Dark Horse Candidates

[Heyjoe4]

Gute has reached before taking guys way before their projected slot on the so-called big board. Myers, Deguara, Dillon are just a few of the names. What concensus 2nd or even 3rd round pick would Gute draft in the first round ? I think it could be Payton Wilson or Jordan Hicks, Patrick Paul or Marshawn Kneeland. A lot of people say no way but Gute drafted Deguara in the 3rd round when he was a late 5th round or 6th round talent. Myers went in the mid 2nd round when he was a projected late 3rd round pick. Don't be surprised if Gute spends pick 25 or 41 on Kneeland. He's my top dark horse. He's a clone of Lowry IMO.

Interesting article in the JS this week about the kind of player Gluten likes - big, long, fast- really meaning tall, long wingspan, and an exceptional 40 time - all leading to exceptional RAS scores. And he makes very, very few exceptions to the physical characteristics a player must meet to be drafted.

(There are some interesting exceptions, some that have failed - Amari Rodgers - and some that have succeeded - Jayden Reed). Karl Brooks is another example of a guy without the characteristics the Packers like. He was a 6th round pick and had an impressive rookie year on the DL. In college, the Packers saw him as a "man amongst boys".)

And this makes sense. Every year it seems these guys become bigger and faster, at every position (not including specialists). I know this is obvious, but I'm amazed at the athleticism these guys achieve every year without any chemical assistance (well, I think without any chemical assistance).

 

[Voyageur]

I actually trust that Gutekunst will do a good job with the draft. Of course there will be a couple of clinkers, but I think he's going to get a few bodies that can be of some immediate help on both sides of the ball.

The only question I have is what order he's going to use to fill those needs, but I'd imagine he's going to use the BPA within the groups that fit those needs.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I actually trust that Gutekunst will do a good job with the draft. Of course there will be a couple of clinkers, but I think he's going to get a few bodies that can be of some immediate help on both sides of the ball.

The only question I have is what order he's going to use to fill those needs, but I'd imagine he's going to use the BPA within the groups that fit those needs.

Good point. Seems like OL and CB are at the top. S would be there but there aren’t many candidates. We’ll all find out Thursday and when the draft is over, we’ll find something new to obsess about.

 

[Thirteen Below]

Gute has reached before taking guys way before their projected slot on the so-called big board. Myers, Deguara, Dillon are just a few of the names. What concensus 2nd or even 3rd round pick would Gute draft in the first round ? I think it could be Payton Wilson or Jordan Hicks, Patrick Paul or Marshawn Kneeland. A lot of people say no way but Gute drafted Deguara in the 3rd round when he was a late 5th round or 6th round talent. Myers went in the mid 2nd round when he was a projected late 3rd round pick. Don't be surprised if Gute spends pick 25 or 41 on Kneeland. He's my top dark horse. He's a clone of Lowry IMO.

I think reaching in the 1st would be out of character for Gutekunst. Not unprecedented, because he did exactly that with 25% of his first rounders - Eric Stokes and Darnell Savage, both of whom were generally projected for the 3rd round. But I'd like to think he learned from the mistake he made with Savage, and as for Stokes? I think it's too early to call him a mistake; he had a terrific rookie year, but each of the last two years he's missed half the season with injuries. I think Savage is the only 1st-rounder you can call an unreasonable reach at this point.


He sees the first round as his best chance in the draft to add a surefire, elite player, a difference-maker, a cornerstone. He goes to whatever lengths he feels necessary to make sure he comes out of Round 1 with a premium player, and he's very reluctant to gamble with it. I don't see a single player that's realistically in a range where he might be tempted to reach.

Far more likely he trades up for DeJean or a CB; that fits his pattern a lot more closely. Of the 8 players he's drafted in the first over the last 6 years, he's traded up for 3 of them and down for 2 - and with Jaire in 18, he traded both back and then up again.

The 3rd round is where he does his crazy reaching, and to some extent the 2nd. I don't see him doing it in the 1st, especially not this year.

