Blogs

Ted Thompson trades back in third for second time

GREEN BAY–Packers General Manager Ted Thompson traded back in the third round for the second time on Friday, Thompson’s third trade of the day. The Packers sent the 93rd overall pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for the Dolphins’ fourth (109), fifth (146) and seventh-round 224) picks. The Packers selected Alabama running back Eddie Lacy in the second round earlier on Friday.

Packers trade with 49ers, again; move back in third round

GREEN BAY–Packers General Manager Ted Thompson executed his second trade of the day with the 49ers when he dealt the Packers’ third-round pick, the 88th overall selection, for the 49ers’ third-round pick, the 93rd overall choice, and the 49ers’ seventh-round pick (216). The 49ers then used the third-round pick they acquired to select Auburn DE Corey Lemonier.

Packers have 7 picks on Day 3

As Day 3 of the draft begins, the Packers have seven selections left to make. Two of their Day 3 picks — in the fourth and fifth rounds — were traded on Friday night as the Packers moved up for a pair of second-round picks.

The Packers’ remaining picks are as follows: two in the fourth round, back-to-back (132, 133), one in the sixth round (197) and four in the seventh round (224, 235, 241, 243).

As for other possible trades, four of the Packers’ picks (132, 133, 241, 243) are free-agent compensatory picks, and cannot be traded. So only three of the picks are available to use/package in a trade, making another trade less likely. But you never know.

Packers trade up, again, pick defensive back

It’ll be remembered as a draft for defense.

The Packers turned to defense for a third consecutive pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by trading back into the bottom of the second round on Friday and selecting Vanderbilt defensive back Casey Hayward.

Hayward, 5-11, 188, was a cornerback at Vanderbilt. He is said to be skilled in zone coverage, which would fit into Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers’ 3-4, zone-blitz defensive scheme.

The Packers gave up their third-round pick, No. 90, and their fifth-rounder, No. 163, to move up to No. 62 near the bottom of the second round to draft Hayward.

Hayward intercepted 13 passes over the last two seasons and finished his college career with 15 picks. He returned one INT for a TD and also had 18 tackles for loss.

Packers go defense again with Worthy pick

The Packers addressed their need for a young defensive end by targeting, trading up and selecting Michigan State’s Jerel Worthy in the second round of Friday’s NFL Draft. Worthy, 6-2, 308, was ranked by several draft services as a potential first-round pick. The Packers selected him with the 19th pick of the second round, following a trade with the Eagles.

The Packers surrendered their fourth-round pick, No 123 overall, to the Eagles to move up eight slots from 59 to 51 and nab Worthy.

Worthy became the second consecutive defensive player picked by the Packers in this draft. The Packers, of course, are trying to repair a defense that finished last in the league in 2011.

Worthy started 38 games in three seasons for the Spartans, all at left defensive tackle. He recorded 12 sacks and 27 1/2 tackles for loss. He was a first-team All-America selection by a number of publications last season, the first MSU defensive lineman to be named first-team All-America by The Associated Press since “Bubba” Smith in 1966.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Worthy most likely projects as a defensive end in the Packers’ 3-4 defensive scheme.

Packers trade up to 51

The Packers are about to go on the clock after trading up from pick 59 to 51 in a swap with the Eagles.

More details to follow.