After a disappointing 2022-23 season, the Green Bay Packers are faced with a very important draft. The outcome of the 2023 draft could have major implications on the upcoming season for the Packers, and drafting the right players at the right positions is the best way to ensure success. Green Bay has garnered themselves two reputations over the recent years, both debilitating for the fan base to deal with in their own separate ways. The Packers are known to choke in the playoffs, and they are known to not draft offense in the first round, especially wide receivers. The fixing of the WR problem in the upcoming draft will likely go towards fixing the second problem, making it increasingly imperative that the Packers front office picks a game changing wideout for Jordan Love/Aaron Rodgers to utilize.
While many Green Bay fans have criticized the front office for not picking weapons to help the offense in the past, many have also defended Gutekunst and co. for selectively picking defensive players early. To be fair, the Packers have been incredibly inconsistent in the past, and there does always seem to be a need for a new player on defense, somebody that can energize a seemingly flatlining group. However, at the current state of the roster for the Packers, drafting defense in the first round is not necessary. After drafting Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt last year, two big time defensive needs have been satisfied on the D-line and linebacker core. The secondary is at the best it’s been in a long time, rounding out the green and gold defense into a really solid group, one that some may argue is top 10 in all of football. This now opens the door for choosing players that can positively affect the offensive side of the ball.
With the defense being so solid, the Packers seemingly have a straightforward decision to make when deciding where to start with their selection process. With more detailed looking into the roster, the front office will see that there are 3 major needs for the team to fill this offseason, whether it be through the draft, free agency, or re-signing existing players. These positions are right tackle, tight end, and of course wide receiver. It would make sense for the Packers to draft any of these positions at their position in the draft, and there are clearly very highly ranked prospects that would fit well in this team. Peter Skoronski, Michael Mayer, Dalton Kincaid, and O’Cyrus Torrence all would be great picks for the Packers to make, but none of them are the right ones. If Green Bay wants to re-electrify this offense, firmly state to the league that they are not bowing out of the playoff race, and pledge to the fan base that they want to make improvements in their draft classes, then picking a wide receiver is the clear cut correct decision.
Not only is wide receiver a hole on this team that needs filling, but this is as stacked a draft class as you will see at the position. If there is a year that the Packers go wide receiver, this is it. Quentin Johnson of TCU will likely be off the board by the time Green Bay is on the clock, but there are still multiple guys that would fit great into this team. Jordan Addison and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are both phenomenal prospects and are well-known around the league for their talents. Picking one of these guys, specifically Addison is not only a good pick but the right pick for the Packers front office. Jordan Addison will electrify this offense, and either give Aaron Rodgers is a reliable young player to lean on, or a good option for Jordan Love to build long-term chemistry with.
