Aaron Rodgers suddenly is about 100x more popular than he was in spring 2005, not long after I joined this forum. Some posters liked him, notably ckparrothead, but approaching the draft I'm not sure I remember anybody saying he should be our pick at #2.
I didn't want Rodgers at that spot because I thought his mechanics were terrible and I attended a game his senior year against USC in which he threw nothing but 5 or 10 yards passes. Every time somebody was available downfield he refused to attempt the pass. It was so pathetic that sorority girls sitting near me in the Coliseum were literally laughing at Rodgers: "Why didn't he throw it? That was a touchdown. What a wimp."
Merril Hoge broke down that game on ESPN approaching the draft, spotlighting all the downfield plays Rodgers refused to attempt. He used it as ammunition to doubt Rodgers. Within a few years, Rodgers wasn't the same guy at all, either in mechanics or playing style. But don't let all these backfitting goofs pretend they would have taken him at #2. I might as well claim I would have loaded up on Apple stock beginning when Jobs returned. Actually, I did.
I liked Cadillac Williams and would have taken him, as I stated at the time. I still think he was a better back and better fit for what we were trying to do, run the ball often and effectively. Brown was too much of an all around guy, which leads to plenty of nothing. No identity. Cadillac got off to a great start but severe injuries altered his career.
In 2004 I loved Vince Wilfork and would have taken him. Defensive tackles are my favorite position in football. More than anything, I nearly drove off the road heading from Palm Springs to San Diego when the ESPN radio host said the Dolphins traded a 4th to Minnesota to move up one spot. Spielman should have been thrown off a cliff. The worst poker player in the world isn't that incompetent.
Some of the other ones I don't even remember. I was fine with Vontae Davis. I didn't want pop gun arm Matt Ryan at #1 so Jake Long seemed preferable above the other options. In 2012 I wanted Luke Kuechly and stated that here. Last year I wanted Eifert or Richardson at 12 if Tavon Austin didn't make it to that spot. After the trade up I would have taken Lane Johnson.
Ted Ginn was a surprise at that spot. He wouldn't have been my choice but I liked the player. In that era the coast to coast college weapons were Reggie Bush, Devon Hester, Desean Jackson and Ted Ginn. We got one of them. I was satisfied. Only when Ginn showed up and was obviously too leggy and not exactly rugged did I realize he was a cut below the other three.
The one pick that really irked me was Jason Allen. No special qualities. Saban needs 30 premium picks a year because he's pedestrian with only one.
