The NFL draft kicks off this Thursday at 7 pm with the first round. The Packers currently hold the 29th pick in the first round. With everyone wondering who the Packers are going to select, I wanted to look at who they selected when they held the 29th pick and you was picked the past few years in that spot.

Past 5 years 29th selections:

  • 2020 – Tennessee Titans select OT Isaiah Wilson
  • 2019 – Seattle Seahawks select DE L.J. Collier
  • 2018 – Jacksonville Jaguars select DT Taven Bryan
  • 2017 – The Green Bay Packers held the 29th selection. They traded the selection to Cleveland in exchange for the second and forth round selections (33rd and 108th). The Cleveland Browns then selected TE David Njoku with the 29th selection. The very next pick the Pittsburgh Steelers selected T.J. Watt from Wisconsin.
  • 2016 – Arizona Cardinals select DT Robert Nkemdiche

As we can see already, the Packers recently held the 29th selection in the 2017 NFL draft. They traded back and selected Kevin King with the 33rd pick in the second round that year. Much has been talked about that draft as the very next selection was T.J. Watt, which a lot of Packers were hoping the team would select. There is a good chance that General Manager Brian Gutekunst will trade back this year as well.

The Packers made two selections in the 29th spot since 1992. Those two selections actually turned out to be impact players for them, George Teague and Nick Barnett.

In the 1993 NFL Draft, then general manager Ron Wolf snagged the playmaking safety that he was looking. The Packers had already selected in the first round at number 15 where they selected linebacker Wayne Simmons. Wolf than had to move back into the first round. He traded two second round picks, a fourth round pick and at that time an eighth rounder to Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys for the 29th selection in the first round and a fourth rounder. With the 29th selection, he picked safety George Teague from Alabama.

It turned out to be a great decision by Wolf as George Teague turned out to be playmaking safety the Packers needed. Teague became a starter the fourth game that season and earned NFL All-Rookie team honors.

In 1994 Teague has three interceptions and he had two during the 1995 season. Teague ended up only playing three seasons with the Packers, as he was traded before the season in 1996 to the Atlanta Falcons for fellow safety Eugene Robinson.

The Packers most recent selection in the 29th spot occurred during the 2003 NFL Draft. At the time, the Packers head coach and general manager was Mike Sherman. He selected LB Nick Barnett with the teams first selection at 29.

What can we say about Nick Barnett that hasn’t already been said. He played 8 seasons with the Packers and earned All-Rookie Honors in 2003 and All-Pro Honors in 2007. He was the anchor of the Packers defense during his tenure with the team.

Barnett still holds several franchise records such as most total tackles in a single season with 194 in 2005, most seasons leading the team in tackles, and most consecutive seasons leading the team in tackles. He also ranks third in the franchise’s history leading tackler list with 1,014. A pretty impressive tenure with the Green and Gold. This selection in the 29th spot turned out pretty well.

So, when the Packers did select at 29, things seemed to work out well for them whether it was for a short period of time or a longer tenure. Its a limited history at the 29th spot, but if we follow these two selections, then it could turn out well. The question remains, will the Packers stay at 29 or trade up or back? We are a few days away from learning what General Manager Brian Gutekunst will do.

Go Pack Go!

Anthony Haag is a writer for PackersTalk.com. He has been a Packers fan since the day he was born and truly bleeds green and gold. He makes annual visits to Lambeau Field and has attended his fair share of games. You can follow Anthony on Twitter at @anthony_haag