Packer drafts from the past.

[Packerlifer]

This year is the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the annual National Football League college player draft, dating to 1936. Here's a sampling of some of the Packers' past drafts.

One year ago: http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/nfl-draft-2015-packers/2015/4/30/8508261/2015-nfl-draft-green-bay-packers-draft-picks-trades-tracker


Five years ago: http://www.foxsports.com/wisconsin/story/green-bay-packers-nfl-draft-grade-grading-2011-randall-cobb-derek-sherrod-davon-house-041216


Ten years ago: http://packerstalk.com/2015/02/17/looking-back-at-the-2006-green-bay-packers-draft/


Twenty years ago: http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/green-bay-packers/draft/1996


Thirty years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_Green_Bay_Packers_season


Forty years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_Green_Bay_Packers_season


Fifty years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_Green_Bay_Packers_season#NFL_Draft


Sixty years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1956_Green_Bay_Packers_season


Seventy years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1946_Green_Bay_Packers_season


Eighty years ago: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/1936_draft.htm


All Packers' first round draft picks: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Green_Bay_Packers_first-round_draft_picks


The complete all-time list: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/draft.htm

 

[Packerlifer]

An eyewitness to history, Pat Peppler was the Packers' personnel man for Lombardi, Bengtson and Devine. This part of a series with him by Cliff Christl of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel before his death has some interesting stories to tell about the Packers' drafts from about 1964-72. The glory years and the gory years.

http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-cliffs-notes/article-1/Pat-Peppler-Part-III-The-Draft-Picks/91c090a4-d6ba-4af6-8949-4cd074ee14fe


http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/lofton-anderson-were-talented-co-picks-in-1978-packers-draft-b99483120z1-301126661.html

Vince Lombardi's approach to building a team in his first year: Quarterback and defense: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/164347756.html

Lombardi let a former Packers' first round qb selection get away during his first year. Things worked out all right but the Italian coach might have had an Italian quarterback running his team in the 1960's: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/230743201.html

Another first pick at qb that might have changed Packers' history: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/44402482.html.

 

[Packerlifer]

The best first round picks in Packers' history, by position:

QB: Aaron Rodgers-2005
RB: John Brockington-1971 (Paul Hornung was selected with the "bonus pick" in 1957, not the Packers' regular No. 1.)

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(Hon. mention: Tom Moore-1960, Donny Anderson-1965.) http://www.jsonline.com/packerinsider/moore-enjoyed-green-bay-titles-9u2u4ga-133657898.html
http://www.packers.com/news-and-eve...f-course/d9732842-bd95-45fe-885e-1ac2742d20e3
WR: James Lofton-1978, Sterling Sharpe-1988 http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d82a3ad50/Films-Encore-James-Lofton

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TE: Ron Kramer-1957 (Honorable mention: Rich McGeorge-1970, Bubba Franks-2000.)

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C: Clayton Tonnemaker-1950 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayton_Tonnemaker
G: Gale Gillingham- 1966 http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/128848353.html
T: Ken Ruettgers-1985 http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/ruettgers-helps-nfl-players-move-on-3m3e8r8-135805753.html

DE: Ezra Johnson & Mike Butler-1977, http://www.packers.com/news-and-eve...e-DE-duo/c82ea556-b107-4a65-a420-e165a41e1306 Vonnie Holliday-1998 http://www.packers.com/media-lounge...bring_it/b1468eb1-2657-45e6-b527-f3c7446db955
DT: Mike McCoy-1970, B.J. Raji-2009 http://www.jsonline.com/sports/pack...ckers-in-a-big-way-b99565911z1-324005711.html
OLB: Dave Robinson-1963, Clay Matthews-2009 (Honorable mention: Fred Carr-1968, John Anderson-1978, Tony Bennett-1990, Wayne Simmons-1993)
M/ILB: Nick Barnett-2003
CB: Herb Adderley-1961, Willie Buchanon-1972
S: HaHa Clinton Dix-2014

 

[PackerDNA]

That's an impressive job of research, Packerlifer.
They've done pretty well at OLB, heh?

