Rookies

[Smidgeon]

I just have a couple quick questions for those who know their Packers history: When was the last time one of GB's first round picks looked this good in his first season? It seems that year in and year out GB drafts a talented player who doesn't make an immediate impact (read: few flashes during the first year), but this year we have 2 that are flashing more than rarely. When was the last time even one did that? How about the last time any rookie did that?

For reference, the first round draft picks from the last 30 years:

Year    Pick    Player Name         Position
2009    9       B. J. Raji          Defensive tackle 
2009    26      Clay Matthews III   Linebacker 
2008    --      No pick             --
2007    16      Justin Harrell      Defensive tackle 
2006    5       A. J. Hawk          Linebacker 
2005    24      Aaron Rodgers       Quarterback 
2004    25      Ahmad Carroll       Cornerback 
2003    29      Nick Barnett        Linebacker 
2002    20      Javon Walker        Wide receiver 
2001    10      Jamal Reynolds      Defensive end 
2000    14      Bubba Franks        Tight end 
1999    25      Antuan Edwards      Safety 
1998    19      Vonnie Holliday     Defensive end 
1997    30      Ross Verba          Guard 
1996    27      John Michels        Offensive tackle 
1995    32      Craig Newsome       Cornerback 
1994    16      Aaron Taylor        Guard 
1993    15      Wayne Simmons       Linebacker 
1993    29      George Teague       Safety 
1992    5       Terrell Buckley     Cornerback 
1991    19      Vinnie Clark        Cornerback 
1990    18      Tony Bennett        Linebacker 
1990    19      Darrell Thompson    Running Back 
1989    2       Tony Mandarich      Offensive tackle 
1988    7       Sterling Sharpe     Wide receiver 
1987    4       Brent Fullwood      Running back 
1986    --      No pick             --
1985    7       Ken Ruettgers       Offensive tackle 
1984    12      Alphonso Carreker   Defensive end 
1983    11      Tim Lewis           Cornerback 
1982    22      Ron Hallstrom       Guard 
1981    6       Rich Campbell       Quarterback 
1980    4       Bruce Clark         Defensive tackle 
1980    26      George Cumby        Linebacker

[ND72]

Re: Rookies

I just have a couple quick questions for those who know their Packers history: When was the last time one of GB's first round picks looked this good in his first season? It seems that year in and year out GB drafts a talented player who doesn't make an immediate impact (read: few flashes during the first year), but this year we have 2 that are flashing more than rarely. When was the last time even one did that? How about the last time any rookie did that?

For reference, the first round draft picks from the last 30 years:

Year    Pick    Player Name         Position
2009    9       B. J. Raji          Defensive tackle 
2009    26      Clay Matthews III   Linebacker 
2008    --      No pick             --
2007    16      Justin Harrell      Defensive tackle 
2006    5       A. J. Hawk          Linebacker 
2005    24      Aaron Rodgers       Quarterback 
2004    25      Ahmad Carroll       Cornerback 
2003    29      Nick Barnett        Linebacker 
2002    20      Javon Walker        Wide receiver 
2001    10      Jamal Reynolds      Defensive end 
2000    14      Bubba Franks        Tight end 
1999    25      Antuan Edwards      Safety 
1998    19      Vonnie Holliday     Defensive end 
1997    30      Ross Verba          Guard 
1996    27      John Michels        Offensive tackle 
1995    32      Craig Newsome       Cornerback 
1994    16      Aaron Taylor        Guard 
1993    15      Wayne Simmons       Linebacker 
1993    29      George Teague       Safety 
1992    5       Terrell Buckley     Cornerback 
1991    19      Vinnie Clark        Cornerback 
1990    18      Tony Bennett        Linebacker 
1990    19      Darrell Thompson    Running Back 
1989    2       Tony Mandarich      Offensive tackle 
1988    7       Sterling Sharpe     Wide receiver 
1987    4       Brent Fullwood      Running back 
1986    --      No pick             --
1985    7       Ken Ruettgers       Offensive tackle 
1984    12      Alphonso Carreker   Defensive end 
1983    11      Tim Lewis           Cornerback 
1982    22      Ron Hallstrom       Guard 
1981    6       Rich Campbell       Quarterback 
1980    4       Bruce Clark         Defensive tackle 
1980    26      George Cumby        Linebacker

