ESPN NFL

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- New Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers says he isn't sure if he helped influence others in the draft room into selecting B.J. Raji, but what he was able to stress to the rest of the staff was the importance of the nose tackle in the 3-4 defense.

"I think it's a very important position in the 3-4," Capers said. "To me, where everything starts on defense is your ability to stop the run. If you can't stop the run, then it's normally going to be a long day. Calling defenses and you can't stop the run, and it's always second-and-5, second-and-6, then it takes you out of a lot of your things you like to do.

"I don't know if I influenced it at all. After watching him workout at the combine, I felt that he was a rare guy. I liked his movements. When you watch him, he's not just necessarily a guy that just sits in there and eats up blocks. I think he's a guy that can stunt and move and do some of those things, which is rare for a guy that size."

While the Packers are excited about their first-round pick, the addition of Raji also gives the team more options in the overall rotation of defensive linemen, specifically with veteran defensive tackle Ryan Pickett.

"What this does is give us great flexibility," Capers said. "I think Ryan Pickett can plan any one of the three positions [along the defensive line], just like I think Raji can play any one of the three positions. In my mind, nothing makes you better than competition at a position and so I think we created a real competitive situation. I'm excited about having him, and I'm also excited about Ryan Pickett being able to play more than one position."

Brett Longdin is an ESPN.com blog editor based in Wisconsin.