Packers listed among NFL's elite due to recent draft success
The Green Bay Packers have been able to sustain a winning level of football for the better part of a decade due to a fantastic history in the draft. The Packers have done well to take advantage of their first-round picks since the 2014 NFL Draft. In fact, Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson lists Green […]
The Green Bay Packers have been able to sustain a winning level of football for the better part of a decade due to a fantastic history in the draft.
The Packers have done well to take advantage of their first-round picks since the 2014 NFL Draft. In fact, Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson lists Green Bay as one of the NFL’s best teams in the first round since 2014.
Let’s take a look at the Packers’ first-round picks in that time frame:
2014: S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
2015: CB Damarious Randall
2016: DT Kenny Clark
2018: CB Jaire Alexander
2019: OLB Rashan Gary
2019: CB Darnell Savage Jr.
2020: QB Jordan Love
2021 CB Eric Stokes
2022: LB Quay Walker
2022: DT Devonte Wyatt
Notice a trend?
Nine of the Packers’ last 10 first-round picks have been used on a defensive player. An d just about every player has played a significant role on Green Bay’s defense at some time or another.
The only exception is QB Jordan Love. Backing up Aaron Rodgers for the last two season, Love is set to enter his first season as the full-time starter. He certainly has big shoes to fill, but the Packers’ young defense has the ability to keep the offense in the game even on a bad day.
In order to survive life after Rodgers and return to a true contender in the NFC, Green Bay must continue churning out top talent in the first round. The draft process is inherently imperfect, but Green Bay has had as much success as a team can dream of in recent years.