This is an abbreviated version of the 2010 NFL Draft Dope Sheet. To read the full version, download the PDF by clicking here.
GREEN BAY ENTERS DRAFT WITH EIGHT SELECTIONS
- Next weekend, the Green Bay Packers will welcome another rookie class to their roster through the NFL Draft, held April 22-24 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
- Armed with seven of their own selections - plus a fifth-round choice as a compensatory selection - the Packers will have plenty of opportunities to add more talent and depth to their roster. All picks are eligible to be traded except for the compensatory selection.
- Again the NFL made changes to the NFL Draft this year, as the event now begins in prime time on Thursday night, April 22, beginning at 6:30 p.m. CST. Round 1 will be held that night.
- Rounds 2-3 also will be held in prime time, beginning on Friday, April 23, at 5 p.m. CST. Rounds 4-7 will complete the draft on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.
- The time allotted in between picks will remain the same. Teams will have 10 minutes in between selections in the first round and seven minutes between each choice for Round 2. Each subsequent round will allow up to five minutes in between picks. A look at where Green Bay currently stands in the draft order:
Round-Round #, Overall #
1-23, 23
2-24, 56
3-22, 86
4-24, 122
5-23, 154
5-38, 169 (Compensatory)
6-24, 193
7-23, 230
THOMPSON LEADS PACKERS INTO ANOTHER DRAFT
- General Manager Ted Thompson enters his sixth draft with the Green Bay Packers, and Thompson has long viewed the draft as the most important aspect of player acquisition.
- Thompson first employed this strategy in Seattle, where he spent five seasons (2000-04) running the Seahawks draft room as vice president of football operations. Nine starters on Seattle"s Super Bowl XL team, along with kicker Josh Brown, were drafted by the Seahawks on Thompson"s watch.
- That same strategy has provided the Packers with one of the youngest and most talented teams in the NFL, the core of which has been brought to Green Bay by Thompson through the draft.
- Thompson entered his first draft with Green Bay in 2005 armed with seven picks. Through draft-day trades, he wound up with 11 selections, highlighted by Pro Bowlers QB Aaron Rodgers (first round) and S Nick Collins (second).
- Similarly in 2006, Thompson began draft day with seven selections, this time turning those seven picks into 12. Thompson continued to revamp the roster with selections like LB A.J. Hawk (first), G/T Daryn Colledge (second), WR Greg Jennings (second), C/G Jason Spitz (third), CB Will Blackmon (fourth), and DE Johnny Jolly (sixth).
- In 2007, Thompson again used draft-day trades to acquire more selections and increase the competition for roster spots. Of the 11 selections made over the weekend, seven remain on the roster.
- That strategy was implemented again in 2008, as Thompson turned eight choices into 10 draft picks (nine players and a future pick). Picks such as TE Jermichael Finley (third), WR Jordy Nelson (second) and G Josh Sitton (fourth) have already made their mark on offense.
- So four drafts in, draft pundits thought it would be safe to predict the Green Bay strategy: trade back, acquire more players and picks, and let everything sort itself out in training camp.
- Last April, the Packers entered the draft with nine selections but made one of the most dramatic moves over the course of the weekend when they traded back into the first round. After selecting NT B.J. Raji with the No. 9 pick, Thompson moved back into the first round to select LB Clay Matthews. Though the Packers surrendered a second-round pick and two third-round selections to New England for Matthews and a fifth-round choice, the USC linebacker proved well worth it, becoming the first Packers rookie to make the Pro Bowl since WR James Lofton in 1978.
- Today"s roster has Thompson"s fingerprints all over it. Of his 51 draft selections (2005-2009), 31 remain on the roster entering the 2010 draft. Only two players (LB Nick Barnett and C Scott Wells) remain from the four drafts prior to Thompson"s arrival (2001-04).
2010 NFL DRAFT NOTES
75th Annual NFL Player Selection Meeting
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
255 total picks, including 32 compensatory choices
Thursday, April 22, 6:30 p.m. CST
Round 1
Friday, April 23, 5 p.m. CST
Rounds 2 & 3
Saturday, April 24, 9 a.m. CST
Rounds 4-7
Time Limits
Round 1: 10 minutes
Round 2: Seven minutes
Rounds 3-7: Five minutes
Television coverage
NFL Network, ESPN/ESPN2
Internet coverage
NFL.com, Packers.com
A LOOK INTO THE DRAFT ROOM
- General Manager Ted Thompson heads up the football operations, and he and the Packers" coaches are well known to Packers fans. But working with Thompson is a talented and experienced football operations staff.
- Members of the personnel staff have spent months, if not years with some prospects, studying for the 2010 NFL Draft. They visit schools year round, attending practices, dozens of games and pro days in the spring. In each area, they have formulated relationships with high school and college coaches, trying to get a better idea of who the person is, not just the football prospect.
- Working closely with Thompson year round is Director of College Scouting John Dorsey (20th NFL season), Director - Football Operations Reggie McKenzie (16th NFL season), Assistant Director of Pro Personnel Tim Terry (Sixth NFL season) and Assistant Director of Pro Personnel Eliot Wolf (Seventh NFL season).
