Trading back in Round 2 lands Packers Dontayvion Wicks and Karl Brooks

The Green Bay Packers initially moved back from pick 45 to 48 in the second round and then from 48 to 50 before selecting Jayden Reed.

In the process, they also landed the 159th overall pick, which they used to take Donatyvion Wick, and the 179th pick to select Karl Brooks. A tremendous value for Brian Gutekunst and the Packers.

On the clock at pick 45, the Packers had a number of different directions they could go with that selection. Although they had just taken Luke Musgrave at pick 42, they could have used another tight end. Receiver, interior defensive lineman, and safety were all positions of need as well.

However, because the board had fallen so favorably with the Packers with a number of viable options available to them, they were able to capitalize – twice – by trading back.

"“We were sitting there with (picks) 42 and 45, and the board was really, really strong,” said Gutekunst after the third round. “So we had a lot of conversation about which picks you might want to move back with, which ones you want to stick with and pick. I felt all along that with the 42nd pick, it was going to be hard for me to move off that just because I felt there was going to be a really good player there for us to take. But we had so many good numbers that I thought if we could move back, pick up some extra ones that might make some sense, and that’s what happened.”"

Acquiring the 159th and 179th picks in these trades was huge for the Packers from a roster-building standpoint. Green Bay entered the draft with only five receivers on the roster and added three in this draft, including Wicks.

Wicks saw his production take a dip in 2022 as he transitioned to a new offensive system under a new head coach, and at times drops were an issue. But turn on his 2021 tape, and you will see a big play threat that averaged over 21 yards per catch and recorded the 11th most downfield receiving yards in college football, according to PFF ($$).

The interior defensive line room was in a similar shape prior to the draft, with the Packers lacking experience and depth, again with just five players on the roster. Brooks was one of two interior defenders taken, along with first-round edge rusher Lukas Van Ness, who can take snaps inside.

Brooks was an extremely versatile defender at Bowling Green, taking snaps anywhere from the A-gap to outside as a traditional edge rusher. He was an effective pass rusher, ranking sixth in PFF’s win rate metric in 2022 while recording 63 pressures, and he held up well against the run, recording the highest run defense grade out of all interior defenders and edge rushers.

These two picks not only provided the Packers with potential contributors at key positions of need but for a team that once again will be up against the salary cap in 2024; the more picks the better. These inexpensive rookie deals on the 53-man roster will help ease the Packers’ salary cap burden as they continue to feel the side effects of previous offseasons on their books.