Every offseason, the Green Bay Packers are projected by so-called NFL Draft experts to take a wide receiver in the first round. Of course, this has not happened since 2002 (Javon Walker). For the most part, the Packers have stuck to drafting defensive talent in the first round over the last two decades. Of course, there are exceptions (i.e., Jordan Love).
It was the same story heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. With Love taking over as the new starting quarterback of the Packers, and the team losing veteran pass catchers Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Robert Tonyan, many analysts and fans believed that this would be the year that Green Bay would draft a wide receiver in the first round.
And when the Packers moved up two spots from 15th to 13th as part of the trade of Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, it seemed even more likely in the minds of many that a pass catcher of some kind was coming to Green Bay in round one.
Of course, that did not end up happening. The Packers instead drafted Lukas Van Ness in the first round and waited until the second round to take their first wide receiver. Even then, they drafted tight end Luke Musgrave first with the 42nd overall pick before taking Jayden Reed with pick 50.
The Green Bay Packers’ Patience Has Paid Off in Regards to Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks
Green Bay has a history of finding some gems of wide receivers after the first round. Of course, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs from the 2022 NFL Draft are the most recent names on that list. Others of significance include Cobb, Davante Adams, Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings James Jones, Allen Lazard, and (going back even further) Donald Driver.
Even though it is just three games into the 2023 NFL season, it appears as if the Packers may have done it again in Reed and fifth round pick Dontayvion Wicks.
Jayden Reed 2023 Statistics Through Week Three
- Nine receptions
- 148 yards
- Two touchdowns
- 103.7 passer rating when targeted
- 69.1 receiving grade on PFF
Dontayvion Wicks 2023 Statistics Through Week Three
- Six receptions
- 85 yards
- One touchdown
- 101.0 passer rating when targeted
- 65.1 receiving grade on PFF
2023 First Round Wide Receiver Statistics Through Week Three
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- Nine receptions
- 57 yards
- Zero touchdowns
- 42.9 passer rating when targeted
- 52.8 receiving grade on PFF
Quentin Johnson
- Five receptions
- 26 yards
- Zero touchdowns
- 67.7 passer rating when targeted
- 56.5 receiving grade on PFF
Zay Flowers
- 21 receptions
- 188 yards
- Zero touchdowns
- 81.3 passer rating when targeted
- 74.9 receiving grade on PFF
Jordan Addison
- 13 receptions
- 185 yards
- Two touchdowns
- 134.8 passer rating when targeted
- 66.1 receiving grade on PFF
As one can see, both Reed and Wicks have superior numbers than Smith-Njigba (who Packers fans coveted) and Johnson. Both have a higher passer rating than targeted and more touchdowns than Flowers.
It is clear that, right now, Addison is the best wide receiver from the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
It is also clear that Brian Gutekunst, once again, found some pretty good wide receivers well after many believed he should have taken one.
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