Packers Have Zero Luck with First Round Defensive Linemen
December 11, 2008 by
Reports out of Green Bay have the Packers 2007 first round draft pick Justin Harrell potentially missing another game with an injury; an on-going problem since being selected 16th overall.
It's obviously way too early to try to pin a bust label on Harrell, who is in just his second pro season. But, if his injuries continue to be a problem, it will continue a recent trend for the Packers when it comes to drafting defensive linemen in the first
round.
In the past 28 years, the Packers have drafted 5 defensive linemen, including Harrell. None of the four selected before him stayed in Green Bay for long. Here's a brief history of their failures since 1980.
1980 - The Packers select Bruce Clark with the 4th overall pick of the draft. Rather than play in Green Bay, Clark elects to sign with the Canadian Football League. He later returns to the NFL to play for the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs; making the Pro Bowl in 1984.
1984 - Green Bay drafts Alphonso Carreker with the 12th overall pick. He ends up with 8 sacks in 1985 but only manages19 ½ over five seasons with the team. He plays two more seasons (1989 and 1991) with the Denver Broncos.
1998 - Vonnie Holliday is drafted by the Packers with the 19th overall pick. Unlike the others on this list, he actually plays at a high level for Green Bay, recording 32 sacks over 5 seasons despite injuries that cause him to miss a combined 14 games. However, the Packers decide not to re-sign him after his rookie contract expires in 2002; electing to re-sign defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt instead. Holliday is now a starter for the Miami Dolphins while Hunt was released by the Packers in 2004 and is no longer in the league.
2001- The Packers draft Jamal Reynolds with the 10th overall pick. In three seasons with the team, he plays in just 12 games. After failing to trade him to the Indianapolis Colts, the Packers release him outright in 2004. He is signed by the Cleveland Browns but fails to make their final roster.
It's a history that does not bode well for Harrell and fans can only hope he can be the one to break the trend.
It's obviously way too early to try to pin a bust label on Harrell, who is in just his second pro season. But, if his injuries continue to be a problem, it will continue a recent trend for the Packers when it comes to drafting defensive linemen in the first
In the past 28 years, the Packers have drafted 5 defensive linemen, including Harrell. None of the four selected before him stayed in Green Bay for long. Here's a brief history of their failures since 1980.
1980 - The Packers select Bruce Clark with the 4th overall pick of the draft. Rather than play in Green Bay, Clark elects to sign with the Canadian Football League. He later returns to the NFL to play for the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs; making the Pro Bowl in 1984.
1984 - Green Bay drafts Alphonso Carreker with the 12th overall pick. He ends up with 8 sacks in 1985 but only manages19 ½ over five seasons with the team. He plays two more seasons (1989 and 1991) with the Denver Broncos.
1998 - Vonnie Holliday is drafted by the Packers with the 19th overall pick. Unlike the others on this list, he actually plays at a high level for Green Bay, recording 32 sacks over 5 seasons despite injuries that cause him to miss a combined 14 games. However, the Packers decide not to re-sign him after his rookie contract expires in 2002; electing to re-sign defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt instead. Holliday is now a starter for the Miami Dolphins while Hunt was released by the Packers in 2004 and is no longer in the league.
2001- The Packers draft Jamal Reynolds with the 10th overall pick. In three seasons with the team, he plays in just 12 games. After failing to trade him to the Indianapolis Colts, the Packers release him outright in 2004. He is signed by the Cleveland Browns but fails to make their final roster.
It's a history that does not bode well for Harrell and fans can only hope he can be the one to break the trend.
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Aaron Smith
Posted on 12/11/2008 at 11:12:42 PM