The Packers just finished their 2008 draft, and I will offer some quick analysis. The complete list of players they drafted is at ESPN, but I will be focusing on their first pick, WR Jordy Nelson.

The conventional wisdom did not have the Packers trading down to take a WR with their first pick, and I am sure most people were a little surprised when they heard the news.

The thing to remember is that Ted Thompson does not draft to need, but rather takes the best player available at the time. He is on record multiple times saying as much, including this quote from his bio on Packers.com: "'A draft is an investment in a player that's going to be here for a number of years,' Thompson said. 'And when you don't take the best player, it'll just come back and bite you every time.'"

When the Packers first turn came up (30th pick overall) Ted must have figured that Jordy Nelson would still be around a little later, so they traded down 6 spots and got a 4th round pick for it.

I don't follow college football that much, so I don't know that much about the young players, but ESPN has this to say about Jordy Nelson:

Nelson isn't a very sexy pick; he doesn't have great speed and isn't elusive. However, this kid knows how to play the game. He is a very good route-runner, has a wide-frame that allows him to catch the ball very well and shield defenders from the ball. He is a high-character player who is going to have a positive influence in the locker room once he establishes himself.

That sounds like a Packer to me, or a Patriot. It sounds like Jordy Nelson will play hard, catch balls over the middle, block on running plays, and has a Packers character.

When drafting the best player rather than drafting for need a team gains a lot of flexibility. The Packers are taking the best player now, and giving themselves a chance to trade for a proven commodity down the line. Lets say Jordy Nelson turns into an NFL starter (or the next Don Bebe) and the Packers find themselves with 6 WR who could start in the NFL. At that time they can trade for a player they need, and they can get one that has a track record in the NFL rather than taking a chance in the draft.

This works because of the fickle nature of the NFL draft. Not every player drafted in the first round will be an NFL starter. Of course even fewer second and fourth round players will be NFL starters, but you will probably get more NFL starters from 4 2-7 round picks than you would from 2 1st round picks. (Excluding picks 1-5, a lot of times they play no matter what for marketing reasons.)

Being stocked with good players means you can trade for need, or let good players go if their market price gets out of whack with their talent.(Javon Walker or Mike McKenzie anyone?)