 

[HardRightEdge]

The best first round picks in Packers' history, by position:

QB: Aaron Rodgers-2005
RB: John Brockington-1971 (Paul Hornung was selected with the "bonus pick" in 1957, not the Packers' regular No. 1.)

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WR: James Lofton-1978, Sterling Sharpe-1988
TE: Ron Kramer-1957 (Honorable mention: Rich McGeorge-1970, Bubba Franks-2000.)
C: Clayton Tonnemaker-1950 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayton_Tonnemaker
G: Gale Gillingham- 1966 http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/128848353.html
T: Ken Ruettgers-1985 http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/ruettgers-helps-nfl-players-move-on-3m3e8r8-135805753.html

DE: Ezra Johnson & Mike Butler-1977, Vonnie Holliday-1998
DT: Mike McCoy-1970, B.J. Raji-2009
OLB: Dave Robinson-1963, Clay Matthews-2009 (Honorable mention: Fred Carr-1968, John Anderson-1978, Tony Bennett-1990, Wayne Simmons-1993.)
M/ILB: Nick Barnett-2003
CB: Herb Adderley-1961, Willie Buchanon-1972
S: HaHa Clinton Dix-2014

You should add Cecil Isbell in 1938 at least as an honorable mention. It was a different game, but "quarterback" would be the best fit.

It's hard to think Barnett was the best ILB 1st round pick over 80 years, but that may be the case. There just were not many of them. Some things never change. I have enough of a distaste for Barnett's game, and enough respect for what Hawk did for the couple of years through 2010, to give Hawk the nod if not for the short period of good play. I'd be presumptively inclined to install Ragland before he took a snap.

Clinton-Dix after 2 seasons? I'd take Teague's 3 years instead, even if he did jump to Dallas in free agency. That may or may not be worth a revisit a couple years down the road.

 

[El Guapo]

Vince Lombardi's approach to building a team in his first year: Quarterback and defense: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/164347756.html

I liked this quote, "I've never been with a losing team in my life," said the confident Lombardi after he got the job, "and I don't think I'll start now."

 

[Packerlifer]

You should add Cecil Isbell in 1938 at least as an honorable mention. It was a different game, but "quarterback" would be the best fit.

It's hard to think Barnett was the best ILB 1st round pick over 80 years, but that may be the case. There just were not many of them. Some things never change. I have enough of a distaste for Barnett's game, and enough respect for what Hawk did for the couple of years through 2010, to give Hawk the nod if not for the short period of good play. I'd be presumptively inclined to install Ragland before he took a snap.

Clinton-Dix after 2 seasons? I'd take Teague's 3 years instead, even if he did jump to Dallas in free agency. That may or may not be worth a revisit a couple years down the road.

I had forgotten about Teague being a first round pick. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TeagGe20.htm

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ClinHa00.htm

Hawk wasn't originally drafted as a middle or inside linebacker so that's why I didn't put him there. That sort of leaves Barnett by default. Of course Herb Adderley was originally drafted as a running back and switched to cornerback almost accidentally so Hawk probably deserves a ranking as well.

 

[Curly Calhoun]

This year is the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the annual National Football League college player draft, dating to 1936. Here's a sampling of some of the Packers' past drafts.

One year ago: http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/nfl-draft-2015-packers/2015/4/30/8508261/2015-nfl-draft-green-bay-packers-draft-picks-trades-tracker


Five years ago: http://www.foxsports.com/wisconsin/story/green-bay-packers-nfl-draft-grade-grading-2011-randall-cobb-derek-sherrod-davon-house-041216


Ten years ago: http://packerstalk.com/2015/02/17/looking-back-at-the-2006-green-bay-packers-draft/


Twenty years ago: http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/green-bay-packers/draft/1996


Thirty years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_Green_Bay_Packers_season


Forty years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_Green_Bay_Packers_season


Fifty years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_Green_Bay_Packers_season#NFL_Draft


Sixty years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1956_Green_Bay_Packers_season


Seventy years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1946_Green_Bay_Packers_season


Eighty years ago: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/1936_draft.htm


All Packers' first round draft picks: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Green_Bay_Packers_first-round_draft_picks


The complete all-time list: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/draft.htm

That J.W. Wheeler from the 1936 draft really didn't work out well for the Pack. And we had such high hopes for him:

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http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=208798595

 

[Ace]

This year is the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the annual National Football League college player draft, dating to 1936. Here's a sampling of some of the Packers' past drafts.

