Packers General Manager had to be pleased enough with the production at right outside linebacker last year by the likes of Brad Jones, Frank Zombo and Erik Walden to pass on promising prospects Brooks Reed of Arizona and Akeem Ayers of UCLA.  With the 32nd and final pick in the NFL Draft's first round Thursday night, Thompson went offensive tackle for the second year in a row, hoping to match the play of two tackles taken together 11 years ago when Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher joined the team as second and seventh round picks and manned the edge together for a decade. Tauscher's Packer career is all but over after another serious injury that allowed last year's number one Brian Bulaga to take over on the right side.  The Pack will try and squeeze one more strong year from Clifton on the left side before his heir apparent takes over.   Derek Sherrod, the 6-5, 321 all SEC offensive tackle is Green Bay's number one pick.  Sherrod was the 6th offensive tackle taken in the first round but Thompson may have had him rated higher than Wisconsin's Gabe Carimi, Alabama's James Carpenter and possibly Anthony Castonzo of Boston College.  Sherrod was an all SEC performer as a senior and received several All-American acolades.  He has a big frame with long arms and displayed an ability to not only seal the edge but move downfield to the second level in the run game.  Thompson had the luxury of being able to draft not neccessarily for a hole to be filled in 2011, but hopefully well into the future.  As for a review of the rest of round one...

Carolina is convinced Cam Newton is not the kid who cheated in class at Florida or had a hand in his father's hold for ransom ploy when he transferred to Auburn but the Panthers need him to be a quick study in the NFL.  For every Peyton Manning there's a Ryan Leaf with quarterbacks at the top of the draft.   Denver got a gem in Texas A & M linebacker Von Miller, he might be the first of this year's rookies to make the Pro Bowl.  Buffalo grabbed the next best defender in Alabama's lineman Marcel Dareus.  The Cincinnati Bengals are divorcing Chad Ochocinco and appeasing Carson Palmer with the best receiver in the draft, A.J. Green of Georgia.    Arizona took the best corner, LSU, Patrick Peterson and the run on Southeast Conference players ended with a stunning deal.  The Atlanta Falcons were far too desperate to move up 21 spots in a trade with Mike Holmgren's Cleveland Browns to take Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones. It cost the Falcons their 27th overall pick plus a second and fourth rounder and next year's first and fourth round choices.  Jones had better be really good.  Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith went 7th to San Franciscso and quarterback number two was Jake Locker of Washington, selected by former Packer executive and Tennessee Titans GM Mike Reinfeldt.  The Dallas Cowboys were thrilled to see the top offensive tackle on the board and snapped up USC's Tyron Smith.  Washington traded down 6 spots to allow Jacksonville to jump up and pick Blaine Gabbert to push David Garrard out at quarterback.  On Wisconsin came next, J.J. Watt was the choice of the Houston Texans at number 11, they'll love his motor.  Two division rivals picked back to back and the Minnesota Vikings are moving on at quarterback with the Tavaris Jackson, then Brett Favre and even Joe Webb disasters, raising eyebrows with Florida State's Christian Ponder.  A month ago he was considered a top five pick but the Detroit Lions were smiling Auburn's defensive tackle Nick Fairley was still around at 13.  He'll team with Ndomukong Suh giving the Lions a very feisty interior line.   He sat all last season on suspension but Robert Quinn landed on his feet with the St. Louis Rams defensive line.    Miami made a bloodline pick, taking center Mike Pouncey of Florida, hoping he's as good as his brother Markice in Pittsburgh.   The Redskins finally picked at 16 and took high energy linebacker Ryan Kerrigan of Purdue.   The pick-loaded New England Patriots took 6-8 offensive tackle Nate Solder of Colorado to replace free agent to be Matt Light.  The league's top ranked defense in San Diego got bigger and better with Illinois defensive lineman Corey Liuget.  The New York Giants got a royal pick with corner Prince Amukamara of Nebraska.  Back to the Big Ten for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who took Adrian Clayburn of Iowa, a productive captain of the Hawkeyes defense.  The Kansas City Chiefs traded down with Cleveland and Mike Holmgren found an anchor for his defensive line with Phil Taylor, the Baylor nose tackle.  Indianapolis wants to keep Peyton Manning upright for a few more years and the Colts took Boston College Anthony Castonzo.  The Philadelphia Eagles took the player I thought might wind up in Green Bay, Baylor guard Danny Watkins.  The New Orleans Saints began their very good first round by taking defensive end Cameron Jordan of California, the son of former Vikings tight end Steve Jordan.   Seattle general manager Jon Schneider might have reached a bit with Alabama offensive tackle James Carpenter.   A funny thing happened at pick 26 as the Baltimore Ravens were talking trade with the Bears and didn't get their pick to the podium in time.  The Chiefs stepped in next on the clock and made another surprising choice, Pittsburgh wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin, considered a second rounder by nearly everyone else.  The Ravens quickly got their act together and took high character risk defensive back Jimmy Smith of Colorado.  Saints general manager Mickey Loomis then pulled a Ted Thompson by trading back into the first round.  New Orleans made a deal with the Patriots, giving up their second and next year's number one to get former Heisman Trophy winner, Mark Ingram, the Alabama running back.  The Saints won the prize for the best opening night with that move.   At number 29, the Chicago Bears had to replenish their horrible offensive line by taking Wisconsin Badger tackle Gabe Carimi.  The New York Jets picked a player Green Bay was very high on, defensive end Muhammed Wilkerson of Temple.  The Pittsburgh Steelers plucked another high on the Packer board, Ohio State defensive end Cam Heyward.  That left Thompson on the clock and while he fielded a couple of phone calls about moving out of the round, he ultimately made the call to bolster the pocket for Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers by taking Sherrod.   Green Bay has 8 more picks over the final 6 rounds and they'll likely check these positions off their shopping list, an outside linebacker, a receiver or defensive back that could breathe some life in the anemic return game, another inside offensive lineman and don't be surprised if a quarterback gets called before Saturday night.