Tony Mandarich was supposed to be a can't miss prospect when the Packers made him the No. 2-overall pick in the 1989 draft. The team released him four years later. Credit: File

By ,

The Green Bay Packers have been making No. 1 selections in the National Football League draft since 1936.

From Curly Lambeau to Ted Thompson, the Packers decision-makers have carefully attempted to make the best selection possible with their coveted first-round pick. Guard Russ Letlow from the University of San Francisco was Green Bay's first-ever pick (No. 7 overall). Linebacker Nick Perry of USC was the most recent in 2012.

The 75 first-round picks in between those two have ranged from players who have developed into franchise stars to those who made little or no contributions due to injury or simply lack of talent.

Here's a list of the 10 biggest first-round draft busts in Green Bay's history.

10. BRUCE CLARK

DT, Penn State, fourth overall, 1980

Clark, an All-American and first junior to win the Lombardi Trophy, publicly stated he did not want to play as a nose tackle in Green Bay's 3-4 scheme.

General manager and head coach Bart Starr, in dire need of defensive help, drafted him anyway. Clark instead signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League for more money and in 1982 signed with the New Orleans Saints. He enjoyed a successful eight-year NFL career with the Saints (1982-'88) and Kansas City Chiefs (1989).

9. RANDY DUNCAN

QB, Iowa, first overall, 1959

Duncan was the best quarterback in college football and the most sought-after player in the draft. He was a consensus All-American and a proven winner, leading the Hawkeyes to two Rose Bowl victories.

The strong-armed and athletic Duncan was just what the Packers and new head coach Vince Lombardi needed to rebuild from the worst season (1-10-1) in franchise history a year earlier.

Duncan, however, chose to play in Canada for more money. He played two seasons in Vancouver before signing with the Dallas Texans in 1961. He threw one touchdown pass in nine games before retiring to begin a highly successful law career in Iowa.

8. BRENT FULLWOOD

RB, Auburn, fourth overall, 1987

Coach Forrest Gregg overhauled the running game in the wake of a 12-loss 1986 season.

Gregg hoped Fullwood would help bolster the offense as a tough, dependable franchise-type back. The 5-foot-11, 209-pound back led the team in rushing in 1988 (483 yards) and 1989 (821 yards), earning a Pro Bowl berth.

His productivity fell to 124 yards a season later with numerous fumbles. In 1990, he pulled himself from a game due to an upset stomach and was subsequently traded to Cleveland, where he played in one final game.

7. TERRELL BUCKLEY

CB, Florida State, fifth overall, 1992

Buckley was the first draft pick of the Mike Holmgren era.

He was an effective punter returner but was consistently targeted and beaten by larger receivers. He played three seasons and recorded 10 interceptions before signing with the Miami Dolphins in 1995. He played 14 seasons in the NFL with six teams and recorded 50 interceptions.

6. AHMAD CARROLL

CB, Arkansas, 25th overall, 2004

The Green Bay secondary was in dire need of upgrading after ranking 23rd in pass defense in 2003, including giving up the infamous fourth-and-26 reception in a season-ending playoff loss to the Eagles in Philadelphia.

Mike Sherman took two cornerbacks with his first two selections, including Carroll in the first round and Joey Thomas in the third.

Carroll, 5-11 and 190 pounds, started 11 games his rookie season but was inconsistent and regularly beaten by taller and more physical receivers. He had only three interceptions in 27 starts from 2004-'05 before being traded to Jacksonville in 2006.

5. JOHN MICHELS

T, USC, 27th overall, 1996

Ah, what might have been. Ron Wolf was poised to select linebacker Ray Lewis with the 27th pick of the 1996 draft, but Baltimore beat him to the punch.

Wolf then chose Michels, a 6-7, 300-pound tackle from the tradition-rich USC program, to help protect league MVP Brett Favre.

In what was to be a Super Bowl winning 13-3 campaign, Michels started nine games but was slowed by ankle and knee injuries. Michels did not earn his coaches' confidence and was replaced by veteran Bruce Wilkerson for the stretch run.

Michels started five more games in 1997 before a series of knee injuries ended