It is draft week! Although the start of the NFL season still seems so far off - the NFL gives us a “fix” here in April. The NFL Draft is special.
For the players…
They have officially concluded a very successful chapter in their lives. Now they enter the genesis of a new career. Players have been amongst the best on every team they have ever played for, built a body of work to show they are amongst the most dominant in their field.
But draft day means a new beginning in a much deeper pond. These rookies will have to prove themselves all over again amongst the best of the best. Nothing is guaranteed.
For the teams…
Hope. If you are the teams contending for a title last season, this is an opportunity to get those one or two guys that could be the difference between losing in the wildcard round, and playing for the Super Bowl. For the teams at the bottom, the draft give you a fresh start and the ability to find yourself as a franchise. If you make a pick that turns out to be a generational talent - it will set you up for the next 15 years of winning and success. (like Patrick Mahomes being drafted 10th overall, or Payton Manning and what he did for the Colts from the bottom of the barrel) The examples are endless.
For our Green Bay Packers…
The Packers are the youngest team in the NFL and also have a ton of draft capital this year. This makes for an exciting draft. To have that many picks and young talent means we can get creative and move around in this draft.
Here is our picks as it stands today:
Round 1: No. 25
Round 2: No. 41 (from New York Jets)
Round 2: No. 58
Round 3: No. 88
Round 3: No. 91 (from Buffalo Bills)
Round 4: No. 126
Round 5: No. 169
Round 6: No. 202
Round 6: No. 219
Round 7: No. 245
Round 7: No. 255
Here are a few scenarios that could play out on Thursday of the 1st round:
1st scenario: Packers stand pat at 25 overall:
“With the 25th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select…
…COOPER DEJEAN. DEFENSIVE BACK - IOWA”
The 25th pick is interesting because a lot of draft boards will shift by the time you get to pick 15-20. In this situation, the draft plays out as predicted, and Cooper DeJean is sitting available - a guy that we have evaluated thoroughly and love his knack for being around the ball. Really like the comparison of Jim Leonard. He is lethal in the punt return game, and finds a way to track the ball in the air better than most DB’s.
Yes, the Packers added some fire power in the backend via free agency. With the addition of Xavier McKinney, the team is building around the new scheme that new DC Jeff Hafley is bringing. The Packers need to bring a whole new physicality to the field in this scheme. Acquiring a player like McKinney allows our corners to play press man coverage and takes more risks to create turnovers.
I pray that we never see a 3rd and 8 with corners 10 yards off the ball EVER AGAIN. The Packers have evaluated the top playmakers and ball-hawks available in the draft and DeJean is at/near the top.
2nd scenario: Packers TRADE UP with the Jacksonville Jaguars
(Packers trade 25 and 88 overall (1st and 3rd) FOR Jax 17 overall)
“The Jacksonville Jaguars have traded their pick to the Green Bay Packers. Now with the 17th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select…
...BYRON MURPHY II. DEFENSIVE TACKLE - TEXAS”
Now this pick might be wishful thinking. There are not many interior defensive lineman I have watched on the D1 level disrupt much more than Byron Murphy. Maybe Jalen Carter at Georgia the year before, but outside of that, Murphy is an absolute tank of a man, that is nearly impossible to move with one person. (6’2 308) Ironically about the same size and athleticism as a familiar Packer, BJ Raji.
As the Packers move into a 4-3 defensive scheme under new DC Jeff Hafley, the Packers will have to eat up more blocks with less. (2 interior dlineman instead of 3)
If the Packers can find an absolute disruptor in Bryon Murphy II, watch out. With Kenny Clark’s ability in the middle, we should be able to collapse offense pockets in the middle, as well as make it extremely difficult to run the ball.
3rd scenario: Packers TRADE UP with the Atlanta Falcons
(Packers trade 25 and 41 overall (1st and 2nd) FOR Atl 8 overall)
“The Atlanta Falcons have traded their pick to the Green Bay Packers. Now with the 8th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select…
…JOE ALT. OFFENSIVE TACKLE - NOTRE DAME”
This pick would help solidify our offensive line for Jordan Love and help move bodies around for Josh Jacobs. ALT is massive. 6’8 and over 321 lbs. With David Bakhtiari out of the picture, it is time to get reinforcements to the hogs.
It would also be ideal to free up Zach Tom to eventually move to Center some day. Many scouts have reported that Zach Tom is potentially an Hall of Famer at center - but with other needs on the offensive line, he has been stuck at guard or tackle. (this was a report from Rob Demovski on the Wilde and Tausche show earlier this month.)
My thought is that Atlanta has their quarterback, and may be willing to take calls to move out of the top 10. This is very unlikely - but exciting to think about! If Joe Alt falls to 9 - the Bears will likely snag him. So it would be a bonus to take him off the board!
Joe Alt checks all of the boxes. He is a pre-packaged starter and an upgrade to our previous guard play, with potential to take over one of the tackle spots as well. This would be a home run if we could pull it off.
OWN DETROIT!
This year’s draft is in Detroit. I would love nothing more than making a statement with selecting the next Packer greats right there in the “Lion’s Den”. Of course, we can not wait to host the draft in Green Bay next year! That will be the biggest draft party ever, Packer nation never disappoints.
WHEN:
The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 25. Coverage of the second and third rounds will start at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, April 26 while the fourth through seventh rounds will begin at noon ET on Saturday, April 27.
WHERE TO WATCH:
TV channel: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network
Stream: ESPN app, Fubo (free trial)