The Green Bay Packers attacked the draft in an interesting way given their needs on the defensive line and secondary. While the Packers did need to take a wide receiver last week, Green Bay took Matthew Golden in the first round and then turned around and selected Savion Williams in the third round.
The Packers didn’t add an edge (Barryn Sorrell) until the fourth round or a cornerback (Micah Robinson) until the seventh.
Golden, a stud from Texas, made sense for the Packers to take with the No. 23 pick. He entered the draft as one of the top receivers in the class.
However, Gutekunst is getting some pushback for taking Williams at No. 87.
Green Bay Packers’ GM accused of devaluing hands
Per Mike Sando of The Athletic, an NFL executive thinks general manager Brian Gutekunst has “devalued hands” when he assesses wide receivers.
“He struggles to catch the ball, and so does (2022 second-round pick) Christian Watson, so it seems like Green Bay has devalued hands from the days when Ted (Thompson) was GM,” one exec observed. “Coaches sometimes are more, ‘Just get him open, and he will be fine.’”
Williams had eight drops in 2024.
The Packers must be creative giving Savion Williams the ball
The trick for head coach Matt LaFleur’s staff will be to find easy ways to get the ball in Williams’ hands. Sando quoted another executive who thinks his speed can be an asset for the offense.
“I love the kid,” another exec said of Williams. “He can do everything. He is tough, he can play running back, tight end, receiver. He is a joker, a great tool for somebody. You have to scheme him, but that is a big man who can run.”
The Packers have had issues with rookies dropping balls before. This time, Jordan Love will have to show patience in a way Aaron Rodgers was unable to.
For More Packers News:
Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in college and NFL news, click here!
