3 Packers 2-Round Mock Drafts w/ No 1st Round WRs

Without question, the biggest need for the Green Bay Packers entering the draft is at the wide receiver position–we all know that, and it really isn’t up for debate.

However, just because it is the biggest need, does that mean that, without a doubt, Brian Gutekunst is going to do whatever it takes to get a first-round receiver that he values very highly? Maybe–I mean, we’ve seen him operate aggressively in the past. But as we’ve seen previously, Gutey has certainly thrown us some curveballs on draft night as well, and while I would say it’s more likely than not that Green Bay takes a first-round receiver — especially with two picks — I wouldn’t quite call it a guarantee either.

Over on the Pack-A-Day Podcast YouTube channel, Andy Herman laid out a compelling argument for why the Packers may choose to pass on a first-round receiver. Now, I do want to add that the Packers aren’t going to pass on a receiver just for the sake of doing so; if there is a player that is ranked very highly on their big board, in all likelihood, Green Bay is going to take him.

But as Andy points out, there are recent examples of first-round wide receivers who weren’t game-changers by any means in their first season. So while receiver is certainly a need, this goes to show that just because the Packers may take a first-round talent doesn’t guarantee a high level of production either.

It’s also important to note that even if the Green Bay Packers get the receiver of their dreams in Round 1, there is no replacing Davante Adams–duh. With that said, of course, a rookie can still make a big impact — although there is no guarantee of that — but it would be foolish to expect any rookie to have an Adams-like impact and presence.

Overall, Green Bay’s wide receiver room isn’t going to be as stout as it was in 2021, so in order to make up for Adams’ absence, the Packers will have to improve in other areas. With the freed-up cap space that came from trading Adams, Green Bay was able to re-sign De’Vondre Campbell, Rasul Douglas, and Robert Tonyan while also adding Jarran Reed–thus bolstering four other position groups. The Packers also have five picks in the top-100 that can be utilized to continue improving other positions on the roster as well–not only receiver.

Other positions of need that the Green Bay Packers have are at edge rusher, interior defensive lineman, offensive tackle, and safety, to name a few.

If I had to guess, I would say that the Packers do draft a first-round receiver, but ultimately the board is going to play a huge determining factor in what Green Bay does. Although receiver is a big need, as already mentioned, there is certainly no guarantee that any rookie will make a significant impact, and reaching for a receiver because the need is strong is one reason why draft busts can happen.

So, having said all of that, I wanted to run three two-round mock draft simulations where I don’t take a receiver in the first round and instead prioritize other positions of need as a way to see what the Packers early round picks could look like if they do go in a different direction. I’ll also be using three different mock draft simulators — PFF, PFN, and TDN — so that I get a bit of a variety. Each site is going to value prospects differently as well as positions of need, which will help create three different scenarios.