Vonnie HOliday was a productive Rookie....BUT, Reggie White was the 1998 Defensive Player of the year. I have to say that I am excited with the 2 guys we got this year. Matthews looks like a future star in the making, and Raji is really starting to come on right now, and it's a great time to see him step up. The last 2 games I've seen Raji push some guys back, and read plays like a 10 year vetran DT does. Those 2 are some definate strong points in the start of our 3-4 future.

[Sparkey]

Re: Rookies

I just have a couple quick questions for those who know their Packers history: When was the last time one of GB's first round picks looked this good in his first season? It seems that year in and year out GB drafts a talented player who doesn't make an immediate impact (read: few flashes during the first year), but this year we have 2 that are flashing more than rarely. When was the last time even one did that? How about the last time any rookie did that?

For reference, the first round draft picks from the last 30 years:

Year    Pick    Player Name         Position
2009    9       B. J. Raji          Defensive tackle 
2009    26      Clay Matthews III   Linebacker 
2008    --      No pick             --
2007    16      Justin Harrell      Defensive tackle 
2006    5       A. J. Hawk          Linebacker 
2005    24      Aaron Rodgers       Quarterback 
2004    25      Ahmad Carroll       Cornerback 
2003    29      Nick Barnett        Linebacker 
2002    20      Javon Walker        Wide receiver 
2001    10      Jamal Reynolds      Defensive end 
2000    14      Bubba Franks        Tight end 
1999    25      Antuan Edwards      Safety 
1998    19      Vonnie Holliday     Defensive end 
1997    30      Ross Verba          Guard 
1996    27      John Michels        Offensive tackle 
1995    32      Craig Newsome       Cornerback 
1994    16      Aaron Taylor        Guard 
1993    15      Wayne Simmons       Linebacker 
1993    29      George Teague       Safety 
1992    5       Terrell Buckley     Cornerback 
1991    19      Vinnie Clark        Cornerback 
1990    18      Tony Bennett        Linebacker 
1990    19      Darrell Thompson    Running Back 
1989    2       Tony Mandarich      Offensive tackle 
1988    7       Sterling Sharpe     Wide receiver 
1987    4       Brent Fullwood      Running back 
1986    --      No pick             --
1985    7       Ken Ruettgers       Offensive tackle 
1984    12      Alphonso Carreker   Defensive end 
1983    11      Tim Lewis           Cornerback 
1982    22      Ron Hallstrom       Guard 
1981    6       Rich Campbell       Quarterback 
1980    4       Bruce Clark         Defensive tackle 
1980    26      George Cumby        Linebacker

I think Newsome was the most recent and he, in no way, had anywhere near the impact that Matthews has had.

You know, if you really look at this draft; Matthews is playing like a future star, Raji is starting too look like a beast on the line and even 7th rounder Jones is making a nice contribution. Really, an exceptional start for this years draft class.

[ND72]

Re: Rookies

I just have a couple quick questions for those who know their Packers history: When was the last time one of GB's first round picks looked this good in his first season? It seems that year in and year out GB drafts a talented player who doesn't make an immediate impact (read: few flashes during the first year), but this year we have 2 that are flashing more than rarely. When was the last time even one did that? How about the last time any rookie did that?

