Green Bay Packers: Ted Thompson’s top 30 draft picks of all-time

11. Jermichael Finley (Freddie’s pick)

To fully appreciate Jermichael Finley’s important on offense for the Packers, you only have to look at how difficult it has been to replace him. Andrew Quarless was the next in line when Finley got hurt, and the Packers then brought in Richard Rodgers to be the future at the position.

Rodgers’ lack of speed and crisp route-running likely means he will always be a complementary tight end who is dangerous in the red zone as opposed to one who can stretch the middle of the field and regularly move the chains.

Finley could do all of that. The 6-foot-5, 247-pounder was one of Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets in an offense that is at its best when relying on tight ends to deliver in the passing game. Finley’s numbers don’t exactly set alight the stat sheets, but they don’t tell the full story.

His role on offense in the 2010 season was set to be a key one. He caught 21 passes for 301 yards and a touchdown in five games before suffering a knee injury that wiped out the remainder of his campaign.

Finley was a go-to target for Rodgers, and it’s only fitting the final play of his career was a tough catch made in traffic after No. 12 threw with pin-point accuracy into a tight window. It’s sad how his career ended, but Finley goes down as one of Thompson’s top draft picks.

Next: No. 10 (Ray's pick)