Packers hold 30th pick in 2015 draft

The Green Bay Packers will have the 30th pick of the first round in 2015 NFL draft, the league officially announced Tuesday.

If general manager Ted Thompson holds onto the selection, it'll be only the second time the Packers have drafted out of the No. 30 spot. The first came in 1997 when they drafted Iowa tackle Ross Verba, who made 107 career starts over nine NFL seasons.

The Packers were slotted for the 30th pick in the 2008 draft, but Thompson traded back with the New York Jets for second- and fourth-round draft choices. While the Jets drafted tight end Dustin Keller in the Packers' place, Green Bay selected All-Pro receiver Jordy Nelson at No. 36.

The Packers have several areas to address this offseason, including inside linebacker and tight end. In the midst of their draft preparation, the Packers will continue collecting information at the NFL scouting combine Feb. 17-23 in Indianapolis.

Until then, here's a look at what other NFL teams have done with the 30th pick over the past decade:

2014 – San Francisco: Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois

There was a lot of buzz around Ward last summer, but the 5-foot-11, 193-pound defensive back was placed on season-ending injured reserve in November after re-injuring his foot in the 49ers' 27-24 overtime win over New Orleans. He played eight games, mostly as San Francisco's nickel cornerback. He finished his rookie season with 20 tackles and two pass deflections.

2013 – St. Louis: Alec Olgetree, LB, Georgia

The 6-foot-2, 245-pound outside linebacker has started his NFL career with back-to-back 100-tackle seasons in the Rams' 4-3 defense. He hasn't missed a start and tallied 22 pass deflections, 10 career forced fumbles and three interceptions. His 111 tackles (85 solo) edged safety T.J. McDonald and linebacker James Laurinaitis for the team lead.

2012 – San Francisco: A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illinois

Jenkins has been a bust in his first three NFL seasons. The 49ers washed their hands of the 6-foot, 200-pound receiver after playing only three games without a catch his rookie season. Afterward, they swapped him with Kansas City's Jon Baldwin. Jenkins has 17 catches for 223 yards in 25 career games with the Chiefs. He finished the year on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

2011 – New York Jets: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive tackle has been impactful in his first four NFL seasons, recording 237 tackles, 24½ sacks and seven forced fumbles. He was named second-team All-Pro after registering a career-high 10½ sacks in 2013. He was fined $20,000 for his role in a scuffle following a touchdown against the Packers in Week 2.

2010 – Detroit: Jahvid Best, RB, California

Best flashed some potential during his brief NFL career, but three concussions in two seasons ended his career prematurely. He had 255 carries for 945 yards and six touchdowns in 22 games, including 15 starts, before being released in July 2013. The Detroit Free-Press reported last week that Best has joined the concussion lawsuit against the league.

2009 – Tennessee: Kenny Britt, WR, Tennessee

Britt (6-3, 223) has had his share of off-the-field issues and hasn't lived up to his first-round label with 205 catches for 3,198 yards and 22 touchdowns in 73 career games. He reunited with former Titans coach Jeff Fisher on one-year deal with St. Louis and responded with the best season (48-748-3) since 2010 (42-775-9). The two sides reportedly are in talks about a reunion in 2015.

2008 – New York Jets (from Green Bay): Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue

Keller caught 241 passes for 2,876 yards and 17 touchdowns in his five NFL seasons. He had his best year in 2011 when he set career-highs with 65 receptions for 815 yards and five touchdowns. He signed with Miami in 2013, but spent the year on injured reserve after blowing out his knee in the preseason. He hasn't played since.

2007 – San Diego: Craig Davis, WR, LSU

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound receiver played minimally during his four NFL seasons, all with the Chargers. He finished with 51 catches for 558 yards and two touchdowns in 26 games. He battled injuries during his career and was released by San Diego in July 2011. Buffalo signed him for the remainder of camp, but releasing him during final cuts.

2006 – Indianapolis: Joseph Addai, RB, LSU

The 5-foot-11, 214-pound running back rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons, but never was able to fill the large shoes Edgerrin James left in the backfield. Addai won the Super Bowl his rookie year and played in another in 2009. He made one Pro Bowl in his six NFL seasons. After a brief stint with New England in 2011, Addai finished his career with 4,453 yards and 39 touchdowns.

2005 – Pittsburgh: Heath Miller, TE, Virginia

A durable and dependable tight end, Miller has missed only seven games in his 10-year career. As a rookie, he started 15 games during the Steelers' run to the Super Bowl. At 32 years old, he still had one of his best NFL seasons in 2014 with 66 receptions for 761 yards and three touchdowns. The 6-foot-5, 256-pound tight end has 532 catches for 6,034 yards and 43 touchdowns in 153 starts.