The Green Bay Packers were one of the biggest surprises in the NFL this season. Not many predicted that they would be very competitive in their first year after trading Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. However, Jordan Love proved that, once again, Green Bay has a knack for drafting and developing quarterbacks, finishing the season with a 64.2% completion percentage, 4,159 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a passer rating of 96.1.
Love and the Packers improved on the 2022 season by finishing 9-8 and clinching the final spot in the NFC Playoffs. Furthermore, they upset the Dallas Cowboys in the wild card round, and nearly pulled off the upset over the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round.
Of course, it was not just improved quarterback play from Love that got the Packers to this point. With the youngest team in the NFL last year, it was imperative that the youthful, inexperienced players learn on the fly and get used to the speed of the NFL quickly. And they did.
Even the biggest critics of general manager Brian Gutekunst have to admit that he has had two phenomenal drafts in a row. 2022 picks like Romeo Doubs, Zach Tom, Quay Walker, Christian Watson (when healthy), and Rasheed Walker all played big roles on the team. Several 2023 NFL Draft picks did as well. Some played so well that in a recent CBS mock re-draft, three of the Packers’ non-first round picks were taken by other teams in the first round.
Green Bay Packers 6th Round Pick Karl Brooks Taken by Seattle Seahawks with Pick 20.
Karl Brooks finished his 2023 rookie season with 20 total tackles, 4.0 sacks, four passes defended, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. The amazing thing about these numbers is that he only played 34% of the defense’s snaps all year. He clearly is a force in the making on the defensive line and an absolute steal for a sixth round pick.
The Seattle Seahawks used the 20th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. In their mock re-draft, CBS has them taking Brooks.
“The Packers’ Day 3 pick really rounded into form late in the season and in the playoffs, and the Seahawks need more dudes up front on the defensive side.”
With new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley presumably implementing a more tradition 4-3 defensive front, it will be interesting to see how much more playing time Brooks gets, especially with a year of NFL experience under his belt.
Green Bay Packers 2nd Round Pick Jayden Reed Taken by the Baltimore Ravens with Pick 22
The Packers did not even use their first second round pick on Reed. After taking tight end Luke Musgrave with the 42nd overall pick, they took Reed with pick number 50. While Green Bay did expect Reed to be their starting slot wide receiver, few could have predicted that he would have one of the best rookie seasons for a wide receiver in franchise history.
Those 64 receptions broke Sterling Sharpe’s franchise record for most receptions by a rookie.
In the CBS mock re-draft, the player that the Baltimore Ravens actually took with the 22nd overall pick, wide receiver Zay Flowers, was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers with pick 21. With him off the board, CBS has them taking Reed instead:
“After seeing Flowers go a pick in front of them, the Ravens turn their attention to Reed, who had eight touchdowns — mostly operating from the slot — with the Packers in 2023.”
Fortunately for the Packers, the reality is that every single other NFL team passed on Reed, who might be the most talented wide receiver on their roster, which is saying something considering how deep they are at the position.
Green Bay Packers 5th Round Pick Dontayvion Wicks Taken by the Kansas City Chiefs with Pick 31.
Dontayvion Wicks is a fan-favorite, especially on X (formerly Twitter) where many compare him to Devante Adams and believe he could legitimately be the Packers’ future number one wide receiver. And they may be right.
Wicks finished his rookie campaign with 39 receptions for 581 yards and four touchdowns and is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL already when facing man coverage. If he is not the Packers number one wide receiver soon, he will be their 1B or 1C option.
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