#403 Packers Unscripted: Division rivals, special induction

really appreciated his insights. Before we move on to some other topics, just want to get your overall thoughts on this two thousand nineteen draft for the Packers, which ended up with an eight player draft class. Yeah. I liked it. I liked the kind of balance of it. I think if you and I three months ago would have said what are the big needs for the Packers, I think a lot of people would have said it was edge rusher.

A lot of people would have mentioned the tight end position and obviously getting some more depth on the offensive line. They addressed all of that throughout the free agent process and also the draft. I thought going into Day three they only had four picks, but I like the fact they were also able to get the safety Darnell Savage. I think there's a lot of people out there that would agree that that was the top safety in this draft, if not the top defensive back pound for pound in

this year's draft. I like his speed, I like everything he brings to the table, and to be able to add some really intriguing prospects. When you look at Rashan Gary, when you look at Um, you know Elton Jenkins, a guy that has a lot of flexibility, could potentially fill a lot of different holes for them. I know it's

such a cliche to talk about how a team gets better. Theoretically, all thirty two teams are going to get better after an NFL draft, but I just feel like this where I wanted to see this roster get deeper going into offseason program and more specifically training camp. I feel like the Packers achieved that. Yeah, I think they did too, and we're gonna get an up close look at this draft class for the first time this weekend. The Rookie Mini Camp will be taking place here at lambeau Field

and across the street at the Don Hudson Center. So next week, after getting a chance to talk to some of these draft picks. Will We'll get some more insights there. But the other thing I want to move on to is taking a look at the Packers biggest rivals in the NFC North and exactly what they did in the draft and your impressions there. We can start with the Detroit Lions because they had the highest pick of any NFC More team. They were at eight overall in the

first round. They took t J. Hockenson, the tight end out of Iowa, which, um that selection might have been the worst kept secret in the entire draft. There was probably ninety five point six percent of all mock drafts had t J. Hockinson going to Detroit at number eight, and that's exactly how it played out. There are other top pick, Um, I hope I'm pronouncing this correctly, Jelam to Vay, a linebacker from Hawaii. I admit I don't really know anything about him, and I admit I don't

know if you pronounced that correct. Yeah. But um so the Lions getting another weapon for Matthew Stafford on offense and seemingly continuing to build their defense through the linebacker position with to Bai joining Gerard Davis and a couple of other young guys that Detroit has been building at at that spot. Yeah. I have no idea who Tobay is, and I assume he's going to go on and have a nice little career as a second round pick. I

wish him well. I want to focus more on Hockinson. Sure, because so many times, Michael, you and I would come on this show, we do insider Inbox and we basically tell fans for all intensive purposes, you know nothing about how to draft NFL players. Hockinson's probably exception to that. I think that that was a no brainer for the Lions.

I don't think you need to be a guy that's been in the NFL for twenty five years to understand not only was that the best fit for Detroit at that spot, that was the best pick they could make at that spot. Hogginson has is probably is highly touted as well rounded as a tight end prospect that I can recall in the last fifteen years. I was trying

to think about it. Maybe Vernon Davis. Vernon Davis is Vernon dave Us is the other one that comes to mind, And I guess another one I think who was pretty highly touted, but his career didn't work out really for more off the field reasons. But Kellen Winslow Jr. Was another guy coming out that had a lot of hype.

But I think Vernon Davis is maybe the best comparable here just because of all the well rounded nous as you said, the blocking and the receiving and and and let's face it, I mean, you look at the last couple of years for the Detroit Lions. Calvin Johnson retired, they traded Golden Tate. Now, nothing against Marvin Jones Jr. And Kenny Golladay, but you need to get another weapon for Matthew Stafford. And this was a position that of dire need for the Lions skill position wise, this was

the best weapon this draft had to offer. And the other thing I like about Hockinson too, as opposed to Winslow, and even to some extent, as opposed to Vernon Davis, who had to work through some maturity issues in his formative years. Sure, Hockinson seems like a really well polished young man. He seems like he checked all the boxes in terms of professionalism and has everything you look for in a tight end you can really build your offense around.

