The Green Bay Packers are one of the most storied franchises in the NFL, and their success over the years can be attributed in large part to their excellent drafting. The Packers have a long history of finding talent in the draft, and some of their picks have gone on to become all-time greats in the league. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the Green Bay Packers’ best draft picks, focusing only on players that were actually selected by the Packers.
Bart Starr (17th Round, 1956)
Bart Starr is a name synonymous with Green Bay Packers’ success in the 1960s. Starr was selected in the 17th round of the 1956 NFL Draft, and would go on to lead the Packers to five NFL championships, including the first two Super Bowls. He was named the MVP of both Super Bowl I and II and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977.
Ray Nitschke (3rd Round, 1958)
Ray Nitschke was a fierce linebacker who played his entire 15-year career with the Packers after being selected in the 3rd round of the 1958 NFL Draft. Nitschke was a key member of the Packers’ defense during the team’s championship runs in the 1960s, and was named the MVP of the 1962 NFL Championship Game. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978.
Paul Hornung (1st Round, 1957)
Paul Hornung was the first overall pick in the 1957 NFL Draft, and went on to become a star player for the Packers. Hornung was a versatile player who could play both running back and kicker, and was a key member of the Packers’ championship teams in the 1960s. He was named the NFL MVP in 1961 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
If you play NFT games such as Madden NFL 23 or you are a regular NFL viewer, can you imagine what Hornung’s rating would have been? He was the Packers kicker as well for a while.
Jerry Kramer (4th Round, 1958)
Jerry Kramer was a standout offensive lineman who was selected in the 4th round of the 1958 NFL Draft. Kramer played his entire career with the Packers and was a key member of the team’s championship runs in the 1960s. He was named to the Pro Bowl three times and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
Aaron Rodgers (1st Round, 2005)
Aaron Rodgers is perhaps the best quarterback in the NFL today, and was selected by the Packers in the 1st round of the 2005 NFL Draft. After serving as Brett Favre’s backup for three seasons, Rodgers took over as the starting quarterback in 2008 and has since led the Packers to a Super Bowl victory and multiple playoff appearances. He has been named the NFL MVP three times and is widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
These are just a few of the many great draft picks made by the Green Bay Packers over the years. The team’s success in the draft is a testament to their scouting department and their ability to find and develop talent. With the 2023 NFL Draft quickly approaching, it will be interesting to see who the Packers select and how they will contribute to the team’s continued success.