The Southern Observer » The GM’s first pick defined his tenure

JK Scott Jersey , for good and bad." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesAcme Packing Company homepageHorizontal - WhiteAcme Packing Companya Green Bay Packers communityFollow Acme Packing Company online:Follow Acme Packing Company on TwitterFollow Acme Packing Company on FacebookFollow Acme Packing Company on InstagramLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchAcme Packing Company main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsPackersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections The APC PodcastPackers Film RoomFantasy Football AdviceCDTFor the second time in team history, a general manager for the Green Bay Packers has entered the Packers Hall of Fame. This Saturday, Ted Thompson was inducted into the hallowed halls at Lambeau Field as one of the team’s greats.Thompson took the general manager job in 2005, taking over from coach/GM Mike Sherman. His first draft pick was unquestionably his best, as he selected Aaron Rodgers with the 24th selection that year. Thompson then hired Mike McCarthy as the Packers’ head coach the following season and helped McCarthy oversee the transition from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers at quarterback in 2008.Under Thompson’s leadership, the Packers made four NFC Championship Games, winning once in 2010 to advance to Super Bowl XLV. There, the Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25. Practically the entire Packers’ roster on that team was drafted or signed by Thompson, with only a few notable exceptions; just two of the Packers’ starters in that game (Chad Clifton and Donald Driver) preceded Thompson. Making his mark as a scout and shrewd drafter Brett Favre Color Rush Jersey , Thompson stuck closely to a draft-and-develop strategy when compiling his rosters, adding numerous undrafted free agents to the mix as well. However, he did make a few notable free agent signings to supplement his draft picks, mostly coming in the very early and late years of his tenure. Charles Woodson and Ryan Pickett were free agent acquisitions in 2006 and had lengthy Packers careers, with Woodson earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2009. Julius Peppers had a productive three-year Packers tenure as well after signing in 2014. However, the Packers did have spans of multiple years without significant free agent acquisitions.As a result of that approach, Thompson has become a polarizing figure in recent years among Packers fans. A handful of relatively unproductive drafts — particularly in 2015 — put a damper on the late years of Thompson’s tenure as the Packers struggled with depth over the past few seasons.In addition, Thompson has mentored numerous future NFL general managers coming up through the Packers’ personnel department. John Dorsey, John Schneider https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Paul-Hornung-Jersey , Reggie McKenzie, and current Packers GM Brian Gutekunst all got their jobs after working for Thompson in the Packers front office.Currently Thompson still works for the Packers in an advisory role, which he took after stepping down from the GM post in early 2018.Congratulations to Ted, and APC wishes him well in the future. The Packers’ rookie class includes three players with overall ratings above 70 in the upcoming installment of Madden NFL." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesAcme Packing Company homepageHorizontal - WhiteAcme Packing Companya Green Bay Packers communityFollow Acme Packing Company online:Follow Acme Packing Company on TwitterFollow Acme Packing Company on FacebookFollow Acme Packing Company on InstagramLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchAcme Packing Company main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsPackersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections The APC PodcastPackers Film RoomFantasy Football AdviceCDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Madden NFL 20 ratings for Packers rookies releasedTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesThough the newest edition of the Madden NFL doesn’t come out for another month, game developer EA Sports has released the player ratings for the incoming rookie class. That includes the Packers’ eight draft picks and an undrafted free agent, several of which received ratings above 70.Green Bay’s top rookie, No. 12 overall selection Rashan Gary, scored a 73 overall launch rating. Safety Darnell Savage and tight end Jace Sternberger came in just behind, each receiving a 72. The rest of the Packers’ draft class landed between 63 and 69. Undrafted free agent Yosh Nijman also received a grade Bart Starr Jersey , coming in at 56.Madden famously grades rookies conservatively, preferring to start them off with low ratings and adjusting them as the season unfolds. Not even 2019 No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray avoided a low score, starting out at 73 overall. Still, most if not all of the Packers’ rookies will see their ratings change before the end of the 2019 season.Not everyone cares for that approach, particularly the rookies themselves, as the developers of Madden 20 have documented:Check out how the Packers’ rookie class graded below:LE Rashan Gary - 73FS Darnell Savage - 72TE Jace Sternberger - 72RG Elgton Jenkins - 69CB Ka’Dar Hollman - 66HB Dexter Williams - 66RE Kingsley Keke - 65MLB Ty Summers - 63