Green Bay Packers: Grading the 2015 rookie class

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Dec 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Damarious Randall (23) scores a touchdown after an interception against the Oakland Raiders during the first quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 1: CB Damarious Randall

During mock draft season last year, many of the top defensive tackles and inside linebackers were projected to the Packers. When free safety Damarious Randall was selected with the 30th overall pick, many Packers fans were left scratching their heads.

But Ted Thompson saw something in Randall that many other teams didn’t, and that was to move him to cornerback. Filling the void left by Tramon Williams and Davon House was never going to be easy, but Randall put together an excellent rookie season.

It didn’t take long for the Arizona State product to replace Casey Hayward as the starter outside opposite Sam Shields. This allowed Hayward to move back to the slot where he is at his best.

Randall led the team in interceptions with four (including postseason), and he made some huge plays along the way. Perhaps his best was the game-winning goal line stand against San Diego in Week 6. It was his interception in Carolina that gave the Packers a chance to pull off the comeback, and he also picked off Carson Palmer in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Randall is far from the finished product, but he surpassed expectations as a rookie and looks to be a future star.

Grade: A

Next: Quinten Rollins

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