Green Bay Packers Draft Review 2010

The Green Bay Packers draft review for the 2010 NFL draft details seven picks, all of which have played significant time for the team at some point. Five still play for the Packers, with the other two were signed by other teams this off-season. The 2009 review was the first attempt in recreating the Packers defense. After a terrible playoff loss to the Cardinals that season, Ted Thompson used the 2010 draft to fill in the missing links to a Super Bowl champion team.

Round 1, Pick 23: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa. Grade: A+

Bulaga took the right tackle job after injury to Chad Clifton five weeks into the 2010 season, and never gave it back. He became the youngest starter in Super Bowl history. Despite worries on his arm length, Bulaga has clearly become a quality starter.

He was given the left tackle job for the 2013 season, but a hip injury sidelined him for the year, and David Bakhtiari took his place. Chances are Bulaga will go back to the right side in an effort to secure a second contract with the Packers.

Mike Neal sacks Jay Cutler

Round 2, Pick 56: Mike Neal, DE, Purdue. Grade: C-

Neal would have received a lower grade prior to this year, as 2013 was his first season playing in all 16 games. However, he filled in admirably for the injured Nick Perry and Clay Matthews, finishing the season third on the team with 5.0 sacks. Neal made the move from lineman to linebacker without argument, which also played in his favor. But only getting 20 games from a second round pick in his first three years is unforgivable.

Round 3, Pick 71: Morgan Burnett, S, Georgia Tech. Grade: A-

Burnett took the starting job opposite Nick Collins at the beginning of his rookie season. Other than missing the rest of the 2010 season after week 5, Burnett has kept the job ever since. After trading up 15 spots to grab Burnett, Thompson proved Burnett's value by signing him to a four-year contract. Always a top tackler on the team, the only reason Burnett isn't an A is his lack of ability to cover. He has been beaten on coverage numerous times by athletic tight ends.

Round 5, Pick 154: Andrew Quarless, TE, Penn State. Grade: D

Quarless filled in well enough in a committee for Jermichael Finley in 2010 to help the Packers win the Super Bowl. However, outside of that, he's done very little. He missed the entire 2012 campaign due to a knee injury, and has only three touchdown catches in three playing seasons. Not all that much was expected, however, as Finley has been ahead of him on the depth chart his entire career.

Round 5, Pick 169: Marshall Newhouse, OT, TCU. Grade: D-

I may be a bit harsh here, but I'm calling it as I see it. Despite Newhouse starting 13 games in the record-setting 2011 season, and 16 games in 2012, he was always the weak point of the offensive line. In his limited action in 2013, Pro Football Focus rated him a -9.7, or the 36th best offensive tackle on the market this off-season. The only reason I didn't grade him F is because he started so many games. Despite not being good, he still made the starts.

Round 6, Pick 193: James Starks, RB, Buffalo. Grade: C

The Packers had incredibly high hopes for Starks, whose stock grade dropped because of a shoulder injury sustained during his senior season. He ended up finishing the 2010 season and postseason as the starting running back, adding the missing dimension the team needed to get to the title. Since then, however, he's been injury prone and unable to take on a starter's load. He played very well this past season as a third down / spell back, which seems to be all his body can take. He tested free agency waters this year, and got no bites, coming back to Green Bay in the same capacity.

Round 7, Pick 230: CJ Wilson, DE, East Carolina. Grade: C

Wilson was not stellar at rushing the passer or stuffing the run, but performed well enough at both to stay in the league (and on the team) for the past four seasons. Great value for a seventh round pick, but no memories that stick out.