Could the Green Bay Packers really draw a quarterback in the first round? | Bleacher's report

They would not do it, is not it?

I mean, they did it in 2005. It was at that time that the Green Bay Packers used a first-round pick versus a quarter, while they had one. who had just finished a season of 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns.

The quarterback they recruited was Aaron Rodgers, who became the alleged heir to Brett Favre, a Hall of Fame member, who was entering his 35-year season.

Rodgers, who has become a member of the Hall of Fame, is now 35 years old.

But that does not mean the Packers are seriously considering a first-round quarterback in the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday night in Nashville, Tennessee, is not it?

Well…

The team has two first-round picks (the 12th and 30th), and the quarterback discussions are worth following. By Charles Robinson from Yahoo Sports, they made a last-minute visit this week with Missouri prospect prospect Drew Lock. And according Ian Rapoport NFL Network, the Packers also tried to introduce Duke's product, Daniel Jones, but the "timing did not work".

Lock and Jones would not necessarily be among the top 12, but many would consider them as flights in # 30.

The buzz was enough for NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah to project Lock to the Packers into his fictional April 16 draft, the former scout noting that Green Bay had "done a lot of homework on the shifts this season".

For what it's worth, the Packers diet has changed completely since 2005.

Bob Harlan was then the CEO of the team. now it is Mark Murphy (hired in 2007).

Ted Thompson was the general manager at the time; it is now Brian Gutekunst (promoted from Director of Player Personnel to his current role in 2018).

Mike Sherman was the head coach in 2005; now it's Matt LaFleur (hired three months ago).

The organization, which had met more than 25 unrequited prospects in the run-up to the draft, might well be doing due diligence, but that does not mean that she would not run if she felt that a prospect was a good value. That was almost certainly the case when Rodgers unexpectedly dropped to No. 24 in 2005.

It's been over a decade that the Packers have selected a quarter in the first four rounds, so it's not a bad time to add some high potential talent behind Rodgers.

But the first round?

It's a team that has no choice but to be in win-win mode. Rodgers is the second highest paid player in the history of the NFL, and the new-looking front office has earmarked $ 154 million for contracts for three leading free defensive agents. earlier this season (The linebackers Za 'Darius Smith and Preston Smith and Adrian Amos, in charge of security).

The championship window closes as Rodgers gets closer to the 40, and that Green Bay has not won more than 10 games since 2014. The team needs fresh blood at the attack and at the same time. the attack, and depth, to the security, on the edge and in the inner offensive line.

The Packers are also in one of the toughest divisions in the strongest of the two conferences, and rivals NFC North, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings are all expected to play the playoffs in 2019.

Green Bay may not have the luxury of being able to use a first-round pick on a player who, if everything goes as planned, will not see the ground move for half a decade.

Insurance at the post would be interesting, but the Packers have put all their eggs in the Rodgers basket and quarterbacks play longer than ever.

Tom Brady was the NFL's most valuable player at age 40 and the Super Bowl champion at age 41, while Drew Brees was the league's best passer at 39. Philip Rivers has probably the best season of his career at 37 years old.

So, it may be too early to take a quarter-first round, since Rodgers just turned 35 in December. Hell, for a while, it seemed like it was too early for Green Bay to choose Rodgers.

The Californian native spent the first three seasons of his career marrying behind Favre. The situation became complicated when Favre retired and he did not retire in the offseason of 2008. After several dramatic months, the Packers remained stuck with Rodgers and traded Favre, but Favre continued to do Pro Bowls with the New York Jets and Vikings.

If Rodgers had not been successful right away, the Green Bay media and fans would have crushed the Packers for riding with Rodgers.

Lock is not Rodgers, nor Jones. The first was perhaps not specific enough (he had a 56.9% success rate in Missouri) and had poor decision-making skills, while the latter had not yet proven that he could cope with progressions and make precise throws from deep to intermediate.

Their caps are not as high as those of Rodgers in 2005.

The timing may also be poor given the potential friction in Green Bay.

In a Bleacher Report Tyler Dunne blockbuster report earlier this month, some former Rodgers teammates and coaches, as well as other staff members who worked for the Packers' organization with Rodgers and the Former head coach Mike McCarthy, described the quarterback as being sensitive, arrogant and autonomous. . They also asked if the veteran could follow the advice of LaFleur, 39 years old.

How could Rodgers feel if the new regime names his potential successor in the first round? Would he consider this player as a protégé or insurance policy or would he consider it a threat?

Using a first pick on a quarterback might not be worth it for a team that has bigger fish to fry.

There are several medium-quarter prospects expected: Jarrett Stidham of Auburn, Clayton Thorson of Northwestern, Ryan Finley of North Carolina and Brett Rypien of Boise State, to name only four, who could compete for substitutes without causing a lockout or causing conflict. stir up level.

And do not forget that the 2020 quarterback class seems powerful.

So the Packers probably should not take a quarter in the first round. But that does not mean that they will not do it.

Brad Gagnon has been covering the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012.

Follow @Brad_Gagnon