The Green Bay Packers have had a very good overall history of drafting players that end up having a positive impact on the team. While there are exceptions, it is safe to say that the front office has hit more often than not on their picks. One just needs to look at their roster (and highest paid players) to see names like Aaron Rodgers, David Bakhtiari, Aaron Jones, and Jaire Alexander to find Pro Bowl and All-Pro players that they have drafted. One round, however, has been a thorn in the Packers’ side for well over a decade: the third round. In fact, one would have to go all the away back to Morgan Burnett in 2011 to find a third round pick who made consistent positive contributions to the Packers over multiple seasons. What follows is a list of Green Bay’s third round draft picks since 2012 and how they performed with the Packers.
2012: No Third Round Draft Picks
The Green Bay Packers did not have a third round pick in 2012. It is notable, though, that just two of their picks from that draft are still in the NFL. Only Casey Hayward (second round) and Mike Daniels (fourth round) remain in the league.
2013: No Third Round Draft Picks
For the second straight season, the Packers did not have a pick in the third round. Of the players taken, only David Bakhtiari (fourth round) remains with Green Bay. JC Tretter and Micah Hyde still remain in the NFL.
2014: Khyri Thornton and Richard Rodgers
Khryi Thornton was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, but he never played a single down for them. In fact, he was cut after the preseason ended that year and wound up bouncing around from practice squad to practice squad. Thornton ended up playing 23 games with the Detroit Lions between 2015-2018 and recorded one sack. He is now playing in the Canadian Football League.
Richard Rodgers, on the other hand, enjoyed a nice four-year stint with the Packers. His best season was 2015 when he had 58 receptions for 510 yards and eight touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown on his single carry of the season. Of course, Rodgers will be forever remembered by Packers fans for his catching of Aaron Rodgers’ Hail Mary pass in Detroit.
December 3, 2015: ‘Miracle in Motown’
Aaron Rodgers connected with Richard Rodgers for a 61-yard Hail Mary as the Packers (-3) beat the Lions 27-23!
This Week: Green Bay (-8.5) v. Phillypic.twitter.com/ns32futbgo
— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) December 3, 2020
Richard Rodgers is still playing in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. As far as third round picks go, he cannot be considered too terrible. However, he did have just one productive season with the Packers.
- 2014: 20 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns
- 2015: 58 receptions for 510 yards and eight touchdowns
- 2016: 30 receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns
- 2017: 12 receptions for 160 yards and one touchdown
2015: Ty Montgomery
Like Richard Rodgers, Ty Montgomery had a solid second season with the Green Bay Packers that led many to believe he would become something more. It just did not happen. Perhaps it was because the Packers couldn’t decide what position in which to play him. Perhaps it was because he just is not that good. In any case, the Packers really bombed in the 2015 NFL Draft all together. Below is a list of their picks that year.
- First Round: Damarious Randall
- Second Round: Quinten Rollins
- Third Round: Ty Montgomery
- Fourth Round: Jake Ryan
- Fifth Round: Brett Hundley
- Sixth Round: Aaron Ripkowski
- Sixth Round: Christian Ringo
- Sixth Round: Kennard Backman
2016: Kyler Fackrell
It seems that there is a common theme among many of these third round draft picks. They have a single good season with the Packers before falling off. This theme continues with Kyler Fackrell, the Packers’ third round pick in 2016. This is the same draft that saw Green Bay take Kenny Clark in the first round.
After two rather ho-hum years with the Packers, Fackrell exploded in 2018. That season, he had 10.5 sacks and 42 tackles. The next year, he recorded just one sack even though he played all 16 games. The Packers decided not to bring him back after his rookie contract expired. Fackrell played for the New York Giants in 2020 and the Las Angeles Chargers last year. He signed a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this offseason.
2017: Montravious Adams
Remember that theme mentioned above? It does not apply here. Montravious Adams was the Green Bay Packers’ third round pick in 2017 and his time with the team is rather forgettable. He never was able to be the complimentary interior lineman to Kenny Clark that the Packers had hoped.
After his rookie contract expired, Adams signed with the New England Patriots in the spring of 2021. The Patriots, though, released him before the season even started. Adams spent last season with the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers. He re-signed with the Steelers earlier this offseason.
2018: Oren Burks
It is unfortunate that Oren Burks is on this list because he is as good of a person as one would want on their team. Burks and his family embraced the Green Bay community in ways that few have. However, his play on the field did not have as much of an impact as he did on the community.
Related: Oren Burks wins NFLPA Community MVP
The Green Bay Packers made Oren Burks their third round draft pick in 2018, the same year Jaire Alexander was taken in the first round. Of note, Alexander is the only member of the Packers 2018 Draft Class still on the team.
In four seasons with the Packers, Burks failed to become anything more than a special teams player. Oh, he received some playing time when starters got injured, but never played more than 19% of the defensive plays in any given season.
Burks signed with the San Francisco 49ers this offseason.
2019: Jace Sternberger
Of the eight players that the Green Bay Packers drafted in 2019, only half of them remain with the team. Third round draft pick Jace Sternberger is not one of them. In fact, he has not been with the Packers since the end of the 2020 season.
Related: The Packers waive Jace Sternberger
Sternberger battled injuries and addiction during his time in Green Bay. Unfortunately, his suspension for falling asleep behind the wheel of a parked car while intoxicated was really the only headline-worthy thing about his tenure.
Sternberger signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason after spending part of 2021 on the Washington Commanders practice squad.
2020: Josiah Deguara
We have reached the point in our history of Green Bay Packers third round draft picks where it is too early to clearly label players as busts. However, Josiah Deguara did not get off to the best start in his career as he suffered a season-ending knee injury in just his second career game.
In 2021, Deguara returned and played in 16 games for the Packers. He played in 35% of the offense’s snaps, hauling in 25 receptions for 245 yards and two touchdowns.
2022 will be a make-or-break year for Josiah Deguara and other young Packers tight ends. Robert Tonyan is coming off of a torn ACL, but is expected to be ready by Week One. In any case, he will have opportunities to play and must take advantage of them.
Related: Packers linked to former rival tight end for “insurance”
2021: Amari Rodgers
Amari Rodgers did not have the rookie campaign that many had hoped. He was given the kick returner job out of necessity after Kylin Hill’s torn ACL. That job he lost after numerous misplays and poor fielding skills. As a wide receiver, he had just four receptions for 45 yards.
Rodgers will certainly have a chance to show some improvements in his second year. Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are gone. If Randall Cobb is to be believed, Rodgers is sure to be impressive this year. However, until he shows improvement, he will appear as just another failed third round draft pick.
2022: Sean Rhyan
The Green Bay Packers drafted offensive tackle Sean Rhyan in the third round of this year’s draft. With the health of the offensive line still a question, he may get plenty of action as a young rookie. Lucky for him, offensive coordinator Adam Stenovich is an offensive line guru, and is able to get the absolute best out of his players.
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