 

[sschind]

The 3rd round is where he does his crazy reaching, and to some extent the 2nd. I don't see him doing it in the 1st, especially not this year.

Not really a reply to you but your comment leads me to my point better. Is it really crazy reaching once you get past the first couple of rounds. I'd argue that even in the first round we don't know what any GM's board looks like. A consensus board of draft pundits could be very different than a GM's board. Did any Consensus boards have Gibbs rated as the #12 player overall last year? I think most I saw had him 2nd round with a few maybe slipping into the late first. I don't think I saw any with him in the top 25. Obviously the Lions board had him up there. Was he a reach? It doesn't look like it at this point. Also what is considered a reach? Since we have no way of knowing where any player falls on any GM's board we don't really know if any given player is a reach or not. If Gute passes on a player at 25 that consensus boards have rated as say the 50th rated player and he goes at 26 or 27 would it have been a reach to take him at 25? They key to getting the guys you really like is taking them before someone else does not taking them where a bunch of experts think he should be taken.

Consensus boards, while useful mainly for the draft pool illiterates such as myself, are nothing more than guidelines for the masses. They have no bearing or relationship on the boards of the people who matter. Those are the GMs who ultimately make the decisions and whichever staff members they choose to include in that process.

Now there are a few people on this board (tiny, Dantes, oldschool, Amish and a few others) who's opinions I really value when it comes to draft picks but even they disagree on some players

The stupidest thing any fan can say about a draft pick and nothing makes me discount their opinion faster than "he would have been there "X" rounds later" and I will guarantee you we will see it a few times over the next few months.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I think reaching in the 1st would be out of character for Gutekunst. Not unprecedented, because he did exactly that with 25% of his first rounders - Eric Stokes and Darnell Savage, both of whom were generally projected for the 3rd round. But I'd like to think he learned from the mistake he made with Savage, and as for Stokes? I think it's too early to call him a mistake; he had a terrific rookie year, but each of the last two years he's missed half the season with injuries. I think Savage is the only 1st-rounder you can call an unreasonable reach at this point.


He sees the first round as his best chance in the draft to add a surefire, elite player, a difference-maker, a cornerstone. He goes to whatever lengths he feels necessary to make sure he comes out of Round 1 with a premium player, and he's very reluctant to gamble with it. I don't see a single player that's realistically in a range where he might be tempted to reach.

Far more likely he trades up for DeJean or a CB; that fits his pattern a lot more closely. Of the 8 players he's drafted in the first over the last 6 years, he's traded up for 3 of them and down for 2 - and with Jaire in 18, he traded both back and then up again.

The 3rd round is where he does his crazy reaching, and to some extent the 2nd. I don't see him doing it in the 1st, especially not this year.

Good point about Gluten not reaching in round 1. Not sure if that's the same as taking a calculated risk, which I think he did with Love and much to my surprise, it worked.

I don't recall Stokes and Savage projected outside round 1, but it's been a long time. Savage was certainly a bust, or at best, JAG. I do hope Stokes stays healthy and returns year 1 form.

I remember a lot of hand wringing when he took Gary but he looks like a genius now on that pick. And Gary was a consensus top 15 guy as I recall. LVN - too soon to tell but he was generally considered a top 15 guy.

This year I think he will trade up for a corner. Certainly there's need at OT and iOL, and he'll address one of those in round 2, probably OT.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Not really a reply to you but your comment leads me to my point better. Is it really crazy reaching once you get past the first couple of rounds. I'd argue that even in the first round we don't know what any GM's board looks like. A consensus board of draft pundits could be very different than a GM's board. Did any Consensus boards have Gibbs rated as the #12 player overall last year? I think most I saw had him 2nd round with a few maybe slipping into the late first. I don't think I saw any with him in the top 25. Obviously the Lions board had him up there. Was he a reach? It doesn't look like it at this point. Also what is considered a reach? Since we have no way of knowing where any player falls on any GM's board we don't really know if any given player is a reach or not. If Gute passes on a player at 25 that consensus boards have rated as say the 50th rated player and he goes at 26 or 27 would it have been a reach to take him at 25? They key to getting the guys you really like is taking them before someone else does not taking them where a bunch of experts think he should be taken.

