What usually comes next after a team realizes they have their franchise quarterback? Well, if you're a smart owner or general manager, it's protection. I think the Indianapolis Colts found out the hard way with Andrew Luck that it doesn't matter how good your quarterback is if they can't stay upright, let alone stay on the field. When Aaron Rodgers took over as the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, he had the benefit of a good offensive line with future Packers Hall of Famers, Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher book-ending at each tackle position. However, when Rodgers took over, both Clifton and Tauscher were entering their 9th season. 8 years of starting nearly every game since their rookie year had taken its toll and both tackles were beginning to battle injuries keeping them from playing every game. The Packers had to think about replacing them soon. 

General Manager Ted Thompson wasted no time ensuring his new franchise quarterback stayed protected as he drafted an offensive tackle in the first round of back-to-back drafts with Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod.  Bulaga immediately took over for Mark Tauscher in his rookie season in 2010 helping the Packers win a Super Bowl. He never turned back likely earning his spot in the Packers' Hall of Fame himself eventually. Sherrod on the other hand unfortunately had an injury-marred career and was never quite the big left tackle the Packers hoped he would be. But that was fine because as if sent by the long-haired beer-chugging Gods themselves, the Packers drafted David Bakhtiari in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. When healthy, Bakhtiari would be the protector of Aaron Rodgers' blindside for the next 9 years. But with Bakhtiari now a free agent and Bryan Bulaga retired, who are the long-time protectors of Jordan Love going to be?

The Packers already have Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker at the Tackle positions. At 24 and 25 years old, they could be Love's protectors for several years to come, but talks have started to drift in other directions. Recently it's been said that the Packers believe Zach Tom could be a Hall of Fame caliber Center. That's some interesting talk for a team that has Tom lining up at the Tackle position. Could it be a smokescreen to make other teams believe the Packers are kicking Tom to the inside and drafting a Tackle early? Sure. But Brian Gutekunst has been talking about Center being Zach Tom's best position since the day he was drafted. Yes, yes, this could still be an elaborate smokescreen, I wouldn't put that passed Gute, tis the season, but I think it could also hold some true merit. Walker showed promise this season at left tackle but he also had some struggles. So, it begs the question, if you have the chance do you take a true bona fide blue-chip prospect at the position? Or keep rolling with the project? I'd go with the blue-chip prospect in hopes of solidifying my QB's protection. So, in that case, I could truly see the Packers drafting a Tackle in the first three rounds. 

Drafting the next protector

I started this draft looking at mainly defensive backs and linebackers as the most likely fit in the first round for the Packers. But the more I think about it, an offensive lineman would make a lot of sense. This draft boasts one of the best crops of offensive linemen in a while. From my perspective, we could see 8-10 offensive linemen taken in the first round of the draft. That's 30% of the first round going to the big fellas up front that are never labeled the "sexy" pick. But the class is so deep and talented, that it will be hard for many teams to pass it up. Of course, overall talent can be argued between the other positions, but when you have such a deep class, it could mean that 4th or 5th best player at the position this year, could've been number 1 last year, or next year. That 4th best Tackle dropping to the late 20s could've been a top-15 pick in another year's class. With that in mind, it could be hard for the Packers to pass up an offensive lineman at #25. But even if they do, they could still have some great options in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Let's take a look.

Amarius Mims: Mims has gained a lot of traction lately amongst Packers fans. The Packers had him in for a visit and most recently, Peter Schrager of the NFL network mocked Mims to the Packers at 25. Now I know what many are going to say, I've read it before. "But Greg, he's only started 8 games!" Well, by God, this beast is 6'8 340 pounds and many scouts say he has tremendous upside. You don't draft from college tape, you draft for the future, and if you want an offensive lineman who's going to enforce his will at the left tackle position, this is the guy you want. I'm not going to say Mims is going to be a bully and just manhandle all opposition, but, he does have that capability, and the Packers may be able to bring it out of him. The Packers brought him in for a pre-draft visit as well, so there's a chance the feeling is mutual and we could see Mims at 25.

Tyler Guyton: Guyton could be a guy we have to move up a little to get. Some are showing him going 5-6 picks above the Packers at 25 but if they like him enough, they could use some of that extra draft capital to go get him. The Packers did have Guyton in for an interview so perhaps there's some interest, or maybe a smokescreen as said before but, if the Packers choose to go up and get him it could only cost a late 3rd or 4th round pick to swap up to 20. Guyton fits the athletic profile and is also a big behemoth at 6'8 322 lbs. Not quite as big as Mims, but Guyton may have that extra experience worth trading up for. He has good footwork in the running and the passing game but he will need to work on his skills in open space a bit as when out on an island he can miss targets.

Blake Fisher: Fisher could be an interesting day 2 pick. At 6'6 310 lbs, Fisher is a good lead blocker in the run game and also has great footwork to combat quick edge rushers. He also shows great balance in recovery if caught out of position a bit keeping himself in front of defenders and away from the QB. The only problem with Fisher though, is that he can be late out of stance. While he is great at recovering, he will need to work on his reaction time to ensure that doesn't become a liability in the NFL. I see Blake Fisher being a late-2nd-round prospect who may have a shot at starting early in the right situation. 

Kiran Amegadjie: Another possible late-2nd early 3rd-round pick, Kiran Amegadjie could be a project tackle with only a year turn-around. A little shorter at 6'5 323 than the previously mentioned prospects, Amegadjie is a very athletic lineman with a lot of power in the running game but also is very nimble on his feet to challenge in pass-pro. His arms are some of the longest in the draft which will help when he develops his hand and punch timing in the NFL. If the Packers are to draft Amegadjie on day 2, I could see them holding him as a swing tackle giving him the time to develop into a true starter, which honestly, with the right tutelage, could only take a year. Which I believe the Packers staff can bring out quickly.

Other honorable mentions include Graham Barton, who is a versatile lineman who could line up anywhere, and also Cooper Beebe who is a late-day 2 prospect whose power could help shore up the interior line maybe solidifying the Packers sticking with Tom and Walker around the edge if that's the route they go.

This draft is packed with offensive-line talent. I'd like to see the Packers take someone on the edge to hang at left tackle for the next 10 years, but any position at this point could be promising to keep that offensive line strong and protect the Packers' franchise quarterback for years to come