The Green Bay Packers are moving on from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love, that much is certain. What is less than certain is whether or not they will use their first round pick to get Love another weapon on offense or draft defense as they have in most drafts over the past 20 years. In particular, the Packers have glaring needs at the wide receiver and tight end positions.
The last time they took a wide receiver in the first round was 2002 (Javon Walker), and they last time they took a tight end was 2000 (Bubba Franks). This is why Bleacher Report stated that Green Bay taking one of these positions, namely, wide receiver, would be one of the most shocking picks in the draft this year.
It Would Be Shocking in the Green Bay Packers Drafted a Wide Receiver
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In his article on six potential draft picks that would be shocking to the NFL, Matt Holder wrote:
“This may not seem like much of a surprise, but the Green Bay Packers haven’t drafted a wide receiver in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002. In fact, they’ve only taken a wideout on Day 1 of the draft five times in franchise history, so doing that on Thursday would almost qualify as a monumental moment in league history.
“Now, the Packers do have a couple of young receivers in Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, who are growing and looking to take big steps forward in year two. But they’re also the team’s top wideouts, and expecting both of them to stay on schedule with their development isn’t a wise strategy while breaking in new starting quarterback Jordan Love.
“Especially with Tonyan no longer in the mix, Green Bay needs to give Love all the help it can, and adding a premium pass-catcher in the first round is a great way to do that. Plus, if Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba is available with the 15th pick (or maybe 13th…), then he could complement Watson and Doubs well to form a nice, young receiving trio.
“Watson and Doubs are more of the outside wide receiver type, while Smith-Njigba projects best in the slot, at least initially in the NFL. In a way, the former Buckeye and Love could be the 2.0 version of Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb.”
Currently, Doubs and Watson are joined by Samori Toure, Bo Melton, and Jeff Cotton in the Green Bay wide receiver room. There is a definite need at that position. It is also noteworthy that in 2008, the first year that Aaron Rodgers was the starter, the Packers used their first draft pick (a second round pick) on Jordy Nelson.
Could this be the year they break with the trend and draft a pass catcher in the first round. Given their historical tendencies, it certainly would be. However, given their present needs, it would not be too far of a stretch.
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