2011 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick 32

Our annual 2011 NFL Mock Draft, with picks made by each of SB Nation’s NFL team bloggers, is in full swing. The latest pick in to the podium: the Green Bay Packers, at No. 32 overall.

Brandon of AcmePackingCompany.com explains the choice, and our own Dan Kadar reacts to it, after the jump. Make sure you’re grading this pick for the Packers, and checking out Acme Packing Company for all of your Packers needs.

Brandon explains: Without a consensus need coming into the 2011 season, the Super Bowl Champion (I had to drop that in) Green Bay Packers are well prepared for the 2011 season. When evaluating potential draft choices, I’ve been writing primarily about outside linebackers and defensive lineman, where they could use an upgrade at outside linebacker opposite LB Clay Matthews or a replacement for free agent DE Cullen Jenkins. But the players available in this mock draft at those two positions are a reach. Fortunately, there is one player who has slipped who fills a future need: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod.

He has the size and athleticism to project as either a left or right tackle, and his excellent college career has shown that he’s not a project. While his experience (50 games started in college) would indicate a smooth transition into the NFL, with the Packers, he’ll have the luxury of spending at least one season on the sidelines behind veteran LT Chad Clifton and 2010 first-round selection RT Bryan Bulaga. Mike McCarthy has spoken very highly of Clifton in recent weeks, and the veteran had a solid 2010 season. But he sat out nearly every other practice as the years and multiple surgeries are wearing him down. He’ll be entering year two of a three-year contract he signed in 2010, and I don’t expect he’ll continue playing after the 2012 season.

Sherrod and Bulaga both have question marks as NFL left tackles, but there’s a lot of time left for them to develop and sort out which side is best for either player. Keeping QB Aaron Rodgers protected in the pocket should be a constant long-term goal in the back of GM Ted Thompson’s mind.

Dan Kadar reacts: This isn’t fair. The Packers are the best team in the NFL and have a number of great opportunities with this pick. They could go with Sherrod, Mikel Leshoure or Adrian Clayborn and be fine. Even better, they’re not being shoehorned into taking an over-hyped project like Brooks Reed.

Sherrod would fit nicely into Green Bay’s line scheme. He’s not a power tackle and has the athleticism to block on the move. He’s a natural as a left tackle, but could still work on the right side. [Derek Sherrod Scouting Report]