The selection of linebacker Jamie Sharper of Virginia made almost too much sense. To the Green Bay Packers, he made no sense.

After months of evaluating Sharper, the Packers' scouting and coaching departments concluded that even though Sharper fit their greatest need he wasn't the player for them.

According to general manager Ron Wolf, the Packers probably still would have taken Sharper if Iowa offensive lineman Ross Verba had been off the board. But when Verba remained available on the 30th pick the Packers showed little indecision in selecting him.

When the first round began 5 hours and 13 minutes earlier, Wolf said Verba was precisely the player that he expected to take.

"We had like three guys up there and we figured we'll get one of those three guys," Wolf said. "We missed badly on two of them. This was the other one."

Not taking Sharper, who went 34th to Baltimore, ruined the best chance the Packers had to fill their greatest need. Thus, they ended up taking just one linebacker -- Anthony Hicks of Arkansas in the fifth round.

So they face a new season with unrestricted free agent Wayne Simmons gone at buck linebacker and starting middle linebacker George Koonce expected to start the season on the physically unable to perform list.

Wolf seem undaunted.

"I realize we've got a tremendous hole here with Wayne Simmons," he said. "But we do have some athletes that can play the position. We're not comfortable with it because we're the defending champions but you've got to go somewhere."

The candidates at buck are Ron Cox, Lamont Hollinquest and Keith McKenzie. The candidates in the middle are Bernardo Harris and Hicks. Brian Williams returns at plugger, or weak-side backer.

"All these guys can run," Wolf said. "Somebody has to line up and play. You can't have all these players that make a lot of money."

Moreover, Wolf all but ruled out the possibility that the Packers would sign an experienced veteran off the street after June 1, as they did with Fred Strickland in 1994. He is confident that he has seven decent linebackers and isn't interested in the Band-Aid approach.

"I think we have a good mix there," coach Mike Holmgren said. "They're young guys. Let them play."

One of their three targeted players in round one was Miami defensive end Kenard Lang, but Wolf said he was "shocked" when Washington picked him at No. 17. Then, the other defensive end at Miami, Kenny Holmes, went 18th to Houston. Holmes was another player that interested Green Bay, as did Houston running back Antowain Smith. He went 23rd to Buffalo.

However, Wolf said he would have selected Verba not only over Lang and Holmes but also two other leading defensive ends, Notre Dame's Renaldo Wynn and Clemson's Trevor Pryce.

Sharper, 6-3 and 243 pounds, likely would have been the Packers' pick if Verba had been taken. The key reason that Verba wasn't taken by the Carolina Panthers with the 27th pick, according to Wolf, was the fact that Colorado wide receiver Rae Carruth slipped all the way to the Panthers.

"Probably Carolina would have taken Verba if Carruth had been gone," Wolf said. "We were really worried about that. Then New England (No. 29) would have taken Carruth."

The Packers likely would have drafted Carruth, but Wolf said he didn't make any attempt to trade up for him.

Virginia linebacker James Farrior was the one player that the Packers admired so much that they were willing to give up multiple picks. Farrior went eighth to the New York Jets.

"We tried to get up there but no one took us seriously," Wolf said.

The Packers also explored the possibility of moving up when Alabama linebacker Dwayne Rudd started to slip but didn't make much headway. Rudd went 20th to Minnesota.

"You make some ridiculous suggestions to some people just to see if they'll bite, and they don't bite," Wolf said. "It's very difficult to control yourself.

"I don't think anybody likes the idea of the tackle. Usually what you want is somebody that knocks somebody down or scores points. This isn't like a quote-unquote glamour pick. But as far as the organization is concerned it's a monumental pick for us."

Sharper fell out of the first round and all the way to Baltimore and the fourth choice of the second round.

"Very tempting," Wolf said. "Talking about that need thing, he was extremely tempting. But you have to understand that with the way free agency is today you have to protect yourself on the offensive line. I've always said that offensive line is the only position that if you don't have five you can't play."

Although Sharper started for 3 1/2 years at both inside and outside linebacker positions the Packers regarded him more as a middle or weak-side linebacker and they were most interested in acquiring a replacement for Simmons on the strong outside.

Scouts were up and down on Sharper. Those that didn't like him cited his inconsistent effort and questionable instincts. He has a high-waisted build, too, and some teams felt he would have trouble keeping blockers away from his lower body.

He was adequate playing over the tight end during Senior Bowl practices but struggled in the game.

"You're always tempted to take a player that you really and truly need," Wolf said. "But we said from the get-go that we would take the best player that fell to us.

"It may be a position that we're not necessarily stressing or we don't quote need. However, when (Verba) came to us we just could not pass him up."

Wolf didn't have to twist any arms or convince others in the organization that taking an offensive lineman in the first round for the third time in four years was the proper course to follow.

Nevertheless, the Packers did use 12 of their allotted 15 minutes before turning in the card with Verba's name.

"We just wanted to see if we'd stir up somebody," Wolf said. "We had a few phone calls to get through. But no one wanted that pick."

The Packers, said Wolf, had "absolutely no interest" in such players as defensive end Jason Taylor of Akron and Indiana's Nathan Davis.

As for Columbia defensive end Marcellus Wiley, a phenomenal physical specimen who lasted until the 52nd pick, Wolf said, "We studied him carefully. Too high for us."

