The last time the Packers drafted a running back in the first round of the NFL draft the year was 1990. With the 19th overall selection they took Darrell Thompson from the University of Minnesota. Thompson played five seasons all for the Packers, but he did not start in half the games he appeared. The Packers do not prioritize the running back position. They never have and never will. That is why they did not bring Eddie Lacy back and it is the reason why Christine Michael was resigned. Michael a guy notoriously known for not following blocks and failing to grasp the playbook is now the Packers backup. The Packers will not waste their first round pick for a third running back who may or may not have an immediate impact. A backup for Ty Montgomery is far from this team’s most pertinent need.

In the past five Packer drafts a defensive player has been chosen in the first round and this years draft will not be any different.

In Mel Kiper’s lastest mock draft he has the Packers taking running back Dalvin Cook from Florida State. Cook was initially projected to be a top 20 pick, however his stock is dropping after his combine was underwhelming and shoulder injuries at FSU are now a serious concern.

The good news is Mel Kiper will probably be wrong once again. Not even a guy whose sole purpose is to dissect what player teams will draft can get inside the head of Ted Thompson. Thompson targets what this team needs and does not worry about making a flashy pick.

Gambling with a running back in the first round would be every bit of a wasted pick. Whether it’s Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey, or Dalvin Cook, the Packers do not need urgent help behind Aaron Rodgers. Once again help is needed on the other side of the ball.

Packer backers may not want to hear this because they want Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense to have every opportunity to succeed. Nevertheless, it will certainly be a reality come April 27th that a running back is not the answer. An outside linebacker, run stopping lineman, or defensive back will be this years first round pick.

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Brandon Carwile was a Cheesehead at birth. His dad grew up attending games at Lambeau and passed on the legacy. He has covered the Packers for over five years and currently works with packerstalk.com. Find him on twitter at @PackerScribe.

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