Mississippi State's Sherrod tabbed as Packers' first round pick

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GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers chose Mississippi State left tackle Derek Sherrod with the final pick of the first round in the NFL Draft that started last night.

Sherrod could be the successor to 11-year veteran Chad Clifton on the Packers’ offensive line. General manager Ted Thompson said he hoped Sherrod would be as a good as Clifton in “pass-setting” – and the GM promised that Sherrod would be given a chance to play early on. Clifton and last year’s first-rounder Bryan Bulaga will remain the first-stringers at the tackle spots. Sherrod is expected to be behind Clifton in the depth chart, with the possibility of playing at either tackle slot.

The Super Bowl champions held on the 32nd pick, despite speculation that they might trade down to get extra picks – or trade up if Alabama running back Mark Ingram fell down the draft board. He did, and the New Orleans Saints drafted Ingram at No. 28. Thompson wouldn’t say why he passed up Ingram. He said his staff was happy when Sherrod was still available in the 32nd slot. In Thompson’s words, “If you can get a quality big man, I think you always lean that way.” Sherrod is 6-5-and-a-half and 315 pounds. He started for three years at left tackle in the SEC – the same conference Clifton came from at Tennessee. Sherrod was the sixth tackle taken in the draft. Rounds two-and-three will take place tonight. The other four rounds are set for tomorrow.

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