Green Bay Packers: NFL Offseason Report Card

Get free expert predictions on tonight's big games. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed or follow us on Twitter.

Be sure to check ATS all season long for the most up-to-the-minute NFL lines and NFL Vegas odds.

Catch our entire NFL Offseason Report Card here.

Green Bay Packers
2009 Draft Grade: A

Free Agent/Non Draft: D

Total Grade: C+

Overall Needs:
•Outside Linebacker
•Defensive End
•Offensive Tackle
•Nose Tackle
•Inside Linebacker
•Kicker

Draft Picks:
Rd / Sel# / Name / Pos. / School
1) 9 B.J. Raji DT Boston College
1) 26 Clay Matthews LB USC
4) 109 T.J. Lang OT Eastern Michigan
5) 145 Quinn Johnson FB LSU
5) 162 Jamon Meredith OT South Carolina
6) 182 Jarius Wynn DE Georgia
6) 187 Brandon Underwood CB Cincinnati
7) 218 Brad Jones LB Colorado
Arrivals: Old Team
C Duke Preston (FA) Buffalo
S Anthony Smith (FA) Pittsburgh

Departures: New Team
WR Shaun Bodiford (FA) NY Giants
DT Colin Cole (FA) Seattle
DE Jason Hunter (released)
LB Kenneth Pettway (released)

Offseason Analysis:

The Packers did not have Brett Favre to worry about this offseason. They did need to improve a defense that was 26th against the run so the chose B.J. Raji, the huge DT from Boston College. He’s the perfect 3-4 nose tackle.

With their last first round pick, Clay Matthews was a steal at 26. He has the size and speed to be very good on the outside. In the fourth round, they added T.J. Lang, a solid tackle who played in a zone-blocking scheme similar to Green Bay’s.

In the fifth round, they added a fullback in Quinn Johnson from LSU and another OT in Jamon Meredith. Green Bay addressed both tackle spots with age and injury questions to RT Mark Tauscher and LT Chad Clifton. Smart move.

In the sixth round, they grabbed Jarius Wynn, a big defensive end who fits in the 3-4, though he lacks great pass rushing skills. DB Brandon Underwood is a very fast corner, who can also play safety. He had durability issues and academic ones as well, but to find this kind of athlete this late was a solid move.

They also grabbed a solid LB in Brad Jones from Colorado, who has good speed and was a very good value pick in the seventh. Another quiet offseason for Green Bay. At least they didn’t lose much, but after a 6-10 season, the Packers will have to rely on their draft picks and Aaron Rodgers to get back to the playoffs.

Related articles by Zemanta

• What to Expect From Green Bay Packers in 2009 (bleacherreport.com)
• Sources: Green Bay Packers close to new deal with WR Greg Jennings (ballhype.com)

• Cincinnati Bengals: NFL Offseason Report Card
• San Diego Chargers: NFL Offseason Report Card
• Indianapolis Colts: NFL Offseason Report Card
• Carolina Panthers: NFL Offseason Report Card
• Buffalo Bills: NFL Offseason Report Card