Green Bay Packers Address Offense in ESPN Mock Draft

The Green Bay Packers are now equipped with two first-round picks following the trade that sent Davante Adams to Las Vegas.

While there are still needs that can be addressed on the defensive side of the ball, such as depth at edge rusher, safety, and the interior defensive line, the offense is where many of the question marks lie—particularly at receiver.

So in a recent draft from Mel Kiper of EPSN ($$), it’s no surprise that he adds to the Green Bay Packers’ offense with each of their first-round picks.

Here is a look at who Kiper has the Packers selecting, his thoughts on each pick, and of course, I’ll provide my takeaways as well.

Green Bay Packers Pick 22: Kenyon Green, IOL, Texas A&M

"“Green could step into the right guard spot vacated by Lucas Patrick’s signing with the Bears in free agency. Josh Myers, a second-round pick last year, looked solid at center, but adding another O-lineman is important, too. Green also has some versatility, as he played both guard and tackle for the Aggies“"

Takeaway: There is no such thing as too much offensive line depth. Currently, it looks like the Packers will enter next season with Jon Runyan, Josh Myers, Royce Newman as the starters along the interior offensive line—and perhaps Green Bay will choose to keep Elgton Jenkins inside once healthy.

However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t possible upgrades out there — particularly at right guard where Newman played — and we all saw last season how important depth can be.

According to PFF ($$), Green has 2,049 career snaps, with a majority of them coming at the guard positions—although as Kiper notes, he does have a few hundred snaps at left and right tackle, and we know how important that versatility is to the Packers.

Green would allow 19 pressures and just one sack over these last two seasons. He was also PFF’s 18th highest-graded run-blocking guard in 2021 under the zone-heavy Texas A&M rushing attack.

While you can always add to the offensive line, I do have my doubts that the Green Bay Packers will do so in Round 1 along the interior. Typically that isn’t a position they prioritize and spend a first-round pick on—instead the Packers have had quite a bit of success over the years drafting Day 3 tackles and moving them inside.

I certainly won’t be surprised to see Green Bay try to build their interior offensive line depth in the draft — in fact, I almost expect it — but I just don’t see it happening in Round 1. As they do, they’ll address premier positions and likely wide receiver.

Green Bay Packers Pick 28: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

"“For Green Bay’s sake, it will have to hope Burks develops faster than Adams, who began his career with two up-and-down seasons before breaking out in Year 3. Aaron Rodgers needs help now. And I think the Packers could take multiple receivers with their picks in this draft.”"

Takeaway: The wide receiver room is one giant question mark at this time, and as we look ahead to 2023, it doesn’t get any better with Amari Rodgers the only receiver under contract beyond this season.

Burks didn’t have a particularly strong showing at the NFL Combine, but if you watched him at Arkansas, you saw that he was a playmaker with the ball in his hands. Burks was lined up all over the formation and the Arkansas offense did everything they could to get him the ball quickly and in space.

Of his 88 total targets in 2021, 54 of them came within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. Burks would finish the year ranked 10th in YAC per catch and sixth in total YAC. This is a needed skill-set in the Green Bay Packers wide receiver room and one that should do well in Matt LaFleur’s offense.

Even with Burks, the Packers would still need to add to the receiver position, specifically a true downfield threat and as well as someone who can win at three levels. Perhaps that player can end up being Burks.

On the 16 passes in the 10-19 yard range, Burks caught eight of them at 22.1 yards per catch in 2021. On deep passes of 20+ yards, he caught 12 of his 18 targets at 38.0 yards per catch.