The Packers have swapped first round picks with the Jets while adding the 42nd pick and the 207th pick, and a conditional second-round pick next year. We should tip our hats to Brian Gutekunst.
Why, I hear many fans screaming into their phones while reading this? Gutekunst got a trade up in the first round that puts them ahead of New England and the Jets. Both those teams have needs that compete with the Packer draft priorities of tight end and lineman.
Brian Gutekunst: "I think it's a good draft overall. … good EDGE class, tight ends is another one." #Packers
— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) April 24, 2023
The extra second-round pick is also ahead of the Jets other second-round pick, allowing the Packers to dictate that round of the draft and giving them four picks in the top 78 selections. They did this trade for Aaron Rodgers, who at age 40 on December 2, 2023, a future Hall of Fame quarterback, was not committed to the Packers going forward.
Added into this trade the Jets will receive the Packers second selection in round 5, but the Packers have 4 seventh round picks and a sixth to get them back in the 5th round if they want to move up.
The next smart long-term move is to bite the financial bullet for the rest of Rodgers’ salary cap hit in 2023. If Rodgers had been a Packer into June, Gutekunst could have split the cap hit over next year. But that would only delay attempts to rebuild the roster. Better to take the hit now and have money for signings next year after Love has a full season to evaluate.
The Packers’ 2023 NFL Draft Picks
| Round | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Rd1 | 13 (via NYJ) |
| Rd2 | 42 (via NYJ) & 45 |
| Rd3 | 78 |
| Rd4 | 116 |
| Rd5 | 149 |
| Rd6 | 207 (via NYJ) |
| Rd7 | 232, 235, 242, 256 |
This is more draft capital than Brian Gutekunst has ever had in his arsenal. If he hits on his top picks and Love blossoms into an elite quarterback, the Packers can thrive. This draft could fill up half of Gutekunst’s memoirs, with Jordan Love being the first chapter. Most Packer fans know edge rusher, safety, tight end are the top three roster priorities. But dominant offensive and defensive lineman, wide receivers and corners can’t be passed up.
In a deep draft of tight ends but a shallow one for lineman and safeties, Gutekunst can still hit every major need and grab a wide receiver in round three. With a deep draft board for edge rushers it makes sense the Packers are bringing in second and third tier players like defensive lineman Karl Brooks from Bowling Green, Boise States Scott Matlock, and Tyrus Wheat from Mississippi State.
They have also brought in three safeties, Jordan Howden: Minnesota; Quindell Johnson: Memphis and Marte Mapu: Sacramento State. Good money says two or three of these players land with the Green and Gold by Sunday’s close. The tight ends they have brought in for visits show they will pick one early and one later. The wideouts brought in seem to say later round targets are the strategy.
2023 Draft Prospects – Wide Receiver Visits to the Packers
Dontayvion Wicks – Virginia
Ryan Miller – Forman
Rashee Rice – SMU
Adonicas Sanders – Temple
2023 Draft Prospects – Tight End Visits to the Packers
Darnell Washington – Georgia
Dalton Kincaid – Utah
Ben Sims – Baylor
Josh Whyle – Cincinnati
Coincidentally, Rice is listed as the 78th best player available in this draft and the #12 wide receiver by ESPN. His 1.49 ten yard split was third fastest at the combine for pass catchers.
If I were the GM for three days and every trade I could imagine came my way, I would trade down the 13th pick. Let another team draft Dalton Kincaid at 13 or 15 and with a later round 1st grab TE Micheal Mayer AND grab Darnell Washington in the second. With the additional second rounder, a safety. Battle from Alabama is ranked in the second round.
If I were the GM for three days and every trade I could imagine came my way, I would trade down the 13th pick.
Hopefully, my trade down would allow another second-round pick in edge player Keon White or Foskey from ND or Adebawore from Northwestern. Rice in the third round and then another defensive line/edge in the fourth. Perhaps Missouri’s Isaiah McGuire, who is ranked 114? With the fifth round pick, the Packers have two visited players in range; Matlock is ranked 143 and Brooks is listed at 153 by ESPN. In the sixth round perhaps OT Warren McClendon: Georgia?