He's going to be the best friend for Stafford and unfortunately for the Packers weapon that they're gonna have to take into account moving forward. But for my money, eighth pick overall, it just made a lot of sense for them to go that direction. One other guy just down the road to keep an eye on for the Lions. They also drafted in the middle rounds Austin Bryant, a

defensive end from Clemson. Now, this Clemson defense had four players drafted in the top forty picks, I believe of the draft now, Bryant was sort of the extra guy who had to wait a while, and he was drafted in the middle rounds. And with the there's been so much change over on that Lions defensive line from what we remember of the the Endomic and Sue Days and Nick Fairley and and those guys. So I think he's one to potentially keep an eye on down the road.

Thought it was a really good value pick. I know I'm jumping over you there, but that was the one out of their entire draft class other than Hockinson that stepped out to me. I just felt like when you look at Clemson and how strong that defensive line was, and we got to know them a little bit at the NFL scouting combine, getting a feel for all their personalities, all of their various skills. Brian isn't going to get the same kind of notoriety of those guys taken in

the first round, yeah, Wilkins and Lawrence. But he's a good rotational hand. I think he's going to add some death for them, and we'll see what he can offer as a pass rusher down the line. Yeah, alright. Moving on to the Minnesota Vikings, they end up taking a center, Garrett Bradberry out of North Carolina State with their first round pick. I believe he was eighteenth overall. They had in another offensive lineman in the fourth round, Drew Semiah

out of Oklahoma. Coincidentally, yeah, well, and coincidentally, that Minnesota pick was originally one of the Packers fourth round picks that was traded to Seattle, and then Seattle traded it to Minnesota. And then the other kind of big name they got in between there, the tight end from Alabama or Smith Jr. So um NFC North kind of loading up on tight ends. The Packers get Ja Sternberger, the Vikings get IRV Smith Jr. And the Lions get Hawkins. Absolutely, Wait,

what is that? What's that? All the Vikings just made their last pick. I didn't realize that they I think I just heard them. Yep, they have their all their their draft classes done, All twelve picks are made. What long weekend for the beat writers covering the Minnesota Vikings. I can't believe it. A good friend of ours, Kim at Polito, now works out there. She was an intern for US, got hired full time out there starting, extremely

talented young lady. I felt for her on that Saturday with all the picks that they ended up acquiring in this draft, and I got to be perfectly honest with you, Mike, I think Rick Spielman did a really good job with this draft class. For me, these were a lot of names that I recognize. I thought brad Berry was a

perfect perfect pick for them in the first round. They needed to get that center spot taking care of Here's my question, though, are does that mean they're moving Pat elf Line to guard because hasn't he been there their center well for so many years? Um, it was the guy out of Michigan Tech. What is his name? I'm

trying to remember it? Off to uh, No, not John Sullivan. No, maybe it was well, whatever the case, Maybe I don't want to look like too much of an idiot here, but brad Berry does give them a lot of versatility inside. I'm not sure what their plans are for these guys. Well, I see how everything works out, because they spent a fairly high pick on elf line to be there, to be their center a couple of years. I'm assuming somebody's

playing guard there. Yeah. I don't know what their plan is, but the selection of Bradbury was enough for the Viking social media account to talk about how excited Kirk Cousins is going to be about this young man snapping the ball to him. So we'll figure out how it goes there. IRV Smith Jr. Fifth What would end up in the eighteenth pick of the second round. Overall, really good value pick for them, I think as well. Um, you know, Kyle Rudolph has been a staple that offense for years

to come. They're probably starting to look towards the future there. I like Samia getting to know him a little bit. Uh, there's some questions about exactly where he's gonna fit in the NFL um how natural it is for him to carry that much weight. But that's a question that's gonna be answered. And then again getting back to what you

said about the Lions. I don't know how to pronounce this guy's name, but the tackle lot of Elon that really I think he did get an invite to the combine was a huge just a big, massive dude that a lot of people think are going to be able to make that transition. The Vikings have liked bet on big bodies with their offensive line, and they get another one with I think it's udo well. I think all of the focus in the off season for the Vikings has been talking about that offensive line, and you just

you look at you look at the track record. The Vikings win the NFC North in in twent sixteen. They start the season five and oh, but their offensive line falls apart, mostly due to injuries, and they they fall off the map inteen and can't make the playoffs despite starting five and oh. Then in seventeen they make some free agent signings, they get that offensive line short up, they get all the way to the NFC Championship Game.