Consensus boards, while useful mainly for the draft pool illiterates such as myself, are nothing more than guidelines for the masses. They have no bearing or relationship on the boards of the people who matter. Those are the GMs who ultimately make the decisions and whichever staff members they choose to include in that process.

Now there are a few people on this board (tiny, Dantes, oldschool, Amish and a few others) who's opinions I really value when it comes to draft picks but even they disagree on some players

The stupidest thing any fan can say about a draft pick and nothing makes me discount their opinion faster than "he would have been there "X" rounds later" and I will guarantee you we will see it a few times over the next few months.

Good points. In Gluten's case, there are specific athletic criteria that guide his picks by position, with very little deviation. The JS ran a great article on this during the past week. He will make exceptions to these unofficial guidelines, but not often. And that's what makes defining a reach, or just predicting how a GM will pick, nearly impossible other than the first half of round 1. And even that is a reach, pun intended.

I posted somewhere else, I think time has proven Gluten to be above average in drafting. That is not easy to do. I thought both Wolf and TT were v good as well, FWIW. And the Packers' record over the last 30 years or so reflects that.

 

[DoURant]

Good point about Gluten not reaching in round 1. Not sure if that's the same as taking a calculated risk, which I think he did with Love and much to my surprise, it worked.

I don't recall Stokes and Savage projected outside round 1, but it's been a long time. Savage was certainly a bust, or at best, JAG. I do hope Stokes stays healthy and returns year 1 form.

I remember a lot of hand wringing when he took Gary but he looks like a genius now on that pick. And Gary was a consensus top 15 guy as I recall. LVN - too soon to tell but he was generally considered a top 15 guy.

This year I think he will trade up for a corner. Certainly there's need at OT and iOL, and he'll address one of those in round 2, probably OT.I like looking at many different boards, because everyone stacks/ranks players differently. I guess the old saying "One man's trash, is another man's treasure" is so true when it comes to the draft.

 

[DoURant]

I guess the old saying "One man's trash, is another man's treasure" really holds true with the draft. I don't believe in the "reach" philosophy thrown out there either. We as fans of the draft have access to quite a few different guides, mock draft simulators, or Big Boards, by numerous "experts" out there, and nobodies board is the same. With these and other tools, we try to make a calculated guess on who we like, or might be available at a certain spot in the draft by our favorite team.

Now, lets fast forward to Draft Day. 32 different NFL teams "Boards" get thrown into the fray, that we don't, and never will have access to. These boards have been worked on and put together, for who knows how long, by "Guys" who do this for a living. They have watched games in the stands, broke down game tape, done personal interviews with these prospects, and now have to decide which players they want the most on their football team. This is why I don't agree with the term "Reach" in a draft pick, there are too many unknown variables in the Draft. With Bill Tobin passing this week, I think it's fitting to end my post with a quote that will live forever in the NFL Draft archives " Who the h*** is Mel Kiper anyway".

 

[Heyjoe4]

I guess the old saying "One man's trash, is another man's treasure" really holds true with the draft. I don't believe in the "reach" philosophy thrown out there either. We as fans of the draft have access to quite a few different guides, mock draft simulators, or Big Boards, by numerous "experts" out there, and nobodies board is the same. With these and other tools, we try to make a calculated guess on who we like, or might be available at a certain spot in the draft by our favorite team.

Now, lets fast forward to Draft Day. 32 different NFL teams "Boards" get thrown into the fray, that we don't, and never will have access to. These boards have been worked on and put together, for who knows how long, by "Guys" who do this for a living. They have watched games in the stands, broke down game tape, done personal interviews with these prospects, and now have to decide which players they want the most on their football team. This is why I don't agree with the term "Reach" in a draft pick, there are too many unknown variables in the Draft. With Bill Tobin passing this week, I think it's fitting to end my post with a quote that will live forever in the NFL Draft archives " Who the h*** is Mel Kiper anyway".

