GREEN BAY, Wis. — B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews, a pair of big-school seniors who play the money positions in the 3-4 defense, gave the Green Bay Packers a shot of optimism Saturday in their difficult conversion from the 4-3.

The Packers selected Raji, the Boston College nose tackle, ahead of two offensive players with comparable grades and then boldly traded up late in the first round for outside linebacker Clay Matthews of Southern California.

Suddenly, a defensive front seven that appeared to lack several legitimate starters now has been reinforced with two talented players born to play the 3-4.

"We added a couple of good players that should help our group," general manager Ted Thompson said. "Again, our success is going to rest on our veterans."

If Raji, 6 feet 2 and 337 pounds, doesn't start immediately ahead of 340-pound Ryan Pickett, he will spell him on base downs and be an immediate fixture inside in passing situations.

Matthews (6-3, 245) immediately became the front-runner to start at either left or right outside linebacker, where Aaron Kampman, Jeremy Thompson and others will be trying to stand up after years of playing with their hand down.

"You really have to have that center cog, that nose who will be the beat in the middle and who will command the double team," outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene said. "The 3-4 defense also relies on the two outside linebackers to make things happen."

Raji, the No. 9 pick, became the NFL's highest-drafted nose tackle since Tony Casillas went No. 2 some 23 years ago. Baltimore's Haloti Ngata (6-4, 339), Pittsburgh's Casey Hampton (6-1, 321) and New England's Vince Wilfork (6-1, 323), the top nose tackles in the league, were drafted 12th, 19th and 21st, respectively.

"He's genuinely a powerful, powerful man, especially in his lower body," Thompson said. "The good Lord just didn't make many people like this."

What the Packers are hoping is that Raji can provide more interior pass rush than the premier nose tackles. Some personnel people have compared Raji's explosiveness to Warren Sapp, and Thompson said there are flashes in which Raji did rush like Sapp.

"He has, and he does," said Thompson. "He's not a one-dimensional guy, but this guy is a lot bigger person than Warren."

Sapp entered the NFL in 1995 weighing 280 pounds but during his best years he was in the 315-pound range. He finished with 96 › sacks in 13 seasons and a good share of his pressure came on tackle-end stunts.

"When you watch Raji he is not necessarily just a guy who eats up space," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. "I think he is a guy who can stunt and move things, which is rare for a guy of his size."

With Cullen Jenkins coming off injured reserve, the Packers could have a vastly improved inside rush in nickel situations with him and Raji.

Raji, however, has three issues that could affect his career and will have to be watched closely by the Packers

Personnel men from eight teams told the Journal Sentinel this month that Raji tested positive for marijuana in college. Two scouts said Raji told them during interviews at the combine that he used the illegal drug frequently.

When asked if Raji's marijuana usage made him hard to draft, Thompson replied, "I'm not going to comment on that other than to say we're comfortable with the character."

Because the positive test occurred during college, Raji will not begin his NFL career in the drug program. Players testing positive at the scouting combine become step-one in the program.

Raji also had to sit out his entire junior season (2007) because of problems with his academic affairs. Some scouts have attributed that to an on-going pattern of laziness, but Thompson gave Raji a pass.

"We looked into that, too," he said. "He was taking the advice of the school counselor, and she didn't have enough credits or it was the wrong class or something like that. It wasn't a willing fault on his part."

Raji also has fought the battle of the bulge for years, and his weight tends to fluctuate.

"He's a big man but he's big all over," Thompson said. "Yeah, with all linemen, we monitor weights. We don't anticipate that there will be a problem."

Sam Seale, the Packers' scout on the West Coast, watched Matthews excel on special teams for three seasons before he got the chance to start in 2009. He says Matthews can play inside or outside in a 3-4 and might one day weigh as much as 270 to 280 pounds.

"The more you watched him the more natural he looks as a player," Thompson said. "He's always on his feet. He has great hips and balance. He can use his hands effectively against offensive linemen and running backs. He can run. He can move in space. He plays the game remarkable."

Matthews ranked fourth-best among linebackers in a Journal Sentinel poll of 20 scouts. When the group was asked to identify the best pass rusher in the draft regardless of position, Matthews tied for fourth behind Aaron Maybin, Brian Orakpo and Robert Ayers.

"He's got the ability to extend his hands and leverage against offensive linemen," said Thompson. "He can stay on his feet in positions where most people wouldn't be able to stay on their feet. I just think he brings a lot to the table."

So does Greene, who evaluated Matthews as ready to stop the run and an excellent candidate to become a dangerous rusher.

"I have no doubt that he will be tough at the point of attack," said Greene. "I think he is a decent pass rusher. I have seen things on film that have led me to believe that he will be a physical pass rusher, which is what I want, not a finesse pass rusher. "

Although Matthews played safety in high school and impressed scouts with his pass coverage at pro day, Greene says he has a long way to go in coverage.

"He has to cover like a big strong safety," Greene said. "It is a large workload. But he is highly motivated . . . and I have no doubt that he will be gung-ho."

By scoring 27 on the Wonderlic intelligence test, Matthews tied Georgia Tech's Michael Johnson for the best score among the top 12 hybrids in the draft. Raji had 21, near average for the leading defensive tackles.