Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

Study shows Green Bay Packers get most out of NFL draft

Published Jul. 22, 2015 10:58 a.m. ET

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The Green Bay Packers have become a model of consistency. They've qualified for the playoffs the last six seasons, and they're usually one of the top teams to beat in the NFC. How have they pulled this off?

One comprehensive study says superior drafting.

What does Ted Thompson's draft reliance get the #Packers? More picks (104), starts (1,860) and games played (3,267) than any NFL team.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) July 21, 2015

Ryan Wood of Press-Gazette Media dug deep into the numbers and found that Green Bay's Ted Thompson gets more out of the draft than any other general manager. Since 2005, the Packers drafts have yielded the most picks (104), starts (1,860) and games played (3,267) in the NFL.

Personnel giants of the past have been complementary of Thompson's methods.

"Obviously he's comfortable with doing it that way. He's had an awful lot of success. He's very good," former Packers GM Ron Wolf said about Thompson's reliance on the draft, via Press-Gazette Media.

"He's outstanding, and he's outstanding not only in terms of judging talent, but of managing the draft," legendary GM Bill Polian said of Thompson, per Press-Gazette Media.

Wolf and Polian are both members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015, so that's pretty high praise for Thompson's work over the last decade.

Because they've drafted so well and retained all of their best picks, Wood likened the Packers to a college team full of seniors.

#Packers had 18,839 snaps from fourth-year drafted players since '05, second-most in NFL. Like having a bunch of upperclassmen on the field.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) July 21, 2015

Last year's draft class continued the trend of quality picks. Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, wide receiver Davante Adams, tight end Richard Rodgers and center Corey Linsley all saw significant playing time as rookies.

Now, it's on members of the 2015 draft class—particularly defensive backs Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins, as well as wide receiver/return specialist Ty Montgomery and linebacker Jake Ryan—to keep the trend going into the future.

(h/t PackersNews.com)

Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports