Ted Thompson's best move as Packers GM

[swede]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/114767889.html

JSO has online poll asking this question.

Without a doubt I believe that trading up for Clay Matthews was his best move. Rodgers fell into our lap, Pickett was simply a typical GM move, and Charles Woodson's first contract was an indication that the Packers--like everyone else in the league--weren't sure that CW was a slam dunk. He was our fallback to that linebacker that no one has heard of since.

But the Matthews deal combined scouting with deal-making with understanding how to get both of the players you wanted instead of just one. To me it was Ted's best single move in an impressive body of work.
Aaron may be the most important player on the team, but picking him was more a matter of luck than a hand well-played.

[Freak Out]

Signing Masthay.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Drafting Rodgers wasn't a matter of luck. With a team that appeared to be on the verge of a Super Bowl, the Packers could have very easily ignored the need for a young QB for somebody that could help immediately. Many teams have done this. Many teams did it in that draft.

Drafting Aaron Rodgers was the best move made by Thompson.

[red]

the drafting of a-rod took some major balls IMO. first, at the time we really weren't that desperate for a QB, a lot more teams who had much bigger problems at QB passed on him thinking they didn't need him. ted didn't really need him, but he saw the potential. then he had the massive balls to make the switch from favre to a-rod which was not at all a popular decision

if thats 1a then mathews would have to be 1b

i thought TT was insane when he gave up so much to trade up for the guy who was suppose to be the 3rd best LB from USC in the draft. but wow, that is just such a massive move and huge addition to this team

for being a "turtle" and hiding in his shell so much, he sure as hell proved he had a massive set when he made the move to get those two

[get louder at lambeau]

His best move was getting rid of Faver.

[Tony Oday]

His best move was getting rid of Faver.

Agreed...I love Favre but at the time that was the right call.

[Smeefers]

I think Ted's most impressive work has been after the fourth round where there's a lot less of the "sure things." If Rodgers didn't play at least admirably, he'd of been a bust. No one expected him to do as well as he has. Same thing about Clay Mathews. Everyone knew he'd be good, they just didn't know how good. I look at guys like Johnny Jolly ( 6th rnd, 2006), Desmond Bishop (6th, 2007), Mason Crosby (6th, 2007), Josh Sitton (4th, 2008), Matt Flynn (7th, 2008), and Brad Jones (7th, 2009). These guys are all starters (minus Flynn) that came out of nowhere. If I had to narrow it down, I'd go with Jolly, Bishop and Sitton. Out of those three, the biggest difference maker has to be Sitton. Right now he's the best guy on our line. He started 11 games his rookie season and hasn't looked back. He's constantly getting better and is our most reliable lineman. Jolly was an idiot this summer and Bishop really hasn't played well until this year. Sitton was the diamond in the ruff. He's TT's Donald Driver. May not be as flashy, but just as solid.

* I don't know how I forgot about Sam Shields, he's the whole reason I posted this. He's another one of TT's great moves.

[sheepshead]

Matthews agreed. But his best moves have been his non-moves. Pick one. (high priced free agents people on here and every other board were screaming for)

[Lurker64]

Interesting how they don't have a "standing up to Favre" option on there, when a strong case can be made for that being one of his finest hours. I guess we're not quite ready for that yet.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Rodgers. Agree with Harv's logic. TT showed right then and there that he was going to build the team his way.

I gotta also go with Greg Jennings. He passed on a couple higher thought of WRs that draft and traded down to get him.

[swede]

Drafting Rodgers wasn't a matter of luck. With a team that appeared to be on the verge of a Super Bowl, the Packers could have very easily ignored the need for a young QB for somebody that could help immediately. Many teams have done this. Many teams did it in that draft.

Drafting Aaron Rodgers was the best move made by Thompson.

That's a very good point, but I imagine that Ted had his draft board set and unexpectedly found Aaron still sitting there at 23. I can't imagine they were saying, "Whoa..this is crazy! Now what are we going to do?!!!" They were going to do what the draft board dictated. So...if you are right about the drafting of A-Rod being Ted's best move, then it was a decision made well in advance of the draft after careful deliberation.

The Matthews situation would have been more fluid, more pressurized.

Apologies to Cleft Crusty for putting pressurized and fluid in the same sentence. I know how that makes his prostate flare up.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I remember hanging out in the draft thread at JSO and Bretsky and I were both praying that Rodgers wouldn't fall to us. We should no longer be allowed to comment on the draft. It's hard to believe that we've been hanging around in the same forum for 6-7 years now.

[Fritz]

Could turn out to be Jermichael Finley.

[Smidgeon]

Could turn out to be Jermichael Finley.

Who could turn out to be TO. But most sincerely: hopefully not.

[mraynrand]