Yeah "reach" is such a vague, subjective word when applied to the draft. As you say, "One man's trash......." Not sure I have the self discipline to not use the word, but that's another matter........

Last year Gluten took Brooks and Walker, even though they were outside GB's strict athletic criteria for size, length, and speed (a "reach"?). And a good thing too as those guys had terrific rookie seasons.

 

[Schultz]

You guys sold me. I will never blame a Packer GM of reaching again. Instead, I will comment " how in the heck did he have that guy so high on his board'?

 

[DoURant]

You guys sold me. I will never blame a Packer GM of reaching again. Instead, I will comment " how in the heck did he have that guy so high on his board'?

I know first reaction to a pick is sometimes a head scratcher, but after looking into the pick for the what and why, a lot of times it starts to make sense. Gute does seem to "overdraft" at times early. Quay was ranked in the mid to upper 40's and took him at 22. Stokes was a late 30's guy, 1st Rd. Savage was mid 30's, traded back into the 1st. It is what it is... sometimes it's BPA, sometimes it's need, and I like to think that in most cases it's a combination of both.

I just love the whole Draft process I look forward to it every year. As soon as the season ends for the Packers, I consider it draft season. Mock Drafts are great mind exercises, and I like to do as many as I can with different positions in every rd, that way I can delve into as many prospects as possible.

The Amish mock of 20 prospects, need to draft a player in every rd is so tough when you like a lot of guys. Edens exercise in the what if you were the GM thread was awesome, I really enjoyed that the other day.

 

[DoURant]

Here's a prime example of the "Reach" theory. Junior Colson, pending on where you look falls on Big Boards anywhere between 32-87... He consistently lands between 46-54, so if you're the Packers, and he is one of your main targets, do you pull the trigger at #41, because there is a good chance he won't be around at #58 if you stay there without trading up.

You must be logged in to see this image or video!

 

[Voyageur]

The Packers have a lot of early picks this year. I think that tells them that they have the opportunity to shore up the weak spots on defense, and add depth and talent to the offensive line. They can do that by using their picks. Trading up may net them a little bit better player at one position, but it can also cost them draft capital that they need to add strength elsewhere.

Although I think it's an unpopular theory, I think they stand pat on their picks in the first 4 rounds, and get their hands on players who can give them help from day one. It's going to be interesting seeing what their decision is for that first pick. I think it's going to be someone who pops out at a specific position,

 

[DoURant]

Carlies is a big Safety, 6'2.5"-3" 227-229lbs, pending where you look. I've seen where he could possibly play some LB.

 

[Heyjoe4]

The Packers have a lot of early picks this year. I think that tells them that they have the opportunity to shore up the weak spots on defense, and add depth and talent to the offensive line. They can do that by using their picks. Trading up may net them a little bit better player at one position, but it can also cost them draft capital that they need to add strength elsewhere.

Although I think it's an unpopular theory, I think they stand pat on their picks in the first 4 rounds, and get their hands on players who can give them help from day one. It's going to be interesting seeing what their decision is for that first pick. I think it's going to be someone who pops out at a specific position,

With all the QBs and receivers likely to come off the board before #25, it's a great year to stand pat with minimal risk.

 

[DoURant]

With all the QBs and receivers likely to come off the board before #25, it's a great year to stand pat with minimal risk.

I'm all for standing pat, or trading back 2-5 spots if a team wants to move up.

 

[Voyageur]

With all the QBs and receivers likely to come off the board before #25, it's a great year to stand pat with minimal risk.

Exactly my point. The run at those positions, early, is going to leave great options for the Packers first 3 picks.

 

[Voyageur]

I'm all for standing pat, or trading back 2-5 spots if a team wants to move up.

