The Packers had very few needs heading into the 2008 draft, and that goes a long way in explaining their very successful (but ultimately disappointing) 2007 showing. Losing Brett Favre is the most obvious loss, but 2005 first-rounder Aaron Rodgers seems ready to assume the role. The next biggest issue could be defensive tackle Justin Harrell's availability, but after that, Green Bay's biggest personnel concerns are mostly depth-related. As I mentioned in April, the Packers will eventually need to find the successors for cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson, who are a combined 64 years old.
They selected Auburn safety Patrick Lee in the second round of the '08 draft, but he's not the only guy vying for playing time:
Tramon Williams, the physical second-year pro from Louisiana Tech, finished last season as the No. 3 cornerback and has held that spot on the depth chart throughout the past month's organized team activities. However, the same was true last summer of Patrick Dendy, who ceded the role to Jarrett Bush in training camp and didn't make the team.There's so much depth, in fact, that head coach Mike McCarthy admits that he's "going to have to let go of some very good players," which is a great problem to have heading into training camp.
Bush, Will Blackmon and rookie Pat Lee are the other logical candidates for a nickel spot that again could be won and lost from week to week, even series to series.
The Vikings are the dark-horse candidate to win the NFC North, but if the Rodgers can handle the pressures that go along with being a first-year starter, it's certainly reasonable to think Green Bay could make another deep postseason run.
