GREEN BAY, Wis. -- A wrap-up of the Green Bay Packers' draft.
Best move: Not that Packers general manager Ted Thompson listens to what people say on Twitter -- or that he even knows what Twitter is -- but the patience he showed when it came to the inside linebacker group, even when so many were screaming that he address what they perceived to be the team's greatest need, might pay off in the long run. Thompson waited for an inside linebacker at what he felt was the appropriate time rather than reaching for one in the first three rounds. Instead, he took Michigan's Jake Ryan in the fourth round (No. 129 overall). Ryan played outside linebacker in his first three college seasons and moved inside for his senior year. Only two of the six inside linebackers drafted ahead of Ryan ran a faster 40-yard dash time at the combine than Ryan's 4.65. They were: first-round pick Stephone Anthony (4.56) and second-round pick Eric Kendricks (4.61). "I think he tested a little better than what people expected," Packers director of player personnel Eliot Wolf said of Ryan.
Riskiest move: The Packers are banking on Damarious Randall as a cornerback, a position he never played at Arizona State. The first-round pick spent his entire college career at safety, even though his college coaches raved about his one-on-one coverage ability. Even if Randall can make the transition to cornerback, it might have to be as a slot corner and not a true outside cover man. The Packers have some depth at the position now after adding Randall and second-round pick Quinten Rollins, but most of the depth is at the slot position. Sam Shields remains the only proven outside cover man on the roster.
Most surprising move: As much as Thompson covets what he calls "swings at the plate," he was willing to give up a seventh-round pick to move up in the fifth round to take a player who, ideally, won't ever play for the Packers in UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley. It will be a success only if the Packers can develop Hundley and then eventually trade him for a higher-round pick because when Hundley hits free agency in four years, the Packers still expect starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers to be in his prime.
File it away: The Packers shouldn't regret not taking a single offensive lineman for the first time in Thompson's 11 years as general manager. If anything, the Packers might have more capable offensive linemen than they do roster spots. Their entire starting five is signed through at least the 2016 season, plus Don Barclay and JC Tretter both could be considered starting-caliber players at multiple positions.
My take: The Packers were a few minutes and a couple of plays away from the Super Bowl last season, so it's not like this team needs instant help to contend. But if the Packers can get one of their two defensive backs -- Randall or Rollins -- to make some splash plays, and if third-round receiver Ty Montgomery can give a jolt to the return game, that might be enough. Thumbs up
