GREEN BAY -- Ted Thompson just wrapped up his annual pre-draft press conference a few minutes ago -- the Green Bay Packers GM opened the proceedings by promising not to lie but also by admitting he wouldn't be divulging much information -- and here are some of the highlights from the 23-minute Q&A session:

Just because Aaron Rodgers is taking over at quarterback for Brett Favre after a three-year wait doesn't mean the Packers won't draft a quarterback -- in fact, Thompson wouldn't be afraid to use the team's first-round pick (No. 30 overall) on Saturday on a QB.

Q: Do you have to be careful about taking a quarterback too high, because of your support for Aaron and how you feel he's your guy?

A: No. In fact, it's no slight on anybody. If we take a player at any other position, it's no slight on the players that we have at those position. Aaron, he's comfortable in his own skin. He understands the NFL is the NFL. As a player, all those players in there that are working out, it's probably not their favorite day, and I'm not talking about Aaron specifically, I'm talking about anybody. When I was with the Oilers for 10 years, and nine of those 10 springs, I sat there and I was hoping that the Oilers would not draft a linebacker, because I didn't want that added competition, but there's nothing you can really do about it. That's part of it. I think all the players know they came from the draft, and there will be other players that will come behind them, and that's just the way it is.

Q: So at 30, if the best player on your board is a quarterback, you'll have no problem taking him?

A: No.

Q: Do you have to find a backup for Aaron Rodgers this weekend?

A: No. I mean, we don't have to. The quarterback position is an important position, and we feel very good about Aaron. There are other ways to get quarterbacks as you go through the spring and the summer, so we don't feel compelled to do anything. But again, if we can create more competition, that's a good thing.

Q: When Philadelphia took Kevin Kolb at the top of the second round last year, there was an immediate reaction from (current starter) Donovan McNabb. Do you think about any of that?

A: No. No. We don't. And we don't at any other position. It's not a slight on whatever the position or whoever the player is. It is a testimony that we're going to take the best player, and if that happens to be at that position, that's what we're going to do. I don't think it's going to affect people the way you think. But I've been wrong.

Q: So this is a big-boy league and you can't worry about hurting someone's feelings?

A: Well, I don't think any feelings are going to get hurt. I wouldn't think that's going to happen.

Q: Say (Louisville quarterback Brian) Brohm is there at 30 and you take him, and Rodgers goes 0-4 in his first four games, the fans will want to see the other guy. Do you think about any of that?

A: No. No it doesn't. First of all, I'm not anticipating any of that happening, about the 0-4 thing. Again, this is the National Football League, and everybody's got to stand on their own two feet. And Aaron's been preparing for this time and he's been hopin for this time to come and now it's come. So yeah, he's going to be our quarterback. If we take another guy at 30, we're not saying this other guy's going to be our quarterback. We're saying that we've gotten another guy to play the position. You can never have too many people, especially at the most important position in the National Football League.

Thompson is well-known for taking the proverbial "best player available" -- which he proved again last season, when he took (and was booed for taking) Tennessee defensive tackle Justin Harrell, even though the DT spot was a strength, and he won't change his philosophy.

Q: Why do you choose not to go with needs or wants?

A: Again, I think a draft is a long-term investment for the organization. It's not that you don't go into the draft with blinders on and realize that you'd like to have another of this and another of this. I just think the draft is a long-term investment, especially the early-round picks, and I think if you take a lesser player ... in your own mind, if you know Player A is a better player and you wind up taking Player B because he happens to play a different position, I think that's a mistake.

Although drafting 30th overall makes it difficult to find an immediate impact player, Thompson doesn't think his first-round pick will only be a part-time contributor or a player who won't start until years down the road.

Q: Can you get a starter with the 30th pick or are you resigned to just getting somebody to add to your depth?

A: Oh no. We're expecting to get a really good player there. Whether they come in and start right away, that's not as important as whether it's a good long-term investment for the organization. We're going to try to put some heat on these guys and let them compete and see what happens. We want to create competition, as we've always done, create as much competition as we can at every spot, and there is no spot that doesn't need more competition.

This year's draft will start with only Round 1 and 2 on Saturday, and with only 10 minutes between first-round picks and seven minutes between second-round picks. Previously, Rounds 1-3 were on Saturday, with 15 minutes between first-round picks and 10 minutes between second-rounders. On Sunday, Rounds 3-7 will take place. Thompson likes the new setup, especially after last year's first round took more time than any first round in history.

Q: How do you like the new quicker-paced draft early on?

A: I'm for it. I haven't been through it yet, so we'll see. That first round last year was a marathon, so I think it's probably better for all of us. It gives us plenty of time. There's some people that were concerned that you might not be able to do as many trades, things like that. I don't think that will have any effect at all. I wish it would start earlier in the day.

Even though he has never traded up in his history -- eight drafts, including his time in Seattle before taking over as Packers GM in 2005 -- Thompson said it may happen this year. Then again, it may not.

Q: What kind of player would it take for you to finally trade up instead of back?

A: A good one. I think we've tried at one time or another in probably every draft I've ever been involved in. But you have to have another team willing to make that trade at that particular time. It doesn't mean you're going after the same player. If they come back seven spots to our spot, you have to have a team that's willing to say, 'OK, we can do that.' Or maybe we didn't offer enough. But there's a price to be paid for giving up picks, obviously."

Q: With the roster deeper, do you think you could shoot for somebody specifically, whatever round it might be?

A: Sure. You betcha. We're not opposed to it. We almost need to move up just so we can put this conversation (to rest). But, no, it's certainly possible. But again, once you get going we'll see how it's working and how the board looks for us. If it looks a little desperate and there's one guy that we think addresses something really important in terms of his long-term value to the Packers and we just don't think he's going to make it to us, that's when you try to step on the accelerator.

Although he's had double-digit numbers of picks in his first three drafts -- 11 in 2005, 12 in 2006, 11 in 2007 -- Thompson has "only" eight picks this year, and if he doesn't trade back and accumulate more picks, that's fine with him, given the team's depth after three drafts.

Q: Is more picks always better because of the potential you might miss on a guy, so you have more chances?

A: We feel good that we have eight picks, so we go into the draft every year thinking that's probably what we're going to wind up with, and if something happens that we're able to get more, you know, if that happens and you feel good ... you can't just create more picks. It doesn't do you any good. You have to do it for a reason. You have to do it and (be able to) say, `I know I can still get this player, if we go back five spots, and then maybe with that extra pick that we're getting, I'm going to get Player A.' You actually have a plan. Now, it doesn't always work out that way, but you know, and if you don't get that other pick, then you're not going to get that other player. So there's a reason why you do it. It's not just to collect more picks. Now, obviously, the more picks you have, the greater your odds, and more player to make your team. So it's the chicken or the egg, you know?

Q: With better depth, is that less of a priority, though?

A: I think there's a danger of having diminishing returns on stuff like that.