With the final picks I go safety/corner, and wide receiver. Mapu, Howden and Wicks. Remember, this is all based on rankings and visits. No interviews, no live game action. No talking with coaches. The keys to greatness in the NFL is more desire and luck with injuries than talent.
Pain is part of everyday life and a player’s desire to win, to beat their opponent, must drive them over every obstacle in their path. Let’s hope Gutekunst has luck on his side and Aaron Rodgers plays 66% of the Jets snaps next year. While playing GM can be fun, the games in Lambeau are right around the corner. Fingers crossed starting Thursday.
My prediction is myles murphy at 13. He’s a larger rashan Gary clone with better film. No buzz about him going to Green Bay pre draft…and an out of world ras score. Not saying they should do it but I think they will.
Well it is almost noon on draft day. Has Gute already soiled his shorts, has he figured out a way to trade away the 4th round pick, is there a hopeless prospect he can pick up in the 3rd round and 2 picks in the 2nd round isn’t good so is there a way to trade up and end up with just one pick.
Kevin seems to think the Jets are going to the SB, so Rodgers will have that 65% in spades. I’d love for Gutekunst to pick Paris Johnson at 13. The big LT was coveted by the Jets. But I think he’ll go top 10. I like Kincaid but I think LaPorta is almost as good and he can play H back which MLF loves to utilize. He’d be available in the second round. I still think LT, DL, or edge rusher at 13. A trade back is a real possibility if one of those QB’s fall or if someone wants that Texas RB. He’s projected to come off the board somewhere between 10 to 20. I’d want a 1st next year if that were to happen which would give us three.
I’m gonna go Broderick Jones at 13. This is Bakhtiari’s last year. He’s done. His cap hit is 40 million next year. You’ve got either Nijman or Tom at RT long term. The interior line is solid. With Jones at LT you’re set for the next decade. You can pick up WR’s and TE’s in later rounds.
“I’m gonna go Broderick Jones at 13” – Princess know it all.
See ya in the war room Scooter!! 😮
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With Jones at LT, your (they’re) set for the next decade, or …10 years, whichever comes first.
Don’t forget, Royce Newman is a 10 year starter.
Nailed another one Tommi!! 😮
Of course it’s draft day and we can’t see any new comments. Oh well, maybe that’s a blessing in disguise. Sometimes the less I see the better.
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Lukas Van Ness. I don’t know anything about him. Hopefully he’s not another project. Word has it he’s the second coming of JJ Watt and he’s already signed his fifth year option XD
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With all the 1st and 2nd round picks this defense has eaten up over the last 12 years you’d think they’d give the 85′ Bears a run for their money.
Most of the drafts I saw had him as a second rounder and a development project.
That makes him a perfect Gute pick. Wouldn’t want to pick anyone in the first round that can start on day one and make an immediate impact.
Well Arch……
“I always draft starters at pick #12,13, 26th or 28th, but when i don’t, i make
damn sure they are very comfortable on the sideline.” – Gute
*5th year option!! 😮
I remember Sam Barrington and others, look like Tarzan, play like Jane.
Who knows.
The reason he gets compared to Watt, is he works out and he’s white.
There isn’t much difference, but Lukas is prettier.
What say you Tommi?
Van Ness wasn’t supposed to be there at 13. But you had two RB’s over-drafted at 8 and 12 causing him to fall a few spots. If he’s the next TJ Watt then it’s the right call. Like Stiggy, I liked Miles Murphy but most mocks had him going in the back end of round one which is where he was drafted. Van Ness never would have lasted that long. Likewise, the top two TE’s went in the back of round one. Kincaid at 13 would have been a reach. My pick, Broderick Jones, went the pick right after Van Ness. Safety Brian Branch is still on the board as is Will Levis. It will be interesting to see how Jordan Addison plays out in Minnesota. They could have drafted Christian Watson, a far more dynamic player last year.
Biggest question: Why didn’t the Packers help Love? Maybe they did with this pick. If Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry has enough pieces to control games, then Love won’t have to throw the ball 35 times a game. — Rob Demovsky