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Green Bay Packers: Grading past five first-round draft selections

By Freddie Boston

Dec 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Green Bay Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (21) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Packers 38-8. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Green Bay Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (21) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Packers 38-8. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 20, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Perry (53) tackles Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) after a short gain in the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Perry (53) tackles Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) after a short gain in the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

Looking back over the past five years, how have the Green Bay Packers’ first-round picks turned out?

It’s tough picking at the bottom of the first-round each season, but after making seven consecutive playoff appearances this is the regular destination for the Green Bay Packers in April’s marquee event. Yet for a draft-and-develop team, getting it right is crucial in the development of a roster.

Packers general manager Ted Thompson prides himself on being one of the league’s best drafters, and he’s hit on a number of picks in recent years. Getting it right in the first round is crucial to find early starters in the league.

What’s interesting to note is that the Packers’ past four first-round selections have been on defense. You have to go back to 2011 for the last time Green Bay used their first pick on an offensive player — it was tackle Derek Sherrod. Is this simply because the best player available was a defensive player, or was Thompson focusing on fixing the weakest area of the team?

Let’s take a look over the Packers’ past five draft classes and determine which first-round selections were hits and which were misses.

Next: 2011

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