Free agency is waning down and we are approaching April at a rapid pace. It’s time to sit down and go over every teams free agent acquisitions and losses, along with their team needs. Using that information we will figure out a Plan of Attack for the 2012 Draft for each team. We’ll start with the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants and work our way down one day at a time, to the Indianapolis Colts and the first overall pick.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Team Needs: OLB, DE, CB, S, RB 
Free Agent Acquisitions: CB Jarrett Bush (resigned), C Jeff Saturday
Free Agent Losses: QB Matt Flynn,CB Pat Lee, C Scott Wells
Round 1:
Potential Targets: OLB Nick Perry, OLB Andre Branch, OLB Whitney Mercilus, OLB Vinny Curry, DE Devon Still, DE Jerel Worthy, S Harrison Smith, CB Stephon Gilmore, RB Lamar Miller, RB David Wilson, RB Doug Martin
Round 2:
Potential Targets: DE Jared Crick, DE Kendall Reyes, OLB Ronnell Lewis, RB LaMichael James, S Brandon Taylor, CB Alfonzo Dennard, CB Trumaine Johnson
Round 3:
Potential Targets: OLB Shea McCellin, OLB Bruce Irvin, DE Billy Winn, RB Chris Polk, RB Isaiah Pead, RB Chris Rainey, RB Bernard Pierce, CB Leonard Johnson, CB Jamell Flemming, CB Casey Heyward, S George Iloka, S Philip Thomas
Plan of Attack:
The Packers defense was terrible last year and it all starts with the pass rush. In round one they’ll be looking for a pass rusher to pair with the Claymaker and should find a decent one available. Either Nick Perry, Andre Branch, or Whitney Mercilus should be around and that’ll likely be the Packers choice. They have to provide more pressure to opposing QBs to help out their secondary. If for some strange reason all those guys are off the board, the Packers could look at a five technique since they missed Cullen Jenkins much more than they are willing to admit. Either Jerel Worthy from Michigan St. or Devon Still could be guys who would be on the board and would be able to fill that role. There is a slim chance the Pack roll with a RB here, and could have their choice between any of the guys behind Trent Richardson. The last option would be to look at a Safety witih Harrison Smith from Notre Dame the target.
If the Packers get their pass rusher in round 1, their number one target in round 2 would be to get that five technique defensive end. Jared Crick would be an ideal choice. He has a non stop motor and would not just be stout against the run but could also provide pressure. If Crick is gone then they could target either a running back or some secondary help with a safety like Brandon Taylor or a corner in Trumaine Johnson.
If the Packers get the pass rusher and defensive end in the first two rounds, then round 3 is kind of a wild card. They could definitely look for help in the secondary and choose a corner or safety. But the position to really keep an eye on here would be RB. Jame Starks had a good playoff run in 2010, but hasn’t done much since. Ryan Grant has been let go, and last year’s third round pick Alex Green is recovering from ACL surgery. There should be some good options on the board here. They could go with a more powerful back like Chris Polk from Washington or could take a speed back like Bernard Pierce or Isaiah Pead. One other guy to keep an eye on would be Chris Rainey from Florida. He is a little like Randall Cobb as he can be lined up in various spots, but the Packers could use him in a change of pace/3rd down back role and throw him some screens and let his speed and fancy moves take over from there.
View more Plans of Attack Here
No way Green Bay takes a running back that early; especially not someone like LaMichael James or Chris Rainey. We are fine at RB. We actually, are not set along the O-line. Sherrod is out until who knows. We don’t know if Newhouse is the solution at LT. If that situation goes to pot again, who to we have to replace Lang at Guard if he has to get kicked to RT? Nevermind the future issue at Center.
We might’ve signed some guys at DE, but who says they can free up the lanes for our OLB’s? Drafting an OLB in the first round is senseless until we’ve fixed the D-line. Plus, if it isn’t for Woodson, we have one of the worst secondaries in the NFL. Tramon Williams was gutter trash last year clearly demonstrating that 2010 was a fluke and that Collins was bailing him out. If anyone moves to safety, it should be Tramon and his 4.6 40 speed; not Woodson. Therefore, we need at least 2 capable, physical, and FAST CB’s out of this draft as well as 2 capable DE’s that can collapse the pocket.
Our needs are DE, CB, OLB
Our picks should be:
1(28): Jerel Worthy
2(59): Harrison Smith(if Collins doesn’t come back, otherwise I’d have Kendall Reyes here)
3(91): Omar Bolden
4(123): Matt Reynolds
4(132): Kheeston Randall(this completes the D-line)
4(133): Terrell Manning(project player)
5(163): Coryell Judie
6(197): William Vlachos(our future Center)
7(224): Nicolas Jean-Baptiste(Pickett’s replacement)
7(235): Joe Looney(quickest guard in the draft until he got hurt at the Senior Bowl)
7(241): Matt Daniels(back-up plan in case Harrison Smith is gone)
7(243): Adrian Hamilton(go look up this guy sometime, total sleeper here!)