The Green Bay Packers reportedly decided to shelve one of their 2024 draft picks Tuesday. The Packers, who selected five pass catchers in the 2023 NFL Draft in April, did not place a bid on one of the two wide receivers participating in Tuesday’s supplemental draft.
NFL News: Green Bay Packers defer a draft pick
According to Tom Pelissero with the NFL Network, no league team decided to draft receivers Malachi Wideman or Milton Wright. They were the only two players available in the supplemental draft Tuesday.
No players were selected in today’s NFL supplemental draft, per source.
That means the two players eligible, Jackson State WR Malachi Wideman and Purdue WR Milton Wright, are now free agents.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 11, 2023
Both players were deemed ineligible to play in the upcoming NCAA season after the January deadline to sign up for April’s draft. The supplemental draft allows college players deemed ineligible for the fall season to join the NFL.
The Packers didn’t need to give up a pick for a WR
Safety Jalen Thompson was the last player taken in the supplemental draft. That happened in 2019 with the Arizona Cardinals. There have been successful receivers found in the supplemental draft.
Josh Gordon was taken by the Cleveland Browns in 2012. However, the Browns had to forfeit a 2013 second-round selection for Gordon. According to CBS Sports, teams have to outbid their competition by using a draft pick from the draft held in the succeeding spring:
“The supplemental draft order is different from the regular draft order. Teams are separated into three groups based on the previous season; the first group is non-playoff teams that had six or fewer wins. The second group is non-playoff teams with more than six wins. And the final group is playoff teams.
The order in those groups is determined by a weighted lottery, with the teams with the fewest wins given the best chance to win the earliest picks. Bids for players are submitted blindly by teams with the round that team would want to select a given player.
The team highest in the draft order who submits the earliest-round bid for a player will be awarded that player. When that happens, that club forfeits a pick in the same round of the next year’s regular draft. “
The Green Bay Packers had no reason to try and bid for Wideman or Wright. The Packers selected three receivers and two tight ends in April’s draft. They chose three receivers in the 2022 NFL Draft. Six young wide receivers will give Jordan Love all he can handle as he transitions to starting job this fall.
This fall, the Packers should be set with drafted wide receivers at training camp. However, the Packers could sign Wideman or Wright as a UDFA before training camp. But the Packers need veteran help at the position, not another rookie.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was Malachi Wideman ranked in high school?
- Malachi Wideman was highly ranked in high school, being rated as a four-star prospect by 247, Rivals, and ESPN. He was ranked as the 22nd best wide receiver in the country by 247 and the 10th best at his position by Rivals.
What happened to Milton Wright Purdue?
- Milton Wright Purdue had academic ineligibility in 2022, limiting his transfer options in 2023. Thus, he has decided to pursue a professional career.
