A MIXED BAG OF NO. 1 PICKS

We're five days away from the 2015 NFL Draft. And even though it is being held in Chicago I am looking forward to it.

 

I have two reasons, or is it three, I'm not a fan of Chicago. First, Bears. Nuff said. Second, I live in Southern Illinois and those denizen's on the North Shore see Illinois as Chicago and the rest of the state. Us who live below the Eisenhower are considered bumpkins. And three, I live in a town with a lot of temporarily transplanted Chicago students and if I go to the local bar to watch the Packers games I have to suffer the slings and arrows - sometimes that is literally - of the Bears fans who love to harass Packer Backers. I think I can state without fear of contradiction (except for those delusional Bear fans who turn everything around - we all know people like that) the Bear fans are the ugliest and meanest in the world. I guess having to defend Jay Cutler can make you testy.

 

But I digress. I will now address General Manager Ted Thompson's track record with No. 1 draft picks. He's had 10 and it's a very mixed bag with high highs and low lows.

 

Thompson had two big hits and another who might turn out to be. His first big hit literally fell into his lap. Two-time MVP and Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers was talked about as possibly being the No. 1 overall pick, but for some reason he was suddenly the red-headed step child of the first round.

 



Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl MVP

 

Future Hall of Famer (I have to LOL on that one) Alex Smith was chosen No. 1 overall by the San Francisco 49ers by first-year General Manager Scot McCloughan, first-year Head Coach Mike Nolan and first-year Offensive Coordinator Mike McCarthy. Isn't it ironic, don't you think?

I DECIDED TO ACCEPT THE MISSION TO GO ON A FOOL'S ERRAND

You will find a 100 different mock drafts with this or that scenario leading to the 30th pick in the first round. When it comes to the other 31 teams, or maybe the other 30, since the Raiders seem to defy logic a lot of time, most of them are very logical and end up picking someone at a need position.

 

But in the case of the Packers it's a fool's errand to predict what General Manager Ted Thompson is going to do, so the art of predicting is a very imprecise. But I will try anyway because...I'm the smartest guy in the room and...whoops, you heard that. I didn't realize I was thinking out loud. Be that as it may let's continue.

 

First let's look back to see what Thompson has done over the past 10 drafts. He has the reputation (through his own words prior to each draft) of drafting the best athlete available (BAA) regardless of position, but does he deserve it? Let's see.

 

Ted Thompson in the War Room

 

2005: 1-24 (QB Aaron Rodgers) - Needs: guard, safety, defensive end, strong side linebacker and running back. However, Brett Favre was nearing the end and the only quarterbacks on the roster were future Hall of Famers (tongue deep in both cheeks) J. T. Sullivan and Craig Nall, so when Rodgers had dropped from No. 1 overall to be available at 24 a future replacement for Favre became the biggest need. NEED.