True. If you know who you want will be there, get more draft capital. I wouldn't be against trading back in the second round with a team you know is going to be a bottom feeder at the end of this year. Get a 2nd and third for 2025, and you get to repeat the wealth of picks you have this year.

I think it's interesting that when this draft is over, there will probably be a half dozen WRs out there available as FAs, who would have normally been picked as early as the 5th round. I've never seen anything like it.

I do have to laugh though about this QB pool. Despite the hype for so many of them, I believe the vast majority are going to be duds in the NFL. The college game has gotten to be so wide open that an average QB looks like a Heisman candidate because defense is lacking with so many teams. In fact, I think there's a 50% chance that if the Bears take Caleb Williams, it's going to be a marriage made in hell for them. I think he's setting the stage where he could trip over his own ego.

 

[Heyjoe4]

True. If you know who you want will be there, get more draft capital. I wouldn't be against trading back in the second round with a team you know is going to be a bottom feeder at the end of this year. Get a 2nd and third for 2025, and you get to repeat the wealth of picks you have this year.

I think it's interesting that when this draft is over, there will probably be a half dozen WRs out there available as FAs, who would have normally been picked as early as the 5th round. I've never seen anything like it.

I do have to laugh though about this QB pool. Despite the hype for so many of them, I believe the vast majority are going to be duds in the NFL. The college game has gotten to be so wide open that an average QB looks like a Heisman candidate because defense is lacking with so many teams. In fact, I think there's a 50% chance that if the Bears take Caleb Williams, it's going to be a marriage made in hell for them. I think he's setting the stage where he could trip over his own ego.

Agreed on the hilarious QB situation. Only a few months ago, JJ McCarthy was seen as a very late first round to mid second round pick, and for good reasons that haven't changed. Now the consensus is that he gets picked fifth overall, and in just a few mocks, he's slotted ahead of Drake Maye. But hey, he had a great combine and he's really smart.....

On the subject, Daniels from LSU is my top pick. He needs to add 20 pounds so he looks more like Allen or Hurts, but he has an accurate arm, can throw on the run, and he can run. Some have said he's just a heavier version of Justin Fields, but I don't agree. This may turn out like last year's draft, where the best QB is taken second. (I'm not pronouncing Bryce Young a bust, but at 5'9" in heels, what did Carolina expect?)

And guys like Penix Jr. and Nix are being mentioned as round one candidates. I like Penix Jr. though.

It's funny and sad to watch the contortions these GMs make to get "their guy". And I can think of two huge busts recently - Trubisky and Lance. The Bears have always been the Keystone Cops of the NFL, so look for them to make yet another QB mistake by taking Williams first.

That much at least seems inevitable.

 

[Sanguine camper]

I actually trust that Gutekunst will do a good job with the draft. Of course there will be a couple of clinkers, but I think he's going to get a few bodies that can be of some immediate help on both sides of the ball.

The only question I have is what order he's going to use to fill those needs, but I'd imagine he's going to use the BPA within the groups that fit those needs.

My take is that Gute has basically done a fabulous job in rounds 4-6 because the players fall and then he selects high RAS guys in the 4th like Zack Tom and lower RAS guys in the 5th and 6th who show good things on tape like Runyan and Brooks. It's rounds 1-3 where he's often reached and really blown a lot of picks. Rounds 4-6 have been so good, that he's survived the poor drafting in the early rounds. Not many GM's gave such a helter shelter record but you can't argue that Brooks, Tom, Doubs, Runyan, Wicks, etc is a stellar record on day 3.

 

[Voyageur]

My take is that Gute has basically done a fabulous job in rounds 4-6 because the players fall and then he selects high RAS guys in the 4th like Zack Tom and lower RAS guys in the 5th and 6th who show good things on tape like Runyan and Brooks. It's rounds 1-3 where he's often reached and really blown a lot of picks. Rounds 4-6 have been so good, that he's survived the poor drafting in the early rounds. Not many GM's gave such a helter shelter record but you can't argue that Brooks, Tom, Doubs, Runyan, Wicks, etc is a stellar record on day 3.

