3 Big Things from the Green Bay Packers 1st Round Picks
By Paul Bretl
The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft is in the books, and the Green Bay Packers loaded up on defense — more on that in a minute — selecting linebacker Quay Walker and interior defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt, both from Georgia.
The second round, where the Packers have three more selections, will begin Friday evening, but before we look ahead, I take a look back at Green Bay’s first-round with my 3 Big Things.
An early run on receivers hurt the Green Bay Packers
Once the run on receivers started with Atlanta selecting Drake London at eight overall, there was no stopping it–with even Detroit moving up from pick 32 to get in on the action and the Titans sending AJ Brown to Philadelphia.
As I wrote a few weeks ago, while Green Bay certainly had the draft capital to pull off the trade for Brown, there is always more to it than that–which in this case meant a new deal. The Packers already have a large portion of future cap space allocated to just a few big contracts, and that doesn’t include new deals for Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary, or Elgton Jenkins. Realistically, from a cap perspective, Green Bay likely never could have made an extension work with Brown–or any of the young receivers who may be available.
When it comes to trading up, Brian Gutekunst mentioned following the draft that they had conversations about doing so, but Green Bay ultimately decided to “stay put and pick.” Moving up to pick 11 or 12 may have required more than what the Packers were willing to part with, and remember, there also needed to be a trade partner willing to make a deal with Green Bay–perhaps there weren’t any.
Washington was willing to trade with New Orleans, but maybe they were unwilling to move all the way back to pick 22, knowing that the Commanders were in the receiver market as well. With the Vikings, perhaps they weren’t willing the make a deal with Green Bay, given that they are still trying to chase them down in the NFC North. And once the top four receivers were all off the board by pick 12, I don’t believe that Jahan Dotson and Treylon Burks were players worth moving up for.
Gutekunst is confident in what Day 2 of the draft can offer, saying that “there are some really good receivers left in this draft.” A few potential names include George Pickens, Christian Watson, Alec Pierce, and John Metchie. Aaron Rodgers would also say on the Pat McAfee Show, that “you can find guys (offensive linemen and wide receivers) in the second, fourth, fifth, sixth rounds that can play.”
I’m sure there is a portion of Packer Nation upset that the team didn’t land a pass-catcher in the first round, but it also wasn’t that easy to do so either.
"“I’m sure Packers nation will be wondering why we didn’t take a receiver or trade up,” said Rodgers on the McAfee Show. “At this point you just have to have faith in the org…Whoever we bring in tomorrow & the rest of this draft, I’m going to put in the time to work w those guys.”"