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14 years ago

Packers, Lions stock up 
Green Bay goes defensive, Detroit goes for best, and Chicago takes a pass
From news services
Updated: 04/26/2009 12:34:40 AM CDT

While Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo could have napped, jogged and read the better part of a good novel Saturday, his NFC North rivals were busy adding building blocks to their roster.

Here is a look at what happened in the North.

Lions: New general manager Martin Mayhew added the best quarterback in the draft, the best tight end in the draft and the best safety in the draft. Not bad.

Except he could have taken players at other positions who might have become better pros.

Instead of taking quarterback Matthew Stafford with the first overall pick, the Lions could have taken offensive tackle Jason Smith a much safer selection. Instead of taking tight end Brandon Pettigrew with the 20th choice, the Lions could have taken offensive tackle Michael Oher after taking a quarterback first, they needed to find him a bodyguard.

And instead of taking safety Louis Delmas with the first pick of the second round, they could have taken middle linebacker Rey Maualuga. Delmas should be a great pro if he can stay healthy (a lot of teams doubt he can), but Maualuga was the best middle linebacker in the draft. He could have given the Lions a defensive centerpiece and an identity.

Packers: GM Ted Thompson was running the draft, but with the way it played out Dom Capers could have been. The Packers' new defensive coordinator must have had some clout in the draft room because Thompson gave Capers a nose tackle in B.J. Raji and a pass-rushing outside linebacker in Clay Matthews.
"He has the ability to take people backwards, where they don't want to go," Thompson said of Raji. "He also has the quickness to go around them. He's a very powerful player. It's unbelievably hard to find the combination of the skill set he brings. The good Lord just didn't make many people like this."

There were concerns about Raji's character coming into the draft. He was ruled academically ineligible to play the entire 2007 season and faced questions about his work ethic from scouts. However, reports that Raji failed a drug test at the NFL scouting combine were false.

"I couldn't help but be frustrated," Raji said. "How that all came about, I still don't understand."

Both picks were needs, but both also were value picks. The draft laid out very well indeed for the Packers, who unquestionably became a better team Saturday.

Bears: Chicago traded away its second-round pick, leaving it without a selection on Saturday.

The Bears already had sent their first-round pick to Denver in a trade earlier this month for quarterback Jay Cutler.

The Bears swapped their second-round choice, which was No. 49 overall, to Seattle for the Seahawks' picks in the third and fourth rounds.

"Obviously it was an uneventful day today," Angelo said.

It was the first time since 1978 the Bears did not make a pick in the first two rounds. Angelo said the Bears made an attempt to trade for disgruntled Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

"Nothing was able to get resolved," Angelo said.

Angelo wouldn't reveal details of the talks but said he assumes the deal is dead because "I felt like if it was going to happen, it would have happened today."

The Bears had interest in Oregon defensive back Jarius Byrd, wide receiver Brian Robiskie of Ohio State and a defensive end, according to Angelo, but all went earlier in Round 2.

Angelo said the Bears made attempts to move up in Round 2 and select those and other players, but failed.

"There was absolutely no way we were able to move up," he said. "That's the hardest place to get to in the draft is that top half of the second (round) because those are the best buys. Those are the players where you really get a great deal."

The Bears' first-round pick and third-round pick this year, quarterback Kyle Orton and a first-round pick in 2010 all went to Denver for Cutler.

They were the talk of the NFL after the deal but had to be content to watch others from the sideline Saturday.

"Our work is cut out for us," he said. "Everybody in our division got better today. And we might not have gotten better today, but we got better a few weeks ago and (today) hopefully we're going to get a lot better."

The Bears have nine picks in Rounds 3 through 7 today. They have two choices in each of the third, fourth, fifth and seventh rounds.


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dfosterf (2h) : Maybe
Mucky Tundra (2h) : Yes
Zero2Cool (3h) : No.
Mucky Tundra (5h) : End of a Degu-era
dhazer (6h) : Steelers sign Patterson because of new kickoff rule interesting
Zero2Cool (9h) : Former #Packers TE Josiah Deguara is signing a 1-year deal with the Jaguars, per source.
Zero2Cool (10h) : They do not do it for "content sake".
dfosterf (20h) : For the record, I enjoy Beast and Mucky drafts
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : Haha
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : No time for talking! Back to work beast!
beast (27-Mar) : You saw only 4,201 of my mocks? 🥺 I think that means you missed more than half of them 😢
dfosterf (27-Mar) : Does anyone know what Lambeau field improvements got put on hold? My guess would be for the 2025 draft
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : It's like listen, you made 4,201 mocks, no shit.
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : Cuz during the draft "I had them mocked there!" as if it's amazing.
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : They're fun to do once in awhile. It's people who think they are "content" that annoy me.
dfosterf (27-Mar) : Against tbd
dfosterf (27-Mar) : Answer to your question is yes, it's a Thursday, will be the Chiefs aga
dfosterf (27-Mar) : Luckily for all concerned, I don't post them. I did one, but that was like 25 mocks ago
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : NFL 2024 gonna start Sept 5th isn't it???
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : Ugh... kids these days!
dfosterf (27-Mar) : I'm gonna go do some more mock draft hell instead 🤪
Zero2Cool (27-Mar) : Did we do one of those prediction threads yet for 2024 season?
dfosterf (27-Mar) : In my city, they are playing the nimby game, in order to keep some railroad tracks vs. 2 professional sports teams and a concert venue.
dfosterf (27-Mar) : And/Or a city council, of which I haven't seen a good one in a very long time
dfosterf (27-Mar) : That sounds like a Mayor, not a city.
buckeyepackfan (26-Mar) : Packers halt scheduled 80mil upgrade of stadium until lease agreement talks are restarted
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : City of Green Bay puts Packers' Lambeau Field lease talks on hold
buckeyepackfan (26-Mar) : Packers 1 of 3 teams to vote no on new kickoff rule.
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Packers sign another Kicker
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Lengthy explanation at PFF if you click the link
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Kickoff rules officially changed.ngthy explan
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : lol
Cheesey (26-Mar) : 2009? No thanks! One open heart surgery is enough!
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Good for you!
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Yes. That's the one.
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Is that "Lady Dugan" per chance?
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Crystal?
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Please refresh my memory
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Alan posts. Crystal back in my life. It's 2009 all over again! Lol
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : BAH GAWD! THAT'S CHEESEYS MUSIC!
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : Gutekunst said early stages of Jordan Love contract being discussed.
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : Shouldn't be penalized cuz official screwed up
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : Yeah, challenge until you are incorrect twice.
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : Fining them is the goal, per the people who made the rule anyway.
dfosterf (25-Mar) : Still waiting on the kickoff rule changes. Did hear yesterday that the touchback proposal will now be the 30 yard line, not the 35
dfosterf (25-Mar) : Probably speed of game issues with your proposal
dfosterf (25-Mar) : Hopefully the refs don't get in the habit of throwing flags on this
beast (25-Mar) : I think when it comes to Challenges should get two strikes, so unlimited challenges as long as they keep winning them, but 2 wrong then done
dfosterf (25-Mar) : Still subject to the fines etc
dfosterf (25-Mar) : Yes, I should have been more specific. Also, they are now saying it would be a 15 yard penalty. That makes more sense .
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