Did anybody see this coming?
The Green Bay Packers, after seeing B.J. Raji fall into their laps (and turning their backs on Michael Crabtree), pulled a rare move up the draft board.
Ted Thompson traded the Packers’ second-round pick and both their third-round picks for New England’s first rounder (26th overall) and a fifth-round selection.
Sure, if one bases evaluation solely on value points, the Packers were taken, but Ted Thompson got the object of his desire at 26: USC Linebacker Clay Matthews.
Again, I ask, did anyone see this coming?
According to Thompson, for weeks the Packers have been exploring trade possibilities to move up and select Matthews. He thinks Matthews is the best of the three USC linebackers and the perfect fit for Green Bay’s new defensive scheme.
Matthews is fast, athletic, and smart and made tremendous improvements in his game last season. He has come from being a walk-on at USC to having a great year as a starting linebacker for the Trojans. He is considered to have the most upside of the USC linebackers.
With B.J. Raji, the Packers filled a definite need on their defensive line. He is an amazing athlete for a man his size and a disruptor in the middle of the line. Can’t argue with the direction the team took with pick nine.
But what about this trade? Did the Pack pay too much?
On paper, it certainly appears to be the case. New England got a high second-rounder and two third-rounders for for a mere 15-spot fall.
But sometimes you have to overpay to get the guy you really want. I guess TT really wanted him…
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Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.
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