According to Mike Vandermause:
1. Aaron Rodgers, QB (No. 24 overall pick in 2005)
Critics of Thompson say he got lucky when Rodgers fell into his lap after so many other teams passed on him. But it took guts to make the selection when Favre was still playing well. It didn’t help the Packers in the short term but set the table for their Super Bowl title nearly six years later and continues to keep them in playoff contention every year.
2. Clay Matthews, LB (No. 26 in 2009)
The normally conservative Thompson shocked the NFL world by trading a second-rounder and two third-rounders to New England to move into the first round to grab Matthews, who was perfectly suited for Dom Capers’ 3-4 defense. One of the third-rounders the Packers dealt had been acquired in the Favre trade with the New York Jets the year before. It was a bold and spectacular move by Thompson.
3. B.J. Raji, NT (No. 9 in 2009)
Raji has started every game he has played the past four seasons — 70 in all — and was a key piece in Capers’ defense on the Super Bowl-winning team in 2010. His pick-six against the Chicago Bears in the NFC title game was as big as it gets. Although Raji’s production fell off in 2013, the Packers brought him back for another year and plan to line him up over the center where he is most effective.
4. A.J. Hawk, LB (No. 5 in 2006)
Hawk doesn’t make the splash plays expected of such a high first-round pick and to some has been a disappointment. But he is reliable, assignment-sure and always available, playing in 137 of a possible 139 games in eight seasons with 133 starts. He had perhaps his best season in 2013 at age 29.
5. Bryan Bulaga, T (No. 23 in 2010)
He has missed the last year and a half with injuries, including a season-ending torn ACL suffered last August in the Family Night scrimmage. He was slated to be the Packers’ starting left tackle before the injury and assuming a full recovery will be a strong contender for the starting right tackle job.
6. Nick Perry, LB (No. 28 in 2012)
Injuries have sidetracked his first two seasons, with 17 games played and 11 starts. But the Packers haven’t given up on Perry, who might be suited for the new elephant position that will include lining up as an outside linebacker and defensive lineman.
7. Datone Jones, DE (No. 26 in 2013)
He made only a modest contribution as a rookie, with no starts and limited action in defensive subpackages. He showed flashes early in training camp but was never the same after injuring his ankle in August. He has the potential to move up the list.
8. Derek Sherrod, T (No. 32 in 2011)
Can he overcome the effects of a severely broken leg suffered as a rookie? Even before the injury, he couldn’t beat out Marshall Newhouse for a job at tackle, raising questions about his ability to rise above backup status.
9. Justin Harrell, DT (No. 16 in 2007)
This was Thompson’s low point in the draft room. Harrell was injury-prone and inconsistent coming out of Tennessee but Thompson picked him anyway. Lo and behold, Harrell didn’t change his ways in the pros. He never recorded a sack and started just two games in his failed NFL career.
