Final Thoughts and Takeaways on Packers 2023 NFL Draft
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers had 13 selections in the 2023 NFL Draft and were able to cover a wide variety of needs. To put a bow on this weekend and everything that took place, here are my final thoughts on how the draft played out for them.
– Overall, a very good draft for the Green Bay Packers. The three positions that they absolutely had to add to coming in – wide receiver, tight end, and interior defensive lineman – Brian Gutekunst took multiple players at each of those positions. They also brought in needed depth at edge rusher, quarterback, kicker, and safety.
– The Packers had a few directions they could have gone in Round 1, taking an offensive tackle, receiver, or tight end, but their selection of Lukas Van Ness should be one of the least surprising picks in this draft for them. Van Ness plays a premier position, has a big frame, tested extremely well, is 21 years old, and is versatile. When it comes to what the Packers covet, he checks all the boxes. Gutekunst mentioned that Van Ness will fill a similar role to Za’Darius Smith when he was in Green Bay, with his ability to kick inside on passing downs.
– Initially, the selection of Sean Clifford in the fifth round seemed premature, given that many thought he would be an undrafted player. However, with what Gutekunst and Milt Hendrickson had to say, Green Bay was impressed with Clifford’s experience at a position where the Packers don’t have a lot of it, his athleticism, posting a RAS of over 9.0, and his fit in the locker room. With 10 quarterbacks off the board prior to the Packers taking Clifford, they were also worried about how far down the board he would make it.
– If I were to describe this draft class with one word, it would be versatility. Lukas Van Ness, Karl Brooks, and Colby Wooden all played multiple positions on the defensive front in college. Gutekunst spoke very highly of Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave’s ability to both block and be pass catchers, while Jayden Reed can play inside and out as well as be utilized as a gadget player and return man. Anthony Johnson was a cornerback before moving to safety, and Nichols is someone who can also impact the passing game in pass protection, and he’s capable as a pass catcher.
– With the addition of Wooden to the defensive front, the Packers have a very athletic trio with Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt, not to mention Van Ness taking some snaps there as well. Pressure from the interior benefits the entire defense. If the Packers defense is going to improve this season, it starts in the trenches. The play from this group to end the season was a big reason for the overall success that the defense experienced.
– The additions of Musgrave and Kraft will give the Packers two elements they were without in 2022 at the position–dynamic playmaking and all-around skill sets. Musgrave’s speed makes him a vertical threat, which really attracted the Packers to him. Kraft, meanwhile, has big-time YAC abilities, averaging 8.0 yards after the catch in 2022. However, what Gutekunst kept going back to when discussing these two was that they can leave their marks in the run game as well. This will provide the Packers with some unpredictability, opening up the playbook for Matt LaFleur and helping keep defenses off-balanced. With tight ends who can move around the formation and impact both the running and passing games, deciphering what the offense plans to do becomes more difficult for defenses.
– Reed’s measurements don’t meet what the Packers typically look for at receiver, but VP of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan discussed how Reed’s speed helps him win on the outside while his strength allows him to also be effective from the slot. With Jordan Love at quarterback, I expect more motion from the Packers pre-snap, which means there could be a larger role for a gadget-type player. These are responsibilities that Reed could take on.
– As I outlined in my Post Draft Superlatives article, perhaps the most head-scratching pick was the selection of kicker Anders Carlson. The Packers absolutely had to add completion at this position with only Parker White on the roster, but I’m not sure using a sixth-round pick on Carlson was ever expected to be in play. You can read more here, but Carlson’s college numbers were a bit underwhelming, especially from over 40 yards. Gutekunst mentioned that he did deal with injuries and that with his brother being Daniel Carlson, who kicked for the Raiders at one point, Rich Bisaccia has some familiarity with Anders. Gutekunst also added that Bisaccia has a strong track record working with kickers and was comfortable with this selection.
– Safety was one of the big perceived needs that the Packers had, but this was considered by most to be a below-average draft class with a lot of prospects who actually spent most of their college playing time in the slot rather than as a true safety, which is what Green Bay needed. Gutekunst also prepared for this ahead of time by signing Rudy Ford, Dallin Leavitt, and Tarvarius Moore in free agency. Not to say that this is a position that can’t be upgraded, but the Packers do have options.
– After spending three draft picks on offensive linemen in each of the previous three drafts, the Packers did not select one for the first time since 2015. Ultimately this came down to the depth that the Packers have on the roster, coupled with how the board fell. Outside of Paris Johnson, Darnell Wright, and Broderick Jones, the talent of this tackle class fell off quickly, and the interior offensive line group as a whole wasn’t that strong either. So the opportunity to add an impact player was low, and because of the depth currently on the roster, a Day 3 pick making the roster wasn’t going to be likely.
– At the time, Gutekunst trading down twice in the second round perhaps seemed peculiar, but it paid off in a big way for the Packers. They used the two picks that they acquired from those trade downs to select Dontayvion Wicks and Karl Brooks. Tremendous value for Green Bay.
– The Green Bay Packers have a lot of youth at receiver and tight end. Inevitably there will be growing pains, but Gutekunst has added a lot of juice to the passing game over the last two offseasons with the additions of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Grant DuBose, Luke Musgrave, and Tucker Kraft. That’s a lot of potential playmakers, and they will all have the opportunity to grow alongside each other with Jordan Love.
– It was another elite group of draft picks for the Packers. Of the 12 players who posted Relative Athletic Scores (Anders Carlson did not), nine were above the usual 8.0 threshold, which is considered elite, while seven of those nine were above 9.0. Jayden Reed, Karl Brooks, and Lew Nichols scored below 8.0, although Reed ran a 4.45 second 40 while Nichols had an impressive 37” vertical.
– The Packers made 13 draft picks this year and as I said beforehand, the more picks they have the better. Their salary cap situation is still going to be tight in 2024 as Green Bay still feels the ramifications of past offseason. So the more cost-effective rookie deals on the 53-man roster the better, to begin rebalancing the cap.