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In the least stunning series of events in NFL history, the Green Bay Packers chose not to bolster their offensive skill position group in Round 1. They’ve never done it in Aaron Rodgers’ 15 years as the Packers’ starter, and are doing it for Jordan Love’s first year as the Packers’ starting quarterback.
For the 21st year in a row, the Packers do not select a running back, wide receiver, or tight end, extending longest steak or no offensive skill position player (RB, WR, or TE) is selected in round 1 in the Common Draft era (since 1967 ). Green Bay had a shot at Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the consensus said top wideout in the 2023 NFL Draft among many NFL teams. Green Bay also had its pick of any tight end in a deep league position. Instead, the Packers went to the defense and selected Iowa Hawkeyes outside linebacker Lukas Van Vess 13th overall after moving up two spots in the opening round following their trade of Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets.
Longest drought with no 1st round RB, WR or TE
Common draft era (since 1967)
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Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst likely chose Van Ness after seeing what happened to the team’s pass rush after Rashan Gary, running edge, tore his ACL in Week 9 with the Detroit Lions. Green Bay had the 10th best pressing percentage in the NFL in 2022 at 34.6% – a strong year from a macro perspective in terms of harassing quarterbacks. However, that figure is supported by the first nine weeks of the season, when the 39.8% percentage was the second best in the NFL. During that span, Gary dominated with 38 pressings, tied for fifth in the NFL and six sacks. As Weeks 10-17 rolled around – after 25-year-old Gary went down with the torn ACL – they plummeted with the sixth-lowest percentage in the league (29.7%).
Van Ness, who turns 22 ahead of the start of the 2023 NFL season, was a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2022. He amassed 13.0 sacks over the past two seasons, tied for third in the Big Ten Ten in that wingspan. His 74 quarterback presses since 2021 tied for second in the conference, just one behind the Big Ten leader, Nick Herbig of Wisconsin, with 75. Van Ness also had a great NFL Scouting Combine, with a 4.58 40 yard sprint while measuring at 6-5, 272 pounds with great height (34-inch arms). He could be a nice long-term addition to Gary for years to come.
Now the Packers move into Friday, when they will make three picks: 42nd overall (second round, from Jets), 45th overall (second round), and 78th overall (third round). Cheeseheads all over foam at the mouth for more help catching passes, understandably so. Here are some of their best possible options for Day 2:
One of the best remaining tight ends
With the loss of both of their top two tight ends over the past few seasons, Robert Tonyan (signed a $2.7 million one-year contract with the Chicago Bears) and Marcedes Lewis (aged 38, turning 39 in May), Green Bay needs youth reinforcements at that position. Georgia tight end Darnell Washington, a behemoth who measured 6-7, 264 pounds while running a 4.64 40-yard sprint with a vertical jump of 31 inches and a wide jump of 10’2″, would be a giant addition if blocker and Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Sam LaPorta, standing at 6-3, 245 pounds with a 4.59 40-yard dash and a 35-inch vertical, is a strong route runner over the center and solid at collecting yards after the catch .
Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt
The Volunteers’ deep threat was the 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner (best WR in college football) and a unanimous All-American after finishing top five in receiving yards (1,267, fifth) and receiving touchdowns (15, tied for second place) throughout college football. Seven of those touchdown catches were 30 yards or more, tied for the most such touchdowns in the country. His 63% catch rate on passes from 30 yards or more down was the best in the entire country among 85 players with double-digit targets from 30 yards or more. Hyatt would act as another fast deep threat in Green Bay alongside Christian Watson.
SMU WR Rashee rice
Rice set the SMU record for receiving single-season yards with 1,355 in 2022. That’s a big deal considering the Mustangs have quietly been an NFL-wide receiver factory for the past 10-12 years, with players like two-time Pro Bowler- and Super Bowl champion wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and prolific slot receiver Cole Beasley to the league in the early 2010s. They’ve also put recent alumni into the NFL such as current Denver Broncos Pro Bowl wide receiver Courtland Sutton, current Baltimore Ravens wideout James Proche, current San Francisco 49ers pass catcher Danny Gray, and current Tennessee Titans receiver Reggie Roberson.
His test numbers were strong, comparing favorably to San Francisco 49ers starting wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, according to CBS Sports’ NFL Draft expert Chris Trapasso. Rice could be available in round 2 or possibly early round 3.
We’ll see what Green Bay does from Friday as it will have some options when the weather comes around.
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