The Packers end a 21-year streak in Pro Football Focus’ first 2024 NFL mock draft
The 2023 NFL draft is in the books as the Green Bay Packers addressed some major needs with the Jordan Love era underway.
While the Packers took edge rusher Lukas Van Ness in the first round, they made sure to add to the offense the rest of the way drafting a few wide receivers and tight ends. Green Bay enters this season holding two first-round picks for 2024 and if they have a good year this season, they can certainly use those picks to focus on building around Love even more.
As soon as the 2023 draft ended, Pro Football Focus released its first mock for the 2024 cycle. In that mock, they have the Packers ending a 21-year drought and selecting a big-time wide receiver out of Ohio State with one of their picks. At No. 8 overall, the Packers take Emeka Egbuka out of Ohio State:
The Packers have now gone 21 straight drafts without taking a wide receiver or tight end in the first round. That ends here with Egbuka, who was the second-most valuable Power Five receiver last season according to PFF’s wins above average metric. The only one more valuable was his teammate, Marvin Harrison Jr.
Among returning Power Five receivers, only Harrison tallied more receiving yards and touchdowns than Egbuka. He’s a smooth receiver who should be one of the top weapons immediately for new quarterback Jordan Love.
That gives Love another weapon to pair along with Christian Watson and the rookies taken this past draft for the Packers.
But with their pick from the Jets at No. 27, they address the secondary with the selection of Miami safety Kamren Kinchens.
The Packers acquire the Jets’ first-round pick if Aaron Rodgers plays 65% of the snaps in 2023. Unless disaster strikes for New York, this will be Green Bay’s pick.
Kinchens led all safeties in the country with a 90.0 grade and a 90.7 coverage grade. Kinchens’ six interceptions were also tied for the most in the Power Five.
That feels like a solid strategy to follow for Green Bay. However, we must consider that this will change and a lot of things can happen between now and next draft.
But it’s still fun to see how Green Bay can build around Love for the future.
