What's the key to the Packers' sustained success?
It's been eight years since the Green Bay Packers missed the playoffs or finished below second in the NFC North.
It's easy to point to All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers as the reason for those wins, but there's another man who's got his fingerprints all over the Packers' success.
If you talk to many Green Bay fans about the direction of their team in free agency or the draft, you may get a familiar response: "In Ted We Trust." Packers general manager Ted Thompson has held his position since 2005. He missed the playoffs in three of his first four seasons and hasn't looked back.
The Packers are currently tied with the New England Patriots for the longest active playoff streak at seven seasons. That longevity of success doesn't come easy in the NFL, but Thompson and the Packers have found the right mix of good fortune and smart strategies to get the job done.
Conservative in free agency
The Packers are set to potentially start just three players acquired in free agency next season. Outside linebacker Julius Peppers was signed from the Chicago Bears in 2014. Former Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Letroy Guion also arrived in 2014 and tight end Jared Cook was added this offseason from the Los Angeles Rams.
Green Bay has elected to spend their free agency money on their own guys. It's a conservative approach that reduces the risk of foolishly overspending. Instead of trying to figure out a player's worth by watching from afar, talking on the phone or a potential afternoon meeting, the Packers use their rookies' four-five year contracts as an extended interview. Thompson and his management team watch their young players' work habits, personalities, performances, and interactions with teammates before they invest.
There's no doubt the Packers wouldn't be able to keep up this strategy and continue as a perennial playoff contender if it weren't for their strong draft classes. Being able to essentially fill their starting roster through the draft means they're never forced to make moves in free agency.
The draft plan
Thompson's free-agent approach and ability to re-sign his own players relies heavily on having success through the draft. Publicly, the Packers have never said what they do differently in their scouting and draft process, but clearly they know some things others don't.
The Packers have had just one pick in the top 20 since 2008, yet they've found a way to fill out their starting lineup through the draft. Every team preaches that it wants to pick the best player available with every selection of the draft and the Packers do just that, but they have their own board. While the players selected may not be the most obvious picks according to popular outlets and internet mock drafts, they often work out just as expected.
The jury is still out on his 2016 crop of prospects, but six out of Thompson's last eight top picks are regular contributors for the Packers. One of the two players who isn't chipping in is recently-retired defensive tackle B.J. Raji, who could return next season. In Thompson's tenure, he has also found six Pro Bowlers and dozens of quality starters after the first round.
Not to mention, Thompson began his run with the Packers by making one of the team's all-time greatest picks: Aaron Rodgers.
The franchise quarterback
Part of being a successful team over a long period of time in the NFL is having a good quarterback and the Packers have one of the best. Rodgers is a two-time regular-season MVP and was named the top player of Super Bowl XLV after bringing the Lombardi Trophy home.
Even Thompson didn't know how good Rodgers was going to be when the Packers selected him 24th overall in 2005, but he's been a part of his general manager's success. The simple fact is that it's easier to build a complete team if you don't have to worry about the quarterback.
It's rare for any franchise to have long-term success without a solid leader under center, but it doesn't mean success will be automatic; it takes a team effort.
Seven of the nine top quarterbacks, according to 2015 passing-yard totals, failed to lead their team to the playoffs. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers often finish their seasons among the league leaders in all passing categories.
The Saints have been a salary-cap disaster with a laughable defense, resulting in a 7-9 record in three of the past four seasons. The Chargers have dealt with injuries and an unbalanced roster for the past few seasons, failing to reach the postseason in five of its last six years.
Like the Patriots, Rodgers and the Packers have combined extraordinary quarterback play with excellent coaching and smart management moves. Bill Belichick and his team don't operate under the same conservative style as Thompson's crew, but, in similar fashion, they haven't rested on the laurels and talents of Tom Brady to have success.
The Packers have the most homegrown players of any team in the league. By trusting Thompson and his front office at the draft, investing in their own players over free agents, and being fortunate enough to land a leader like Rodgers, the Packers have found success by trusting themselves.