It’s not as if Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers haven’t hit on any defensive linemen over the years. Mike Daniels — a fourth-rounder — is good. Kenny Clark — a first-rounder — has come on in his second season. It just seems that the early-round failures outnumber the hits.
It may be because that is indeed the case.
On Tuesday, two of Big Ted’s early-round flops were released.
Former first-round pick Datone Jones was released by the San Francisco 49ers.
Jones, who did next to nothing during his time in Green Bay, signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent this past offseason. He didn’t make their roster and later signed with the Detroit Lions. After the Lions released him, Jones eventually ended up with 49ers.
The other familiar name is former third-round pick Khyri Thornton.
Thornton made it only one season in Green Bay before getting the ax early in the 2015 season. He then spent about two weeks with the New England Patriots before getting waived. Thornton was claimed by the Detroit Lions and actually played and remained on their roster until Tuesday.
Of course, he opened this season with a six-game suspension for substance abuse. So there was that.
Oh, and hey, let’s not forget about former second-round pick Jerel Worthy.
Yeah, he’s still kicking around. He didn’t get released this week. He got released last week. That bum made through the 2012 and 2013 seasons with the Packers. He was traded to the New England Patriots in the summer of 2014, but didn’t make their roster. Worthy also spent time on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad in 2014.
He was released in 2015, claimed by the Detroit Lions and was unable to make their final roster. Worthy signed with the Buffalo Bills practice squad during the 2015 season and was added to the active roster in December.
He managed to stay there until be released last week.
Do any of these guys get another shot? We’d be surprised.
Good pickin’ Ted.