The Packers hope they found a bookend offensive tackle to protect Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers for the next decade by selecting Mississippi State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod with their first round draft. Sherrod was an all SEC and All-American who played left tackle for the Bulldogs, a team that averaged 214 yards a game on the ground. The 6-5, 321 pounder from Columbus, Mississippi also excelled in the classroom, graduating last August with a degree in business, specializing in risk management and a grade point average of 3.54. Sherrod played left tackle against some of the best players in the country in the SEC and allowed but one sack his senior season. Four times he was named the conference offensive lineman of the week. He's expected to join last year's number one, Brian Bulaga as the tackles of the future, supplanting 11 year veterans Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher. General Manager Ted Thompson said Sherrod is a solid player who rarely got knocked off his feet and as his mentor, Ron Wolf often said, you can never have enough quality big men. It's the first time since 1996 and 97 the Packers took tackles first, Jon Michels and Ross Verba. Left on the board were some top flight pass rushing linebackers including Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson, Akeem Ayers of UCLA and Brooks Reed of Arizona. In five of the past 6 drafts, Thompson has taken an offensive or defensive lineman in the first round.



Comments