Green Bay Packers: Ted Thompson’s best draft pick of all time
To the surprise of nobody, Aaron Rodgers is Ted Thompson’s best selection as Green Bay Packers general manager.
If you’ve come this far into these rankings and are surprised to hear Aaron Rodgers’ name, I assume you’ve never watched the Packers play. Or maybe you’re just a huge Jeff Janis fan. And he’s the GOAT.
We’re counting down Ted Thompson’s top 30 draft picks as general manager of the Green Bay Packers. You can find Ray Rivard’s list here, or follow along with mine at the bottom of this page.
No. 1 (Freddie’s list): Aaron Rodgers, California
The idea of the NFL Draft is to give the weaker teams the advantage. If a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback is on the board, he shouldn’t last beyond the first few picks.
But Aaron Rodgers fell. And fell. Ted Thompson, selecting with the 24th overall pick, his very first pick as general manager, knew what to do. The loss of 23 other teams was the Packers’ gain. It’s almost unfair; the Packers added a superstar quarterback to a roster that already boasted Hall-of-Famer Brett Favre.
And those 23 other teams continue to regret their decision each and every day. Rodgers might not just be the most gifted quarterback currently in the NFL, but potentially ever. Few in history have been able to throw with the precision he does in the pocket, scramble outside, extend plays, throw on the move and create plays with his legs quite like Rodgers.
Rodgers can hit his target from unconventional platforms, whether his feet are set or even in the air. It doesn’t matter if he’s falling to the ground while he throws: Rodgers will still throw a successful Hail Mary.
The results speak for themselves. Two times a league MVP, one time a Super Bowl MVP. He’s a six-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro and boasts a handful of NFL records, including an all-time best career passer rating of 104.1. His touchdown-to-pick six ratio is a staggering 297-1, better than anybody else. He’s only thrown a single pick-six in his entire career.
Whether you believe wins are a quarterback statistic or not, there’s no denying Rodgers is solely responsible for the Packers making it to the playoffs eight years in a row. Only Tom Brady’s Patriots can say the same.
There’s no quarterback on the planet like Aaron Rodgers, and he’s without a doubt Ted Thompson’s best selection. And he just so happens to be his first, too.
Ted Thompson’s Top 30 draft picks
1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Jordy Nelson
3. Clay Matthews
4. David Bakhtiari
5. Mike Daniels
6. Josh Sitton
7. T.J. Lang
8. Greg Jennings
9. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
10. Bryan Bulaga
11. Corey Linsley
12. Morgan Burnett
13. Mason Crosby
14. Nick Collins
15. James Jones
16. Ty Montgomery
17. Davante Adams
18. Casey Hayward
19. Randall Cobb
20. Micah Hyde
21. Nick Perry
22. James Starks
23. A.J. Hawk
24. Jermichael Finley
25. B.J. Raji
26. Eddie Lacy
27. JC Tretter
28. Kenny Clark
29. Davon House
30. Jake Ryan
Next: Top 30 moments in Green Bay Packers history
Follow along with all of Lombardi Ave’s coverage of the Green Bay Packers during the 2017 NFL Draft, head over to our draft hub.