The bombshell announcement that Davante Adams wouldn’t be returning to the Green Bay Packers shocked fans of the Green and Gold, but the trade could work out in the team’s favor. The Las Vegas Raiders traded their first- and second-round picks in 2022. If the Packers can capitalize on those two first-rounders and two second-rounders in this year’s draft, they can build a better roster than they had with Adams.
Green Bay can use the $20 million in cap relief from trading Adams to sign a receiver in free agency. Players like Jarvis Landry, Julio Jones, and T.Y. Hilton have yet to find a home, so we will likely see one of them sign with the Packers. Green Bay probably won’t draft two receivers if they land a marquee free agent. Perhaps they draft two receivers if they don’t sign one in free agency, but that seems unlikely.
The Packers will have to draft a receiver high, something they have typically been uncomfortable doing. Aaron Rodgers has only thrown a touchdown to two first-round picks in his career: Marcedes Lewis, the tight end, and William Jackson, who, unfortunately for Rodgers, was playing cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals at the time.
The Packers haven’t drafted a wide receiver in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002. Gutekunst will have to go against the grain and find someone who is the right fit for this team. Right now, the biggest issue the Packers face is the lack of a speedy deep threat after Marquez Valdes Scantling became a free agent and Adams headed to the Raiders.
The Packers could realistically get Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson out of Ohio State in the draft. Both ran 40-yard dashes under 4.4 seconds, which is only the second time since 2006 that a pair of players has done that. Olave and Wilson each had over 900 yards receiving and at least 12 touchdowns. Safe to say, either player could be that deep threat the Packers need.
Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce has also been linked to the Packers. He went for 884 yards and eight touchdowns during the Bearcats’ historic run. Pierce made a statement at the combine, running a blazing 4.33 40-yard dash.
Jameson Williams out of Alabama is also an interesting prospect. Although he is recovering from a torn ACL, experts still project him to go early. With deep speed, he is exactly what the Packers need in the wide receivers’ room. He’s drawn comparisons to Will Fuller and could make an immediate impact.
If the Packers take a receiver in the first round, which position group should they prioritize with the other first-round pick? Brian Gutekunst may have tipped his hand at the combine. “It’s another good offensive-line class,” Gutekunst said. “The pass-rush group is deeper than it has been in a while.”
The Packers are pretty set on the left side of the line with David Bakhtiari at LT, Elgton Jenkins at the left guard, and second-year center Josh Meyer. So Green Bay’s focus will be replacing the right side’s depth issues, especially after they let Billy Turner go.
Daniel Faalele out of Minnesota is one player to watch. The Australian is 6’8″, 387 lbs., and incredibly quick and agile. He also made 31 starts with the Gophers and played outdoors at Huntington Bank Stadium, making it easier for him to embrace the cold Green Bay winters.
Tyler Smith, an offensive tackle out of Tulsa, could have the highest upside to any offensive lineman in the draft. He’s 6’6″, 330 lbs. but doesn’t have a lot of tape because he is a redshirt sophomore coming out of college. However, that could make him a steal in this draft.
Although the Packers have two first-round picks, I doubt they will spend more than one first-rounder on a receiver. They’ll most likely take Chris Olave and Daniel Faalele in the first round. Both would make a tremendous impact for the Packers.