- Members of the scouting department include Assistant Director of College Scouting Shaun Herock (18th NFL season - Midwest) and scouts Lee Gissendaner (13th NFL season - Northeast), Brian Gutekunst (12th NFL season - Southeast), Alonzo Highsmith (12th NFL season - Southwest), Sam Seale (15th NFL season - West Coast), Jon-Eric Sullivan (Seventh NFL season - Mid-South) and Richmond Williams (Second NFL season - National Football Scouting). Danny Mock (23rd NFL season) serves as the college scouting coordinator, while Chad Brinker (First NFL season) is the scouting assistant.
ANALYZING THE PICKS UNDER THOMPSON
Total Picks: 51
Offense: 28
Defense: 22
Specialists: 1
POSITION-BY-POSITION
Quarterback (4): Aaron Rodgers (2005-1), Ingle Martin (2006-5a), Brian Brohm (2008-2b), Matt Flynn (2008-7a)
Running Back (2): Brandon Jackson (2007-2), DeShawn Wynn (2007-7a)
Fullback (2): Korey Hall (2007-6a), Quinn Johnson (2009-5a)
Tight End (2):Clark Harris (2007-7), Jermichael Finley (2008-3)
Wide Receiver (8): Terrence Murphy (2005-2b), Craig Bragg (2005-6b), Greg Jennings (2006-2b), Cory Rodgers (2006-4a), James Jones (2007-3a), David Clowney (2007-5), Jordy Nelson (2008-2a), Brett Swain (2008-7b)
Tackle (4): Tony Moll (2006-5b), Breno Giacomini (2008-5), T.J. Lang (2009-4), Jamon Meredith (2009-5b)
Guard (5): William Whitticker (2005-7b), Daryn Colledge (2006-2a), Jason Spitz (2006-3b), Allen Barbre (2007-4), Josh Sitton (2008-4b)
Center (1): Junius Coston (2005-5a)
Defensive End (4): Michael Montgomery (2005-6a), Dave Tollefson (2006-7), Jeremy Thompson (2008-4a), Jarius Wynn (2009-6a)
Defensive Tackle (3): Johnny Jolly (2006-6a), Justin Harrell (2007-1), B.J. Raji (2009-1a)
Linebacker (7): Brady Poppinga (2005-4b), Kurt Campbell (2005-7a), A.J. Hawk (2006-1), Abdul Hodge (2006-3a), Desmond Bishop (2007-6b), Clay Matthews (2009-1b), Brad Jones (2009-7)
Cornerback (4): Mike Hawkins (2005-5b), Will Blackmon (2006-4b), Pat Lee (2008-2c), Brandon Underwood (2009-6b)
Safety (4): Nick Collins (2005-2a), Marviel Underwood (2005-4a), Tyrone Culver (2006-6b), Aaron Rouse (2007-3b)
Kicker (1):Mason Crosby (2007-6c)
DRAFT PICKS BY SCHOOLS
Just where have the 51 Packers draft picks gone to school? Note: BCS schools are those in the ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-10 and SEC.
BCS: 33
Louisville 3, Texas A&M 3, Boston College 2, California 2, Colorado 2, LSU 2, Virginia Tech 2, Auburn, Cincinnati, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas State, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Rutgers, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, UCLA, USC, Wake Forest
Non-BCS: 18
Boise State 2, San Diego State 2, Albany, Bethune-Cookman, Brigham Young, Central Florida, Eastern Michigan, Fresno State, Furman, Missouri Southern State, Nevada, North Carolina AT&T, Northwest Missouri State, San Jose State, Texas Christian, Western Michigan
ROUND-BY-ROUND
First Round (5): Defensive tackle (2), linebacker (2), quarterback
Second Round (8): Wide receiver (3), cornerback, guard, quarterback, running back, safety
Third Round (5): Guard, linebacker, safety, tight end, wide receiver
Fourth Round (8): Guard (2), cornerback, defensive end, linebacker, safety, tackle, wide receiver
Fifth Round (8): Tackle (3), cornerback, fullback, guard, quarterback, wide receiver
Sixth Round (9): Defensive end (2), cornerback, defensive tackle, fullback, kicker, linebacker, safety, wide receiver
Seventh Round (8): Linebacker (2), defensive end, guard, quarterback, running back, tight end, wide receiver
DRAFT HEADQUARTERS AT PACKERS.COM
- For Packers fans, the team"s official Web site is the best source for up-to-the-minute information on draft weekend and the only place to see live press conferences from Lambeau Field in their entirety, in addition to an exclusive sneak peek into the Packers" Draft Room.
- In a special weekend feature, Packers.com will provide biographical information on each Packers pick as it happens, with additional coverage by the Packers.com writers.
- Want to see more than just a 15-second snippet on the nightly news? Packers.com is the only place to see press conferences in their entirety, featuring General Manager Ted Thompson, Head Coach Mike McCarthy, Packers" assistant coaches and members of the personnel and scouting staff. All press conferences on the site will be carried live via Flash video and also archived for later viewing. Additionally, a live video stream from the Packers" Media Auditorium will be available during draft hours.