Green Bay didn't give consideration to two running backs, Washington's Corey Dillon or Texas Tech's Byron Hanspard, or to three defensive backs: West Virginia's Mike Logan, Louisville's Sam Madison and Clemson's Dexter McCleon.

The Packers regarded Colorado's Greg Jones, an undersized defensive end whom some clubs projected to outside linebacker, as little more than a situation pass rusher.

And ultimately, they decided that Verba had better athleticism and versatility than another tackle/guard, Wisconsin's Jerry Wunsch.

So they fought off the temptation as Super Bowl champion to make a risky pick and went with possibly a low-risk performer. Ron Hallstrom, another Iowa guard, started at guard for the Packers from 1984-92.

ROUND-BY-ROUND ANALYSIS

Round 1/30 -- Ross Verba, T-G, Iowa

Green Bay ranked Verba as its third-best offensive lineman behind Orlando Pace and Walter Jones. He started for three years at left tackle but the Packers feel he can play all five positions. Wolf is petrified about fielding a lousy offensive line and what it could do to Brett Favre's career. Verba is a good athlete with average strength but lots of savvy and intelligence. Wolf compared him to John Fina plus 20 pounds. He will begin his career at left tackle behind John Michels, but if Michels doesn't show more than he did as a rookie, Verba could start. If Michels emerges, then look for Verba to unseat right guard Adam Timmerman.

Round 2/60 -- Darren Sharper, FS, William & Mary

Division I-AA free safety with 24 career interceptions. Also a solid punt returner. He was picked to apprentice for a year under Eugene Robinson, who turns 34 next month, and perhaps to win the punt-return job vacated by Desmond Howard. Sharper has ideal size (6-1 1/2, 204) and terrific ability to run a secondary. What he doesn't have is better than average speed or hitting ability. With no youthful safety on the roster this was a move by a good team to build for the future.

Round 3/90 -- Brett Conway, K, Penn State

After failing to reach agreement with eight-year kicker Chris Jacke on the morning of the draft, the Packers said sayonara to their senior-most player by taking Conway. Jacke is four points short of breaking Don Hutson's club scoring record of 823, set in 1945. The Packers viewed Jacke, 31, as a descending player who didn't kick off and was rather selfish in his approach. Wolf compared Conway to a young Jason Elam. He will relieve punter Craig Hentrich on kickoffs and be handed the field-goal job on a platter. Holmgren said he wouldn't have made the move if he didn't have confidence in the kid. He becomes the seventh kicker to be drafted in the first three rounds since 1987. The last one, the Rams' Steve McLaughlin, bombed out after eight games. Yikes.

Round 4/126 -- Jermaine Smith, DT, Georgia

There was no need here, considering they have Gilbert Brown, Santana Dotson, Darius Holland and Bob Kuberski. But the Packers liked him so much they couldn't stop themselves. "Exceptionally quick," Wolf said. "Great motor. Really has movement skills." Was the eighth defensive tackle picked. Scouts questioned his awareness and ability to execute assignments. Defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur believes he has good power pass rush moves now and the agility to become even better. If the guy can handle the mental aspect it might be an interesting pick. Over-aged at 25.

Round 5/160 -- Anthony Hicks, MLB, Arkansas

Only started one year for Razorbacks but Wolf said he wouldn't have taken another middle linebacker ahead of him. Six were drafted earlier. Has had knee problems since junior high but the Packers' medical staff cleared him on a pre-draft visit to Green Bay. "He plays like we coach our guys to play," Shurmur said. "He's what we call a downhill guy, attacking the line of scrimmage all the time. And he's got great feel for the passing game." Given the paucity of inside backers, if Hicks is as good as Wolf thinks he is, this could turn out to be a magnificent pick in an acute area of need.

Round 7/213 -- Chris Miller, WR, USC

Junior-college player who started after his cousin, Keyshawn Johnson, left the Trojans. Dropped too many passes but he can run. After a desultory 4.56 effort at the combine, he ran 4.4 for the Packers. "Speed -- that's what we like about him," Wolf said. "Very explosive. Tough guy. He doesn't catch the ball that well all the time." More of a camp guy than anything else.

Round 7/231 -- Jerald Sowell, FB, Tulane

Four-year starter at both fullback and tailback. Some teams regarded him as the top fullback in the draft but nobody thought much of him as a blocker. That's why he crashed through the draft after having had hopes of a third-round finish. "I think a lot of people think of him as a big single back," Wolf said. "He's kind of like a tweener. We're going to try to make a fullback out of him. Highly intelligent. If he doesn't want to (block) then he'll have a hard time playing for us. We've got enough halfbacks." Worth a shot at this stage.

Round 7/240 -- Ronnie McAda, QB, Army

Eleventh and last quarterback taken. Three-year starter in wishbone/option offenses who threw just 323 passes in his career. But after scrutinizing every pass he threw in the last two years, Holmgren became convinced that he had the talent to be worth teaching. "The footwork, the velocity, the accuracy ... it's quite intriguing to watch," Wolf said. "We think the guy has a chance. If he can, fine. If he can't, we blew it." Will try to get out early from a two-year service commitment. Will attend Mr. Irrelevant ceremonies (last player selected in the draft) in Newport Beach, Calif., if he can land permission from his superiors. Seems like nothing more than a pipe dream pick.