Disclaimer: I like Ted Thompson and if you had to label me, I guess I would be a TT-lover. TT-haters gripe that Ted Thompson is never aggressive in free agency. TT-supporters argue that he believes in building through the draft and keeping our own free agents, a safer approach. People throw out the words draft guru, draft whizz, etc to support TT.

My question is whether Ted Thompson is as good at drafting as we all make him out to be. Look at the past Super Bowl champs. The Steelers, Colts, and Pats are all teams that primarily build through the draft. In order to be successful in this approach, you can not afford to make bad picks. Here's a look at the players Ted Thompson nabbed so far.

I know it's too early to declare boom or bust on the 2008 class (and probably even the 2007 class). But what do you think? Do you think he is good enough at drafting to take the Pack to the promise land?


2008
2 Jordy Nelson
2 Brian Brohm
2 Patrick Lee
3 Jermichael Finley
4 Jeremy Thompson
4 Josh Sitton
5 Breno Giacomini
7 Matt Flynn
7 Brett Swain

2007
1 Justin Harrell
2 Brandon Jackson
3 James Jones
3 Aaron Rouse
4 Allen Barbre
5 David Clowney
6 Korey Hall
6 Desmond Bishop
6 Mason Crosby
7 DeShawn Wynn
7 Clark Harris

2006

1 A.J. Hawk
2 Daryn Colledge
2 Greg Jennings
3 Abdul Hodge
3 Jason Spitz
4 Cory Rodgers
4 Will Blackmon
5 Ingle Martin
5 Tony Moll
6 Johnny Jolly
6 Tyrone Culver
7 Dave Tollefson

2005

1 Aaron Rodgers
2 Nick Collins
2 Terrence Murphy
4 Marviel Underwood
4 Brady Poppinga
5 Junius Coston
5 Michael Hawkins
6 Mike Montgomery
6 Craig Bragg
7 Kurt Campbell
7 William Whitticker

I would definitely give him a solid "B" at this point, perhaps even better a few years down the line. A few picks went south, but that's always going to happen. I would say drafting is what he is best at. Take away the Harrell pick and he would at least get a "B+."

The rule of thumb is 3 years, so all we have to go by (if you follow that rule) is 2005, and we're getting close to being able to judge 2006.

2005 is a success. Franchise QB, Pro Bowl FS, starting OLB. It's unfortunate about Murphy - that doesn't affect his draft grade (it not being a + is punishment enough).

2006 is starting to look good. Some of that depends on what Hawk does after his "let down" 3rd year. Colledge will be on our line for a while. Jennings is a god toying with mortal men every Sunday. Spitz again will be on our line for a while. Blackmon = STILL underrated on the roster, but already showing himself as a playmaker on ST.

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2008
2 Jordy Nelson - good
2 Brian Brohm - good (value wise)
2 Patrick Lee - ??? (I'm high on him)
3 Jermichael Finley - good (value wise)
4 Jeremy Thompson - ???
4 Josh Sitton - good
5 Breno Giacomini - ???
7 Matt Flynn - great
7 Brett Swain - ???

2007
1 Justin Harrell - bust
2 Brandon Jackson - okay
3 James Jones - good
3 Aaron Rouse - good
4 Allen Barbre - average
5 David Clowney - bad
6 Korey Hall - good
6 Desmond Bishop - good
6 Mason Crosby - great
7 DeShawn Wynn - okay
7 Clark Harris - ???

2006

1 A.J. Hawk - okay
2 Daryn Colledge - okay
2 Greg Jennings - great
3 Abdul Hodge - bad
3 Jason Spitz - good
4 Cory Rodgers - bad
4 Will Blackmon - good
5 Ingle Martin - bad
5 Tony Moll - okay
6 Johnny Jolly - great
6 Tyrone Culver - bad
7 Dave Tollefson - bad

2005

1 Aaron Rodgers - great
2 Nick Collins - great
2 Terrence Murphy - bad luck
4 Marviel Underwood - bad
4 Brady Poppinga - okay
5 Junius Coston - bad
5 Michael Hawkins - bad
6 Mike Montgomery - okay
6 Craig Bragg - bad
7 Kurt Campbell - bad
7 William Whitticker - bad

I guess in my opinion, Ted Thompson made:

4 great picks (A-Rod, Collins, Jennings, and Jolly)

6 good picks (Spitz, Blackmon, Bishop, Hall, Rouse, and Jones)

5 okay picks (Hawk, Jackson, Wynn, Poppinga, Montgomery, Moll, and Colledge) in 05, 06, and 07 (I'm not counting 2008 yet).

Does this constitute great drafting, good drafting, or average drafting?

But can only being a "B" at drafting take you to the Super Bowl if you basically neglect free agency?

