Packers strong safety Morgan Burnett (left) and cornerback Sam Shields break up a pass intended for Browns wide receiver Greg Little during their game last October. The Packers may target a free safety in the draft to pair with Burnett. Credit: Mark Hoffman

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Green Bay — The Green Bay Packers are embarking upon their 10th draft under the direction of general manager Ted Thompson with a few more glaring needs than normal.

Yet, in the tried-and-true formula generally adhered to by the Packers, they could be in position to strike it rich in what some personnel people have called one of the deepest drafts in years.

"I told the head coach, there will be a team that comes out of this thing with five starters in the next three years," an executive in personnel said. "I'd pay attention to this one in Green Bay with his simple philosophy of sticking to the board and the best player.

"If there's ever a situation where you pick the best player available, it's this year. There's that many good players. So just pick the best player and, if you've got 10 picks, we're only talking about five starters."

Buoying the Packers' hopes for making a haul are their nine draft choices, including their own in each round plus third- and fifth-round compensatory selections.

Morgan Burnett, who had a poor season, is the only capable veteran at safety.

"No. 1 need is free safety," said the executive. "No. 2 is pass rusher. No. 3 is receiver, which includes the tight end. Those are their top four needs.

"I expect two wide receivers to be taken, one tight end and they'll take an (offensive) lineman every year. It'll probably be an interior lineman.

"On paper, when I look at that front seven, they've got starters across the board and no voids. But if there's another pass rusher that drops in their lap and they're not happy with the value at any other position, they'll definitely take him.

"They need another (Clay) Matthews. (Julius) Peppers is not that. Peppers is a solid but descending player."

The executive agreed to assess the status and degree of need at each of the Packers' positions:

Wide receiver: "They lost James Jones and they got Jarrett Boykin. I see them picking a receiver. This is almost like a couple years ago when they took Randall Cobb because he had return skills. This is a need. With what they do offensively, I've got to believe they're looking to beef it up a little bit. I guarantee you they don't like being second fiddle to the Chicago Bears' pass receivers. Where do the Packers rank in terms of receivers?"

Tight end: "(Andrew) Quarless is getting $1.5 (million) per year. Expectations are where you're picked and how much you're paid. When you pay a player barely over minimum who has four years in, that tells me they don't have high expectations for this player and they perceive him as a backup-role player. He's not getting starter money. When the player agrees to that kind of money, then he's telling you, 'I'm not a starter. So I'll take what I can get from the home team.' That position has always been a big wideout for them that controls the middle of the field. So they're going to be in the market. (Jermichael) Finley is a medical. You can't count on him. He may re-sign with them but they can't count on him. I remember when they were very stacked at tight end and they actually picked another one. I forgot what year. I don't believe they think they have a starting tight end on the roster."

Tackle: "They've got starters and their swing guys. You always want to get better but it's not a situation where they're in need. I would say they're set at tackle."

Guard: "They still have (Josh) Sitton and (T.J.) Lang. They're solidified starters."

Center: "They got a guy (JC Tretter) they drafted last year in the fourth round. They don't have a need. At some point he has to (play). He's a fourth-round pick! What the hell did they pick him for? He must be hell on wheels to pick a center that high. C'mon. With that offense, the machine they got there, you just plug in centers. I think they'll pick a guy but it's not a need. I'm expecting big play out of this guy."

Quarterback: "Thank God they signed (Matt) Flynn last year. They waited too long as it was. They didn't have to be in the situation they were in. I don't think they need to pick anybody. If somebody falls in their lap they'll take him and (Scott) Tolzien's out the door."

Running back: "They're good to go, probably as good as they've looked in a while if everybody's healthy. As long as Eddie Lacy's healthy I think they're as comfortable as they've ever been. It's the best it's ever looked. (DuJuan) Harris is change of pace third back? Does he got special-teams value? He'd better. Otherwise, he's replaced."

Fullback: "They got (John) Kuhn back. That was a hell of a lot of money for a fullback. There's no need in the backfield."

Defensive end: "On the depth chart they've got a first-round pick in '13 (Datone Jones), a second-round pick (Jerel Worthy) in '12, a fourth-round pick in '12 (Mike Daniels) and a fifth-round pick (Josh Boyd) in '13. What more can a scouting department do for Mike Trgovac? 'Mike, get these (players) ready. We're not picking another player, OK? I expect the expected.' Let me repeat this. Expectations are where they're picked and how much they're paid. I don't see Peppers playing base end."

Nose tackle: "Signing (Letroy) Guion tells you they're not picking anybody else. They've got enough where they feel there's actual competition. That's what you need."

Outside linebacker: "I expect Peppers to line up at left outside linebacker over the tight end standing up in a two-point stance. When they go to their nickel he puts his hand on the ground and rushes the passer opposite Clay Matthews. Hey, (Nick) Perry is a first-round pick. He just got slapped down when they hired Julius Peppers. That's a tag team: Matthews, Peppers, Perry. That's where they could use another pass rusher if he drops in their lap. (Mike) Neal gets his reps in nickel. He's not a space player. He's a five-technique. He's an inside pass rusher."

Inside linebacker: "They could add another guy to the mix mid-round that could compete for a future starting role. I don't see them taking one in the first round."

Cornerback: "I'd say (Sam) Shields has some pretty high expectations. Look. They have a second-round pick in Casey Hayward. They've still got (Davon) House. They brought Jarrett Bush back as a dime-nickel guy. They got players there, OK? They don't have a need. It falls in the category of best player available. It's a premier position so a corner will be picked if he's available."

Safety: "(Mike) McCarthy said that about (Micah) Hyde because they have a potential void at free safety. Just looking at it, it's the thinnest position they have on the whole roster. When McCarthy says Hyde will be a consideration, I know right where they're looking. Free safety. Because he's a corner."

Kicker: "They've got the same guy (Mason Crosby). They almost got rid of him but he recovered. He's their guy. Do you live with the devil you know, or do you get another devil in the building? They're the devil."

Punter: "This guy's been there for, what, three years? I don't think there's a need."

Return specialist: "They've got some issues here. Who are the candidates? They need a guy. It will come from another position. It should be a running back, a bigger guy for the cold. So they could pick a running back that has return ability."

Long snapper: "Hasn't this (Brett) Goode guy been there a long time? Good to go."

Special-teams ace: "This is where the train jumps the track. They pick for the position. This is a tough coaching job in special teams with Ted. I don't know why he doesn't take that into consideration."