Green Bay Packers: 15 best first-round draft picks of all-time
By John Buhler
Best first-round draft picks in Green Bay Packers history: 14. Ron Kramer
Ron Kramer was an incredible collegiate player in the Big Ten for the Michigan Wolverines. He was a two-time All American for Big Blue back in the 1950s, starring for the Wolverines out on the edge on both sides of the ball. It made perfect sense for the Packers to take him with the No. 4 overall pick in the 1957 NFL Draft.
Kramer played seven of his 10 for the Packers from 1957 to 1964. After being used sparingly as a receiving threat during his first four years after being drafted, Kramer really came on as a consistent playmaker in his last four years with The Pack. From 1961 to 1963, Kramer might have been the best tight end in football.
He had all 15 of his touchdown grabs in Packers uniform during that three-year run. Kramer had at least 32 grabs for 537 yards from 1961 to 1964. In seven seasons with the Packers, Kramer had 170 catches for 2,594 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was part of the 1961 and 1962 NFL championship teams in Green Bay.
Kramer would play three more seasons with the division rival Detroit Lions before retiring after the 1967 season. His best year in Packers uniform occurred in 1962, when he had 37 catches for 555 yards and seven touchdowns. That would earn Kramer his only Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. He is a member of the Packers Hall of Fame.