Packers Draft History: Picking at 30 overall, Green Bay has had little lasting success

The Packers got a combined seven years out of four draft picks at 30 overall.

The Green Bay Packers hold ten draft picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, and for a team that has a storied, 100-year history, they have predictably made selections in the past at every one of these draft slots. Over the next few days leading up to this year’s draft, Acme Packing Company will examine the Packers’ history at each current slot for 2019, as well as run down the names of recent picks around the league at the position.

The Packers have made the 30th selection in the NFL Draft four times, the same number of picks that they have made at 12th overall. However, while the team found a Hall of Famer at 12, they have had much less success at 30. In fact, the Packers’ four draft picks at that slot played a combine seven seasons for the franchise, and the most recent pick had a significant flame-out with the coaching staff before being dealt away before his rookie contract expired.

Packers History at 30

1950: Gordie Soltau, E

The first of those picks was end Gordie Soltau from Minnesota. However, Soltau never played for the Packers, instead ending up in San Francisco. He made three Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team there. He amassed 3,487 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns and also contributed as the team’s kicker for most of his career, making 42 of 70 field goal attempts and 284 of 303 PATs.

1966: Tom Cichowski, OT

The team’s next 30th pick also never played for Green Bay. They drafted offensive tackle Tom Cichowski in 1966, but he played for the AFL’s Denver Broncos for two years before his career came to a close.

1997: Ross Verba, OL

The next two picks will be much more memorable for younger Packers fans. Ron Wolf selected Iowa offensive lineman Ross Verba at #30 in 1997, making him the team’s first selection after winning Super Bowl XXXI. He played left tackle and left guard in Green Bay for four years before heading to Cleveland as a free agent in 2001.

2015: Damarious Randall, CB

Finally, the most recent pick at 30 is a painful one, as Ted Thompson made Arizona State defensive back Damarious Randall the choice in 2015. Randall, a college safety and slot defender, was asked to play cornerback in Green Bay before being unceremoniously traded to the Browns during the 2018 offseason for quarterback DeShone Kizer. Randall famously got himself benched after a sideline tirade, leading to the team’s player leadership council requesting that the team release him outright midway through the 2017 season.

Randall has recorded at least three interceptions in each of his four NFL seasons, with two-pick sixes (both before his trade from Green Bay).

Recent History at #30

• 2018: Mike Hughes, CB, UCF (Vikings)
• 2017: T.J. Watt, OLB, Wisconsin (Steelers)
• 2016: Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech (Panthers)
• 2015: Damarious Randall, DB, Arizona State (Packers)
• 2014: Jimmie Ward, DB, Northern Illinois (49ers)
• 2013: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia (Rams)
• 2012: A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois (49ers)
• 2011: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple (Jets)

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