Third round of draft has been disaster for Packers in recent years
The Green Bay Packers just can’t get any luck in the third round of the NFL Draft.
Brian Gutekunst is yet to make a good third-round pick, but the Green Bay Packers‘ poor luck in this round started well before he became the general manager.
You have to go all the way back to 2010 to find the last time the Packers made a great third-round choice, when they picked safety Morgan Burnett.
Burnett made 102 starts for the Packers, making 44 pass defenses and nine interceptions.
Since then, the third round hasn’t been kind to the Packers. Here’s every pick they’ve made in the third round since Burnett:
2022: OL Sean Rhyan
Too early to decide whether this was a good pick, but Rhyan has played only one snap so far in his rookie season, which came on special teams.
2021: WR Amari Rodgers
Made almost as many fumbles (seven) as receptions (eight). Released by the Packers midway through his second season.
2020: TE Josiah Deguara
Beginning to show promise as a blocker, so more snaps could come. But Deguara has been a backup his first three seasons, only making three starts.
2019: TE Jace Sternberger
Made just 12 catches in two seasons before being released by the Packers shortly into year three.
2018: ILB Oren Burks
Burks became a core special teams player in Green Bay but never found a role on defense. He wasn’t re-signed at the end of his rookie contract.
2017: DT Montravius Adams
Played in 45 games for Green Bay, but with only three starts. Adams was a backup and rarely made an impact on defense.
2016: EDGE Kyler Fackrell
Fackrell is best remembered for his 10.5-sack season in 2018, but he only had six sacks in his other three seasons with the Packers combined.
2015: WR Ty Montgomery
Montgomery didn’t get many opportunities at wide receiver but transitioned to running back after Green Bay lost Eddie Lacy and James Starks to injuries. Did OK as a running back with 457 yards and three touchdowns in 2016, but lost snaps to rookies Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams the following season.
Montgomery was traded after a costly fumble on a kick return against the Los Angeles Rams.
2014: DT Khyri Thornton
Didn’t play a single game for the Packers.
2014: TE Richard Rodgers
Perhaps Green Bay’s best third-round pick during this stretch. Rodgers was a solid starting tight end, but nothing more. Still, he made 120 catches for 1,166 yards and 13 touchdowns over four seasons, including a famous Hail Mary to beat the Detroit Lions in 2015.
2013: No third-round pick
2012: No third-round pick
2011: RB Alex Green
Only spent two seasons in Green Bay, rushing 138 times for 475 yards and no touchdowns.