Packers Draft Picks and Rookie Free Agents Assigned Jersey Numbers

Though this took place almost immediately after the 2014 NFL Draft and the undrafted free agent signing period concluded, we're still getting caught up a bit in the wake of the addition of 21 new Packers, nine of whom are draft picks and the other 13 being free agent signings.

One of the curiosities are the jersey numbers that have been assigned to each player. We'll run these down below.

2014 Draft Picks

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, safety: #21

We noted this during the draft, but the Packers' rookie safety gets a tall order: the number most recently worn by Charles Woodson, and also by cornerback Craig Newsome in the 1990's,running back Brent Fullwood in the late 1980's and cornerback Bob Jeter in the 1960's.

Davante Adams, wide receiver: #17

The team's second-round pick will be the first player to wear number 17 on an active roster since punter Craig Hentrich departed after the 1997 season. For those familiar with Packers lore, Cecil Isbell wore that number in the late 30's and early 40's.

Khyri Thornton, defensive tackle: #94

94 of course belonged to the Packers' all-time sack leader, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. It also adorned the jersey of fellow defensive lineman Matt Brock in the early 90's.

Richard Rodgers, tight end: #89

James Jones' number does not go unclaimed for long, which should surprise nobody. There are few numbers available to tight ends, and his college number (11) isn't allowed for a tight end by the NFL's numbering system. The number was last assigned to a tight end when Mark Chmura wore it in the 90's.

Carl Bradford, linebacker: #91

The number 91 has a rather unsavory history in the past decade and a half, being worn both by free agent bust Joe Johnson and the player who was probably Ted Thompson's worst draft pick, Justin Harrell. Bradford will look to channel his inner Brian Noble instead of living up to the disappointments of those other two.

Corey Linsley, center: #63

Scott Wells manned the center position for the Packers while donning the number 63 in Green Bay for eight seasons. Also wearing 63 in Packers history were Fuzzy Thurston, Adam Timmerman, and current offensive line coach James Campen.

Jared Abbrederis, wide receiver: #84

Our man Abby affords me the opportunity to rectify my worst jersey purchase ever: a Javon Walker I bought just weeks before he tore a ligament and was placed on injured reserve. Of course, he never played a game in Green Bay afterwards, forcing a trade to Denver, which new GM Ted Thompson obliged.

Of course, the greatest player to wear 84 was Sterling Sharpe. In a connection to Abbrederis, Bill Schroeder gets honorable mention here as another Wisconsin-grown product to wear the number, as Schroeder played college ball at Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Demitri Goodson, cornerback: #39

Goodson's number hasn't been worn by a major contributor for the Packers since defensive back Mike Prior wore it in the mid-90's for Mike Holmgren's teams.

Jeff Janis, wide receiver: #83

Frankly, Janis' 83 hasn't seen any truly significant players wearing it at all. Fellow receiver Antonio Chatman wore it for a few years in the mid-2000's and backup tight end Jeff Thomason had it in the mid-90's.

Undrafted Free Agents

In the case of undrafted free agents, many will be assigned numbers that do not likely reflect what they would wear if they make the active roster. One such example are linebackers, who are assigned numbers in the 40s since traditional 50s and 90s are all occupied.

We'll run down the numbers that are currently given to the Packers' twelve rookie free agents and mention some notable names who wore those numbers in the past.

Chase Rettig, quarterback, #7 - QB Don Majkowski
Raijon Neal, running back: #34 - CB Mike McKenzie, RB Edgar Bennett, K Don Chandler
LaDarius Perkins, running back, #36 - S Nick Collins, S LeRoy Butler
Ryan White, cornerback: #43
Jake Doughty, linebacker: #45 - S Emlen Tunnel
Jayrone Elliott, linebacker: #47
Joe Thomas, linebacker: #48
Adrian Hubbard, linebacker: #49
Jordan McCray, guard, #62 - OL Evan Dietrich-Smith, G Marco Rivera
Mike Pennel, defensive tackle, #64 - G Jerry Kramer, DL John Jurkovic
Carlos Gray, defensive end: #74 - DE Aaron Kampman
John Fullington, offensive tackle: #79 - DT Ryan Pickett
Justin Perillo, tight end: #80 - WR Donald Driver, WR James Lofton