2016 NFL Draft

Packers 2016 Draft Picks: Who was drafted in Green Bay's slots over the past decade?

We look back at the last ten drafts to see what teams have done with the picks that Green Bay currently holds for 2016.

By Evan "Tex" Western@TexWestern Apr 21, 2016, 3:00pm CDT

If you're looking for trends in the players that have been selected over the last ten NFL Drafts in the Green Bay Packers' current draft slots, there is really only one to be found: higher picks tend to have better careers. It's obvious, but it's really the only thing one can glean from a look back through the selections.

However, there have been useful players picked at every level of the draft - in fact, eight of the nine slots have produced at lease one player who became a multi-year starter for his team in the years following his selection.

Round 1: #27 Overall

2015: CB Byron Jones, Connecticut (Cowboys)
2014: DB/LB Deone Bucannon, Washington State (Cardinals)
2013: WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson (Texans)
2012: OG Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin (Bengals)
2011: CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado (Ravens)
2010: S Devin McCourty, Rutgers (Patriots)
2009: RB Donald Brown, Connecticut (Colts)
2008: CB Antoine Cason, Arizona (Chargers)
2007: WR Robert Meachem, Tennessee (Saints)
2006: RB DeAngelo Williams, Memphis (Panthers)

Over the last five years, teams have done a much better job of drafting at the 27th pick than they did the previous half-decade. In fact, every one of the players chosen here since 2010 are better-than-average starters, save for Jones who has had just the one year of NFL football under his belt. Hopkins is the best of the bunch, racking up 111 catches and over 1,500 yards last season despite having the revolving door of Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, and T.J. Yates as his quarterbacks.

Round 2: #57

2015: OT Rob Havenstein, Wisconsin (Rams)
2014: RB Carlos Hyde, Ohio State (49ers)
2013: S D.J. Swearinger, South Carolina (Texans)
2012: QB Brock Osweiler, Arizona State (Broncos)
2011: RB Mikel Leshoure, Illinois (Lions)
2010: DT Terrence Cody, Alabama (Ravens)
2009: DE/OLB Paul Kruger, Utah (Ravens)
2008: QB Chad Henne, Michigan (Dolphins)
2007: DE Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame (Eagles)
2006: KR Devin Hester, Miami (Bears)

There are no significant trends to note here, with players at positions all over the field being chosen. However, every one has made at least some moderate impact save for Abiamiri. Havenstein looks like he will be a starting right tackle for a long time, a healthy Hyde is an impressive running back, and Osweiler's offseason saga and eventual signing in Houston was a big story this offseason.

Hester might be the most intriguing pick here, though, as you rarely if ever see players whose only significant value is on special teams drafted this highly.

Round 3: #88

2015: DE Danielle Hunter, LSU (Vikings)
2014: DE Will Clarke, West Virginia (Bengals)
2013: DE Corey Lemonier, Auburn (49ers)
2012: QB Nick Foles, Arizona (Eagles)
2011: DB Johnny Patrick, Louisville (Saints)
2010: WR Andre Roberts, Citadel (Cardinals)
2009: CB Lardarius Webb, Nicholls State (Ravens)
2008: LB Bruce Davis, UCLA (Steelers)
2007: OG Andy Alleman, Akron (Saints)
2006: LB James Anderson, Virginia Tech (Panthers)

The recent run of pass-rushers at 88 looks like it could become a good one thanks to Hunter, who had six sacks as a rookie. Foles of course landed with the Rams in the Sam Bradford trade after one very good year in Philly. Webb is probably the best player of the group here, as he took over as a starter in 2011 and has remained in the lineup ever since. Anderson also had a nice career, backing up in Carolina for three and a half years before earning a starting job.

Round 4: #125

2015: RB Javorius Allen, USC (Ravens)
2014: CB Walt Aikens, Liberty (Dolphins)
2013: RB Johnathan Franklin, UCLA (Packers)
2012: LB Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma (Lions)
2011: RB Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington (Raiders)
2010: TE Clay Harbor, Southwest Missouri State (Eagles)
2009: DE Lawrence Sidbury, Richmond (Falcons)
2008: WR Arman Shields, Richmond (Raiders)
2007: OT Jermon Bushrod, Towson (Saints)
2006: WR Skyler Green, LSU (Cowboys)

The 125th picks have only a few significant names lately. Bushrod has had the longest and most successful career, starting for six straight years in New Orleans and Chicago with two Pro Bowl appearances. Jones has carved out a niche as a backup running back in Oakland, but has not started a game. Harbor has made a living as a backup tight end in Philly and Jacksonville.

