In Ted We Trust

If there’s anything Green Bay Packers fans have learned about the NFL Draft process, it’s to trust Ted Thompson.


It’s about more than just drafting guys like Aaron Rodgers, B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews in the first round. It’s been about excelling in the later rounds, where he’s picked up guys like James Jones (third round, 2007) Desmond Bishop (sixth round, 2007), Josh Sitton (fourth round, 2008), and T.J. Lang (fourth round, 2009).

He has also hit a home run on most of his second-round picks, drafting guys like Nick Collins in 2005, Greg Jennings in 2006, Jordy Nelson in 2008 and Randall Cobb in 2011. The jury is still out on the 2012 second-rounders, Jerel Worthy and Casey Hayward, but there’s a high likelihood that the two will be impact players for the Packers for years to come.

There have been a number of flops, like any team, with guys like Justin Harrell and Brian Brohm, but those picks have been few and far between. Green Bay’s success over Thompson’s tenure has led to late first-round picks, meaning more question marks.

The Packers aren’t afraid to pass on a pick if there isn’t the value in a player at that slot, choosing instead to stockpile picks later on in the draft. I see that as a likely scenario for the first round this season, but there is one player I’ve had my eye on that I think Green Bay could very well latch onto in the first round.

For more on my take, click here: http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2013/04/packers-draft-strategy-in-ted-we-trust/