Give Ted Thompson five.

The Packer GM's fifth draft in Green Bay might not be as bountiful as his 2006 crop, which produced five starters — ILB A.J. Hawk (first round), OLG Darryn Colledge (second), WR Greg Jennings (second), C Jason Spitz (third; on injured reserve) and DLE Johnny Jolly (sixth) — as well as the team's primary return specialist when healthy (Will Blackmon; fourth; on I.R.).

But it's definitely the second-best crop, featuring a host of newcomers who have made their presence felt — from top to bottom.

It's unlikely there's any team in the playoffs on which youth will be served like it will for the Packers, with seven of their eight '09 picks figuring in the postseason mix in varying degrees.

Let's start with the designated starters in the group — OLBs Clay Matthews, who has played well enough to warrant serious consideration for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, and Brad Jones, who has more than held his own since replacing the injured Aaron Kampman on the left side.

Thompson obviously saw something special in Matthews, trading up in a draft for the first time to snag him late in the first round, and the USC product with the long blond locks has turned out to be better than any of our sources could have imagined.

As for Jones, while he has adequately filled in for Kampman and shown some pass-rush skills, the verdict remains out as to whether the seventh-round pick has what it takes to be a solid long-term starter at the pro level.

As it is, veteran Brady Poppinga has been gradually taking more snaps at left outside linebacker and could very well end up splitting time with Jones in the playoffs.

Two other '09 rookies could end up in what amount to starting roles in the playoffs — fifth-round FB Quinn Johnson, a better pure blocker than either John Kuhn or Korey Hall, and first-rounder B.J. Raji, who might have to step in at a moment's notice for gimpy NT Ryan Pickett (hamstring).

In addition, sixth-rounder Brandon Underwood is likely to be entrusted with filling the all-important "dime" DB role against pass-happy offenses, while fourth-rounder T.J. Lang and sixth-rounder Jarius Wynn will be at the ready in reserve roles on the offensive and defensive lines, respectively.