The Green Bay Packers sit with the No. 23-overall pick in their lap for April’s draft.
With Brian Gutekunst showing a willingness to navigate around the first round in past drafts, ESPN is suggesting he and the Packers do the same this time around.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote a piece about teams that should trade within the parameters of Round 1. Among the teams he listed was the Packers, and it’s hard to argue with his logic.
Do the Packers lack star power? Maybe. They haven’t had a wide receiver top 800 yards since Davante Adams‘ final season with the team in 2021 or had a pass rusher hit double-digit sacks since Za’Darius Smith did it in 2020. … I’m not sure teams inherently need high-profile players or that there’s anything wrong with the idea of building a roster around depth as opposed to selling out for top-end talent, but the best teams have a balance.
In today’s NFL, where there’s a 17th game on the schedule, having a 1,000-yard receiver is almost common practice. The fact Green Bay hasn’t had a receiver eclipse even 800 yards in three years is bizarre and speaks to the inconsistencies they’ve seen at the position.
Barnwell’s suggestion?
Move up.
If the Packers think there’s somebody like that in this draft, especially at wide receiver or edge rusher, they should give serious thought to taking a bigger swing by sacrificing some draft capital.
Some buzz was generated recently when Gutekunst was the only general manager to show up for Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan‘s private workout. Other scouts were in attendance, but Gutekunst was the only general manager.
McMillan is widely expected to get selected before Green Bay’s pick at No. 23.
Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart is another name to keep tabs on if Green Bay moves up.
Stewart recently was in Green Bay with the Packers using a top-30 visit on him. Stewart is expected to go around the general area the Packers are selecting, with most mocks having him going slightly before the No. 23 pick is on the clock.
Is it time for the Packers to step in the box and take a big swing as Barnwell says?
Maybe.
If they do, don’t be surprised if it’s for a wide receiver or edge rusher, two needs that haven’t been addressed much this offseason.