Just looking at Pittsburgh, Indy, and NE drafts. Those guys barely ever miss on draft picks, which is why they've been so successful year in and year out. When you rely on the draft alone, , uneven draft results causes uneven game results (4-12, 8-8, 13-3, 6-10).

Wasn't it NE's 2007 draft that yielded ZERO players on their roster? It was one of their recent ones, and not 2008.

I didn't know about the Steelers' drafts so I looked the same ones up that I listed for GB.

Pittsburgh's 2005 draft:
1: Heath Miller. Looked better before 2008. Had what many call an "off year". Steelers fans aren't too enamored with him, at least the ones I talk to.
2: Bryant McFadden. They got rid of him. No longer on team.
3: Trai Essex. Bench player. Started 4 games in 2004 and that's it.
4: Fred Gibson. Who?
5: Rian Wallace. Zero starts. With the Skins now.
6: Chris Kemoeatu. First year starting was 2008. Steelers line was eh.
7: Shaun Nua. Who?
7: Noah Herron. My man! No longer on team, obviously.

2006 draft:
1: Santonio Holmes. Good pick. Solid WR. Traded up to get him. (I'd rather have Jennings)
3: Anthony Smith. We'll see!
3: Willie Reid. Who?
4: Willie Colon. Two seasons starting at tackle for Pittsburgh.
4: Orien Harris. 4 teams in 3 years.
5: Omar Jacobs. Who?
5: Charles Davis. Useless TE. Gone from the Steelers in a flash.
6: Marvin Philip. Steelers to Browns to Bills.
7: Cedric Humes. Who?

What it boils down to, I think, is that it's much easier to be critical about a draft you're so familiar with. Green Bay's drafts, in comparison to this at least, are superior.

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Eye opening analysis, MassPackersFan! I'd love to see a similar examination of New England's recent draft choices.

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The entire 08 draft is an incomplete right now.

The 07 draft is in it's make or break year.

Beyond that we only have two drafts to really look at.

2005

1 Aaron Rodgers -Franchise QB whether some like it or not and he was found in the late part of the first round. I would say he's the make or break player of this regime, but overall, GB seems to have gotten solid value.

2 Nick Collins - Another solid pick. He was a starter since his rookie season and has been a fairly good safety. Last year he was great at times. It will hurt if he walks.

2 Terrence Murphy - Incomplete

4 Marviel Underwood - Miss

4 Brady Poppinga - Solid pick. Fourth rounder who is a three year starter at SAM. Excellent value when you think about it.

5 Junius Coston - Below average. He did start a few games and did contribute some up until this past season. It's a miss, but not a terrible miss.

5 Michael Hawkins - This is a terrible miss.

6 Mike Montgomery - Not bad considering the round he was taken in. We'll see how he fits this defense. I don't think he does, but he's certainly not a bust. A decent depth filling late round pick.

6 Craig Bragg - Miss

7 Kurt Campbell - Miss

7 William Whitticker - Miss

2006

1 A.J. Hawk - Decent so far. This is a make or break season for Hawk. He's not a bust because he's not a washout. It could be worse. GB could of taken a guy like Vernon Davis who by all accounts is a bust. Michael Huff is a bust too. Hawk is just okay. Not worth the value of this pick, but at least it's something.

2 Daryn Colledge - I would say decent again. He's a starter since his rookie year. I don't think he's that great, but a starter in round two is what you look for.

2 Greg Jennings - This is Thompson's best selection of his GM career so far. Of course Rodgers could change that, but Jennings is the best weapon GB has.

3 Abdul Hodge - Miss

3 Jason Spitz - 3rd rounder who has been a starter since his rookie season and is in the running to start at one of the three interior spots again this season. Solid pick.

4 Cory Rodgers - Miss

4 Will Blackmon - Return man who has helped on special teams. I would say pretty good pick.

5 Ingle Martin - Miss

5 Tony Moll - Solid depth since his rookie season. Has started as well. I think a decent pick for a 5th rounder.

6 Johnny Jolly - Starter who has flashed capabilities before. Can't ask much more from a 6th rounder.

6 Tyrone Culver - Miss

7 Dave Tollefson - Miss for GB, but depth for NYG.

11 misses out of 23 picks.

I would give his drafting a solid B, but closer to a B- than a B+.

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I try to figure what everybody expects classify a draft a success? How many starters does it need to produce? How many players need to stick with the team through their rookie contracts?

I think Thompson has drafted pretty well. But I think some of his picks look better than they really are because he has not brought in FA talent to bump them.

My problem is that at this pace, soon, if not now the draft will no longer improve the team, it will only maintain the current level. Ted needs to get more FA into the team.

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Yeah, I would really need to see some proof of this to know that Pittsburg, Indy, and New England "barely ever miss." If so, I'll stand corrected, but until then, I'm skeptical about that . . .