Packers Eschew Quantity for Quality

Who moved to the head of the NFL class during the draft? Find out with FanHouse's team-by-team 2009 Draft Grades.

By dealing up into the last part of the first round for Clay Matthews, Ted Thompson may have forever changed his image in Green Bay. He went from being consistently ripped for his trade-downs and seemingly passive nature during the draft to being branded a genius. Of course, if either of his first-round selections fail, he'll be back to being an idiot again.

As we noted Sunday, Thompson's moves were uncharacteristic, and they are more likely to pay off than either standing pat or trading down would have been.

Getting Matthews and B.J. Raji in the first round gives new defensive coordinator Dom Capers two rookie starters to plug into the 3-4 defense he brings to Green Bay.

Not only that, but one would fully expect Matthews, who has the potential to be a great outside linebacker in the 3-4, to hit it off with new Packers assistant Kevin Greene, who was once himself a great outside linebacker in the 3-4. The other outside linebacker is former defensive end Aaron Kampman, who is likely to move around the field so he isn't asked to do too much at a new position. With Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk at the inside positions, Capers has a pretty stout set of linebackers now.

Raji should be able to start at nose tackle, but he won't be expected to play every down. Whether he loses weight or not, Ryan Pickett is still going to play at the nose. The veteran is in the last year of his contract, probably won't be back after 2009, and will be largely playing the role of mentor to Raji while both learn the nuances of the 3-4.

Strategically, this couldn't have gone much better for Green Bay. Raji had to be their top-rated defensive player (outside of perhaps the unattainable Aaron Curry), and while the old charts say they gave up too much to move into the 26th position for Matthews, there really isn't anything wrong with that move. Thompson identified a player he liked, decided to go off the chart, and made a deal that allowed Green Bay to get that player. They didn't sell off the rest of their draft by any stretch.

The Packers still had six picks left after the trade with New England, and they used those picks to build up depth in the critical areas of special teams and the offensive line.

Draft Picks

1 (9) - Raji, DT, Boston College
1 (26) - Matthews, LB, USC
4 (109) - T.J. Lang, OT, Eastern Michigan
5 (145) - Quinn Johnson, FB, LSU
5 (162) - Jamon Meredith, OT/OG, South Carolina
6 (182) - Jarius Wynn, DE, Georgia
6 (187) - Brandon Underwood, CB, Cincinnati
7 (218) - Brad Jones, LB, Colorado

Grade: B+. The immediate impact should be there from Raji and Matthews, who will both start, barring setbacks.

Not only that, but guys like Wynn, Underwood, and Jones - along with Matthews - could make an impact on special teams as well as the defense. Johnson is a ferocious lead blocker, and he could start stealing playing time from Korey Hall this season.

Lang and Meredith are expected to back up somewhere on the line this season, with Meredith probably having the best upside of the two.