GREEN BAY — From when Saturday's NFL draft kicks off with the Miami Dolphins officially selecting signed-sealed-delivered No. 1 overall pick Jake Long to when the Green Bay Packers finally go on the clock 29 selections later, a lot of players who would've looked good in green-and-gold will be gone.

Picking at No. 30 marks the lowest the Packers have picked in the first round since taking Iowa offensive lineman Ross Verba 30th in 1997, the year after winning Super Bowl XXXI. In his first three drafts in Green Bay, general manager Ted Thompson's first-round pick has been at No. 24 (California quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2005), No. 5 (Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk in '06) and No. 16 (Tennessee defensive tackle Justin Harrell last year).

"History tells you that every time you pick, no matter where you're at, there's a good player to take,'' Thompson said. "Now, the margin of error is less when you're picking at the end of the round, every round. But if we do our job, I think we'll be able to pick a good player."

It'll just be awhile. Even though commissioner Roger Goodell changed the format for this year's draft to speed the process (Saturday's festivities start at 2 p.m. and include only the first two rounds, while the third through seventh rounds will kick off Sunday at 9 a.m.) and the time between picks has been reduced (from 15 minutes to 10 minutes in the first round and from 10 minutes to seven minutes in the second), the Packers still will be doing plenty of waiting.

After their first-rounder, the Packers are slated to pick in the second round at No. 56, which is the pick they received from Cleveland for franchise-tagged defensive tackle Corey Williams, and at No. 60, their own second-round pick. Green Bay has five more picks Sunday.

Let's make a deal

The first-round picks the Packers are most often linked to in mock drafts are Virginia Tech cornerback Brandon Flowers, Arizona cornerback Antoine Cason, Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm, USC offensive tackle Sam Baker, Purdue tight end Dustin Keller, Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo, Miami (Fla.) safety Kenny Phillips and USC tight end Fred Davis.

(Of course, last year, only two mock drafters, NFL.com's Pat Kirwan and CBS Sportsline.com's Pete Prisco, correctly predicted the Packers would draft Harrell.)

Then again, the Packers might not draft in Round 1 at all if a quarterback-desperate team calls Thompson about a trade. After all, Thompson has executed 14 trades during his eight drafts — five with Seattle and three with the Packers — and all 14 deals were to move backward. He has never traded up, although with a deeper roster after a 13-3 season and a berth in the NFC Championship Game, this could be the year Thompson targets a specific player and goes up and gets him.

"We could move up. We're not opposed to it. We almost need to move up just so we can put this conversation (to rest)," Thompson said. "It always depends on how strong the board is. We've felt the past couple of years that the board had good strength and depth and we've felt comfortable (to stay) where we were and pick."

Or move back, although Thompson admitted the roster's improved depth makes accumulating extra picks less of a priority this year.

"There's a danger of having diminishing returns on (stockpiling picks)," Thompson said. "We'll see 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."

Quarterback quandary

There's also the quarterback question. While the Packers are committed to Rodgers as their starter, they have yet to find a backup. Daunte Culpepper came in for a visit earlier this week, and Thompson could use one of his eight picks on a young quarterback. As for another possibility, what about a draft-day trade for Tampa Bay's Chris Simms?

A 2003 third-round pick who went 7-8 as a starter for the Buccaneers, Simms, 27, hasn't played in a regular-season game since a September 2006 splenectomy. But with the Bucs already employing Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese, Luke McCown and Bruce Gradkowski, and Simms healthy but not participating in the team's offseason program, he could be an option.

If the Packers don't trade for Simms, sign Culpepper or use a high pick on a quarterback, there are some interesting prospects who figure to go on Day 2, including San Diego's Josh Johnson and San Diego State's Kevin O'Connell, who visited the team for a private pre-draft workout.

Asked if the Packers would take a quarterback in the draft, Thompson replied, "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."

First round just the beginning

While the first-round pick gets all the attention, it's in the later rounds where Thompson and his staff need to be at their best.

"Your first three picks, everybody thinks those guys have to come in and contribute (immediately) in some kind of way. You might even get a couple of starters out of those three picks," said Jerry Reese, GM for the Super Bowl champion New York Giants. "But on the back side of your draft, (that's where) we always talk about, 'This is where we really make our money. We have to get some diamonds out of the rough on the back side.'''

Which is what makes Thompson's second-day picks — a third (No. 91), two fourths (No. 128 and 135), a fifth (No. 162) and a seventh (No. 237) — just as important as today's picks. It's just that Saturday's picks generate more buzz.

"A draft is a long-term investment for the organization," Thompson said. "Especially (with) the early-round picks, if you take a lesser player, (if) 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 (where you have a need), I think that's a mistake."

PACKER POSSIBILITIES

Ten players who could be available to the Packers at No. 30 in the first round of Saturday's NFL draft:

Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona (6-foot 1⁄4, 191 pounds, 4.54 seconds in the 40-yard dash): Comes from NFL bloodlines (father Wendell played for the Atlanta Falcons, cousins Aveion Cason and Ken-Yon Rambo both played in the league, too) and has good strength and technique in press coverage. Had five INTs last year, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

Sam Baker, LT, USC (6-4 5⁄8, 309, 5.02): Son of Arena Football League commissioner is an athletic, effective pass blocker (one sack allowed in college career) who was a three-time all-American. Didn't work out at scouting combine because of a sprained knee, but Packers GM Ted Thompson was at his pro day in Los Angeles.

Dustin Keller, Purdue (6-2, 242, 4.57): Athletic, competitive player who caught 68 passes for 881 yards and seven TDs last season. Strong scouting combine performance may force teams to overlook lack of ideal size.

Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville (6-2 7⁄8, 230, 4.85): Experienced player who threw for 4,024 yards and 30 TDs as a senior but has had durability issues that could dog him at the NFL level because of limited mobility.

Fred Davis, USC (6-3, 255, 4.65): Had almost identical numbers to Keller (62-881-8) and won the Mackey Award for top TE in the nation.

Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee (6-1 1⁄4, 242, 4.58): Started 14 games as a junior last season, recording 140 tackles, 1 1⁄2 sacks and one interception. Powerful tackler whose past knee problems create durability concern.

Kenny Phillips, S, Miami, Fla. (6-2 1⁄4, 212, 4.52): Junior who's rated as the top safety in the draft and is the latest in a long line of Hurricanes safeties. Had 82 tackles, two interceptions and three forced fumbles last season, when he showed solid tackling and good ball skills but some questionable instincts.

Brandon Flowers, CB Virginia Tech (5-9 3⁄4, 189, 4.57): Physical player and willing tackler who lacks height and doesn't appear to be a good fit for a man-to-man scheme but could excel in Cover-2 defense. Popular mock draft pick among draftniks.

Martellus Bennett, Texas A&M (6-6 1⁄8, 259, 4.72): Former basketball player who has terrific size and athleticism but lacks top-end speed.

Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College (6-6 3⁄8, 314, 5.19): Has long arms, big hands and excellent run-blocking skills. Can play on either side, although had some problems moving from right to left for final season.