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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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Feb 19, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson speaks at a press conference during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson speaks at a press conference during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Past two seasons ended run of flops

The recent first-round selections have been a mixed bag for the Packers. Who knows how well Derek Sherrod would have fared if not for a devastating injury? Nick Perry dealt with a number of injuries too, and Datone Jones failed to live up to expectations.

Selecting big guys early on hasn’t worked out well for Green Bay in recent years, but taking defensive backs has. Maybe Ted should just do this every year. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Damarious Randall have been game-changing selections for the Packers, making the secondary arguably the strongest unit on the entire roster.

Where will Thompson go in the first round this year? Recent history suggests it will be on defense, but 2015 was the first time in many years the offense has been outplayed by the defense. Perhaps this year the Packers flip the switch and focus on the offensive side of the ball. Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback, after all, and ensuring he has enough around him might be a priority.

Over the past five years, Thompson has struck out on one pick (Sherrod), hit a single with two (Perry, Jones) and nailed it out of the park with his most recent two (Clinton-Dix, Randall).

Grade: B-

Next: Five running backs Packers could target in draft

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