Green Bay Packers: Team Draft Needs

Team draft picks (8)

First round (26)
Second round (55)
Third round (88)
Fourth round (122)
Fifth round (159)
Fifth round (167)
Sixth round (193)
Seventh round (232)

1. Left tackle

Marshall Newhouse has allowed double-digit sack totals in each of the last two years despite starting only 13 games in 2011. That can't be allowed to continue, particularly with the Packers poised to invest as much as $25 million per year in quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Unfortunately for Green Bay, the pickings may be slim at left tackle by the time their first pick comes up.

Potential targets:

First round

Menelik Watson, Florida State
Kyle Long, Oregon

Second round

Terron Armstead, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Reid Fragel, Ohio State

Third round

David Quessenberry, San Jose State
Dallas Thomas, Tennessee

2. Defensive line

B.J. Raji is a decent starter at one of the three line spots and Jerel Worthy is a premium investment at one of the other spots, but the third position on the line is filled by the unspectacular likes of C.J. Wilson and Mike Daniels. Even Raji and Worthy, moreover, aren't worth getting excited about for the most part. The Packers have generally preferred shorter linemen rather than tall, length prospects, even at the end spot, so that's something to keep in mind when projecting potential fits.

First round

Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
Kawann Short, DT/DE, Purdue
Jesse Williams, DT/DE, Alabama
Margus Hunt, DE, SMU

Second round

Brandon Williams, DT, Missouri Southern State
Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
John Jenkins, DT, Georgia
Bennie Logan, DE, LSU
Akeem Spence, DT/DE, Illinois

Third round

Lavar Edwards, DE, LSU
Malliciah Goodman, DE, Clemson

Fourth round

William Gholston, DE, Michigan State
Jordan Hill, DT/DE, Penn State

Fifth through seventh rounds

Josh Boyd, DT/DE, Mississippi State
Montori Hughes, DT/DE, Tennessee-Martin
Everett Dawkins, DT/DE, Florida State
Nick Williams, DT/DE, Samford

3. Tight end

Jermichael Finley is under contract for another year, but he'll always be more of a decoy than a reliable pass-catching option. The Packers would be wise to replace him in the long term with a player who has above average athleticism and non-liability hands, as Finley leaves too much yardage on the field, even if his athleticism scares defensive coordinators.

Potential targets:

First round

Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame
Travis Kelce, Cincinnati
Zach Ertz, Stanford

Second round

Jordan Reed, Florida
Dion Sims, Michigan State
Gavin Escobar, San Diego State
Vance McDonald, Rice

Fourth round

Chris Gragg, Arkansas
Nick Kasa, Colorado
Levine Toilolo, Stanford

Fifth through seventh rounds

Mychal Rivera, Tennessee
Ryan Otten, San Jose State
Luke Willson, Rice
Zach Sudfeld, Nevada
Matt Furstenburg, Maryland
Jake Stoneburner, Ohio State
Brandon Ford, Clemson
Joseph Fauria, UCLA

Other needs: Running back, wide receiver depth, outside linebacker depth, safety depth