As an event, the NFL draft was an amazing success for the city of Green Bay. However, the host team didn’t have a strong enough draft to match the excitement around the event itself.
Matthew Golden
The Green Bay Packers’ first pick on Day 1 was electric, selecting Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden in Mark Murphy’s final year as president. They broke the first-round wide receiver drought, creating one heck of a scene. However, the opportunity to trade back and acquire more picks, including potentially a 2026 first-round pick from the Atlanta Falcons, represents a massive value that the Packers missed out on.
Atlanta traded a second-rounder and a future first for the 26th-overall pick that belonged to the Los Angeles Rams. The Falcons used this pick to take Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr.
The Packers could have gotten more back in that trade because their pick was at 23rd overall. However, the Packers were unlikely to make a move because they were hosting the draft, and fans wanted a receiver. Ultimately, Golden was a fine pick at 22. I have no real issues with him as a player, and I think he’ll be a solid fit.
The Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles were also in trade talks regarding the 22nd selection. While the Eagles ultimately only moved up one slot for a fifth-round pick, the Packers could have gotten a much sweeter package for moving down 10 spots.
Anthony Belton
As we turn to the second round, people try to justify the Anthony Belton pick at 54, but it’s just value. The Packers are throwing darts at the offensive line and trying to get bigger. They reached on this pick after facing Philadelphia’s massive front.
I like Belton as a player, but he’s 24 years old and was solidly a third-round pick. The other thing that rubs me the wrong way is that the Packers could have addressed their glaring need at corner with this pick. Trey Amos, a borderline first-round talent, was still available at 54.
There’s been a positive development in the Jaire Alexander saga, and the veteran cornerback could still see the field for Green Bay this season. However, that wasn’t a reality at this point in the draft. The Packers were preparing for life without Alexander, and that world was looking scary with Nate Hobbs, Keisean Nixon, and Carrington Valentine as the top three corners. Green Bay needs another playmaker, and Amos fits the bill perfectly as a replacement for Alexander.
Instead, the Packers reached for Belton and failed to address the corner until the seventh, when they took Micah Robinson, who likely won’t make the roster. I understand that the consensus board shouldn’t be the be-all end-all of NFL draft selections. However, when teams ignore that, they often select players far above where they should be chosen.
Think AJ Dillon in the second round, Josiah Deguara in the third, Darnell Savage, Oren Burks, Ty’Ron Hopper. Those are just a few players who haven’t worked out in Green Bay, all bad, off-the-board picks at the time who grew into nothing more.
Savion Williams
In the third, the Packers got a true wild card in TCU wide receiver Savion Williams. On one play, he will look like the greatest wideout you’ve ever seen. However, on the next play, he drops a routine hook route.
Williams can potentially be a gadget or wildcat player, if he gets more consistent — but that’s a major if. The Packers were smart to address wideouts early and often. Still, more solid players were available, and the Williams pick is risky, far from a slam dunk or positive value here in the third. Not a bad pick by any means, but not one that leaves you with a warm and fuzzy feeling.
The rest
The Barryn Sorrell pick perplexes me because this guy would have been awesome to get a round or two earlier. He can flat-out play. This pick might be the only thing holding Green Bay’s draft from being near the bottom of the league.
Collin Oliver is another player who seems to have fallen through the cracks. He’s a really athletic player who missed most of last season due to injury. You have to trust the Packers staff with this pick because they’ve stated he’ll be in the defensive end room, and that doesn’t make sense.
He fits the mold of an off-ball pass rush specialist. The 53-man roster is not big enough to have a defensive end; you can only play on one down of the game to get after the quarterback. He’ll need to be able to play off-ball in certain situations or be a key ace on special teams. Still, a fun pick here late.
I don’t have much to say about Warren Brinson in the sixth, besides that he’s athletic and smart. I liked the undrafted free agent, and Brinson’s teammate, Nazir Stackhouse, more. He’s a better fit than Brinson for replacing T.J. Slaton’s role in Green Bay.
Both seventh-rounders are project picks. John Williams is a solid candidate to make the roster and could develop into a solid swing tackle. However, I see little reason for Robinson to be a successful NFL player.
Ultimately, the Packers didn’t maximize their pick value
The thing about this Packers class is that they’ve failed again to understand the value of their picks. Golden is great, but there was so much more value available in a trade down. Belton was cool, but it was a reach.
Williams is fun, but he could be anything. There were a few picks in this draft that truly provided an edge for the Packers over other teams, and in the end, that’s why I don’t love or hate this class.
It’s just okay.
All stats and data via ESPN, Football Reference, and PFF unless otherwise noted.
