When is perception not actually reality?
Perhaps when it comes to Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson.
Thompson often takes a beating for his work in the first round of the NFL draft. But upon closer inspection, he's much better than given credit for.
Thompson has had 11 first-round draft picks during his 11 drafts in Green Bay. Seven of those — quarterback Aaron Rodgers (2005), linebacker A.J. Hawk (2006), nose tackle B.J. Raji (2009), linebacker Clay Matthews (2009), tackle Bryan Bulaga (2010), safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (2014) and cornerback Damarious Randall (2015) — have ranged between solid starters to elite players.