The Green Bay Packers had a busy NFL Draft as they added 13 players to the team. This is the kind of Draft you want for a team in a rebuild/retool phase. The Packers brought in a lot of high-upside players, along with some with great collegiate resumès.
Here I break down each player of the Packers’ 2023 NFL Draft class and project what we’ll get int heir rookie season:
Green Bay Packers 2023 NFL Draft Class: Day 1 Projections
Lukas Van Ness (EDGE – Iowa)
The Packers went pass rusher in Round 1, and it’s easy to understand why. Outside of the fact Rashan Gary will miss at least half of the season, it’s a premium position where Green Bay lacks depth. This is the kind of pick that helps short and long-term. Much like when the Packers drafted Gary, they are betting on upside and physical tools here. The college production won’t jump off the page at you, but the athletic traits will.
I don’t expect Van Ness to come in immediately and be a game-wrecker. Although he has all the physical tools in the world, he is very raw in his pass-rushing arsenal. He needs to learn how to beat NFL tackles consistently, which takes time. With that said, he should get a decent amount of opportunities. Preston Smith is the only lock to get a lot of reps, and second-year player Kingsley Enagbare took most of Gary’s reps last season.
Van Ness is the most physically gifted available pass rusher until Gary returns and is at a thin position on the team. He likely starts the season slow in the pass-rushing department but should be able to hold up in the run game. I don’t think the Packers have the luxury of only using him in obvious passing downs, which should allow him to develop faster. By the second half of the season, we should see a more polished and confident Van Ness.
Rookie Season Projection: Rotational player who sees his role grow as the season progresses.
Green Bay Packers 2023 NFL Draft Class: Day 2 Projections
Luke Musgrave (TE – Oregon State)
As many predicted, the Packers went tight end in the second round. In Luke Musgrave, they added a dynamic pass-catching threat with a ton of upside. Although he wasn’t the safest tight end prospect in the Draft, he likely has the highest ceiling.
Tight Ends rarely come in and make a big impact immediately. As high as I am on Musgrave, I don’t see him bucking that trend. Josiah Deguara will still operate as TE1 early in the season, while Musgrave and another player in this 2023 NFL Draft class acclimate. Ideally, we see flashes of his field-stretching abilities early on in the season, with it becoming more consistent as the season goes along. If he can be an average blocker from the get-go, that would help him find the field more often.
Rookie Season Projection: Situational pass-catcher early in the season, growing into the starter by season’s end.
Jayden Reed (WR – Michigan State)
The addition of weapons continued on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, as the Packers may have gotten a steal with Jayden Reed. He wasn’t viewed as one of the top receivers in the draft by many, but he absolutely dominated the Senior Bowl and is the type of receiver the Packers roster lacks. He has the size of a true slot receiver with the ability to lineup all over the field.
There is no reason Reed shouldn’t get a ton of snaps from day No. 1. He’s a great route runner, has very good hands, makes plenty of contested catches and blocks extremely well for his size and position. With both Watson and Doubs being more well-suited as outside receivers, Reed should be able to dominate the slot touches. I expect Reed to have the biggest impact this season out of all the Packers in this 2023 NFL Draft class.
Rookie Season Projection: Starter at the slot from day No. 1.
Tucker Kraft (TE – South Dakota State)
Doubling up on tight ends in Rounds 2 and 3 may have come as a surprise, but it was a good move by the Packers’ front office. That was arguably the thinnest position on the team, and now Green Bay has two young building blocks for the position moving forward.
Although Tucker Kraft may not have the upside of Musgrave, he could be a safer bet to produce year No. 1. He’s a willing blocker that uses his frame well to get open. He does a good job of breaking tackles and has more athleticism than you would expect. His ability to block will give him more opportunities early on than his high-upside rookie teammate.
Rookie Season Projection: Day No. 1 starter/ often used rotational TE2.
Green Bay Packers 2023 NFL Draft Class: Day 3 Projections
Colby Wooden (DL – Auburn)
The Packers added defensive line help in the fourth round, and it looks as the Green Bay got a good one. Colby Wooden had a very impressive 2021 before regressing in 2022. It sounds like a position change may have been a big part of that regression, and he is expected to fill his more natural position for the Packers.