Then they have problems on the offensive line again in twenty eighteen and they end up eight seven and one, and they missed the playoffs. Again. They're in this this back and forth, you know, one year in, one year out as far as the post season is concerned, and it always seems to hinge on the performance of those guys up front on offense because they keep changing quarterbacks. They've had solid receivers, they've keep changing running backs. But it's when the offensive line isn't up to snow, so

to speak, that the Vikings struggle. Yeah, the Vikings, but based on one thing I'm reading too, it sounds like they haven't committed anything, but the logical move would be elf line moving to left guard. So well, but you're right with all the changes with as deep as their defense has been, as much as many skill position players that they brought it in the quarterback obviously with cousins Um offensive line has been the common threat in terms of their weak spot here over the last six, seven,

eight years for the most parts. So they're trying to get more stability with that. They addressed it in the first round. If you take an interior alignment in the first round, it signifies that you need to make a change. That doesn't happen with every team every year. So we'll see if Bradberry can be the fit for them, all right. Well, also in the NFC North, then you have the Chicago Bears. Now they did not have a first or second round

pick in this draft because of trades they've made. And I don't remember which picks were involved in which trades, but the Khalil Mack trade, it's Traubinsky trade. The Bears have have spent some of their top draft capital. But then they actually end up trading up in the third round for their first selection of this draft, and they get Iowa State running back David Montgomery. And boy, you hear the talk coming out of Chicago. Now, they signed

Mike Davis from Seattle. They have Trek Cohen as you know, sort of your scat back change a pace guy. You hear what's coming out of Chicago. It's like Montgomery is getting thrown in there. It's gonna get twenty carries a game all of a sudden as a rookie. I don't know if that's how it's gonna play out, but they're excited about this. You know. The thing that's scary about it too. I could totally see him getting twenty touches a game. I also could see Cohen getting ten touches

a game. And then you also, as you mentioned, Mike Davis has kind of rebounded with his career and become a pretty good bell cow back when they need him to be. This offense is going to run through the running backs. It's going to run through the middle of the field. I think we've really seen that. They've been very upfront about that in recent years. And I'll say this right now, Mike, if you're gonna make your first pick at number seventy three in the third round, you

could do a lot worse than David Montgomery. This is a really versatile player. You and I talked about it. I mean, Packer fans made jokes about it. If the Packers would draft him, could they throw number eighty eight on him too? Just because of the multitude of things that he can do. I really liked the idea of having Montgomery and Cohen in the backfield. I think that's

something that's gonna give defenses a lot of trouble. At the same time, this is all hinged on Mitchell Troubisky, and it's also hinged on the fact that this defense can be the same type of unit it was last season with really no new parts and a new defensive coordinator taking over. Yeah, and another name just to keep an eye on down the road again for the Bears, Calvin Ridley's younger brother. I believe it is it pronounced Cavin Ridley, Kevin Cavin. I don't he spells at Calvin

without the L. I'm not sure how it's pronounced. But wide receiver out of Georgia was taken in the fourth round by the Bears. And he's the younger brother of Calvin Ridley, who was the first round draft pick and had a big rookie year for the Atlanta Falcons. So does he go by Riley? Maybe that that's his middle name, So yeah, he goes he goes by Riley. When I looked up the name, I saw his first name is actually Calvin without the L. Yeah, so yeah, I knew

him as Riley. A lot of people in the draft process for him as that another really talented kid, pretty much the same size as as uh, you know, Calvin. For the most part, We'll see what he can do. I mean, the Bears have made some significant changes with the receiver position in recent years. Um. Again, this is