One year ago: http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/nfl-draft-2015-packers/2015/4/30/8508261/2015-nfl-draft-green-bay-packers-draft-picks-trades-tracker


Five years ago: http://www.foxsports.com/wisconsin/story/green-bay-packers-nfl-draft-grade-grading-2011-randall-cobb-derek-sherrod-davon-house-041216


Ten years ago: http://packerstalk.com/2015/02/17/looking-back-at-the-2006-green-bay-packers-draft/


Twenty years ago: http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/green-bay-packers/draft/1996


Thirty years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_Green_Bay_Packers_season


Forty years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_Green_Bay_Packers_season


Fifty years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_Green_Bay_Packers_season#NFL_Draft


Sixty years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1956_Green_Bay_Packers_season


Seventy years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1946_Green_Bay_Packers_season


Eighty years ago: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/1936_draft.htm


All Packers' first round draft picks: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Green_Bay_Packers_first-round_draft_picks


The complete all-time list: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/draft.htm

Really really cool stuff, thanks for this!

 

[El Guapo]

I started wondering how many times the Packers have held the #1 pick in the draft. 1957 and 1959 were the only times. Several teams have never held the top pick, and we seem to be in the middle with the Colts and Rams (as of 2016) tied for seven #1 overall picks.

The Bears, Eagles, and Cardinals have never had the #1 pick:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_first_overall_National_Football_League_draft_picks

 

[Poppa San]

I started wondering how many times the Packers have held the #1 pick in the draft. 1957 and 1959 were the only times. Several teams have never held the top pick, and we seem to be in the middle with the Colts and Rams (as of 2016) tied for seven #1 overall picks.

The Bears, Eagles, and Cardinals have never had the #1 pick:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_first_overall_National_Football_League_draft_picks

Cardinals surprised me.

 

[JBlood]

An eyewitness to history, Pat Peppler was the Packers' personnel man for Lombardi, Bengtson and Devine. This part of a series with him by Cliff Christl of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel before his death has some interesting stories to tell about the Packers' drafts from about 1964-72. The glory years and the gory years.

http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-cliffs-notes/article-1/Pat-Peppler-Part-III-The-Draft-Picks/91c090a4-d6ba-4af6-8949-4cd074ee14fe


http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/lofton-anderson-were-talented-co-picks-in-1978-packers-draft-b99483120z1-301126661.html

Vince Lombardi's approach to building a team in his first year: Quarterback and defense: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/164347756.html

Lombardi let a former Packers' first round qb selection get away during his first year. Things worked out all right but the Italian coach might have had an Italian quarterback running his team in the 1960's: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/230743201.html

Another first pick at qb that might have changed Packers' history: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/44402482.html.

Great articles. Thanks for posting.

 

[Packerlifer]

The busts, duds, underachievers and hard-luck injury Packers' first rounders, by position:

QB: Don Horn-1967, Jerry Tagge-1972, Rich Campbell- 1981.

RB:Barty Smith-1974, Brent Fullwood-1987, Darrell Thompson-1990. (Hard luck injury cases: Jim Grabowski-1966, Eddie Lee Ivery-1979.)

WR: Larry Elkins-1965, Barry Smith-1973. https://packerperspective.com/tag/barry-smith/

C: Bob Hyland-1967. While not exactly a "bust" he didn't live up to the expectations of being Vince Lombardi's last top draft pick for the Packers.

G: Ron Hallstom-1982. Again, not a bust, actually a decent lineman he is still considered a first round reach by coach Bart Starr; especially considering other choices available at the time.

T: Tony Mandarich-1989. ( Mandarich belongs in a class by himself as a bust but there's also Jon Michels-1996 and Derek Sherrod-2011 to consider as well.)

DE: Jamal Reynolds-2001. WTH was Ron Wolf thinking? http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2011/4/12/2105740/top-10-draft-busts-since-1980-jamal-reynolds

DT: Rich Moore-1969, Bruce Clark-1980, Justin Harrell-2007.

