Packers fans have to be elated that one of the consensus top 4 OT's fell to them at #23, although you could tell Bulaga was losing some draft stock as draft day drew closer. Solid pick. Kind-of Unsexy. Likely was the top-rated player on Ted's board. I am not a GM. Ted is building a team for more than 2011. Here is my beef - Yes, Al Harris is coming back, but an older player coming back from injury is no gimme - but essentially the Packers are fielding the same defense that couldn't stop Arizona at all in the playoffs (And Minnesota and Pittsburgh in the regular season). Ted does nothing in free agency to help this. The Packers have a Super Bowl capable offense. They do not have a Super Bowl capable defense for two reasons - they still don't get enough pressure and they lack quality depth in the secondary (and are aging in the secondary). I know Bulaga was highly rated and fills a perceived need. But before this draft it was well-known that it was deeper at OL and CB than quality pass-rushers. Jerry Hughes and Sergio Kindle could have fit this bill to play opposite Clay Matthews. I would have loved Kyle Wilson too. Rodger Saffold, Charles Brown and Bruce Campbell are all still available in the second round and I know there is no guarantee one would still be available at #56, but I might have taken that gamble.

OTHER RANDOM THOUGHTS

• The Raiders are catching a little flack this year that is a bit undeserved. McClain was projected by most to go #11, so they didn't reach. It might not have been a top perceived need, but it isn't as bad as some were making it out to be.
• Jacksonville made the reach of the first round - did they contact Philadelphia, San Diego or San Francisco about moving back?
• Dez Bryant will be the steal of this draft and might have a Super Bowl ring by this time next year. He is the type of playmaker (all Michael Irvin references aside) that can vault a team to that level.
• That said, and it is not hard with 2 top 14 picks, but Seattle had the best First Round. Getting Okung to fall to you and then Earl Thomas too. Very nice.
• San Diego is another case of a team that knows what it is doing. They needed a RB. They did what they needed to get one. And I believe Matthews is the real deal.
• Here is what the teams slated to pick in the last ten picks before the night ended up with -

Green Bay - Bulaga - some projected as a top 10 pick

Philadelphia - Brandon Graham

Baltimore - A veritable boatload of draft picks from Denver to reach for Tim Tebow

Arizona - Dan Williams - some projected as a top 10 pick

Dallas - Bryant - see above

San Diego - Matthews - see above

NY Jets - Kyle Wilson - again, some projected as top 10 pick and best cover corner in draft - may be covering Dez Bryant in the Super Bowl next season

Minnesota - Will still get the player they want plus took a pick from a divisional rival

Indianapolis - Got my man Jerry Hughes who fits them perfectly

New Orleans - Patrick Robinson - maybe not as good as those above

Bottom Line - those were the 10 best teams last year - by my count 7 got Top 15 talents and one got highly compensated for the 25th pick.

Now let's get this thing finished tonight and tomorrow.