For reference, the first round draft picks from the last 30 years:

Year    Pick    Player Name         Position
2009    9       B. J. Raji          Defensive tackle 
2009    26      Clay Matthews III   Linebacker 
2008    --      No pick             --
2007    16      Justin Harrell      Defensive tackle 
2006    5       A. J. Hawk          Linebacker 
2005    24      Aaron Rodgers       Quarterback 
2004    25      Ahmad Carroll       Cornerback 
2003    29      Nick Barnett        Linebacker 
2002    20      Javon Walker        Wide receiver 
2001    10      Jamal Reynolds      Defensive end 
2000    14      Bubba Franks        Tight end 
1999    25      Antuan Edwards      Safety 
1998    19      Vonnie Holliday     Defensive end 
1997    30      Ross Verba          Guard 
1996    27      John Michels        Offensive tackle 
1995    32      Craig Newsome       Cornerback 
1994    16      Aaron Taylor        Guard 
1993    15      Wayne Simmons       Linebacker 
1993    29      George Teague       Safety 
1992    5       Terrell Buckley     Cornerback 
1991    19      Vinnie Clark        Cornerback 
1990    18      Tony Bennett        Linebacker 
1990    19      Darrell Thompson    Running Back 
1989    2       Tony Mandarich      Offensive tackle 
1988    7       Sterling Sharpe     Wide receiver 
1987    4       Brent Fullwood      Running back 
1986    --      No pick             --
1985    7       Ken Ruettgers       Offensive tackle 
1984    12      Alphonso Carreker   Defensive end 
1983    11      Tim Lewis           Cornerback 
1982    22      Ron Hallstrom       Guard 
1981    6       Rich Campbell       Quarterback 
1980    4       Bruce Clark         Defensive tackle 
1980    26      George Cumby        Linebacker

I think Newsome was the most recent and he, in no way, had anywhere near the impact that Matthews has had.

You know, if you really look at this draft; Matthews is playing like a future star, Raji is starting too look like a beast on the line and even 7th rounder Jones is making a nice contribution. Really, an exceptional start for this years draft class.

George Teague, Wayne Simmons, Aaron Taylor, and Craig Newsome. We had a couple real good picks there.

[Fritz]

Not sure about Teague. He really didn't last that long in Green Bay - he ended up in Dallas after only a few years. I'm not sure why.

Newsome was a very good pick - they plugged him into the starting line up right away, and he was solid and consistent there until he was injured.

Simmons was a beast but out of control so I don't know ho long he lasted. Aaron Taylor was a good player. John Michels - whiff. Ross Verba - average.

[Freak Out]

Holy shit....I remember the Cumby draft.

[red]

terrell buckly


man returned his first punt for a td didn't he? i think he also had an int in his first game

then he got injured after the game and never played again

[Patler]

Re: Rookies

I just have a couple quick questions for those who know their Packers history: When was the last time one of GB's first round picks looked this good in his first season? It seems that year in and year out GB drafts a talented player who doesn't make an immediate impact (read: few flashes during the first year), but this year we have 2 that are flashing more than rarely. When was the last time even one did that? How about the last time any rookie did that?

Any rookie or rookies?
Clifton and Tauscher came in and stabilized the two key O-line positions as rookies. Virtually unheard of for a team to have two rookie OT's start and play as well as they did. As big or bigger impacts than Mathews and Raji.

Two others that made huge first year impacts were a long time ago, with Willie Buchanon and Chester Marcol in 1972. Buchanon was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and Marcol finished 2nd in the voting for offense. Marcol lead the NFL in scoring, with 128 points.

Others that come to mind from long ago: Brockington was R.O.Y, John Anderson just played very well. Mike Butler, Tim Lewis, Sterling Sharpe.

More recently, Jennings, Crosby, Collins and Barnett had pretty productive rookie years; showing very good potential. I would argue Hawk did too, but may have regressed in impact since then. For rookies, all played well.

[cheesner]

Of all these only Tim Lewis, to the best of my memory, looked like a potential superstar. Unfortunately he hurt his neck and never played again.

Matthews and to a lesser extent, Raji, both look like potential superstars.

[digitaldean]

terrell buckly


man returned his first punt for a td didn't he? i think he also had an int in his first game

then he got injured after the game and never played again

T-BUCK

I still remember wanting to throw a brick through my buddy's TV when they passed on Troy Vincent!!!

About as bright as taking Rich Campbell over Ronnie Lott.