- Thanks to offseason improvements at 1265 Lombardi Avenue, fans will now get more value out of the live and archived press conferences at Lambeau Field. Improved audio equipment will help fans follow along more closely with press conferences, and fans will get to hear each draft pick meet and greet the media through conference calls shortly after each pick.
- Packers.com also is pleased to provide an exclusive peek into the Packers" Draft Room with the 2010 Draft Cam. This unique, behind-the-scenes camera will bring updated images every minute during the draft.
- Fans can watch the draft unfold as it happens on NFL.com, which will stream NFL Network"s live telecast and have instant pick-by-pick analysis from the NFL.com team, as well as an up-to-the-minute draft tracker for all seven rounds.
16 PLAYERS INVITED TO NEW YORK CITY
- Per tradition, some of the expected top picks were invited to Radio City Music Hall for the NFL Draft.
- This year, 16 players will make the trip, increasing the likelihood that the Packers" first overall choice at No. 23 could be among the group.
- Invited college players are: Tennessee S Eric Berry, California RB Jahvid Best, Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford, Iowa T Bryan Bulaga, Wake Forest CB Brandon Ghee, Florida CB Joe Haden, Texas DT Lamarr Houston, Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy, Georgia Tech DE Derrick Morgan, Penn State DT Jared Odrick, Oklahoma State T Russell Okung, Clemson RB C.J. Spiller, Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh, Georgia Tech WR Demaryius Thomas, Tennessee DT Dan Williams and Oklahoma T Trent Williams.
WHO"S BEEN THERE AT NO. 23?
- Thanks to an 11-5 regular-season mark and playoff berth, Green Bay will have to wait a few hours before its name appears "on the clock" at pick No. 23.
- So when was the last time the Packers chose at No. 23? It was 1976, when Green Bay selected tackle Mark Koncar from Colorado. Koncar played five seasons for the Packers, appearing in 53 games.
- First-round picks certainly receive a fair amount of hype and pressure in each NFL city, but with the history of almost every NFL draft pick, there are a fair share of Pro Bowl-caliber players and busts.
- So what has been at No. 23 in recent years? Teams certainly looked to the running back position, as Rashard Mendenhall (PIT, 2008), Willis McGahee (BUF, 2003) and Deuce McAllister (NO, 2001) all were drafted at the slot in recent years.
- Going further back, top cornerbacks Antoine Winfield (BUF, 1999) and Ty Law (NE, 1995) were both selected at No. 23.
- Most recently, Baltimore drafted T Michael Oher at No. 23 in 2009. Oher started all 16 games for the Ravens and finished second in The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.
- While first-round choices certainly can be the cornerstone of a franchise, as Thompson has shown with Pro Bowl selections Aaron Rodgers (2005) and Clay Matthews (2009), second-round selections can prove to be just as valuable. That"s where Thompson drafted smaller-school players like Nick Collins (2005) and Greg Jennings (2006), both of whom are considered among the top young players at their respective positions.
- Green Bay owns pick No. 56 in Round 2, and it"s possible to get elite level talent at that point in the draft. The New York Giants did so in 2003, selecting two-time Pro Bowl DE Osi Umenyiora.
- Also in the second round, Thompson has added G Daryn Colledge (2006), RB Brandon Jackson (2007) and WR Jordy Nelson (2008), each of whom has contributed since their respective rookie seasons.
- With 22 starters and a 53-man roster, selections in the third round often turn into significant contributors for a team. Current Packers C/G Jason Spitz (2006), WR James Jones (2007) and TE Jermichael Finley (2008) were all third-round choices under Thompson. Green Bay heads into the draft with selection No. 86.
THE COMPETITION HEATS UP
- Toward the middle of the afternoon on Saturday, teams will begin calling players in the hopes of signing them away from other teams as non-drafted free agents. Bidding wars ensue as each team tries to sign a couple of players that have a chance to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster.
- Looking around the league, elite players have taken that route to NFL stardom. Neither QB Kurt Warner nor QB Tony Romo, both with multiple Pro Bowls under their belt, heard their name called on draft day. Nor did DT John Randle, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this coming summer.
- WR Wes Welker, who has recently put up some of the most prolific seasons by a receiver in league history, also went undrafted before signing with San Diego and eventually catching on with Miami.
- Star TE Antonio Gates, with six Pro Bowl selections already to his name, transitioned from the hardwood to the gridiron but had to do so as a free agent. 2008 Defensive MVP LB James Harrison went undrafted and was cut numerous times, proving just how hard it is to project the careers of players barely beginning to grasp the game and their own talents.
- Some of the most significant players in Packers history joined the franchise as non-drafted free agents. The list includes Arnie Herber, Clarke Hinkle, Don Hutson, Willie Wood, and Paul Coffman.
- One need only look at the Packers current roster to see the value of non-drafted free agents in today"s NFL. S Atari Bigby, RB Ryan Grant, TE Spencer Havner, DE Cullen Jenkins and CB Tramon Williams all arrived in the NFL as free agents.
- While draft picks continue to get all the headlines as the weekend wraps up, remember to watch the transaction wire in the days after the draft. Teams fight hard against one another to sign the top free agents, and some may turn into core contributors for the Green and Gold.
