Lynch is an elusive type of back with an almost ideal size (5-11, 217 lbs.), for a back in the zone blocking scheme. Hes shown above average speed as indicated by his 4.46 time in the 40-yard dash at Cals pro-day.

The NFL Draft is right around the corner as the show will go down on April 28-29 from New York City. Up at 1265 Lombardi, the Green Bay Packers are facing three glaring needs, including running back, tight end and safety, in that order.

Luckily for general manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy, there are three solid players that realistically could be available when the Packers select with the 16th overall pick.

That list includes California running back, Marshawn Lynch, Miami tight end, Greg Olsen and Louisiana State safety, LaRon Landry. Here is a look at the candidates:

MARSHAWN LYNCH: Lynch is an elusive type of back with an almost ideal size (511, 217 lbs.), for a back in the zone blocking scheme. Hes shown above average speed as indicated by his 4.46 time in the 40-yard dash at Cals pro-day.

His main strengths are his ability to make people miss in tight parameters and his ability to find another gear when he reaches the second level of the defense.

A drawback of his play has been that he does not always run with particularly great pad level. However, you can get away with that in this scheme as long as you have the vision it takes to read the lanes created in the scheme by cut-blocks. It appears Lynch has that.

With the top-rated back in this class, Adrian Peterson, likely being off the board well before the 16th pick, Lynch is the most likely pick that Thompson will make to fulfill the major need that was created when Ahman Green left in free agency for Houston.

GREG OLSEN: Olsen is far and away the top-ranked tight end in this draft, but selecting him as high of the 16th pick may be a reach. But his combination of size and speed (6-4, 252 lbs and 4.73 40 time), may be found intriguing by the Packers.

His lengthy frame will allow him to bulk up without losing quickness and has great body control, which would make him the exact opposite of current Packers starter, TE Bubba Franks.

His weaknesses appear to be that he is not as explosive as his 40 time might suggest and that he sometimes struggles to recognize blitz packages and is slow to pick up his protection responsibilities.

Overall, he needs to do a better job blocking in the run game as well as max-protection situations. However, he does play physical in route running, which would make him a tremendous red-zone target, an area where the Packers were nearly the worst in the league last season due to Franks struggles.

LARON LANDRY: It is somewhat doubtful that Landry will still be around when the Packers select with the 16th choice. But dont rule him out if the Pack throws their pick at him because of the shaky play of newcomer Marquand Manuel at safety a year ago and the fact that Marviel Underwood is coming back from major surgery to repair an ACL injury.

Landry put up a phenomenal 40 time for a safety at the combine, running a 4.38. He is regarded as a good hitter, but will need to improve on his ball skills in coverage. Hed fit a need, but this is the most unlikely of the group to be selected.

OTHER POSSIBLITIES: The Pack could easily pull a fast one and select a wide receiver at 16. Candidates range from Dwayne Jarrett of USC, Ted Ginn, Jr. of Ohio State and Robert Meachem of Tennessee.

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES: The Packers locked middle linebacker Nick Barnett for the long term with a six-year, $35 million deal plus $11 million in bonuses.

With the signing, it puts every Packer defensive starter under contract through the 2008 season except defensive tackle Corey Williams. It has been reported that the Packers and Williams have been negotiating.

In other news, the NFL has released its 2007 schedule. Highlights for the Packers include the season opener Sept. 9 at home vs. Philadelphia, a prime-time game on NBC in week five at home vs. Chicago, their lone Monday Night Football appearance Oct. 29 at Denver, Thanksgiving Day at Detroit, the following week at Dallas on Thursday Night Football on the NFL Network, a potential division title game at Chicago week 16, and closing the season vs. Detroit at Lambeau Field in week 17.

Dates for the Minnesota games include a week four trip to the Metrodome and a week 10 date at Lambeau.

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