Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson used the team's first six draft picks on defensive players.

Thompson also added two rookie free agents on defense, leaving the Packers with eight of their 26 defensive players as rookies.

The Packers were widely considered the worst defensive team in the NFL in 2011.

“It’s like I said all along, those guys aren’t going to come in and be saviors,” Thompson said. “They’ll come in and help the group out.”

Thompson has always insisted that he doesn't draft on need, but that seemed to not be the case last April.

“I’m hoping they all can help us,” defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. “I don’t think any of us knows what kind of impact they’re going to have. We’d be speculating right now. But obviously when you take those guys in the draft, you think that they can help you. I like their attitude. I like their energy. I think they’ve improved, and they’ll continue to improve. That’s the exciting thing about having young players.”