[Lefty Noob]

We all knew that Leinart, Bush, Young and Ferguson as the clear-cut top four players going in the draft [order TBD], but who are the Packers looking at with the 5th overall pick?

Well, apparently it looks like its going to be North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, who impressed team scouts on Monday with his 40-inch vertical jump, his 35 reps at 225 in the bench-press, and his 4.71 - 4.72 speed in the 40. Williams is 6-7, 295-pounds and has less than 8% body fat. He has drawn comparisons to both Julius Peppers and Reggie White.

Think he'll be the real deal where it counts -- on the field?

[wedge]

The Julius Peppers comparison is right on. The guy is a freak of nature who dominated, along with Lawson and Pressley, the ACC last year. Green Bay needs all kinds of help, but I think the DL is a great place to start.

[EmpireWF]

Looks like there's some doubt now that Vince Young will be going in the top 3. Either way, as far as defense goes it's still between AJ Hawk and Mario Williams to see who the first defensive player is.

I saw Mario Williams' speed as in the 4.6 range, even with his ability to jump as high as a WR (being 6'7 doesn't hurt), that's amazing.

Whether he goes to the Packers or 49ers, he'll dominate sooner than later.

[Mid-depth_Reporter]

I had no idea this guy was that much of a freak - in a good way. The vertical jump is a great test for explosiveness off the line in an offensive or defensive lineman. If you're 6'7" 295 (most likely a little over 300 come time to start the NFL season), and jumping 40"... you've got explosiveness. That mixed with the speed. That's incredible.

I know he's only one player, but with the amount of attention he could draw, just drafting him could make the Packer's defensive line better than they should be.

[Lefty Noob]

New Orleans has thrown a wrench into the works here. After signing Drew Brees, it looks like they're going to take Williams at No. 2. So what does this do to the Packers plans? Do they shift their attention to A.J. Hawk, OLB, Ohio State or Michael Huff, S/CB, Texas? Or maybe go O-line with D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia?

[Wizard of Os]

Hawk, Hawk, Hawk.

All the coverage on the Green Bay Packers i've seen in my capacity of covering Packland says Hawk is the pick. The scouting reports i've seen sing this guy's praises to the high heavens, essentially implying that this dude will be going in at near-Pro Bowl level and will infuse enthusiasm into any team he plays for.

Fair enough. What i'm waiting to see is their round two choice. Much Packocentric media has USC safety Darnell Bing singled out, but don't the green and yellow need a QB for the future? (Assuming Craig Nall isn't Tom Brady waiting to happen, of course.) Wouldn't it be inexcusable for GB to pass on, say, Bruce Gradkowski, Charlie Whitehurst, Brodie Croyle, Kellen Clemens or the nearly irresistable Marcus Vick?

I'm just sayin' is all...

Cheers.

[Lefty Noob]

don't the green and yellow need a QB for the future?

Does the name Aaron Rodgers ring a bell?

Hawk seems to be the consensus pick, but I'm not sold on him personally. He was a good player at OSU, but he was also part of a very good linebacking corps, and there are some of us who think that maybe, just maybe, Bobby Carpenter was actually the better LB of the two. Both should be drafted within the first 50 or so picks, so I guess we'll find out for sure on Sundays this fall.

[Wizard of Os]

Aaron Rodgers...ding...Aaron Rodgers...ding...

Sure he rings a bell, but with sixteen career attempts, even if he does get the starting position, it's going to be a looooooooooooong year for Green Bay fans.

Plus, who gets the starting role (unless it's a promising, exciting rookie) will be reviled, despised, criticized and probably ultimately booed out of there by dint of Not Being Favre. (Okay, i exaggerate -- Green Bay fans are pretty civilized; they would never do such a thing. But it ain't gonna be pretty.) Rodgers may play at QB for a season or two with Green Bay, but i'm talking about the future.

In no way am i espousing the view that Hawk should be the no. 5 pick; to be honest, i follow college football only tangentially...or when i'm searching for a quarterback for the future for Green Bay...

I think it would be a hoot for a team to draft Hawk with the first pick and Carpenter with their second. I don't know why teams don't attempt to keep combinations from highly successful college teams together. (Like in hoops, why haven't Chris Webber and Jalen Rose ever been on the same roster?) I think it would be a good idea.

(Sorry for the tangent...)

Cheers.

[Lefty Noob]

Rodgers may play at QB for a season or two with Green Bay, but i'm talking about the future.

Now that's interesting. The guy was a first-round pick, but I've been hearing more and more lately (and not just from you, Os) that the Packers really aren't happy with him. On the whole, what is it that make you and so many others, including the new Packers coach from what I understand, not think that Rodgers is Green Bay's QB of the future?

[Wizard of Os]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

... the Packers really aren't happy with him. On the whole, what is it that make you and so many others, including the new Packers coach from what I understand, not think that Rodgers is Green Bay's QB of the future?

See, that's the thing Lefty -- poor Rodgers is going to be the victim of a pre-conceived notions made in the darkness of Favre's huge shadow. The Pack isn't really happy with him, he's not been given a chance, Green Bay picked up Arth, they have no confidence in Rodgers.

I remember when they drafted him; i thought, "now there's the most thankless position in football -- backup to the Lou Gehrig of football."

Unless Rodgers somehow has a miracle first start (indeed, if the Pack considers him the no. 2 rather than that huge free-agent acquisition Arth), he's already done at age 24 or 25, through no fault of his own. Unless, of course, Favre grooms him personally, which i don't see happening.

Of course, it could be worse. He could be Doug Flutie, a guy who worked his butt off and earned respect innumerable times (with the Generals, the CFL, coming in as fourth-stringer in Chicago to QB two games, leading the Bills to the playoffs in 1999), yet still never got a proper chance.