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

7. Eddie Lacy (Ray’s pick)

American football is a violent game and for running backs in the NFL, most specifically Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy, the violence seems to define his game.

While Lacy would rather run over tacklers as run around them, he’s proven one of the best things to have happened to the Packers in a long time.

But given the hits he takes and more importantly, the hits he gives out, we wonder how long he will be able to last in this violent game.

Well, if statistics are true to their message, Lacy has three prime years left in the league before he begins to hit the precipice, aka the “running back cliff,” when their production begins to decline and eventually drop significantly by the time they hit age 30.

Barring any significant injuries to Lacy, the Packers can expect that he will be at his peak through the 2016 season when he will be an unrestricted free agent.

That leaves Ted Thompson with some decisions to make and something that he must be considering now, if not at least having it in the back of his mind … do the Packers draft a running back this season to have a ready option in the event that the Packers don’t extend Lacy’s contract before then?

If Lacy loses the weight he is expected to shed and has a breakout year for the Packers he may just end up breaking the bank, as well.

Whether that’s with the Packers or another team is yet to be decided.

Should Lacy have a great 2016, he will also become one of the best draft picks by Ted Thompson over the past decade.

Next: No. 7 (Freddie's pick)