Green Bay Packers Top 5 Needs in 2015 NFL Draft

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May 10, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Head coach Mike McCarthy (center) and general manger Ted Thompson (right) watch workout during the Green Bay Packers rookie orientation weekend. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Green Bay Packers are a draft-and-develop organization. While GM Ted Thompson comes out of the forest to make the odd well-timed free agent splash such as Julius Peppers or Charles Woodson, he prefers to build his team 1-2 years ahead of needs presenting themselves, allowing the Green Bay Packers to promote from within and control their cap situation.

No formula is perfect, however, and holes have arisen on the Packers roster following their NFC Championship loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The heart of their front seven was a glaring weakness throughout 2014, and sent Green Bay plummeting to a league-worst run defense until Clay Matthews slid inside to salvage the unit.

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Internal free agents will be the first order of business in Green Bay this offseason. Randall Cobb, Bryan Bulaga, Tramon Williams, Davon House, John Kuhn and several others are set to be unrestricted free agents, and these will not be cheap decisions. Bulaga is coming off his best season at right tackle while Cobb is one of the game’s most electric young options. Both men are critical building blocks in the elite offense led by Aaron Rodgers, so Thompson will do everything possible to keep the gang together.

Green Bay holds the 30th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and could still be in a position to grab a quality player in this deep class. 2014’s class made an immediate impact with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix shoring up the safety position alongside Morgan Burnett. Second-round WR Davante Adams flashed exciting potential towards the end of the season, third-round TE Richard Rodgers is the leading candidate to start in 2015 and fifth-round C Corey Linsley was one of the greatest value picks in the entire draft.

The Packers’ needs will be given clarity when the free agent chips fall, but they will enter this draft with some holes still existing. Ted Thompson often believes in the “best player available” philosophy, but will be hoping that need meets situation at number 30. Ahead, we take a look at the top-5 positions that the Packers will look to address in this draft, and how early they will take a shot at each.

Next: #5: Fingers crossed for a Randall Cobb re-signing

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