He's had some solid early picks too. Here's the breakdown of his picks every year. It's kind of a mixed bag of hits and misses early on. Some were totally wasted, like you indicated. From what I see, I think his best year, if you don't count the year he took Love, which is his franchise pick, I'd have to say it was last year. 2023 was a great year in his choices.

2018 (11 picks)​

1.18: CB Jaire Alexander, Louisville
2.45: CB Josh Jackson, Iowa
3.88: LB Oren Burks, Vanderbilt
4.133: WR J’Mon Moore, Missouri
5.138: OL Cole Madison, Wash. State
5.172: P JK Scott, Alabama
5.174: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, USF
6.207: WR Equanimeous St. Brown, Notre Dame
7.232: DL James Looney, Cal
7.239: LS Hunter Bradley, Miss. State
7.248: OLB Kendall Donnerson, SE Missouri State

2019 (8 picks)​

1.12: OLB Rashan Gary, Michigan
1.21: S Darnell Savage, Maryland
2.44: OL Elgton Jenkins, Miss. State
3.75: TE Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M
5.150: DL Kingsley Keke, Texas A&M
6.185: CB Ka’dar Hollman, Toledo
6.194: RB Dexter Williams, Notre Dame
7.226: LB Ty Summers, TCU

2020 (9 picks)​

1.26: QB Jordan Love, Utah State
2.62: RB A.J. Dillon, Boston College
3.94: TE Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati
5.175: LB Kamal Martin, Minnesota
6.192: OL Jon Runyan, Michigan
6.208: C Jake Hanson, Oregon
6.209: OL Simon Stepaniak, Indiana
7.236: S Vernon Scott, TCU
7.242: OLB Jonathan Garvin, Miami

2021 (9 picks)​

1.29: CB Eric Stokes, Georgia
2.62: C Josh Myers, Ohio State
3.85: WR Amari Rodgers, Clemson
4.142: OL Royce Newman, Ole Miss
5.173: DL TJ Slaton, Florida
5.178: CB Shemar Jean-Charles, App. State
6.214: OL Cole Van Lanen, Wisconsin
6.220: LB Isaiah McDuffie, Boston College
7.256: RB Kylin Hill, Miss. State

2022 (11 picks)​

1.22: LB Quay Walker, Georgia
1.28: DL Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
2.34: WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State
3.92: OL Sean Rhyan, UCLA
4.132: WR Romeo Doubs, Nevada
4.140: OL Zach Tom, Wake Forest
5.179: OLB Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina
7.228: S Tariq Carpenter, Georgia Tech
7.234: DL Jonathan Ford, Miami
7.249: OT Rasheed Walker, Penn State
7.258: WR Samori Toure, Nebraska

2023 (13 picks)​

1.13: OLB Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
2.42: TE Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
2.50: WR Jayden Reed, Michigan State
3.78: TE Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
4.116: DL Colby Wooden, Auburn
5.149: QB Sean Clifford, Penn State
5.159: WR Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia
6.179: DL Karl Brooks, Bowling Green
6.207: K Anders Carlson, Auburn
7.232: CB Carrington Valentine, Kentucky
7.235: RB Lew Nichols, Central Michigan
7.242: S Anthony Johnson Jr., Iowa State
7.256: WR Grant DuBose, Charlotte

​

 

[Heyjoe4]

He's had some solid early picks too. Here's the breakdown of his picks every year. It's kind of a mixed bag of hits and misses early on. Some were totally wasted, like you indicated. From what I see, I think his best year, if you don't count the year he took Love, which is his franchise pick, I'd have to say it was last year. 2023 was a great year in his choices.

