Packers pick ASU's Randall at No. 30

The Green Bay Packers selected defensive back Damarious Randall with the 30th overall pick Thursday night in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft.

Randall is a 5-10 7/8, 196-pound fifth-year senior from Arizona State, who spent his first two college seasons at the community college level. He ran a 4.42-second, 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

He's projected as a nickel slot cornerback after playing safety at Arizona State. He also is considered to have the ability to return kicks.

He will join Sam Shields, Casey Hayward, Demetri Goodson and Tay Glover-Wright at cornerback, along with versatile nickel backs Micah Hyde and Kyle Sebetic.

The Packers entered this year's draft with acute needs at inside linebacker and cornerback, while also looking for depth on the defensive line and at tight end. They started the draft owning nine picks – their own seven and two compensatory picks at the end of the sixth round.

This is Ted Thompson's 11th draft as Green Bay's general manager and it has provided the major building blocks for his organization. A total of 33 of the team's current 64 players were acquired via the draft.

Entering the 2015 draft, Thompson had made 96 total draft picks – 51 offensive players, 44 defensive players and one specialist.

Randall is the ninth cornerback (the first in the first round) and third Arizona State player Thompson has drafted in his 11 years.

The last time the Packers had the 30th overall pick, they traded it to the New York Jets for the 36th pick and a fourth-round pick in 2008. Green Bay used the No. 36 pick on receiver Jordy Nelson.

The last time the Packers selected a player at No. 30, they picked offensive tackle Ross Verba in 1997.

Thursday night's start of the three-day draft covered the first round. The second and third rounds are Friday with the clock starting on the first pick at 6 p.m. Saturday's fourth- through seventh-round picks start at 11 a.m.

Green Bay's season starts Sept. 13, a noon game at Chicago.