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Green Bay Packers: Top five draft classes under Ted Thompson

By Freddie Boston

Dec 28, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 28, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: 2005

1 Aaron Rodgers, QB, California
2 Nick Collins, FS, Bethune-Cookman
2 Terrance Muprhy, WR, Texas A&M
4 Marvel Underwood, DB, South Diego State
4 Brady Poppinga, LB, Brigham Young
5 Junius Coston, C North Carolina A&T
5 Mike Hawkins, DB, Oklahoma
6 Mike Montgomery, DT, Texas A&M
6 Craig Bragg, WR, UCLA
7 Kurt Campbell, CB, Albany State (NY)
7 Will Whitticker, G, Michigan State

When your first two picks are Aaron Rodgers and Nick Collins, you can just end the class there. Thompson’s next nine picks could have been the Monopoly man, Ronald McDonald and Jay Cutler for all I care.

Rodgers — Thompson’s first ever pick in Green Bay — has of course gone onto win two league MVPs, a Super Bowl MVP and is arguably the best quarterback in football right now. He was afforded three years to sit on the bench and develop his game behind Brett Favre, but the wait was well worth it.

Nick Collins was a playmaker in the secondary and was a major reason why the Packers won a Super Bowl in 2010. His pick-six to put the team up 14-0 in the big game was crucial to the team hoisting its fourth Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.

Next: Green Bay Packers: Top 30 moments in franchise history

Collins piled up 21 interceptions and 67 pass defenses in six years before suffering a career-ending neck injury just as Jermichael Finley did. This doesn’t take anything away from what was a wonderful career, and a dream debut class for Thompson.

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