MY BID FOR TAKING MICHAEL CRABTREE IF STILL AVAILABLE AT NUMBER NINE PICK

First of all, I realize that this does not fill one of the immediate needs that has been created by either the switch to the 3-4 or the aging and injuries to our offensive tackles. This pick, however, could do so much for the team. And we know Ted Thompson likes to take highest value/best player available over need. So at number nine, Michael Crabtree has inexplicably fallen because of his injury and is still available. The Packers choose him. Why?

1. As I already stated, Thompson is known to pick for highest value/best player available.

2. Donald Driver, while still a very legitimate receiver, will not be for very much longer. He turned 34 in February, and even Jerry Rice had somewhat of a downturn (in Jerry Rice-esque fashion) after he turned 34. He was only elected to two Pro Bowls after the season during which he reached 34. Same with Cris Carter. After he turned 34, he was elected to one Pro Bowl (when he was 35) and only played three more seasons. Marvin Harrison's last Pro Bowl season was the year in which he was 34. Since, there has been a strong downturn in production, and he is currently struggling to even find a team.

3. The Arizona Cardinals defense. Also, see Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, and even Steve Breaston. The Cardinals finished 28th in the league in 2008 in team defense. Yet, they made it to the Super Bowl? How the...? Oh that's right, Kurt Warner and his receivers. They finished DEAD LAST in rushing yards as well. Their passing game was just too good. The Packers defense finished 26th in '08, and the rushing game 17th. But think about this: Aaron Rodgers would have Greg Jennings and Michael Crabtree for the future. That sounds like a Boldin/Fitzgerald-esque 1-2 to me. And that leaves room for Donald Driver to continue producing at whatever level he can for the next few years until he is done, and then James Jones or Jordy Nelson can step in and be Steve Breaston-like. It gives more leeway to Thompson if either Jones or Nelson doesn't develop and equate to the third and second round pick, respectively, that he spent on them. The team wouldn't need to continue trying to find a pass-catching tight end; Ben Patrick was the leading receiver at TE for the Cards and only had 11 receptions. They could stick to a run-blocking tight end, and Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson could be solid running backs for the future that would, for sure, keep the team from ever finishing last in the league in rushing.

While I know it is said that offense wins games and defense wins championships, this one pick could sure as heck win a lot of games in the future for the Pack, and the issues on the defensive side of the ball could be addressed later in the draft.

EVERYBODY NEEDS A DD

Ted Thompson has been the GM since early 2005. In each draft that he has been in charge of, the Packers have taken a wide receiver in either the 2nd or 3rd round, which would imply that he is getting ready to replace Donald Driver as he continues to age. However, Thompson recently said Driver was still a "top-flight receiver" and he hasn't seen "any drop-off in (his) play at all." DD is now 34, so he is obviously on the downturn, but his production really hasn't fallen off much. Obviously Greg Jennings was a great find in the 2006 draft and has taken over the number one receiving role (catching 6 more passes and 4 more touchdowns than Driver in 2008), but Driver has still had 4 consecutive 1,000 yard receiving seasons. He had 74 catches in '08 (Jennings had 80) and he's still averaging almost 14 yards per catch. I tend to agree with Thompson that there has been no drop off for DD, but the time will come soon, and they will need to be ready to replace such a solid possession type of guy. Is James Jones ready to fill the void? What about Jordy Nelson? Or will TT see it fit to pick another WR in '09? Ah, we will find out the answer to that in exactly 2 months (the NFL Draft begins on April 25th).