5:55 p.m.
So there we were, dillingently working on our recap of picks 11-20, when Teddy did the unthinkable.
He traded up.
Thompson traded with New England (via Baltimore), moving up to the 26th spot of the first round to snag USC outside linebacker Clay Matthews.
The Packers traded their second round pick and both of their third rounders in order to jump up. They received a fifth rounder from the Pats, as well.
That price is absolutely not too high, though, and Teddy is pitching a perfect game so far. An anchor on the defensive line and an outside linebacker to go opposite Aaron Kampman were probably the team’s biggest needs heading into the draft.
Check and check.
Matthews is a perfect fit for the Packers. He’s a hard-working kid (he was originally a walk-on for the Trojans) who has greatness in his blood (his father is Clay Matthews, a former 19-year veteran linebacker and his uncle is Hall-of-Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews).
The best thing about the selections of Raji and Matthews, outside of the fact that both are very good players, is that Packers now have the personnel to run a 3-4 defense.
As Ice Cube once said: Today was a good day.
-Chris Lempesis
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