CB: Antuan Edwards-1998, Ahmad Carroll- 2004. ( As an injury case Tim Lewis-1983)

 

[El Guapo]

WR: Larry Elkins-1965, Barry Smith-1973. https://packerperspective.com/tag/barry-smith/

That was a funny commentary on Barry Smith, although it seemed to be written in the style of a Chuck Norris bit.

 

[Packerlifer]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/po...out-knew-input-on-first-rounder-wasnt-welcome

 

[Packer Fan in SD]

The Bears, Eagles, and Cardinals have never had the #1 pick:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_first_overall_National_Football_League_draft_picks

While technically correct, from 1947 through 1958 the NFL had a lottery giving a random team a pick before the draft. In 1947 the Bears picked Bob Fennimore and in 1958 the Chicago Cardinals picked King Hill. The 1949 Eagles selected a guy some may have heard of with the lottery pick: Chuck Benarik, who went on to have an ok career.

I read an article this morning about the NFL lottery in the 40's and 50's so I was curious and wiki'd the years of the lottery.

 

[Packerlifer]

The best of Round Two, by position:

QB- Tobin Rote-1950 http://danielwyatt.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-often-overlooked-tobin-rote.html
RB- Eddie Lacy-2013
FB Jim Taylor - 1958
WR Greg Jennings-2006, Jordy Nelson-2008, Randall Cobb-2011, Billy Howton-1953 http://www.notinhalloffame.com/football/1190-50-billy-howton
OT- Forrest Gregg-1956, Chad Clifton-2000
K - Chester Marcol-1972
DT- Ron Kostelnik-1961 http://www.jsonline.com/sports/pack...ob-done-without-a-fuss-067m9fo-180282931.html
CB- Bob Jeter-1960
S - LeRoy Butler-1990, Nick Collins-2005, Tom Brown-1963

 

[Deleted member 6794]

The best of Round Two, by position:

WR Randall Cobb-2011, Billy Howton-1953 http://www.notinhalloffame.com/football/1190-50-billy-howton

With Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings being second round picks as well I have to respectfully disagree with your choice at receiver.

 

[Poppa San]

With Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings being second round picks as well I have to respectfully disagree with your choice at receiver.

I can agree with either of these over Cobb. Howton suffered from being on the worst stretch of teams in franchise history.

 

[jrock645]

I was talking to someone a couple days ago... Think if Sharpe hadn't gotten hurt and that 96 team had sharpe, Brooks and Freeman...Can you imagine?!?!

 

[PikeBadger]

I was talking to someone a couple days ago... Think if Sharpe hadn't gotten hurt and that 96 team had sharpe, Brooks me Freeman...Can you imagine?!?!

Brooks was drafted to replace Sharpe, wasn't he?

 

[Packerlifer]

Brooks was drafted to replace Sharpe, wasn't he?

No, he was already there when Sharpe went down.

 

[jrock645]

No, he was already there when Sharpe went down.

Correct. He actually mentions on his website when he was telling his story about being drafted by GB and that he wasn't happy about it. Besides being cold and them not being a good team, he didn't think he'd have a chance to shine with sharpe being there. Such a shame he had that ACL injury that pretty well derailed his career. Still one of my favorite Packers of all.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Correct. He actually mentions on his website when he was telling his story about being drafted by GB and that he wasn't happy about it. Besides being cold and them not being a good team, he didn't think he'd have a chance to shine with sharpe being there. Such a shame he had that ACL injury that pretty well derailed his career. Still one of my favorite Packers of all.

Brooks actually won the league's comeback player of the year award in 1997, catching 60 balls for 1,010 yards and seven touchdowns after tearing his ACL during the Packers Super Bowl season. He developed back problems afterwards though derailing his career.

 

[PikeBadger]

Brooks actually won the league's comeback of the year award in 1997, catching 60 balls for 1,010 yards and seven touchdowns after tearing his ACL during the Packers Super Bowl season. He developed back problems afterwards though derailing his career.

Brooks was fearless going across the middle and some of Favre's inaccurate passes got Brooks into vulnerable positions that imo shortened his career and ended Beebe's career. It goes with the territory of being an NFL receiver. Few have ever been as consistently accurate as Brady and Rodgers.