We lost the past two years mostly as a result of losing two very important players who have yet (pending this year's offseason additions) to be replaced: Nick Collins and Cullen Jenkins.

Two of the top players at their positions on D in the NFL. Equally adept pass rush and run stopping ability on the line, and Pro Bowl Safety range and play. Had we not lost both of these players, I think we would have repeated and won back to back SBs 2010 and 2011.

Our potent offense failed to compensate for our losses on D, compounding the situation with some unsuccessful game plans that forced this tired, undermanned D onto the field time and time again. We were so close, yet undermanned at a couple of important positions made very, very clear in some horrific losses throughout these past two seasons.

Add to this the loss to injury of other KEY players, either highly regarded starters or players acquired to replace key losses, and it is amazing how well we actually fared:

Bulaga
Sherrod
Perry
Bishop
Woodson
Jennings
Worthy
Finley
Neal

Some or all of these players missed significant time due to injury, or had their play/impact adversely affected in trying to come off of injury. Now, we get some of these players returning, and others added at key positions. I'm hopeful we can stay healthy, and turn this around.

Winning Championships is the true mark of success. It is time we won some more, and I think we will.

You can't count Bishop, Smith and Jones. They all play the same position. They cut Smith because he can't cut it in their system. Jones was thrust into service due to injuries. Crosby is a kicker for pete sakes. most kickers are UDFA. There is no guarantee of Flynn starting and he did not start for GB so there was no benefit to GB expect as a backup. Wilson started but that was only because they had no other options. I think most people would not have their feels hurt if he were cut this year. There is not going to be any clamor for retiring his number or putting him in the the Packer Hall. (Yes I am being sarcastic and facetious.) That he started is actually a testimony to the need to selecting better quality players and letting the 6th round picks be reserves on the team.

Out of the 19 player only Jolly, Bishop and Starks were true starters and Starks is a question mark at best. 3 out of 19 is 16%. I am sure if you go back and look at the 2nd-4th round picks the number is much higher. Even using your number of 8 that is 42%. The odds of finding a starter in the other rounds is still a whole lot greater.

I have no problem with drafting in the lower rounds but the truth is these players tend to be 2nd and 3rd sting fill in players. Certainly the cream will rise to the top and a few players go on to have solid careers. If you want impact players that can change a game don't look for them in the bottom of the barrel. For the most part they are at the top. You get what you pay for. Teddy likes to bargain shop and he gets a bunch of players that are not ready for prime time players. You won't find Clay Matthews very often in the 7th round.

Lets look at the NFL as a whole ... and really where players come from. Below.. they look at the "top 20" players from each draft.

After the first round.. I would say it is pretty balanced through the middle of each draft.. almost up to the 6th and 7th round.

So it really is just putting more bullets in the gun after the first round. For reference.. 50% of 2nd rounders are hits.. so if you only have a 50% chance of grabbing an impact player in the second round.. why not increase the odds like he did this year to slide back and add picks later that will in turn increase the impact of your second round pick?

Image source..

Second Round #'s Source..

your chart proves my point. The 6th and 7th rounds are almost devoid of starters. As you mention I don't mind trading back from a low first round pick to getting a couple of 2nd round picks. But to trade back and get a 2nd round pick and get 3 6/7 round picks is a waste.

I also don't have a problem with rounds 3-5 either. There are more misses than hits but it is still a lot better than 6/7 rounds.

I was not speaking specifically about this year's draft. I was talking about Ted's overall draft persona is to move down. He usually ends up with a ton of 6/7 round picks. I am not saying he does a bad job. I am not saying they don't have a good scout system. Heck if you think about it there were "experts" who questioned whether or not CM3 would be a mid round draft pick and why move up to get him. They knew. They could do the same thing other times as well in other years. Either they choose not to or the other teams are asking too much to make it work. We don't know. One more thing. Before someone says I am saying this- They can't move up every single year. Sometimes they can move up and sometimes they can move down. Ted tends to move down a whole lot more than he moves up. He accumulates players who can't make this team and who are picked up elsewhere. Instead of getting 50 players who can't make the team I am saying get 3 who can make a huge difference. (EXAGGERATION PEOPLE)