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

By Freddie Boston

Jan 16, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) against the Arizona Cardinals in the first quarter of a NFC Divisional round playoff game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) against the Arizona Cardinals in the first quarter of a NFC Divisional round playoff game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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9. Nick Collins (Freddie’s pick)

Ted Thompson’s very first selection as Green Bay Packers general manager was a quarterback named Aaron Rodgers out of California, and that turned out pretty well. Thompson swung for the fence again in the second round and hit it out of the park with Nick Collins, a safety from Bethune-Cookman.

Selecting a player out of a small school in the second round drew its expected criticism, but Thompson knew something many others didn’t. Collins would go onto three Pro Bowls and played a key role in the Packers’ Super Bowl success in 2010. Who can forget his pick-six in the Super Bowl to put Green Bay up 14-0?

Before suffering a career-ending neck injury early in the 2011 season, just months after the Super Bowl success, Collins had piled up 21 interceptions and 67 pass defenses over six years.

Collins’ career was cut short by injury, but he was undoubtedly one of the best members of the Packers’ roster throughout his time in Green Bay and is easily one Thompson’s very best draft picks.

The Packers have a very good pair of safeties currently on the roster in Morgan Burnett and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Now imagine you added in a healthy Collins in his prime.

Next: No. 8 (Ray's pick)

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