First round draft targets for Packers at positions of need
By Paul Bretl
Brian Gutekunst has certainly been willing to go off-script with some of his selections, but for the most part, he and the Green Bay Packers have some tendencies and thresholds that they will often adhere to, especially early on.
You can read more here on the specifics of those tendencies and thresholds are, but in short, most Packers’ first-round picks under Gutekunst have a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) over 9.0, and there are also some position-specific measurements to be mindful of as well. Most have also been under 23 years old and play premier positions.
In putting this list of first-round targets together, I also had to do a little guesswork, projecting which players likely won’t make it to pick 13 and which ones are yet in play at this stage of the draft.
So with all of that in mind, here are the likely prospects that will find themselves on the Packers’ radar in Round 1 at key positions of need in this year’s draft. It’s also worth noting that these projections are based on the Packers picking at 13. If they were to trade back, that could change some things.
Wide Receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Smith Njigba is really the only viable first-round option for the Packers at receiver that I see. Jordan Addison and Zay Flowers are two other receivers who could be selected somewhere in this range, but both are well under the 195-pound weight threshold that Green Bay has typically targeted at the receiver position, so I’m not so sure that either is in play.
Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs give Green Bay a strong foundation at receiver, but with only five receivers on the roster at the moment, the Packers are in need of both depth and have to be mindful of putting more playmakers around Jordan Love as well.
Interior Defensive Lineman
None
I don’t believe that there are any interior defenders that the Packers will take at pick 13. Jalen Carter will likely be off the board, it’s too soon to select Bryan Bresee, and Calijah Kancey is lighter than what the Packers typically target at this position.
Similarly to receiver, the Packers need both depth and more playmaking at this position, with just five players on the roster–and keep in mind that this is a position that is very heavily rotated with four to five players seeing the field each week. This group was a big part of the overall defense’s improved play late in 2022, but as a whole, the interior defensive line group was very inconsistent last season.
Edge Rusher
Lukas Van Ness
Myles Murphy
Will Anderson and Tyree Wilson will probably be gone, and Nolan Smith is on the light side for the Packers. Van Ness and Murphy, meanwhile, both tested very well and have those bigger frames that we’ve seen Green Bay prioritize at the position. Like the interior defensive line, this position is rotated often, and the Packers need to improve that rotational depth. Without Rashan Gary, pressuring the quarterback became inconsistent.
Safety
None
Green Bay does have a big need at safety, but unfortunately, this is not a deep class at the position. The only first-round option would be Brian Branch, but he posted a RAS below 8.0. Also, he spent most of his playing time in the slot, where the Packers already have a number of options to fill that role. Perhaps if they view him as someone who can also play the more traditional safety role, this pick then makes more sense, but my guess is that Branch isn’t a first-round target for them.
Cornerback
Joey Porter Jr.
Deonte Banks
No, cornerback certainly isn’t a pressing need like the others, but it’s a talented class that’s filled with top athletes, and I do think Gutekunst will be tempted to add to this position. On top of that, taking a first-round cornerback would be a creative workaround at the safety position, as it would give the Packers more flexibility to move Rasul Douglas there.
Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez are two other options at 13, but I don’t expect them to get that far.
Offensive Tackle
Darnell Wright
Paris Johnson
Broderick Jones
Green Bay taking an offensive tackle feels very much in play and would be a very Packers type of pick. Tackle becomes an uncertainty in 2024, with David Bakhtiari potentially being cut and Yosh Nijman potentially hitting free agency. The Packers can get ahead of that by taking a tackle this year.
Adding Wright, Johnson, or Jones also provides added competition at right tackle in 2023 and would allow Zach Tom to compete at center or right guard, giving Green Bay a better opportunity to put the best five on the football field, as LaFleur often says. As I’ve said often this offseason, success for Jordan Love begins with the offensive line.
One name that you’ll notice isn’t listed is Peter Skoronski. The reason being that his arm length was under 33 inches, and he could be viewed as a guard at the NFL level. If the Packers feel that way, I just don’t see them spending the 13th overall pick on an interior lineman.
Tight End
Dalton Kincaid
Michael Mayer
Kincaid is the best pass-catching tight end, and Mayer is the most well-rounded. The big question is whether the Packers decide to address tight end in the first round. Although it’s a major need, from a value standpoint, waiting until Day 2 might make more sense, especially in a draft class with so much talent. You can read more here on why this might be the case.