Rookie Season Projection: Steady rotational player from the get-go.
Sean Clifford (QB – Penn State)
This pick may have seemed like a head-scratching addition to the Packers’ 2023 NFL Draft class at the time, but hear me out. Sean Clifford is an extremely experienced quarterback with plenty of physical traits. He just lacks the polish needed to get to the next level. He was drafted to be a backup, and the mental aspect of the game makes him perfect to handle the scout team role. He’ll be a great presence in the QB room and will only improve mechanically. Plus, he is a less expensive option than a veteran backup.
Rookie Season Projection: Back up quarterback who ideally won’t have to play this season.
Dontayvion Wicks (WR – Virginia)
The goal of adding depth to the wide receiver room continued into Day 3 of the Draft as Dontayvion Wicks was up next. He’s a reliable receiver with good playmaking ability in the open field. He isn’t known for his route running and struggled with drops in college, but those are things that can be fixed at the pro level. If he gets dialed in mentally, he has the physical traits to be a difference-maker.
Rookie Season Projection: Will be WR depth; not likely to see the field much this season.
Karl Brooks (DL – Bowling Green)
This is a pick a lot of people were excited about. Brooks doesn’t have off-the-charts physical abilities, but he can win matchups in various ways. He was extremely productive in college and could surprise people as part of the Packers’ 2023 NFL Draft class.
Rookie Season Projection: Rotational defensive lineman that finds a more regular role as the season progresses.
Anders Carlson (K – Auburn)
With Mason Crosby not on the roster for the first time in 16 years, the Packers drafted a kicker. Although there are reports that Green Bay hasn’t closed the door on Crosby, his likely replacement could be on the roster. Anders Carlson needs to improve consistency with field goals, as extra points were a virtual lock for him. His brother is the kicker for the Raiders, so there’s reason to believe he’ll be able to make adjustments.
Rookie Season Projection: The Packers bring back Crosby for one season, allowing Carlson to work on his technique and consistency.
Carrington Valentine (CB – Kentucky)
With their first of four picks in the seventh round, the Packers added cornerback depth as they nabbed Valentine. He clocked 4.4 speed at his pro day after two seasons as a starter at Kentucky. He only had one career interception but broke up 16 passes and recorded 119 tackles. He’s a good athlete that isn’t afraid of contact.
Rookie Season Projection: He’ll be a valuable special teams player that will rise up the corner depth chart.
Lew Nichols (RB – Central Michigan)
Lew Nichols is a bruiser of a back that has solid vision and creates yards after contact. He isn’t likely to make people miss and doesn’t have that extra gear. Yet, he does have a chance to be a solid backup with a good offensive line.
Rookie Season Projection: He’ll likely end up on the practice squad, as the other backs on the roster are a bit more versatile.
Anthony Johnson Jr. (S – Iowa State)
After playing corner his first few years at Iowa State, Anthony Johnson Jr. switched to safety for his final season. The switch appears to be the right move as he’s more athletic than your typical safety but brought the physicality needed to play the position. He has a great frame and can read and react or cover in space. He’s an aggressive tackler that has a chance to see a lot of snaps this season as a part of this Packers 2023 NFL Draft class.
Rookie Season Projection: Carves out a role early in the season and is a starter after the halfway point.
Grant DuBose (WR – Charlotte)
With their final pick, the Packers added another pass-catcher that looks like incredible value. Grant DuBose has a great frame at 6’2″ and just over 200 pounds. He doesn’t have incredible speed or explosion, but he has fantastic body control and hands. He’s still relatively raw as a receiver, but his route running should only improve with NFL coaching.
Rookie Season Projection: Early season practice squad player that ends the season as WR4.
The Packers’ front office did a fantastic job with this 2023 NFL Draft class. They grabbed players at premium positions with upside and got tremendous value in the later rounds on players that should be able to contribute from day No. 1. They shored up thin positions and let the board come to them. Overall, I think this draft goes down as the best for Brian Gutekunst and puts this franchise in a great spot moving forward.
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