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Ted Thompson: His last five Green Bay Packers drafts are defensive misery

By Raymond Rivard

Aug 28, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Green Bay Packers defensive end Datone Jones (95) against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Green Bay Packers defensive end Datone Jones (95) against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /

Packers 2013 defensive picks

In all, the Packers selected five defensive players out of the 11 selections they had that year.

Leading the way was Datone Jones, a defensive end out of UCLA who is a free agent this offseason. His play overall has been uneven as the Packers have toyed with him being a down lineman before turning him into an edge rusher this past season.

Whether Thompson spends money in free agency on Jones is yet to be decided. My guess at this point is that Green Bay lets him test the free agent market.

Micah Hyde, one of the Packers most underrated and versatile defensive backs drafted over the past five seasons, has been a diamond in the rough. He is a good football player with smarts and instincts that make up for his lack of overall speed. Like Daniels, he is one of the best defensive picks by Thompson over the course of the past several years.

Josh Boyd, a defensive end out of Mississippi State, stuck with the team for a while, but his value decreased as he found it difficult to make it to the field.

Nate Palmer, a linebacker out of Illinois State, took the route of Boyd and never helped the team much.

Sam Barrington, had he stayed healthy, could have been in the league of Daniels and Hyde. After one strong season, Barrington was injured and could never regain what he had as a younger player. The Packers cut him in training camp after his attempt to come back.

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