Green Bay Packers Dairyland Draft: Team Starr
Dairyland Express conducted a historic draft of every player who ever suited up for the Green Bay Packers. Check out team Starr.
Its official, the Dairyland Draft was a success. A few of my colleagues and I each built a 22-man roster consisting of the greatest Green Bay Packers of all time and a specific year they dominated. Needless to say, everyone has a great team and a lot of thought was put into each squad. Now, it’s up for you to weigh in and decide who formed the best team.
Without further ado here is my team:
Offense
QB Bart Starr (1966)
2,257 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 62 percent completion percentage (led league)
In 1966, Starr led the Packers to an 11-2 record on their way to a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl I. Not only did he win Super Bowl MVP, but he was also voted league MVP by the Associated Press. This was also the year of Starr’s one and only selection to the first-team All Pro. He laid down the foundation of what it means to be the quarterback for the greatest franchise in the NFL. His Hall of Fame induction came in 1977 after winning two Super Bowls and three NFL championships
RB Dorsey Levens (1997)
1,435 rushing yards, 329 carries, 7 touchdowns, 53 receptions, 370 receiving yards, 5 receiving touchdowns
Levens was one of the key reasons Green Bay’s offense ranked fourth overall in 1997. He helped get the Packers to back to back Super Bowls lining up in the backfield behind MVP Brett Favre. Levens finished fourth in rushing yards and led all running backs with five receiving touchdowns. 1997 was the only year he was voted to the pro bowl.
LT Chad Clifton (2010)
Clifton was one of the NFL’s best blindside protectors during his 12-year career. He was a pro-bowler for both Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers and helped the Packers win Super Bowl XLV.
LG Mike Wahle (2004)
Wahle and Clifton locked down the left side of Green Bay’s offensive line from 2000-2004. The Packers 2004 offense ranked third in the league thanks to the stability up front.
C Mike Flanagan (2003)
Flanagan was one of the best centers of the early 2000s earning a pro bowl in 2003. He blocked in the middle of one the best offensive lines in league history made up of Clifton, Wahle, Marco Rivera, and Mark Tauscher.
RG Fuzzy Thurston (1961)
One of the many great trench men from the Lombardi era, Thurston was honored as a first-team All-Pro in 1961.
RT Greg Koch (1983)
Green Bay’s 1983 offense ranked second in the league in yards gained but a putrid defense kept them out of the playoffs. Koch immediately became a mainstay at right tackle even earning a second-team All-Pro bid in 1982. Koch was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 2010.
TE Mark Chmura (1995)
679 receiving yards, 54 receptions, 7 touchdowns
One of the best nicknames in Packers history belongs to Mark “Chewy” Chmura. The 6-5 tight end was one of Favre’s favorite targets during the 90s. 1995 was the first of his three pro bowls as he hauled in 72 percent of the passes thrown his way.
WR Donald Driver (2004)
1,208 receiving yards, 84 receptions, 9 touchdowns
Arguably the greatest receiver in franchise history, Donald Driver is one of the most memorable players throughout the entire fan base. From 2004 to 2009 he totaled at least 1,000 yards receiving in each season. He is Green Bay’s all-time leader in receiving yards and receptions and is a member of the Packers Hall of Fame. Driver has also been considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for being one of the most consistent receivers in NFL history.
WR Greg Jennings (2010)
1,265 receiving yards, 76 receptions, 12 touchdowns
Jennings was an electric route runner and two-time pro-bowler for the Packers. His 2010 season earned him an invite to the pro bowl as he finished fourth in the league in yards and tied for second in touchdowns. He was the lead receiver during the Packers run to the 2010 Super Bowl.
WR Boyd Dowler (1967)
836 receiving yards, 54 receptions, 4 touchdowns
Dowler was one of Starr’s favorite targets so I picked him up later in the draft so my franchise QB could have some familiarity. He was a top-10 receiver in the 60s earning two pro bowl invites.
Defense
DE Vonnie Holliday (2001)
72 tackles, 7 sacks, 6 pass deflections, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble
Holliday holds the Packers single-game record for sacks with five in one game. The 2001 season was his career high in tackles and he was second on the team in sacks.
