First of all, let’s congratulate Matt Flynn on his new contract. Whoo hooo! Now here’s the bad news; it’s only a one-year deal.
Matt Flynn and Aaron Rodgers are having fun at the Super Bowl.Frankly, this is a cheap insurance policy and Flynn deserves better. This deal should’ve been done a month ago, but better late than never. Green Bay now has a backup plan in place for the 2014 season.
So how does this signing affect the Packers’ draft?
Essentially, Matt Flynn gives Green Bay an answer to, “What if Aaron gets hurt again?”
There are now three quarterbacks on the depth chart (Rodgers, Flynn, and Tolzien). Therefore, GM Ted Thompson and Coach Mike McCarthy can focus on the defensive side of the ball.
The Pack holds nine picks total; two of which are compensatory picks as a reward for good behavior in free agency. Each compensatory pick slots in the third and fifth round. Instead of spending one of these nine picks on an emergency backup qb, we now have options.
Because of Flynn’s signing, a plethora of picks, combined with the fact that Green Bay has holes to plug at safety, linebacker, defensive tackle, and tight end, I predict the Packers trade up.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix makes a diving interception in the BCS Championship vs. Notre Dame.Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy have done it before and I’m sure they’ll do it again. Plus, when they trade up, they make it count. Remember Clay Matthews? He was picked in the first round along with B.J. Raji in 2009. That worked out nicely. As for this year, the first priority is defense again, more specifically at safety.
Best case scenario: trade the 53rd (2nd round), 85th (3rd round) and any later round pick for an early first round pick to pair with the Pack’s selection at 21. The goal is to have two first rounders which most likely will be a safety and linebacker; possibly go get Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and C.J. Mosley both BSC Champions out of Alabama which is a football factory. Adding a center fielder with unlimited range in Clinton-Dix and premier pass rusher in Mosley would be a dream come true for the Pack. But it’s up to management to put themselves in that position.
Worst case scenario: do nothing and pick the best on the board at the time. Actually, trading down would be even worse. But with nine picks, the Packers can definitely address their draft needs with role players to learn on the fly. And the Packers staff always finds a gem in the later rounds. For example, Rookie of the Year Eddie Lacy fell in their lap. But why wait?
In the end, the Packers have the pieces to move, in order to really upgrade multiple positions. 2014 is a deep draft, and the Pack should take advantage.