Round 4: #131

2015: OL Shaq Mason, Georgia Tech (Patriots)
2014: S Brock Vereen, Minnesota (Bears)
2013: RB Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina (49ers)
2012: OT Brandon Mosley, Auburn (Giants)
2011: CB Davon House, New Mexico State (Packers)
2010: LB Roddrick Muckelroy, Texas (Bengals)
2009: CB Greg Toler, St. Paul's (Cardinals)
2008: CB Jack Ikegwuonu, Wisconsin (Eagles)
2007: DB Brannon Condren, Troy (Colts)
2006: OG Willie Colon, Hofstra (Steelers)

Colon has had a nice NFL career with the Steelers and Jets, though he has dealt with some injuries throughout his career. House of course was a solid corner for the Packers before landing in Jacksonville during last year's free agency period. Toler became a starter a few years ago once he got to Indianapolis. Mason was a starter in his first season for the Pats last season and appears to be their left guard of the future.

Round 4: #137

2015: DT Grady Jarrett, Clemson (Falcons)
2014: OL Dakota Dozier, Furman (Jets)
2013: DT Jesse Williams, Alabama (Seahawks)
2012: DT Malik Jackson, Tennessee (Broncos)
2011: CB Buster Skrine, Tennessee-Chattanooga (Browns)
2010: CB Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State (Broncos)
2009: LB Jason Phillips, TCU (Ravens)
2008: QB John David Booty, USC (Vikings)
2007: RB Le'Ron McClain, Alabama (Ravens)
2006: LB Terna Nande, Miami-OH (Titans)

Skrine started for a few years for the Browns before playing slot corner with the Jets last season and starting seven games and Cox has become a starter in San Francisco and Tennessee the last few years. Jackson is the big name though, having just cashed in on a huge free-agent deal in Jacksonville after being a key part of the Broncos' defense in their Super Bowl 50-winning season.

Round 5: #163

2015: DE Ryan Russell, Purdue (Cowboys)
2014: QB Aaron Murray, Georgia (Chiefs)
2013: OT Jordan Mills, Louisiana Tech (Bears)
2012: LB Terrell Manning, North Carolina State (Packers)
2011: OG Daniel Kilgore, Appalachian State (49ers)
2010: S Reshad Jones, Georgia (Dolphins)
2009: OG Duke Robinson, Oklahoma (Panthers)
2008: FB Owen Schmitt, West Virginia (Seahawks)
2007: OT Brandon Frye, Virginia Tech (Texans)
2006: RB David Kirtman, USC (Seahawks)

The Packers' last pick at 163 was Manning, who had little impact in two seasons on the roster. Mills started at right tackle for Chicago in his first two seasons, but was cut after training camp in 2015. He ended up landing in Buffalo, where he filled in as a spot starter at right tackle and was re-signed to a one-year deal this offseason. The best player in this group, however, is Reshad Jones, who has started for the last five years and made his first Pro Bowl in 2015 after picking off five passes during the regular season.

Round 6: #200

2015: CB Quandre Diggs, Texas (Lions)
2014: OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (Chiefs)
2013: DE Kapron Lewis-Moore, Notre Dame (Ravens)
2012: OG Brandon Washington, Miami (Eagles)
2011: LB Ross Homan, Ohio State (Vikings)
2010: RB Charles Scott, LSU (Eagles)
2009: DB DeAndre Wright, New Mexico (Giants)
2008: LB Joe Mays, North Dakota State (Eagles)
2007: DE Melila Purcell, Hawaii (Browns)
2006: OG Tyler Reed, Penn State (Bears)

Diggs looks like he might be a useful player for the Lions moving forward, and Duvernay-Tardif is holding down a position as a reserve guard, but the rest of the players drafted 200th in the last decade have had virtually no impact.

Round 7: #248

2015: S Ryan Murphy, Oregon State (Seahawks)
2014: DB Ahmad Dixon, Baylor (Cowboys)
2013: DB Daimion Stafford, Nebraska (Titans)
2012: OT Kelvin Beachum, SMU (Steelers)
2011: DB Eric Hagg, Nebraska (Browns)
2010: DT Kade Weston, Georgia (Patriots)
2009: TE Cameron Morrah, California (Seahawks)
2008: WR Marcus Monk, Arkansas (Bears)
2007: DT Keith Jackson, Arkansas (Rams)
2006: OG Aaorn Merz, California (Bills)

In the last ten years, there has been one player picked 248th that has been a remotely useful NFL player. That is Beachum, who has been the Steelers' starter at left tackle for the past three years. He was injured after six games in 2015 and was placed on injured reserve.