We have finally arrived to draft month! The Green Bay Packers currently hold the 15th overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft and have plenty of options to choose from with their top pick.
Green Bay has a plethora of needs heading into #DraftSeason and there’s no telling which direction they’ll go. General manager Brian Gutekunst and his staff are hard at work finalizing their draft board and making plans for the upcoming draft.
In order to provide my support, I’ve put together a ranking of 20 prospects who could be available with the Packers’ 15th pick. All they have to do is stick to the Big Board.
Here’s a look at the top 20 draft prospects the Green Bay Packers should consider with their 15th overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.
1. Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
Gutekunst continues to invest in the offensive line every draft and this year might not be any different. The Packers currently have David Bakhtiari at left tackle, but Skoronski could be their long-term plan while starting immediately on the right side. He’s versatile and stout in his blocking.
2. Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech
Edge may seem like a tertiary need for Green Bay, but it will become a major one quickly. Wilson will likely be gone by the time the Packers are on the clock, but they’d be smart to nab him if he’s still there. He can line up on the edge and even slide inside to the line. His power is violent and he has no issue going through offensive linemen in front of him.
3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
The best wide receiver in this class, Smith-Njibga would be a great compliment to the skills Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs brings. He’s an elite route-runner with terrific hands and knows how to read defensive coverages. He’d quickly build rapport with Jordan Love.
4. Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia
Nolan Smith would benefit from a year or two as a rotational player, as he refines his pass-rushing skills and hits the weight room. In the meantime, he can be a situational player for the Packers and focus on getting after the quarterback.
5. Paris Johnson Jr., Offensive Tackle, Ohio State
He looks and plays like an NFL offensive tackle. His athleticism jumps off the charts and his body is NFL ready–two attributes Green Bay prioritizes.
6. Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson
When he fully develops, Murphy could turn into a three-down edge rusher who can stay on the field in all scenarios. In the meantime, he’s ready to contribute on passing downs and is another elite athlete.
7. Jordan Addison, Wide Receiver, USC
Addison doesn’t necessarily fit the athletic profile Green Bay looks for from their receivers, but weirder things have happened. He’s a quick player who uses that to his advantage in his route-running.
8. Broderick Jones, Offensive Tackle, Georgia
There are some major athletes at tackle this year and Broderick Jones is another one. He’s one of the more raw prospects at the position which is why he’s lower than some of his peers. However, the sky is the limit if he can figure out the more technical aspect of the game.
9. Quentin Johnson, Wide Receiver, TCU
Quentin Johnson is a quarterback’s best friend, making magic after the catch and turning a short pass into a long gain. He has elite size for the position and has sneaky explosiveness.
10. Lukas Van Ness, Edge Iowa
Van Ness never started for Iowa, but could take a Rashan Gary-esque path to the pros. He needs some time to develop his game–something Green Bay can offer him behind Gary and Preston Smith.
11. Bryan Bresee, Defensive Lineman, Clemson
The Packers lost Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry in free agency and will need to replenish the position at some point in the draft. Why not do it in the first round? Bresee needs to add some bulk, but can provide some pass rush from the interior.
12. Darnell Wright, Offensive Tackle, Tennessee
If you can’t tell, offensive tackle is one of the deeper positions in the first round of this year’s draft. He projects as a right tackle–unlike the other guys on this list–and could start right away, kicking Zach tom inside.
13. Keion White, Edge, Georgia Tech
Keion White is on the older side for prospects, but has the athleticism to become an immediate contributor. He never stops moving and can line up in multiple spots.
14. Brian Branch, Safety, Alabama
Green Bay has a major need at safety, and Brian Branch is the only likely prospect they could target in the first round. He’s a versatile defensive back who can line up at multiple spots. The biggest knock is his size.
15. Michael Mayer, Tight End, Notre Dame
Mayer is the most complete tight end in the draft and will be the first one off the board, whether it’s to Green Bay or somewhere else. He’s a powerful blocker who has no issue throwing defensive players to the ground and has solid hands as well.
16. Dalton Kincaid, Tight End, Utah
Some of these tight ends are much higher on draft boards due to their talent, but I’m not a fan of selecting one with the Packers’ top pick. It’s certainly a need, but isn’t a premium position. Kincaid is one of the best pass-catchers and could give Love a much-needed weapon.
17. Darnell Washington, Tight End, Georgia
Washington has become a favorite of Packers’ fans doing mock drafts, and could end up being one of their second-round selections. He’s a massive human being at 6-foot-7 and 264 pounds and knows how to use that size. He has the highest upside of any tight end in this draft.
18. Luke Musgrave, Tight End, Oregon State
Musgrave would be a hard pick to swallow at 15, considering he will need a couple of years to develop. He barely produced at Oregon State and missed most of last season with an injury. Considering Green Bay doesn’t have another established tight end on their roster to buy him that time, they might go a different direction.
19. Zay Flowers, Wide Receiver, Boston College
Flowers could very well have a producvtive NFL career, but it would be hard to see him do that in Green Bay. He’s just 5-foot-9 and drastically misses the Packers’ height qualifiers they like in the position. He is super quick, has great footwork and is an excellent prospect.
20. Dawand Jones, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State
What do you know? Another offensive tackle on the list. Jones is 6-foot-8 and a massive 374 pounds with a future at right tackle. That size is intimidating and he has the skills to back it up.