Ed's Draft Analysis from 2013-2017

Packer Draft Analysis

Ranking the drafts from 2013 to 2017 giving each draft 3 years time to produce or be graded. Each draft will be graded giving 3 points for a player who plays at Pro Bowl level / key component for the Packers. 2 points will be awarded for a starter of average ability and 1 point for a fringe NFL player and 0 for a bust.

2013 Draft - 8 points Ed’s Grade: B-

David Bahktari - 4th round pick (3 points)
Eddie Lacy - 2nd round pick (2 pts)
JC Tretter - 4th round (1 pt)
Datone Jones - 1st round (bust)
Micah Hyde - 5th round (2 pts)

Respectable draft in an All Pro LT, solid RB until he ate himself out of the league, good backup lineman, improper analysis of DB by Thompson, and a total first round bust in Jones. Last draft of any respectability but barely average if one solely relies on the draft.

2014 Draft - 8 points Ed’s Grade: C+

Davante Adams - 2nd round pick (3 points)
Corey Lindsey - 5th round pick (2 pts)
Ha Ha Clinton Dix - 1st round pick (2 pts)
Richard Rodgers - 3rd round pick (1 pt)

All pro WR in Adams and a very solid C in Lindsey who would be a very strong 2 pointer and Ha Ha like Jeff Spacoli barely squeaked by getting 2 points being a marginal starter in the NFL. Rodgers the TE had one hail mary catch and is out of football. Another so-so draft with many holes to be filled but Thompson always reluctant to get the supporting pieces for AR.

2015 Draft - 1 bleeping point Ed’s Grade: F

Ty Montgomery - 3rd round pick (1 point)

Best player Jake Ryan LB not even in the NFL. Montgomery is not even worthy of 1 point. Draft earned a John Blutarski 0.0 GPA. 1st and 2nd round CB picks of Randall and Rollins were garbage. Worst Thompson draft and the beginning of Rip Van Thompson asleep at the wheel.

2016 Draft - 7 points Ed’s Grade: C

Kenny Clark - 1st round (3 points)
Blake Martinez - 4th round (2 points)
Kyle Fackrell - 3rd round (1 pt)
Dean Lowry - 4th round (1 pt)


Kenny Clark saved this draft and Martinez was a slow, serviceable LB with glacial quickness. Fackrell had one good year and was non-existent in the other three. Traded 3 picks to move up in the draft to get Jason Spriggs who did nothing but be a bird shit target on the sidelines. Thompson gave up 2nd, 4th, and 7th round picks to move up 9 slots.

2017 Draft - 8 points Ed’s Grade: C

Aaron Jones - 5th round (3 points)
Kevin King - 2nd round (2 pts)
Montravius Adams - 3rd round (1 pt)
Jamaal Williams - 4th round (2 pts)

Terrible draft if it weren’t for Aaron Jones and having a real HC utilizing Jones’ skills properly. Williams is a solid RB and King is very injury prone. Adams is a rotational bust waiting to join the unemployment line. Thompson was brain dead trading down when TJ Watt was available to fill a gaping hole in the Packer defense. Josh Jones is a total bust at S where Ju Ju Shuster could have been drafted for a WR. 3rd round pick Adams is another waste that could have been replaced by another WR at Detroit in Golladay. Two WR and a LB, positions we are trying to fill today. I know the draft is an inexact science but I grade very severely when free agency is not used and all talent is procured via the draft. This draft left gaping holes in the Packer depth and forced Gutey to aggressively attack free agency last year.

Reviewing the last 5 drafts, it is just further proof that Aaron Rodgers carries this ball club. Over the past 5 years, the only 3 pointers were Bahktari, Davante Adams, Kenny Clark, and Aaron Jones with Clark being the only 1st round pick; a very poor indictment for a GM who lives and dies by the draft.

Too early to rate Gutey’s draft but it appears the 2018 draft Jaire Alexander CB and JK Scott P might be the only starters out of this questionable draft after his first round pick. The 2019 draft is a crapshoot based on how Rashan Gary develops. Is he a stud or a bust? Savage looks like a solid starter at S and Elgton Jenkins G stepped in like a solid starter. If Sternberger TE steps into the starting role and Gary plays like a first rounder, this will be a strong draft. Way to early to grade but it has possibilities.

Only 11 days until the draft!! C'mon Rick, get in football mode my friend!!!

Love your analysis Ed, that 2015 draft looked sooooooo good on paper, unfortunately the guys pickes played like they were made of that paper.

Why So Serious? wrote:

Love your analysis Ed, that 2015 draft looked sooooooo good on paper, unfortunately the guys pickes played like they were made of that paper.

Thanks Rick! Like everybody else having to stay at home, I had some idle time and am a subscriber to the Athletic.  I can't recall the article but they were draft related regarding teams who have solid five year drafts would naturally perform well and have great odds in the Super Bowl.  Seattle, Baltimore, and more recent San Francisco were very strong in their drafts and were able to garner talent deep in the draft, which is usually a Green Bay trademark in the draft. I thought it would be interesting to see how we have done in the past 5 drafts 2013-2017 using the three year minimum for grading draft talent.  It only exposed our bare talent depth and the confirmation we are Aaron Rodgers with 52 others. A little sarcastic on my part but not far off which forced Gutey to be overly aggressive last year in the free agent market to shore up gaping holes.

Ironically Jake Ryan, who has been out since 2017 with injuries, is getting a tryout with the Baltimore Ravens for this season (source was on the crawl line watching ESPN a few days ago).

ANY DRAFT ANALYSIS COMING FROM WHY SO SERIOUS?

I think we can all agree that Ted was too often asleep at the switch the last few years and it showed on the field. Sadly that is what most of the fans will remember rather than the brilliance he showed prior to that. Sure he had his mistakes (Justin Harrell), but hew was arguable the best in the league prior to his last three.

Why So Serious? wrote:

I think we can all agree that Ted was too often asleep at the switch the last few years and it showed on the field.  Sadly that is what most of the fans will remember rather than the brilliance he showed prior to that.  Sure he had his mistakes (Justin Harrell), but hew was arguable the best in the league prior to his last three.

He was outstanding at finding offensive linemen and wide receivers in the middle of the draft. It just surprises me how he could never find a linebacker or cared to draft one, considering he was a linebacker himself for the Houston Oilers. He for the most part would stick to his BPA philosophy which usually tends to cut down on reaches. However, if that was the case I would have filled in the gaps with free agent pickups but not the kind that broke the bank.