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You didn't think the Green Bay Packers had a defensive end problem, did you?
They have starting Pro Bowler Aaron Kampman at one end. And then they have Cullen Jenkins who was just signed to a lucrative long term contract last year starting at the other end. And now that Brett Favre is retired, the Packers' current highest paid player in Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is backing them up.
But what if either Kampman or Jenkins gets hurt? Like done for the season type of hurt. The Packer defense wouldn't be quite so formidable.
We all remember too clearly the failed experiment that lasted way too long that had Gbaja-Biamila as a starting defensive end. KGB works out great as a situational pass rusher, but he just doesn't hold up against the run.
Who do the Packers turn to next?
Michael Montgomery hasn't gotten through the past two seasons healthy even though he has some potential. Jason Hunter would be next in line, but he's mostly a special teams player and a pass rush specialist at best on the defensive side. Daniel Muir would be an interesting possibility, but the Packers haven't given any indication yet that they would move him from tackle to end.
Things wouldn't be pretty if either Kampman or Jenkins were gone for some unknown reason. And that's putting it lightly.
Don't be surprised for one second if Ted Thompson uses a first round draft pick on a defensive end even though the Packers seemingly don't need one.
That would really have Packer fans would really be scratching their heads. A move like that would come just one year after Thompson used a first rounder on another defensive lineman that the Packers seemingly didn't need with Justin Harrell.
The fact is that the Packers do need one. Thompson has done a pretty good job of continually preparing for the future. He was able to see a year ago that Corey Williams might not be with the team for much longer, and he went ahead drafted Harrell even though the Packers didn't really need him in 2007. They will in 2008.
And while the Packers may or may not need a defensive end in 2008 depending on injuries, they may need one in 2009. You never know.
In this year's draft, both of the top defensive end prospects, Chris Long of Virginia and Vernon Gholston of Ohio State, are all but guaranteed to be gone by the time the Packers draft in round one. Phillip Merling (pictured) of Clemson figures to go mid-first round too.
But if for some reason Merling slips, the Packers could gobble him up in a second.
After the top three defensive ends are gone, there figures to be at least two more ends that could possibly be drafted in the first round. There's a caveat, though. Derrick Harvey of Florida and Quentin Groves of Auburn are considered by some to be 3-4 defensive ends, which is a kind of defense the Packers don't run.
There are some intriguing mid-round options left for the Packers as well.
One distinct possibility is small school Gardner-Webb prospect Brian Johnston. He's a monster of a man at 6-5, 276, and he's athletic too. He reportedly ran a 40 yard dash time of 4.66 and had a 35 inch vertical at his pro day workout.
Another option is Iowa defensive end Kenny Iwebema who maybe Aaron Kampman, another Iowa alum, can take under his wing.
Some other Railbird favorites are Eric Foster of Rutgers, Chase Ortiz of TCU and Johnny Dingle of West Virginia.
They have starting Pro Bowler Aaron Kampman at one end. And then they have Cullen Jenkins who was just signed to a lucrative long term contract last year starting at the other end. And now that Brett Favre is retired, the Packers' current highest paid player in Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is backing them up.
But what if either Kampman or Jenkins gets hurt? Like done for the season type of hurt. The Packer defense wouldn't be quite so formidable.
We all remember too clearly the failed experiment that lasted way too long that had Gbaja-Biamila as a starting defensive end. KGB works out great as a situational pass rusher, but he just doesn't hold up against the run.
Who do the Packers turn to next?
Michael Montgomery hasn't gotten through the past two seasons healthy even though he has some potential. Jason Hunter would be next in line, but he's mostly a special teams player and a pass rush specialist at best on the defensive side. Daniel Muir would be an interesting possibility, but the Packers haven't given any indication yet that they would move him from tackle to end.
Things wouldn't be pretty if either Kampman or Jenkins were gone for some unknown reason. And that's putting it lightly.
Don't be surprised for one second if Ted Thompson uses a first round draft pick on a defensive end even though the Packers seemingly don't need one.
That would really have Packer fans would really be scratching their heads. A move like that would come just one year after Thompson used a first rounder on another defensive lineman that the Packers seemingly didn't need with Justin Harrell.
The fact is that the Packers do need one. Thompson has done a pretty good job of continually preparing for the future. He was able to see a year ago that Corey Williams might not be with the team for much longer, and he went ahead drafted Harrell even though the Packers didn't really need him in 2007. They will in 2008.
And while the Packers may or may not need a defensive end in 2008 depending on injuries, they may need one in 2009. You never know.
In this year's draft, both of the top defensive end prospects, Chris Long of Virginia and Vernon Gholston of Ohio State, are all but guaranteed to be gone by the time the Packers draft in round one. Phillip Merling (pictured) of Clemson figures to go mid-first round too.
But if for some reason Merling slips, the Packers could gobble him up in a second.
After the top three defensive ends are gone, there figures to be at least two more ends that could possibly be drafted in the first round. There's a caveat, though. Derrick Harvey of Florida and Quentin Groves of Auburn are considered by some to be 3-4 defensive ends, which is a kind of defense the Packers don't run.
There are some intriguing mid-round options left for the Packers as well.
One distinct possibility is small school Gardner-Webb prospect Brian Johnston. He's a monster of a man at 6-5, 276, and he's athletic too. He reportedly ran a 40 yard dash time of 4.66 and had a 35 inch vertical at his pro day workout.
Another option is Iowa defensive end Kenny Iwebema who maybe Aaron Kampman, another Iowa alum, can take under his wing.
Some other Railbird favorites are Eric Foster of Rutgers, Chase Ortiz of TCU and Johnny Dingle of West Virginia.
Photo credit: scout.com
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