Remember this time 2 years ago? As I recall, Eddie Lacy was going to be a mid 1st Rd pick. Qb's, big guys and athletic freaks are good 1st rd picks. All other types are debatable.

In looking at team stats, 3 of the top 5 rushing teams did not make the Playoffs. 5 of the top 10 did not make the Playoffs. The final 4 teams in the playoffs were ranked #1, #11, #15 and #18. The Patriots were the 18th ranked rushing team and did it with a collection of yard sale backs.

I would rather see a Punter drafted in the 1st round than Melvin Gordon. (Well, maybe not. But you get my drift)

Unless Melvin has become an ILB, don't see it happening.

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I also don't see the Packers going after him. They have WAY too many needs on defense to take a RB.
Shore up the D with some decent guys, also use FA to help the D, and get the guys on offense healthy and we should be good to go.

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I don't see Gordon as the pick and not because he wouldn't be a good one. The Packers simply have too many questions in the middle of their defense.
At this point they don't have a first rate NT and I believe they will cut both Jones and Hawk to have the cash necessary to resign Bulaga, Cobb, Williams or House, or both.

There are about 3 ILB's that could step in and improve the middle but none of those will be around late in the 2nd round. Ted historically addresses these needs early on in the draft and is a little more predictable in what he goes after in the 1st round. Later on it's just a total crap shoot figuring who he will select.

Ted's 1st round history shows he has targeted positions of need:
Raji-when our Dline was very thin
Bulaga and Sherrod-when the OT's were getting old
Perry-to put somebody opposite Mathews
Jones-when DE was lacking
Dix-when the backend was horrible
Also remember he went back to back RB in the 2nd round when the run game totally sucked. I think in every one of these drafts he took a player at the highest position of need at the time. I will say none were a reach and some even fell further than anticipated but it was no coincidence that the need at that position was there.

I think we will get a glimpse of how Ted will go in the draft with what he does with Hawk and Jones. If they are both gone I don't think it will be hard to figure what direction he will take. Of course, we are talking about Ted here.

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Are any good LB's going to be available in FA? (Yeah....I know it's "Uncle Ted" we are talking about!)LOL!

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If there's one position Ted loves, it's ILB. He played the position himself. Kind of explains his devotion to Hawk. Slow white guy, playing ILB.

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Rey Maualuga and Brandon Spikes would be the top 2 FA ILB available. Both are under 30, so either could probably be signed as a long term addition not just a rental, which wouldn't risk the future cap anymore than any other signing. The odds of one of the few ILB from the draft that would come in and start making it to our pick isn't that good. FA move would allow ted to draft BPA as he so much enjoys.

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David Harris would also be a nice fit.

It's actually a pretty good draft for inside linebackers. At least I think it is. Three (Denzel Perryman, Benardrick McKinney, & Paul Dawson) could go in the first round. It's hard to see three inside linebackers going in the top 30. That doesn't happen often. You also have Stephone Anthony as a possible day two pick.

Imagine a scenario where they sign a veteran inside linebacker and draft Paul Dawson. You already have Sam Barrington. All of a sudden, the linebacker corps looks immensely improved.

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Remember that Ted Thompson drafts best available and often goes for value. Gprdpn is ranked about 20 overall. That being the case, I think it's an even money bet that the Packers take him at 30 if he's still on the board.

I just think there are too many teams that need a good back that might get him first..Dallas may not re-sign Murray. SD needs a reliable back, as does Miami. Minnesota may let Peterson go. Chicago probably wouldn't take him as high as 7 but they aren't going to want to ground and pound with Forte. The Jets need a back, Arizona needs a back, Cleveland, Indy and St.Louis all need a back.

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Don't forget about Eric Kendricks. CBS has him listed as their #1 ILB

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