DT John Jurkovic (1993)
More from Green Bay Packers
- Packers Week 14 Rooting Guide: Best Outcomes for Playoff Odds
- What to Know: Packers reportedly sign RB Kenyan Drake
- Packers Rookie Ladder After Massive Win Over Chiefs
- What to Know: Packers claim CB David Long off waivers
- Packers Week 13 Playoff Update: Green Bay Controls Their Own Destiny
40 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Jurkovic is well known for his midday radio show on ESPN Radio 1000 in Chicago, but he was also a pretty good football player. He spent five of nine NFL seasons with the Packers with his best coming in 1993. The Green Bay defense ranked second in the league in yards allowed.
DT Cletidus Hunt (2002)
36 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries
Hunt was a bear of a man standing at 6-4 305 pounds. He took on blocks and plugged holes for a number of great Green Bay defenses. His career was cut short after suffering a severe shoulder injury in 2005.
DE Nick Perry (2016)
52 tackles, 11 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 1 interception
Perry’s 2016 season is what earned him a five-year, $60 million dollar contract last offseason. His 11 sacks in 14 games led the team and helped him gain leverage against the argument he was a first-round bust. He’s only lined up as a 3-4 edge rusher but should have no problem adjusting to a full-time defensive end.
OLB Dan Currie (1961)
3 interceptions, 1 touchdown, 2 fumble recoveries
Currie lined up alongside Ray Nitschke and Bill Forrester forming the best linebacking corps of the 1960s. He was voted to the pro bowl in 1960 and was a first-team All Pro member in 1962. Currie was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1961 as an iconic sports figure. He’s also a member of the Packers Hall of Fame.
MLB Ray Nitschke (1962)
4 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 4 fumble recoveries
Nitschke is known for being a leader of men and one of the greatest players in Packers history. He’s highly regarded as one of the meanest and toughest players to ever play in the NFL. I chose his 1962 campaign due to his four interceptions. He finished with 25 for his career which is tied for the most among Green Bay linebackers. Nitschke is a two-time All Pro and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a member of five world championship teams that included the first two Super Bowls.
OLB Fred Carr (1975)
3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries
Carr was ahead of his time as one of the most athletic defenders in the game. Head coach Vince Lombardi called him the greatest athlete he ever had. Standing 6-5 240 pounds he was an imposing presence for opposing offenses. Carr was a three-time pro bowler and is a member of the Packers Hall of Fame. He was voted to the second-team All Pro in 1975 but is often forgotten among Packer greats because he played on a lot of bad teams.
CB Tramon Williams (2010)
6 interceptions, 20 pass deflections, 57 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble
Williams was one of the best players on this championship defense. 2010 came during the thick of his prime and is the year of his lone pro bowl. Williams led the team in picks and defended passes. He will go down as one of the best corners in Packers history when he hangs up his cleats.
CB Casey Hayward (2012)
6 interceptions, 21 pass deflections, 48 tackles, 1 forced fumble
Hayward’s rookie season was incredible. He led the team in picks and pass deflections while finishing third in defensive rookie of the year voting. Ted Thompson choosing not to resign Hayward after his rookie contract was up will go down as one of the biggest mistakes in franchise history. Since becoming a Charger he has emerged into a shutdown corner and is regarded as one of the best in the game at his position.
FS Darren Sharper (2000)
Sharper is a future Hall of Famer despite life-altering legal troubles after his playing career. In 2000, he led the league in interceptions and was a first-team All Pro. Sharper will go down as one of the best ball-hawking safeties in NFL history and currently ranks 8th overall in career picks.
SS Mark Murphy (1988)
5 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveries
Not to be confused with current Packers president, this Mark Murphy played for Green Bay and not the Washington Redskins. Murphy was said to be a powerful hitter but lacked top end speed which he made up for with high football IQ. He led the team in tackles and interceptions in 1988 and was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1998.
Summary
My offense will have plenty of versatility with some of the best route-runners and pass catchers the league has ever seen. The O-line will keep Starr upright and give him plenty of time to find the open man or dump it off to Levens who will be always be remembered as a great receiving back.
On the other side of the ball, I am not sure how you expect to score. The secondary is second to none and the front seven is full of absolute dogs. With Ray Nitschke anchoring the middle, any defense will perform at a high level.
Feel free to provide feedback in the comment section below of what you think of my team.