Senior Writer

With the coming 2008 NFL draft and an exciting new 2008 Packer season, it's time to take a preliminary look ahead at the Packers' draft needs and what the mock drafts say about it. The Pack have eight picks including two each in the second and fourth rounds.  Overall, the Packers have three picks in the top 60 and six in the top 135.  

The Packers have several basic needs on both sides of the pigskin with a general priority listing: 1. Cornerback  2. Defensive Lineman  3. Tight End  4. Offensive Lineman 5. Quarterback.

First, how deep is this 2008 draft?  An analyst's ranking by position and draft grade says:

1. DE A 2. OT A 3. RB A 4. CB B+ 5. QB B+ 6. WR B 7. OLB B 8. DT B 9. FB B 10. TE B.

From this general ranking of top As and Bs, we can get an idea of the best talent by position available in the coming draft.  If we play the GM role, the Packers could go in several directions in the first four rounds with our choices.   What do the mock drafts say about our first draft choice in the draft?   Several sampled mock drafts pick these players as our first round pick:

1. NewEraScouting.com DE Campbell 2. Rivals.com  CB Flowers. 3. Football Futures.com CB Jenkins. 4. FantasyFootballxtreme.com CB Talib  5.  NFL.com (Carucci) LB Rivers 6. ProfootballWeekly.com TE Bennett. 7. NFL.com (Mayock) OT Baker.

More soon.