A. The article was about TT's skill in the draft, and had nothing to do with free agency or his overall ability as a GM. The "but he doesn't go after FA's" argument doesn't have any relevance in this context.

B. The "without Aaron Rodgers..." trope is a tired logical fallacy. If you take away every GM's best pick/franchise QB, they look a lot worse. Do you think Belichick gets to 5 superbowls without Brady? How many does SF win without Montana? We can play the what if game all day, but the truth is nobody knows.

Before I get the stock "But everyone knew Rodgers was going to be a HOF QB, it was an easy pick" rebutal, spare yourself the trouble. You know this is a logical fallacy as well. Had every team known Rodgers was going to be as good as he is, one of the 23 teams ahead of the Packers in the draft would have picked him. No team passes on a surefire franchise QB in the draft. So why wasn't Rodgers picked sooner? It's simple, with hindsight, of course the pick was obviously the right choice, but GMs across the league have to make educated guesses, they don't get the benefit of hindsight that armchair fantasy GM's
do while retrospectively grading drafts.

Originally Posted by: earthquake 

I will go Nostradamus for a minute...

When, or if, Ted Thompson ever does build a respectable defense it will be shouted from the rooftops here and elsewhere what a great drafter and GM he is. All the years of total failure will be completely unacknowledged. It will only be said...look at what Ted Thompson did. It won't matter that it took 5+ years.

Another aspect of Ted Thompson that goes under thought about is the fact that we don't bring guys in from other teams. So, our draft picks have to play. Who else is going to? So, if we put a bunch of middling talent draft choices on the field because that's one of the only means we use that validates him as a great drafter? Of course our roster is going to be filled with Ted Thompson draft choices it's about the only store he shops at. Does that mean he's a great drafter or is he just a guy who has little other choice due to his personal preferences?

Originally Posted by: uffda udfa 

That doesn't sound like a Nostradamus prediction at all, didn't he write in four line rhymes and crap like that.

You make a good point about Packer draftees who become regular contributors. If the only guys on your team are guys that you drafted and someone has to start it stands to reason that a fair share of your draftees are going to become regular contributors if not great players. Opposed to say bringing in an equal quality FA who takes the position instead of your draftee. A FA that plays solidly for you for 8 years adds to your prowess as a GM but does nothing for your draftness. It may even hurt if the FA ends up taking the roster spot of a draftee. A draftee that does the same will not only add to your overall GMness but it will improve your draftness. (I made up those new words just for this thread. Feel free to take them, use them and make them your own.)

As a possible refute of this claim I would suggest that you look at the number of Packers draftees that go on to become regular contributors elsewhere. I say possible refute because I do not have the time or the desire to go through and figure that out. It may not even turn out to be true, I'm just saying that if I wanted to refute this claim that is where I would start. Of course you would have to look at all the other teams draftees that went on to have solid careers with other teams and that if far beyond my ability or desire.

Originally Posted by: sschind 

Two good GM picks Bigby; But IMHO neither is as good as TT:

Ozzie-Is a great drafter and provides a nice 10 year comparative data base and ON is the only guy who surpasses Ted Thompson on Comp Picks. Balt’s average draft position is slightly lower than Pack; but it is negligible [about ½ spot per yr] and in the last 10 years each team has picked in front of the other 5 times.

Each drafted two studs: Ngata/Yanda to CM3/AR

But, last year Mosely’s pro bowl ended a 5 year drought for Ozzie, not one player from drafts 2009-2013 made one. Overall Qzzie’s picks have had 6 different players named to PB 17 times; Ted Thompson 9 players; 20 times. Ozzie has drafted 30 different guys that became primary starters for 97 seasons and Ted Thompson 34 for 98. [All #’s from Profootball-reference].

All in all pretty close! Despite the #’s, which I believe give Ted Thompson as light edge, if it’s eventually decided ON is the best and Ted Thompson is right there; then by definition Ted Thompson is “STELLAR!”

I have only one criticism of ON’s drafting and that is he doesn’t devalue a player enough over character risks. He obviously assumes Harbaugh and the vets will keep them in line.

Schneider, admittedly from 2010-2014 has overall drafted better than TT. BUT: (1) he’s been drafting much higher than Ted Thompson on average; and (2) JS left GB right before 2010 draft. 99.9% of JS’s knowledge of 2010 draftable players came from the work of Ted Thompson and his scouting dept. In 2011, probably 60-75% of JS’s knowledge of players came from GB and maybe 20-30% in 2012. Once we adjust for draft position and JS scouting players w/o TT’s help, it is clear Ted Thompson is the better drafter; though in fairness the sample size is small and we really don’t fully know how some of these guys drafted in 2013-14 will turn out.

I dont think JS will last long term like ON and TT. I could not believe he stated [trying to justify that insane trade to NO] that he only has 16 players ranked w/ a 1st round grade. It is stupid to reveal details of a drafter’s most prized possession [His Board]; this and other run of the mouth behaviors show JS has some serious psychological issues. Moreover, he’s a degenerate gambler GM like Baalke.

Originally Posted by: Barfarn