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On Sunday, we examined the trades that Ted Thompson has made on draft day as General Manager of the Green Bay Packers, going back from 2013 to 2009. Today, we'll look back at the trades he made over the first half (or so) of his tenure as GM, starting in his first draft in 2005 and going through 2008.
We do not see quite as strong a trend in trade partners early in Thompson's career as we have in the past several years, but we do notice that he actually was more active in the early portion than he has been recently. Thompson made 15 trades in his first four drafts (almost four each year) compared to 12 in his past five (2.4 per year).
In this early span, Thompson traded most often with the New York Jets (three times), the Philadelphia Eagles (twice), the New England Patriots (twice), and the St. Louis Rams (twice). All told, over nine years, Thompson has made five trades with Bill Belichick and the Patriots, more than any other team.
Arguably Thompson's best trade came in 2006, when he acquired the picks he used on Greg Jennings and Jason Spitz in exchange for the 36th pick, which the Patriots used on wide receiver Chad Jackson. Jackson recorded a career total of 171 receiving yards over three years, while Jennings has over 7,300 yards and Spitz was a primary starter on the Packers' offensive line for several years early in his career.
The other trades Thompson made in 2006 were all linked by his sending Javon Walker to the Broncos. Through a series of deals, Walker and a fifth-round pick were turned into Daryn Colledge, Ingle Martin IV, Johnny Jolly, Will Blackmon, and Tyrone Culver. College was of course the starting left guard for the Packers in 2010 when they won Super Bowl XLV, Jolly was a three-year starter before a suspension and was a key for the Packers in 2013, and Blackmon contributed occasionally on special teams and in sub packages on defense.
2008
| Trade Partner | Packers Sent | Packers Received |
| New York Jets | 1.30 (TE Dustin Keller) | 2.36 (WR Jordy Nelson), 4.113 (later traded) |
| New York Jets | 4.113 (CB Dwight Lowery), 5.162 (QB Erik Ainge) | 4.102 (DE Jeremy Thompson) |
| St. Louis Rams | 4.128 (CB Keenan Burton) | 5.137 (traded), 7.217 (WR Brett Swain) |
| Minnesota Vikings | 5.137 (QB John David Booty) | 5.150 (OT Breno Giacomini), 7.209 (QB Matt Flynn) |
| New Orleans Saints | 2008 7.237 (Adrian Arrington) | 2009 6.187 (DB Brandon Underwood) |
2007
| Trade Partner | Packers Sent | Packers Received |
| New York Jets | 2.47 (LB David Harris), 7.235 (WR Chansi Stuckey) | 2.63 (RB Brandon Jackson), 3.89 (S Aaron Rouse), 6.191 (FB Korey Hall) |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 4.112 (P Daniel Sepulveda) | 4.119 (OT Allen Barbre), 6.192 (LB Desmond Bishop) |
2006
| Trade Partner | Packers Sent | Packers Received |
| New England Patriots | 2.36 (WR Chad Jackson) | 2.52 (WR Greg Jennings), 3.75 (OL Jason Spitz) |
| Denver Broncos | WR Javon Walker | 2.37 (later traded) |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2.37 (CB Jimmy Williams), 5.139 (OL Quinn Ojinnaka) | 2.47 (OL Daryn Colledge), 3.93 (traded), 5.148 (QB Ingle Martin IV) |
| St. Louis Rams | 3.93 (TE Dominique Byrd) | 4.109 (traded), 6.183 (DT Johnny Jolly) |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4.109 (WR Jason Avant) | 4.115 (DB Will Blackmon), 6.185 (DB Tyrone Culver) |
2005
| Trade Partner | Packers Sent | Packers Received |
| Carolina Panthers | 3.89 (DT Atiyyah Ellison) | 4.115 (DB Marviel Underwood), 4.126 (traded) |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4.126 (OL Todd Herremans) | 5.167 (DB Mike Hawkins), 6.175 (traded), 7.245 (DB Kurt Campbell) |
| New England Patriots | 6.175 (traded to OAK) | 6.195 (WR Craig Bragg), 7.246 (G Will Whitticker) |
Of all of Thompson's draft-day trades, which one do you think worked out best for the Packers? Let us know in the comments.