5 Green Bay Packers draft picks way worse than Jordan Love

Tony Mandarich | Offensive Tackle | Green Bay Packers 1989 first-round pick

The four of the first five draft picks in the 1989 first-round went onto iconic Hall of Fame careers. Unfortunately, the Green Bay Packers did not select any of those four players.

The Dallas Cowboys took quarterback Troy Aikman with the first pick of the draft. The Packers were on the clock with the second pick. Green Bay could have taken Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders. He turned out to be one of the greatest running backs of all time.

Cornerback Deion Sanders and linebacker Derrick Thomas were also available. The Green Bay Packers selected the “Incredible Bulk” Tony Mandarich.

Mandarich was a massively strong offensive lineman. He had the body and power to be a great offensive lineman.

The problem was Mandarich’s strength was based on steroid use. He also developed an addiction to painkillers.

Mandarich stopped using steroids in the NFL, which sapped much of his strength.

He went from the “Incredible Bulk” to the “Incredible Bust” in three seasons in Green Bay. Mandarich did return to the NFL five years later to have a decent run with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Packers may have traded up to draft Jordan Love, but his selection did not alter the franchise like the Mandarich pick.

Imagine the Green Bay Packers’ offense with Barry Sanders. The Packers probably win more than just one Super Bowl in the 1990s with Sanders running the ball.

Think about how fearsome the mid-90s Packers’ defenses would be with Deion Sanders or Derrick Thomas.

The other reason these five players were bigger busts is they all quickly lost any trade value very quickly. Love can still be traded for a draft pick between the second and fourth rounds. Maybe the Packers could get that pick right.