Green Bay Packers 2010 NFL Draft Grade

GREEN BAY

1. (23)Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
I don’t really know so far. Bulaga is a great offensive tackle, and he’s good value this late, but I don’t know if he fits as well as some later round options would have. If Green Bay knew they could’ve drafted Kindle in one and still landed Charles Brown in the second, I think they would have done it. Still, Bulaga is a tough kid who is underrated athletically. He was a possible top five pick, so getting him at 23 is high value. GRADE: B+

2. (56)Mike Neal, DE, Purdue
Neal is not a guy I’m high on, but he’s got some talent. Just don’t think he’s a worker. I was very unimpressed with his attitude at the combine, and he doesn’t seem like a Packers pick to me. I know Green Bay needed depth along the defensive line, but there were much better options on the board, and this was hardly their biggest need. GRADE: D

3. (71)Morgan Burnett, S, Georgia Tech
Burnett is pretty good value in the third. He fits the team as well as any pick. Mike’s been high on him for a while, calling him a poor man’s Eric Berry, and he’s got that kind of skill set, just not nearly as refined. Green Bay needed safety depth in a bad way, and finally addressing the secondary with great value was a good idea. GRADE: B+

3ROUND GRADE: B

5.154 Andrew Quarless, TE, Penn State
I know the Packers wanted to get some more bodies at tight end, and this was a decent pick. Quarless has major upside, but really struggles with consistency. If GB can get the most out of him, he’ll be another dangerous weapon for Aaron Rodgers. GRADE: B-

5.169 Marshall Newhouse, OT, TCU
A great pick here. Newhouse is very athletic and can play tackle in this scheme with the right coaching. He’s certainly a project, but with Tauscher and Clifton back for one more year (probably), he can be groomed and possibly start on the right side. GRADE: B

6.193 James Starks, RB, Buffalo
This is more like it. The Pack gets a great value here in a very versatile back who was wildly productive on the ground and as a pass catcher. He missed all of last season with an injury, but Green Bay has never been shy about adding injured prospects. GRADE: B+

7.230 CJ Wilson, DE, ECU
Another example of why the Packers usually get the better of draft weekend. Wilson ended his senior season on a hot streak, and he’s got the potential to be an impact player, or at least a solid starter. There’s work to be done, but good value in the 7th. GRADE: B

Best Pick: Morgan Burnett
Worst Pick: Mike Neal
Sleeper Pick: Marshall Newhouse

FINAL ANALYSIS
I like the effort to protect Aaron Rodgers. This line was great over the final eight games of the regular season, but they broke down again in the playoff loss. They’re old, and it’s only going to get worse. Bulaga may not fit the scheme like some prospects, but he’s a very sound technician, and will work to make a difference up front. Newhouse could be a steal if he’s coached properly. Adding playmakers on offense was smart as well. Quarless and Starks both come with some unique risks, but they were had late enough to outweigh the chance.

Burnett was a great pick at 71st, and I think he’s a guy that will play early, especially with Atari Bigby’s injury history. And it’s hard not to like the flyer on Wilson at the end of the draft. He could be an underrated guy if he stays motivated. Neal, however, is a real question mark. He just doesn’t seem like a guy who will work to be a real force in this league. I wouldn’t be surprised if he disappeared.

While protecting Rodgers was priority one, and getting Bulaga and Newhouse was a step in that direction, cornerback youth seemed like it would have been a close second. The Packers ignored corner and OLB, so we’ll see if their current youngsters are the real deal. It’s hard to fault the talent they added throughout, though, and they could potentially end up with three starters this year.

FINAL GRADE: B

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