It's never too early to look at the 2006 NFL Draft. Especially since the Packers' bad season is positioning the team for their first top 10 draft pick since the DE Jamal Reynolds experience. Reynolds had a knee injury in his rookie season that effectively ended his NFL career, but it should be talked about as one of the most lopsided trades in NFL history; the 1st round pick that became Reynolds for QB Matt Hasselbeck and the 1st round pick that became OG Steve Hutchinson. The last time the Packers played bad enough to earn the right to draft in the top 10, former GM Ron Wolf made the mistake of drafting the immortal CB Terrell Buckley with the 5th pick and passing on ex-Wisconsin and future Pro Bowl CB Troy Vincent who was drafted with the 7th pick. Sometimes it pays to be a homer.

Scott Wright projects the Packers with the 8th pick and selecting Minnesota RB Laurence Maroney. I agree with Scott's analysis. The 2005 injuries have created the need at running back and RB Ahman Green might never be the same after his knee injury. Both Green and RB Najeh Davenport are free agents too. Scott's analysis also has 6 linebackers and 5 defensive tackles drafted in the first round. If the Packers win more games and fall closer to the 15th pick than the 5th pick and after Maroney and RB Reggie Bush are long gone, then the Packers might go that direction too. If the win against Atlanta was not a sign of more wins to come and just a sign that Atlanta has a bad case of the fumbles, then a top 5 pick could net Bush or LB A.J. Hawk.