With the 32nd pick of Pride of Detroit's 2011 NFL Mock Draft, the Green Bay Packers select Colorado offensive tackle Nate Solder. Gyorick is serving as the Packers' general manager, and his reasoning for the pick is below.
The Packers choose Nate Solder. Chad Clifton isn't getting any younger and Solder would easily be a great replacement for him. Clifton was named to the Pro Bowl this year yet he showed that he was very beatable. The Packers need to solidify this offensive line because their gunslinger has a little bit of a concussion problem, and with the Bears and Lions showing a heavy pass rush over the foreseeable future it would be a good idea to shore up that line. Bryan Bulaga showed great versatility and value for being a first-round pick last year, but he can't play every position on the line. They could move Clifton inside and move Daryn Colledge to the bench. One of my Packers insiders insists that Colledge is the worse offensive linemen in the NFL, second in NFL history only to Ross Verba. If you don't remember ol' Ross ... Google him. There is also Mark Tauscher, but he has been hurt and will be lucky to make the team this year.
Solder stands at 6'8'' and weighs in at around 320 lbs. Solder had a great Senior Bowl and a decent showing at the combine. With the problems the Packers have keeping Rodgers upright and with his concussions I think Solder would be a very valuable pick for the Packers. He needs to continue bulking up, but I've read that his intelligence and work ethic makes up for some of his strength and size deficiencies. Mike Mayock also compared him to Tony Boselli. So he sounds like he has a lot of upside and hopefully he doesn't have the same injury problems that Boselli had.Frankly I am surprised to see Nate Solder, Gabe Carimi and even Mark Ingram still available. According to another Packer insider of mine they wouldn't mind getting Ingram just because they don't trust any of the other running backs. But seeing the way this draft has ended up and with Solder was still available so we had to make the smart pick and solidify our line for our repeat in 2011.
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Check out the 2011 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft tracker for a look at all of the picks.