Exciting Potential Draft Targets for the Green Bay Packers

 

When looking at potential Draft targets, it’s important to look at how the Green Bay Packers experienced some

surprising success at the end of the 2023 season. They reached as far as the divisional round where they narrowly

lost to eventual Super Bowl runners up the San Francisco 49ers. This came after they dismantled the Dallas

Cowboys against the odds in the Wildcard round, putting up 48 points at the AT&T Stadium.

 

The NFL odds had them nowhere near the favorites for the Super Bowl so to reach the divisional rounds was an

incredible achievement. The draft could be vital to them going one step further, the NFL draft odds Blake Corum

suggest they have an outside chance of getting their hands on Blake Corum who would be a very welcome addition.

 

Heading into the season the biggest story of course revolved around the quarterback position. Legendary QB Aaron

Rodgers bid an emotional farewell back in April, heading to the New York Jets leaving a vacancy as starting

quarterback at Lambeu Field. Jordan Love was chosen as the man to succeed the 4x NFL MVP, though there were

question marks around whether he could make that step up. He did that and then some however, finishing the

season with 32 completed touchdowns (2nd overall), 4,159 passing yards (7th overall) and a 62.1 QB rating (9th overall).

A strong run of form which saw them win six of their last eight regular season games led them to a 9-8 record and an

appearance in the playoffs.

 

Cheese heads will no doubt want to build on a good season and with Love now a strongly established as Quarterback

they can start building around him. NFL odds will likely have them as stronger candidates this season and the 2024

draft will be incredibly important to their hopes. With talent such as Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrisson and Drake

Maye all confirmed to be in the portal, which potential draft targets will they look to?

Potential Draft Targets and Positions

Offensive Line

It seems a foregone conclusion that at least one of the Packers’ earliest picks will be used on an offensive

lineman. David Bakhtiari missed the season after just one game in 2023, a rotation option was being used at right

guard and Josh Myers performed below expectations at center.

 

Although by all metrics the offensive line performed relatively well, it was and still is clear that they are weak there.

General manager Brian Gutekunst has some good capital with the 25th, 41st and 58th pick.

One of the likeliest candidates according to the NFL draft betting odds seems to be the Offensive tackle out from

Georgia, Amarius Mims. He had a strong combine, running a 5.07 second 40 yard dash and an RAS score of 9.5. He

stands at six-foot-eight with a 340lb frame. His hands measured at a massive 11 ¼”. It is also worth noting that

Gutekunst has drafted four Bulldogs in the first round in four drafts, so Mims certainly fits the bill.

 

There are no lack of prospects at offensive line in the draft with the likes of Joe Alt, Olu Fashanu and JC Latham all

impressing. Latham is a great run blocker, an area the Packers ranked in the bottom five in the league in 2023, but

these prospects may go earlier than the Packers are able to pick right now.

Defensive backfield

The packers are in desperate need of a safety and a cornerback. Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford and Jonathan Owens all

look headed for free agency and Gutekunst would have certainly had one eye on safeties at the combine. Minnesota’s

Tyler Nubin looks to be one of the biggest prospects in the defensive backfield, though again may go earlier than the

Packers are able to pick. They are also in need of a cornerback.

 

Jaire Alexander had a horrendous season. He was sidelined for nine games through injury and then a suspension

saw him benched. Expected to lead by example, Alexander dropped the ball on all accounts and Eric Stokes and

Keisean Nixon did little to impress in his absence.

 

Carrington Valentine was strong however and the change of defensive styles could see him progress further in 2024.

However, with Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochel both likely to enter free agency the Packers need numbers and at

least one second round pick is likely to go on defensive back fielders if not both.

The Vegas odds NFL draft suggest potential draft targets could be Terrion Arnold, Quinyon Mitchell, Ennis

Rakestraw Jr., Cooper DeJean and Nate Wiggins, they were all named in the top 50 draft prospects and by NFL

Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and could be of interest to Gutekunst.

 

Trade scenarios

With such a need at tackle, safety and cornerback we may see Gutekunst trade up for an earlier pick if one of his

potential Draft targets is available. They have a good stockpile of Draft capital and a potential trade up for the New

Orleans Saints’ 14th pick could be the way to go. They could benefit from more players on rookie contracts with as

they are cutting things very close to the cap and are also without a third and fourth round pick.

 

However, many of the Packers tradeable assets are offensive players and they are unlikely to want to pick apart the

tools Love had at his disposal to have such a successful 2023.