The Green Bay Packers are in a state of retooling after trading away All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams. Extra first and second-round draft picks are part of the equation. Losing an All-World receiver and Rodgers is a bad thing.
The Packers have 11 picks in this year's draft, thanks to the Adams trade. They have two picks in the first, second and fourth rounds. Green Bay has seven picks in the first four rounds. The team known for building through the draft should be able to fill some of their holes. The Packers don't attract a lot of big-name free agents.
Replacing Adams won't be easy. There isn't a receiver in this draft class that is ready to take on the role of Adams immediately. They don't have anyone on the roster that is ready to step into that role. Many teams have gone to a running-back-by-committee type of ground game in recent years. Since Rodgers didn't trust most other targets when Adams was there, the Packers will need to operate a wide-receiver-by-committee offense.
It's probably not a good idea to expect Green Bay to pick a receiver early in the draft. The last time the Packers took a receiver in the first or second round was in 2014, when they selected Adams. You would assume that Green Bay would be able to find a suitable player to catch balls from Rodgers if they held the 22nd and 28th overall picks. If they wanted to acquire one of the top wide receiver in this class, they could package those picks to trade up.
This year's group of receivers isn't as good as some in recent drafts, but still solid. Many mock drafts don't have a receiver taken until the bottom of the top 10. The Packers have the 22nd pick in the draft and are said to be taking Chris Olave from Ohio State. I don't think that's realistic. Green Bay goes defense in the first round.
One time in the first round, the Packers have selected an offensive player. Jordan Love was in 2020. They took a safety and a linebacker in the first round. The odds of Green Bay going that route so early in the draft are low.
If the Packers decide to break away from their norm, Drake London of USC could be another receiver left on the board. London is big, has a wide catch radius, and could be an excellent target for Rodgers on those 50/50 balls downfield. Another guy that could make an impact for Green Bay is Jahan Dotson from Penn State. Dotson doesn't have the size of London or Olave, but he has the speed. He ran a fast time in the 40-yard dash. Be shifty and quick if you can be big. If the Packers decide to go for a wide receiver in the first round, they might be interested in Arkansas' Trylon Burks.
If Green Bay sticks with defense and plays it safe in the first round, they have a lot of options. Heading into the draft, the Packers need a pass rusher off the edge. Green Bay had 39 sacks in 2021. Not terrible, but not great either. The Packers allowed opponents to convert over 40% of their third-down attempts. They had a good secondary last season which helped cover up some of the deficiencies.
Some of the more highly regarded edge rushers will be gone by the 22nd pick. Unless Green Bay jumps up into the top 10, landing any of these players is a pipe dream. George Karlaftis could be available for the Packers at 22 or even 28. The Boilermakers had a team that led in tackles for loss. He was named first-team all-conference in 2021.
Boye Mafe could be a first-round option for the Packers. Mafe ran 4.53 in the 40, which is fast for a defensive lineman. Mafe was a third-team all-conference selection last year, and he led the team with 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
The offensive line is an area of need for the Packers, and there is a good chance that they will go offense in the first round. One of the top tackles in this year's draft is Charles Cross of Mississippi State. There is a chance he will go to Green Bay at 22. Mr. Rodgers could develop into an outstanding pass blocker with the help of Cross, who took home first-team all-conference honors last season.
Penning is an offensive lineman from Northern Iowa and he could still be going in the first round. Upon entering the league, Penning should be able to contribute immediately.
The cheeseheads have plenty of draft capital in their arsenal this year, whichever way they decide to go. They can package a couple and use all their picks. Green Bay should be able to get at least a couple of long-term starters at more than one position with 11 picks this year.
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