2011 NFL Draft Needs: Green Bay Packers


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The Packers were able to win the Super Bowl with significant injuries on both sides of the football. Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley were lost for the season on offense and the same goes for middle linebacker Nick Barnett. Through all the injuries, Green Bay was able to persevere and find competent replacements at any position.
On offense, Aaron Rodgers led a high powered attack that averaged 24.2 points per game. Without Grant, the running game struggled throughout most of the regular season, but sixth-round draft pick James Starks was the leading rusher in the playoffs with 315 yards. Rodgers wasn’t short on targets to throw to as Jordy Nelson and James Jones emerged this year to go along with Donald Driver and Greg Jennings.
Clay Matthews led a Packers’ defense that only allowed 15 points per game, which was the second lowest total in the NFL next to Pittsburgh . Matthews had another big year coming off the edge as he finished with 13.5 sacks. The strength of the defense is clearly in the secondary where Tramon Williams had another solid year to compliment the strong play of Charles Woodson and Nick Collins.
1. Offensive Tackle: After selecting Bryan Bulaga with their first pick in the 2010 draft, some might argue that this isn’t the Packers biggest need. While Bulaga is the right tackle of the future,
2. Defensive End: B.J. Raji has a bright future ahead of him at nose tackle, but what’s up in the air is who will be playing next to him. With Cullen Jenkins set to become an unrestricted free agent
3. Rush OLB: Matthews is locked in at one of the outside linebacker positions for the long term future, but finding someone to compliment him should be considered. Erik Walden and Frank Zombo are good depth players at best. One guy to keep an eye in the second round is Dontay Moch from
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