The outrage started immediately with TT because he cut Rivera and Wahle along with Sharper. Then he drafted our next HOF quarterback when Favre was still toying with our emotions but hadn't yet broken our hearts. Rivera and Wahle amounted to two massive contracts and one pro bowl season combined after leaving Green Bay. Sharper had some good seasons but in terms of character issues is likely going to spend a good portion of his remaining years in prison for multiple rapes.
TT isn't a perfect GM. He makes unpopular moves that usually work out for the Packers - the ones that require a lack of emotion. What he doesn't do is make many moves that help the team, which further infuriates fans. He also hasn't been as good on drafting defense as offense.
He took the same tack with Wells, Colledge and EDS as with Rivera and Wahle.
With the exception of Jeff Saturday in for Wells, I can't say we lost anything with those most recent departures. Such as it is, Wells ended up missing about half of 2012/2013 combined with season-ending injuries in each year. He's been mostly healthy this year and is still playing under his $6 mil per year deal in St. Louis.
Colledge did not live up to his $5.5 mil per year in AZ and was released after 3 years with a $4.5 mil dead cap hit in favor of draftees. He's now playing with the post-Incognitogate Miami line on a one year $1.25 mil deal. Lang has been at least Colledge's Packer days equal.
EDS went to Tampa for $3.5 mil per year. Linsley is the better player, and a lot of bang for the buck for at least 4 years.
Sitton is relatively cheap for a Pro Bowl caliber OG that's gets on the field every week (2 missed starts in 5 1/2 seasons at the top of the depth chart) at $6 mil per year. Lang at under $4 mil per year is good value for a quality player who is also dependable (1 start missed in 4 years at the top of the depth chart). Lang's also one of those rare guys who seems to incrementally improve each season whereas most players in this league top out after year 2 in the starting lineup. Lang or Sitton might not make the field this week, but you get the sense they'll do whatever is in their power to play even if they're not 100%.
However you slice it (excepting the Saturday disappointment), Thompson has consistently gotten good value in the interior offensive line. The Packers approach of selecting college OTs who do not project to the position in the NFL for the interior line has been a winning formula even if you'll never see them grade any roads.