The 2022 NFL Draft starts next Thursday! Teams are now finalizing their draft visits and offseason workouts have begun. By now most football fans know that the Green Bay Packers have a long list of needs. But, fortunately enough, the Packers have 11 overall picks to address those needs. It goes without saying that Green Bay can do a multitude of different ways to use those picks. Let’s take a look at some questions that Green Bay will need to answer with an arsenal of draft picks:
How Early Will Green Bay Address The Secondary?
The Packers’ secondary looked very solidified going into the 2021 season. However, in 2022, this has now become a need that has to be addressed. Jaire Alexander is in his fifth and final year of his rookie contract; and thanks to Denzel Ward , Alexander’s price sky rocketed. There is a definite possibility that Green Bay could release Alexander at the end of the year based on a salary cap standpoint, and having two cornerbacks on contract. On top of that, Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage both have unclear futures in Green Bay. I have a safe assumption that Green Bay will use one their top 60 picks on a safety, but I also would not count out a cornerback to be selected before day three of the draft.
How Many Wide Receivers Will Green Bay Draft?
With 11 picks in this year’s NFL Draft, the Packers will have the opportunity to add depth to some depleted position groups. The most important position that remains to be addressed in the draft is wide receiver. Green Bay is in a prime position in the first round with the 22nd and 28th overall picks. The Sammy Watkins signing was a good bolster move for the wide receiver room. But, the Packers are still in need of a #1 option. I do not see Green Bay using both first round picks on a wide receiver. Also, they are not in need of three or more wide receivers. The best way I think Green Bay should address this is use one first round pick and their third or one fourth round pick on a wide receiver. If Green Bay can nail these selections, they can feel pretty confident the talent of this position group.
Will Green Bay Trade Up In the First Round?
Brian Gutekunst is heading into his fifth NFL Draft as Packers General Manager. In his first four, he has traded up in the first round every year. This has proven success every year but one. Based on this history, it is almost an expectation that he is going to do the same in 2022. The questionable part is that Green Bay has not hosted too many top 20 picks. The only certain one that they have hosted is Davante Wyatt of Georgia. This is something that I would not be concerned about, though. Guteknust has done an excellent job with trading up in the first round and he has hit on quite a bit of talent with this strategy. If they do end up going this route in 2022, I think the best place to trade up would be with Philadephia at #16. New Orleans and Pittsburgh both have similar needs as Green Bay, so this would be great competitive advantage.
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