another guy that gets added too. That fold, and I know there were a lot of people out there that felt more comfortable with them taking him in the fourth round than last year when they took the receiver out of Memphis. So Anthony trying to remember his last name, Yeah, but Anthony Miller, Anthony Miller out of Memphis. So a lot of people very high on this pick. Again, like I said, I think if you're gonna miss those first two rounds, the two skille position players that they ended

up with, you know I'd be pretty happy with that. Yeah, all right. Well, a little bit of sponsored business here west the powerful noise canceling technology that helps NFL coaches block out eighty thou screaming fans can get you closer to the music you love. Learn more at www dot bows dot com, slash Packers Bows the official headphones of the Green Bay Packers, and at Homer. Here in the stands, we all know that Green Bay fans give it their all and that takes a lot of energy. So grab

a warm bowl of Campbell's Chunky Soup. It's meaty goodness fuels the greatness of Packers fans everywhere. Try the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. Just visit your local supermarket and ask for Campbell's chunky soup. Official sup partner of the Green Bay Packers. Okay, one other topic. I want to get to here West before our week is out. Ted Thompson, former Packers general manager, is being inducted this weekend, Saturday night in a ceremony here at Lambaufield being inducted into

the Packers Hall of Fame. Um. Certainly a well deserving and a no brainer type of honor for the architect of the Packers Super Bowl forty five roster. Um. I'm gonna put you on the spot here. Okay. In his drafts as general manager of the Packers, how many Pro Bowlers did Ted Thompson draft? Do you know the number? I looked them all up while you were gone. I'm gonna not quite. I'll read them off here. Um. Two

thousand five. Aaron Rodgers, Nick Collins two thousand six, Jay Hawk, Greg Jennings two thousand eight, Jordy Nelson, Josh Sitton two thousand nine, B. J. Rodger, Clay Matthews, T. J. Lang two thousand eleven, Randall cob two thousand twelve, Mike Daniels, Eddie Lacy, David back tr haha, Clinton Dicks, and Davante Adams. Now that number is fifteen and potentially counting because Kenny Clark, I think that's the guy who's headed to a Pro

Bowl someday. And guys like Blake Martinez, Kevin King, Aaron Jones certainly have that potential in their future as well. But I'm gonna put you on the spot again because I did well. This is this is what I this is what I get to do when you're out of town. All right. Three other players Ted Thompson acquired as general manager of the Packers, not draft picks, went to their first Pro Bowl as members of the Packers. So I'm not talking about the Julius Peppers and Charles Woodson's and

those guys. Three players acquired by Thompson, not draft picks, who went to their first Pro Bowl as Packers. Can you name all three? Man? I don't know if I can name one off the top of my head. To two of them are undrafted players and one Sam Shields would be one of them. Two undrafted players ended up making Pro Bowls, Oh Truman Williams. Williams and then the other is the waiver claim John Coon. There sitting in

the seat. I'm still a little foggy, like we'll explain here in about a month about you know, why I was gone and the lack of my sleep deprivation over the last three days four days. But you're right, I mean, those are three great picks. And I want to just quickly talk about Truman Williams for a second. You want to talk about a guy. Uh this came up a few years ago, probably about four or five, six years ago now when we're talking, I think it was Gary

Kubiak about Williams is actually probably six years ago. And the fact that the Texans cut him, they had signed him as an unrestricted or undrafted free agent, and then he comes to Green Bay, makes the practice squad, and then a year later ends up becoming the player he did. It takes some serious skills to not only find those players, but find a spot for them on the fifty three roster to give him a chance to show what they can do. That's a pretty good let. It's funny when

you mentioned the Pro Bowlers. You get so far into this thing you sometimes forget that Sam Shields Tremont Williams were picked over two or fifty six times and end up having the careers that yeah they yeah, they ended up not being they ended up not being draft picks. But I think it'll be a neat ceremony. Um not very often. It's only in special cases where there's only one individual who's inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in a given year. They did it obviously for Brett Farve.

