8 Realistic 2023 draft predictions for Green Bay Packers

I know many love bold predictions that throw out some wild scenarios, but how about some realistic draft predictions for the Green Bay Packers that might actually take place?

After trading Aaron Rodgers, the Packers now have 11 draft picks, including four in the top 100, and a number of needs to fill. Positions of need include edge rusher, receiver, tight end, safety, interior defensive lineman, and quarterback, along with other premier positions, such as offensive tackle and cornerback, that they could choose to address as well.

Below I’ve put together eight predictions that I believe have a good chance of playing out in this year’s draft based on Green Bay’s current roster construction, the strengths and weaknesses of this draft, and trends that have formed under Brian Gutekunst. Let’s see how many of these end up being correct.

Packers take at least four total receivers and tight ends

The Packers have a solid foundation at wide receiver with Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs but have just five receivers on the roster currently, with just three having seen any playing time. The tight end room, meanwhile, is barren. Josiah Deguara – an H-back – primary special teams player Tyler Davis and two practice squad players in, Austin Allen and Nick Guggemos, are the only players on the roster. The good news is that this is a very deep tight end class, and Day 2 of the draft looks like a sweet spot for the Packers to find a wide receiver or two who fits what they typically look for.

When Aaron Rodgers took over as the starting quarterback in 2008, he had Donald Lee and a young Jermichael Finley at tight end, along with Jorday Nelson, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, and James Jones at wide receiver. In order for Green Bay to be able to best evaluate whether or not Jordan Love can be their starting quarterback beyond 2023, they have to put some more pieces around him.

Packers take an interior defensive lineman within the top 100

This need seems to be flying under the radar more so than tight end and receiver, but when I think of positions that the Packers must address, the interior defensive line is one of them. Similarly to the two described above, the Packers are short on depth and experience, with only five players on the roster at a position that has four or five players see snaps each week, and just three of those players have any playing time. Day 2 of the draft should provide the Packers with several viable options, including Keeanu Benton, Gervon Dexter, Mazi Smith, Zaccah Pickens, Jaquelin Roy, and others.

When the defense was playing its best football at the end of last season, not coincidentally, so was the interior defensive line by generating more consistent pressure and holding up better against the run. Every defender benefits when there is a steady push from the middle, as that is the best way to disrupt any offensive play.

Packers take two offensive linemen

Drafting multiple offensive linemen is just in Brian Gutekunst’s nature. In each of the last three drafts, he has selected three of them. Although not a pressing need, teams should always be adding to the trenches.

David Bakhtiari and Yosh Nijman could both be playing on new teams in 2024, so planning ahead to find your next starting offensive tackle would be the prudent move. On top of that, if Green Bay can land one of the top tackles in this class, that prospect could compete with Nijman at right tackle while Zach Tom competes at center or right guard–bolstering the entire offensive line unit. Although more weapons are needed, any success that Love is going to have as a starter begins with the play of the offensive line.

Along the interior, the only player that we know will be a long-term starter beyond 2023 is Elgton Jenkins. Jon Runyan is a free agent after this season, Josh Myers has been very up and down, and other options include Royce Newman, Jake Hanson, and Sean Rhyan.

We won’t see the Packers trading up this year

In every Brian Gutekunst draft going back to 2018, he has traded up within the first three rounds, including three times within the first round. However, that won’t be the case in 2023. I go into greater detail here on why that is, but in short, the Packers need more inexpensive rookie contracts to help offset the salary cap effects that they’ll still be feeling in 2024.

On top of that, there are a number of needs to address–they aren’t just a player or two away from being a Super Bowl contender. And lastly, many of the strengths of this draft class align with the Packers’ needs, especially on Day, where there will be plenty of options at tight end, edge rusher, interior defensive lineman, and wide receiver. So to put a bow on all of this, the more picks the Packers have, the better.

Packers don’t take a safety in the top 100

This is absolutely a position in need of upgrades, but I don’t believe it’s a priority for the Packers early on in the draft, primarily because this is just not a very deep draft class. With how Gutekunst has constructed the roster at safety, the Packers at least have options, with Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford, Tarvarius Moore, Dallin Leavitt, Innis Gaines, and others, not to mention that perhaps Rasul Douglas takes some snaps there once Eric Stokes returns. So for that reason, I don’t believe that drafting a safety is a must. In fact, I think it’s more likely that the Packers take a cornerback and move Douglas to safety right away than drafting a safety on Days 1 or 2.

One of these six players will be the Packers’ first-round pick: Deonte Banks, Joey Porter Jr., Darnell Wright, Broderick Jones, Myles Murphy, and Lukas Van Ness.

You can take a closer look here at how I arrived at this conclusion, but in short, I used past drat tendencies that have developed under Gutekunst to whittle the list down. These thresholds included playing a premier position, being under 23 years old, and having a RAS over 9.0, along with meeting other position-specific thresholds.

Packers take a quarterback before Round 5

With Rodgers now in New York, the Packers have only two quarterbacks on the roster. As Gutekunst said when meeting with reporters on Monday, they need at least three before they get to the throwing portion of offseason programs and could even add a fourth. Gutekunst also added that there are a few quarterbacks in the draft that they are “high on” and if available, he’s very willing to make that selection. If we rewind to the 2008 draft, before Rodgers took over, Ted Thompson took Brian Brohm in Round 2 and Matt Flynn in Round 7. I believe that the need the Packers have, coupled with Gutekunst’s willingness to add to the position and there being several prospects they like, means that Green Bay adds a quarterback before the fifth round.

The Packers draft a kicker

The only kicker on the Packers roster right now is Parker White, and it doesn’t sound like Mason Crosby will be returning. This is a need that Green Bay could address after the draft by signing an undrafted rookie or two, but in all likelihood, that would cause them to miss out on some of the top college options. This season is about figuring out whether or not Love can be the guy moving forward, and the Packers should take the same approach at kicker, which means investing some draft capital into the position. You can read more about some of the top kickers in this class here.