Green Bay Packers

See why Jake Ryan can now be compared to Clay Matthews, A.J. Hawk

Published Feb. 2, 2016 4:17 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Green Bay Packers selected linebacker Jake Ryan in the fourth round of last year's draft. The Michigan product came along late in the season, showing some promise and starting five games down the stretch.

Ryan finished the year with exactly 50 tackles, making him one of three linebackers drafted during Ted Thompson's tenure as Green Bay's general manager to record at least that many stops as a rookie. The other two were Clay Matthews and A.J. Hawk.

Via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

Jake Ryan had 50 tackles in 2015, only 3rd #Packers rookie LB drafted by Ted Thompson to hit that mark. He joined Clay Matthews and AJ Hawk.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) February 2, 2016

This comparison could be a sign of staying power for Ryan. Matthews recorded 51 tackles during his rookie year and has played seven seasons with the Packers; Hawk had 119 as a rookie and played nine seasons with the Packers before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals last offseason. Matthews and Hawk were both first-round draft picks, so it's even more impressive Ryan was able to reach the mark as a fourth-rounder.

The Packers have plans to move Matthews back to outside linebacker next season, so Ryan will have a chance to win the starting "mack" linebacker job and rack up even more tackles in 2016.