Green Bay Packers: How Can Ted Thompson Re-Tool And Go All In

According to Aaron Rodgers, in order to make it to the Super Bowl, the Green Packers must re-tool and go all in. How should Ted Thompson proceed with this task?

When thinking about how the Packers should approach the 2017 NFL Draft and Free-Agency the easy answer would be to load up with defensive players. Despite there being a lack of talent across the unit, cornerback and linebacker are the most pressing needs.

While Ted Thompson is likely to address those positions in some capacity, he should not be locked into using his top picks on a cornerback or linebacker. In fact, he shouldn’t limit himself to drafting only defensive talent at all.

Certainly, it is going to be tough to for the Green Bay Packers to win a Super Bowl with their current defensive roster. However, Ted Thompson must be realistic in how much the 2017 draft class is going to contribute. Especially on a defense without a cornerback worth starting, mediocre inside linebackers and an aging or injured set of outside linebackers.

Unfortunately, no matter how much help the Packers bring in, there is little chance of the unit turning into a reliable defense.

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Therefore, Ted Thompson must adjust his strategy to surround Aaron Rodgers with as much offensive talent as possible. It is easy to think that the offense is already set and Rodgers will always be able to make the most of mediocre talent. However, because of Rodgers incredible late season run it easy to forget how poorly the offense performed in their mid-season slump.

One reason they were able to turn things around was the influx of talent provided by Jared Cook. When Rodgers was given better players to work with, the team won eight games in a row. This included victorious over some of the league’s top teams including the Seahawks, Lions, Giants and Cowboys.

While it’s easy to think that if the Packers don’t solely focus on defense, they can expect to fall short of the Super Bowl. We must remember that the offense also didn’t live up to expectations against the Falcons. Everyone knew Atlanta would put up points in the NFC Championship but expected Aaron Rodgers to match Matt Ryan score for score. When this didn’t happen, the Packers didn’t stand a chance.

With the NFL Draft just over two months away, Ted Thompson is surely doing his homework as to how he can go all in. One option he should consider is going against his traditional philosophy and moving up in the draft to select a top-flight running back.

The Packers could choose to re-sign Eddie Lacy and go with a 1-2 punch of him and Ty Montgomery. But, Lacy’s struggle to stay in shape and history with injuries make him less than a reliable option.

Moving into the top ten to select Leonard Fournette might be a reach, but the team could move up enough to draft Florida State running back Dalvin Cook. Current mock drafts have him slotted anywhere from 14-21.

Adding an explosive playmaker out of the backfield would put the Packers offense in a position to both control the clock and score quickly through the air. This would lessen their reliance on a defense that is going to struggle regardless of who Thompson drafts.

Whether he likes it or not, Ted Thompson must accept the reality that there is a window of time for the Packers to win the Super Bowl. He must also face the facts that his defense is not going to be fixed by next season.

Therefore, he must consider using his top picks to draft talented offensive players who can help the team win now and for years to come. This leaves him to use free-agency as a means to bolster his defensive depth with veterans.

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The conventional thought is that Ted Thompson should use his draft picks to rebuild the defense. However, taking this road only puts more inexperienced players on the field and doesn’t help the offense. Hopefully, the Packers GM isn’t locked into thinking he must draft cornerbacks and linebackers. Instead, all options should be explored including the selection of a running back, tight end or wide receiver.

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