Green Bay Packers: Final 2020 NFL Draft Grades from Draft Analysts

Draft grades have been handed out and as I’m sure you can guess, the Green Bay Packers didn’t do so hot. Here are the marks that they received from a number of draft analysts.

The weekend is over and the 2020 NFL Draft is complete, which means many draft analysts are handing out their final grades. And as I’m sure you can already guess, when it comes to the Green Bay Packers, they did not fare very well.

After finishing the 2019 season 13-3 and making it all the way to the NFC Championship game, instead of giving Aaron Rodgers an additional weapon in Round 1, Green Bay would instead draft his eventual successor. Or at least that’s their hope.

However I will say this, while many are upset at the pick and I can understand why, it’s clear that Brian Gutekunst and Company truly feel that Jordan Love can be their quarterback for 15 years. And with this being the most important position in sports, if you have the opportunity to get your guy, well, you go and get your guy.

While Round 1 left a bad taste in the mouths of many, it was Rounds 2 and 3 that really left us scratching our heads as Green Bay selected A.J. Dillon and Josiah Deguara. Sure, Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams are free agents in 2021, but a second-round pick on a running back? And then following it up by selecting an H-back? In 2020? I don’t think that anyone outside of the Packers’ organization knew what was happening at that moment.

But shortly after those picks were made, we would learn from Jim Owczarski of Packers News that the Green Bay Packers are looking to become a more “run-oriented” offense, similar to what we see out of San Francisco. And it was that little nugget of information that helped provide us with some clarity. Yet even so, it is fair to question selecting those players on Day 2 of the draft.

Then on Day 3, Green Bay didn’t have a fourth-round pick after moving up to select Love, but overall, I think they did quite well. In Round 5 they landed LB Kamal Martin who could see snaps right away. They bolstered the offensive line depth in Round 6, and in Round 7 they got a steal at pick 242 in Jonathan Garvin.

As you’ll see once we dive into the grades here shortly, the Green Bay Packers are getting hammered, and I’m sure no one is surprised. With that said, I don’t think this draft is as bad as many are making it out to be.

Now, did it go how I expected it to or how I wanted it to? No, not at all. But it appears that the Green Bay Packers are trying to take this offense in a new direction and although several of the picks made weren’t who the draft analysts would have selected for them, they are the guys who Matt LaFleur wanted for his offense and what he needs to be successful.

Ultimately only time will tell whether or not this was a successful draft or a dud. But for now, here are the initial grades that Green Bay has received. And if you’re squeamish, I suggest you look away.

Chad Reuter – NFL.com

Overall Grade: C+

Pro Football Focus

Overall Grade: D

Luke Easterling – The Draft Wire

Overall Grade: D

Andy Benoit – MMQB

Overall Grade: B-

Doug Farrar – Touchdown Wire

Overall Grade: D –

Mel Kiper Jr. – ESPN

Overall Grade: C

Vinnie Iyer – Sporting News

Overall Grade: D

So as I’ve already said, these grades weren’t pretty and if you were to read the analysis given, the common theme is that these moves just didn’t make sense for a 13-3 team and the value on a few of the selections just wasn’t there. However, if you want some good news, these grades don’t mean a darn thing.