They'd also did it for Mike Holmgren people like that in recent years. And Ted Thompson getting that sort of recognition here with his induction into the Packers Hall of Fame, it should be should be an interesting night. It sounds like he's being introduced by Mike Reinfeldt, who a former Packers executive who was I believe, um not just a teammate but also a roommate of Ted Thompson's with the

Houston Oilers. When you know, back in the day, both of those guys making their way in their young NFL careers, they've known each other for a long time and they both carved out, you know, careers as NFL executives that have been are impressive. Yeah, And I mean when you look back on the totality of Ted Thompson's resume, when you factor in Seattle what he did out there building a Super Bowl contending team there as well. It's it's an extensive list, and it's fun when you go back

and realize where this whole thing started. You know, Ron Wolf kind of given him that foot in the door. I mean, I think he was what in like sales or something like that. Don't remember his eye for talent, his conviction. I've actually even gotten into a kind of a scuffle with some people on Twitter in recent days.

I don't think I think it's very few times. I probably would say it's less than one hand as far as the most difficult decisions and NFL executives had to make in this league's history, than what he did staying true to his convictions, saying, you know what, we are going to press forward Aaron Rodgers as our quarterback. When Brett Farve said he wanted to come back, there are so many fans, so many people out there that wanted him to just open the gates up again. But Thompson

stayed true. And there's so much belief that you have to have in your scouting process. What you saw in Rogers coming out of college, what you've seen from him, the three years in practice, you don't know truly what a guy is going to be able to do until he gets under center, until he finally plays in a game. Thompson, everything that he did up unto that point his career, he wagered it all on number twelve, and it came up aces and it ushered in one of the most

successful periods in Packers history. And I think one of the things that people forget. It's easy to forget about that time because you're talking about obviously a Hall of Famer in Brett Farve, and how contentious all that was. The two thousand seven Packers team came an overtime away from going to the Super Bowl. You were right on the precipice. It would have been very, very easy as

a general manager, as a head coach. Mike McCarthy was obviously involved in it as well, to just say, hey, we came really close, our guy wants to come back. Why upset the apple cart here? I mean they were, they were right there, and uh but you know, as you said, they went with the courage of their convictions with Aaron Rodgers, and three years later they won a Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers and and ended up in the postseason eight consecutive years. Yeah, and Thompson put him

in a position to do that. As you mentioned, all the Pro Bowlers that he drafted, all the All pros

he drafted. Finding David bok Tr to me is probably still the number three best move he made in the draft, and maybe even as up there with Clay Matthews with what he did, I mean, box tr in a draft class in which so many offensive linemen were taking me for him to find a franchise left tackle, a guy that looks like he could play that position for a decade, if not longer, that's that's skill, that's talent, that's believe And Ted Thompson did it with a way in which

there was never an I told you so moment. He was always very humble with the successes, humble with the you know, the misses, and just really understood what it meant to be in that chair, what it meant to lead an organization. And obviously I had a lot of passion for this game and they'll be neat to see him honored on Saturday Night. And without a doubt, I think his boldest move in the draft was in two thousand nine when he traded back up into the first

round after taking Rogie at number nine. Trades back up into the first round uses one of the picks that he acquired in the Brett Farve trade in a deal with the Patriots to get Clay Matthews out of USC. Now this is a linebacker. I mean, what did Matthews have ten sacks and one year as a starter, and um, you know, targeted that player, believed in him, made sure to get back up into the first round to get

him and and another Packers Hall of Famer. Obviously, Matthews now has moved on to the Los Angeles Rams, but he will be in the Packers Hall of Fame without a doubt at some point as well. The two thousand five and two thousand nine drafts, I mean those are up there and in the annals of this history of this organization is the best, you know draft classes that they ever had in namely for you know, some really talented players like Rogers, like Nick Collins, like b J.

Raji and and Matthews who won a super Bowl. It's not easy to win a super Bowl in this league. Michael, I think you see it every single year. They're thirty one disappointed teams and Thompson put this team in an organization, put this team and organization in a spot to claim that Fourth Land party. Yeah. Well, congratulations to Ted Thompson on a well deserved honor. With that, we'll call it

a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the team and of the big ceremony Saturday night on Packers dot com. On Twitter, He's at west Hod, I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and other podcast services. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, See you next time.