The Journal Times Online - Racine, Wisconsin

BY GERY WOELFEL

Whenever you get a chance to draft a blue-chip offensive tackle, you do so.

Just ask Bill Parcells.

The new Miami Dolphins boss showed how strongly he feels about having a quality left offensive tackle Wednesday when he signed Jake Long of Michigan as the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL draft.

Parcells knows a top-shelf left tackle is invaluable, that it is the most vital position on the offensive line. If you don’t have a highly-competent left tackle, you better have plenty of backup quarterbacks.

The Packers have been blessed to have a stellar offensive left tackle in Chad Clifton. Clifton consistently kept Brett Favre from being blind-sided by a pass-rushing defensive end or outside linebacker.

But Clifton is 31 and heading into his ninth pro season. He has been physically nicked up the last two seasons.

As such, this weekend’s NFL draft might be the ideal time for the Packers to look for Clifton’s successor.

Certainly, Packers general manager Ted Thompson will have to take a long, hard look at Sam Baker if he’s still on the board when the Packers make their first selection, No. 30 overall.

Baker is the latest offensive tackle to come off the Southern California assembly line. He has ideal size at 6-foot-5 and 312-pounds and, at times, was downright dominating.

The only concerns about Baker are his relatively-short arms and whether he can stay healthy.

While the Packers are reluctant to take short-arm offensive linemen, they haven’t shied away from players with some health issues.

Last season, the Packers chose defensive tackle Justin Harrell, who was injury prone at Tennessee, with their first-round pick.

Other options:

I was told several weeks ago by a Packers official that the team would likely draft either an outside linebacker or a defensive back with their first pick. And that could still happen.

Three cornerbacks could possibly be available for the Packers: Antoine Cason of Arizona, Aqib Talib of Kansas and Brandon Flowers of Virginia Tech.

Cason seems like the best fit for the Packers. He’s got good size – unlike Flowers – and has good character – some NFL officials have concerns about Talib.

Plus, Cason is playmaker -- he had 15 career interceptions – and he’s younger than most draft prospects.

"He’s just 21, so he’s going to grow as a player. He’s going to get bigger and stronger and faster,’’ said Ron Slavin, Cason’s Madison-based agent. "I think he could go anywhere from 19 on down to the end of the first round.

‘If the Packers would get Antoine Cason, they’d be getting a steal.’’

Another secondary player who would be tough for the Packers to pass on is Miami safety Kenny Phillips.

As for an outside linebacker, there is a chance, albeit a slim one, that Jerod Mayo of Tennessee could possibly slide to the Packers.

Versatile and steady linebacker Dan Connor of Penn State is also projected by some NFL scouts as a late first- or early second-round pick.

Some other thoughts:

* An NFC veteran scout told me he’s convinced that former University of Wisconsin and current Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas is better than Jake Long.

* The scout also believes Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm is better than Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.

* I’m hearing the Rams, with the No. 2 pick, and the Saints, with the No. 10 pick, are looking to wheel and deal.

* Some teams have taken former UW defensive back Jack Ikegwuonu, recovering from a serious knee injury, off their draft board.

However, there is still scuttlebutt Ikegwuonu could go in the fourth round.

* The Bears seem to be leaning toward drafting a running back with the 14th overall pick, with Rashard Mendenhall of Illinois, Felix Jones of Arkansas and Jonathan Stewart of Oregon on their radar screen.

* There have been rumors the Packers might acquire defensive back Lito Sheppard of the Eagles, although I’m hearing he’s headed to Tampa Bay for a second-round pick.

* Wisconsin defensive tackle Nick Hayden figures to be a fourth- or fifth-round pick.

*Another Packers’ rival, the Lions, have Mendenhall and Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey in their sights with the 15th overall pick.

* If the Packers don’t take a defensive back with the first pick, they may take one in the second round with Charles Godfrey of Iowa being a distinct possibility.