2018 (11 picks)​

1.18: CB Jaire Alexander, Louisville
2.45: CB Josh Jackson, Iowa
3.88: LB Oren Burks, Vanderbilt
4.133: WR J’Mon Moore, Missouri
5.138: OL Cole Madison, Wash. State
5.172: P JK Scott, Alabama
5.174: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, USF
6.207: WR Equanimeous St. Brown, Notre Dame
7.232: DL James Looney, Cal
7.239: LS Hunter Bradley, Miss. State
7.248: OLB Kendall Donnerson, SE Missouri State

2019 (8 picks)​

1.12: OLB Rashan Gary, Michigan
1.21: S Darnell Savage, Maryland
2.44: OL Elgton Jenkins, Miss. State
3.75: TE Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M
5.150: DL Kingsley Keke, Texas A&M
6.185: CB Ka’dar Hollman, Toledo
6.194: RB Dexter Williams, Notre Dame
7.226: LB Ty Summers, TCU

2020 (9 picks)​

1.26: QB Jordan Love, Utah State
2.62: RB A.J. Dillon, Boston College
3.94: TE Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati
5.175: LB Kamal Martin, Minnesota
6.192: OL Jon Runyan, Michigan
6.208: C Jake Hanson, Oregon
6.209: OL Simon Stepaniak, Indiana
7.236: S Vernon Scott, TCU
7.242: OLB Jonathan Garvin, Miami

2021 (9 picks)​

1.29: CB Eric Stokes, Georgia
2.62: C Josh Myers, Ohio State
3.85: WR Amari Rodgers, Clemson
4.142: OL Royce Newman, Ole Miss
5.173: DL TJ Slaton, Florida
5.178: CB Shemar Jean-Charles, App. State
6.214: OL Cole Van Lanen, Wisconsin
6.220: LB Isaiah McDuffie, Boston College
7.256: RB Kylin Hill, Miss. State

2022 (11 picks)​

1.22: LB Quay Walker, Georgia
1.28: DL Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
2.34: WR Christian Watson, North Dakota State
3.92: OL Sean Rhyan, UCLA
4.132: WR Romeo Doubs, Nevada
4.140: OL Zach Tom, Wake Forest
5.179: OLB Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina
7.228: S Tariq Carpenter, Georgia Tech
7.234: DL Jonathan Ford, Miami
7.249: OT Rasheed Walker, Penn State
7.258: WR Samori Toure, Nebraska

2023 (13 picks)​

1.13: OLB Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
2.42: TE Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
2.50: WR Jayden Reed, Michigan State
3.78: TE Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
4.116: DL Colby Wooden, Auburn
5.149: QB Sean Clifford, Penn State
5.159: WR Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia
6.179: DL Karl Brooks, Bowling Green
6.207: K Anders Carlson, Auburn
7.232: CB Carrington Valentine, Kentucky
7.235: RB Lew Nichols, Central Michigan
7.242: S Anthony Johnson Jr., Iowa State
7.256: WR Grant DuBose, Charlotte

​

Thanks for the detail here V. It does look like 2022 and 2023 were excellent, but we all know a draft takes about 3 years to fairly evaluate. I agree with Sanguine that it looks like he's done his best work on Day 3. That's still a subjective evaluation. All in all though, his drafting has been solid, considering just how hard it is for even these guys, the best in college, to make a 53 man roster or PS.

 

[PikeBadger]

The Packers have a lot of early picks this year. I think that tells them that they have the opportunity to shore up the weak spots on defense, and add depth and talent to the offensive line. They can do that by using their picks. Trading up may net them a little bit better player at one position, but it can also cost them draft capital that they need to add strength elsewhere.

Although I think it's an unpopular theory, I think they stand pat on their picks in the first 4 rounds, and get their hands on players who can give them help from day one. It's going to be interesting seeing what their decision is for that first pick. I think it's going to be someone who pops out at a specific position,

I don't really care if Gutekunst trades up, down or all around however, I really like the thought of having 5 picks in the first 91. That gives me a warm fuzzy that the middle of the defense is going to get stronger and deeper.

 

[Dantés]

Another dark horse candidate is Suamataia.