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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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Jan 10, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Green Bay Packers inside linebacker Clay Matthews (52) and Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Nick Perry (53) sack Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during the second half in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Green Bay Packers inside linebacker Clay Matthews (52) and Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Nick Perry (53) sack Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during the second half in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

2012: OLB Nick Perry

When you draft a pass rusher in the first round, you expect consistent pressure on the quarterback with plenty of sacks. Unfortunately for Nick Perry, he’s never been able to live up to his day one selection.

Injuries have played a key part in this. Over his four-year career in Green Bay, he’s missed 18 of a possible 64 games and has been unable to complete a full 16-game season. Just like Sherrod the previous year, Perry’s rookie season was cut short by injury. After playing in just six games, he required wrist surgery and was placed on injured reserve. Recurring shoulder injuries have held him back; his biggest enemy has been his health.

When healthy, Perry has flashed potential of becoming the pass rusher the Packers hoped when they selected him in 2012. In the 2015 playoffs, he piled up 3.5 sacks in two games which tied the amount he recorded in the entire regular season.

After four seasons in Green Bay, the Packers haven’t given up on Perry. He hasn’t done enough to earn the mega-money second contract every player hopes for, instead a one-year prove-it contract worth up to $5 million.

Grade: C

Next: 2013

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