GREEN BAY - It's common for general
managers to keep strategic information close to the vest in the
weeks leading up to the NFL draft.
Then there's Green Bay Packers
general manager Ted Thompson, who would be hard-pressed to
confirm or deny that he, in fact, owns a vest.
But Thompson figures going out of
his way to say absolutely nothing substantial about his strategy
going into this weekend's draft beats the alternative: Putting
out misinformation to keep other teams guessing.
"We don't lie, and I think
I've been consistent with that throughout since the day I took
the job," Thompson said. "But I also will not tell you
anything I think is proprietary to the Packers and could do us
some harm. It's not that we don't want the fans to know, it's
just that other people read this stuff, and everybody is trying
to get an edge."
Of course, with the Packers
having to wait until the 30th pick in Saturday's first round,
they're very much at the mercy of the choices other teams make
in front of them. Barring an unlikely trade up, the Packers will
be free to take the - all together, now - best player available.
Thompson proved his disregard for
drafting based on the team's immediate needs when he took
Tennessee defensive tackle Justin Harrell in the first round
last year, adding a player at the team's deepest position going
into last season.
So even if the Packers need a
tight end, a cornerback and some offensive linemen this year,
don't be surprised if they look elsewhere in the first round.
"It's not that you don't go
into the draft with blinders on and realize that you'd like to
have another of this and another of this," Thompson said.
"I just think the draft is a long-term investment,
especially the early round picks. ... If you know Player A is a
better player and you wind up taking Player B because he happens
to play a different position, I think that's a mistake."
As for who the Packers might
consider as their potential Player A, fans will have to make an
educated guess. Thompson joked about his tightlipped tendencies
this week, opening his annual pre-draft news conference with a
blanket apology.
"Don't get mad at me if at
the end of it you realize I haven't really said a whole lot,
because that's sort of my job," Thompson said. "And I
apologize for that, but that's the way it usually is."
So what, for example, does
Thompson think about this year's class of tight ends?
"All positions are really
good this year," Thompson deadpanned. "And I think the
tight end group is a really good group."
Despite Thompson's evasiveness, a
few things are evident going into the draft:
- The Packers are open to the
idea of drafting a quarterback in the first round, and aren't
worried about what that might do to the psyche of first-year
starter Aaron Rodgers. As Thompson often says, it's a big-boy
league.
But it might make more sense for
the Packers to trade down with another team more desperate for
quarterback help. Thompson has shown a tendency to trade down to
acquire more picks, but it remains to be seen whether that
philosophy will evolve now that the Packers' overall talent
level has been rebuilt.
- Thompson says he's open to the
possibility of trading up, but don't bet on it. It's hard to
imagine Thompson giving away one of his mid-round draft picks to
pull off such a deal. Beyond that, his scouting staff hasn't
spent much time evaluating players who are likely to be off the
board by the time the 30th pick comes up Saturday.
- The Packers spend more time
than some other teams scouting small schools, making them likely
to take another middle-round flyer on a player from a
lesser-known program. Think Greg Jennings or James Jones.
- And while Thompson doesn't
draft for need as a general rule, it's hard to imagine the
Packers not coming out of this year's draft without making
serious attempts to find help at tight end, cornerback,
quarterback and offensive line.
This year's first round should go
much faster than last year, as teams will have 10 minutes each
instead of 15 to make their pick. Thompson is in favor of the
faster pace, although he wishes the draft didn't start so late
in the day.
"I'm for it," Thompson
said. "I haven't been through it yet, so we'll see. That
first round last year was a marathon, so I think it's probably
better for all of us. It gives us plenty of time. There's some
people that were concerned that you might not be able to do as
many trades, things like that. I don't think that will have any
effect at all."
