5 Draft Scenarios: Who are the Packers getting at 13?

Cheeseheads, welcome to the Jordan Love era. After trade negotiations that dragged on longer than a Netflix rom-com, Aaron Rodgers has been dealt to the New York Jets in a trade package that Packers fans should find more than satisfactory. In addition to a first round pick swap that has the Packers picking at 13, they will also get a 2023 second round pick and a 2024 second round pick that turns into a first if Rodgers plays 65% of snaps this year. This trade also comes with the sweet relief of financial freedom as the Jets take on the entirety of the four-time MVP’s contract. The Jets got their quarterback, but Brian Gutekunst made them pay dearly for him.

With the biggest offseason question mark answered, it's finally time to start thinking about the draft. New draft capital brings forth a slew of possibilities. The Packers have a lot of needs to fill this offseason, the most significant listed below (in no particular order):

• Wide Receiver

• Tight End

• Safety

• Pass Rush

Considering these needs, I have compiled a list of five potential outcomes of the 2023 first round draft.

1. The Packers trade down

It might seem odd for the Packers to move up two spots just for them to trade back down, but it's a scenario that should not come at a surprise. Thirteen is a tricky pick for Green Bay to have because top D-line prospects like Tyree Wilson, Jalen Carter, and Nolan Smith will likely be gone. The only wideout worth drafting this high, Jaxon Smith Njiba, could also be unavailable. While there are some prospects you could argue are worth the pick here, it makes a lot of sense for the Packers to trade down a few picks. This will allow them to build capital for an aggressive second round, and some of the guys they may want to target in the first, such as Michael Mayer, Dalton Kinkaid, Jordan Addison, and Brian Branch, could still be around past 13.

2. The Packers draft O-Line help

If the Packers do stay at 13, there is a real chance they grab someone to protect Jordan Love. A pick like Paris Johnson Jr. might not be a flashy option, but it would give the Packers a strong candidate to eventually replace David Bakhtiari, a guy who has dealt with numerous injuries and is almost 32 years old. Whether the fans want to accept it or not, this franchise is hitting the reset button, and assembling a strong line to keep your young quarterback safe would be a safe selection at 13.

3. The Packers draft two players in the first

Green Bay has plenty of draft capital to be aggressive with draft day trades. We talked about a world where the Packers trade down from 13, but it also wouldn’t surprise me to see them use one of those two second round picks to jump late into the first round, specifically to draft a top TE. With the loss of Robert Tonyan in free agency, tight end is a role the Packers may be desperate to fill. While they do have 2020 third round pick Josiah Deguara still on the roster, he has not proved himself to be a long term answer at the position. This theory is reinforced by the Packers’ draft day visits. Out of the five first round prospects the team visited with, three of them were tight ends:

• 21st: Darnell Wright, OL, Tennessee

• 24th: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

• 27th: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

• 30th: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

• 32nd: Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State

It is highly unlikely any of these three options will be available by the Packers' 42nd second round pick. Taking into account the Packers’ lack of depth at the position, the scarcity at the position past the first, and the surplus of picks Green Bay has at their disposal, don’t be surprised to see them try to sneak back into the first round to snag a top tight end prospect.

4. The Packers don’t draft a receiver in the first…again

Fan pressure to get Rodgers offensive weapons was always evident on draft night, but rarely does the front office answer our cry. Some believe this year will be different, however, due to the lack of Hall of Fame talent at the quarterback position. With the top three receivers on the depth chart being Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Samori Toure, it's hard to deny the obvious need for a pass catcher. Let's be realistic though. This draft is not exactly overflowing with receiver talent. There are four or five guys that could go in the first round, but only one that is expected to go top 15, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. With the Titans, Cardinals, Texans, and arguably Seahawks all needy at the position, he will likely be scooped up by one of them ahead of 13. Even if he is available the Packers have other needs to address, and given their draft history, I’m not holding my breath.

Don’t get me wrong, it would be great if the Packers managed to snag the best receiver prospect in the draft, but the fans shouldn't pull out their pitchforks if the Packers don’t get him. Plus, if he is not available, I’d rather address defensive needs than reach for one of the other prospects at 13. If the Packers do end up trading down, they may be able to get a guy like Jordan Addison later in the first. This fantasy scenario aside, the only receiver Green Bay has met with is Rasheed Rice (proj. 74th), so it seems the office has other plans for their first round pick.

5. The Packers stick to defense

If you love watching all the shiny offensive toys go to other teams while the Packers draft a boom or bust defensive player every year, then this draft shouldn’t disappoint. All jokes aside, Packers fans have learned by now that this is a team that likes to draft defense. It hasn’t been an awful strategy, as guys like Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary, Eric Stokes, and Quay Walker have mostly panned out. As much as I want to see an aggressive team on draft night, I won’t be shocked when the Packers draft a defensive piece like Myles Murphy or Lukas Van Ness. To be fair, pass rush was incredibly lacking last season, and either of these guys could make an impact.

If I had to make a final prediction on how Thursday night will play out, I would probably pick this last scenario, pairing it with a trade into the late first round for a tight end. If you ask me, finishing out night one with Myles Murphy and Michael Mayer would be a strong start to the draft, but at the end of the day, no one on earth knows how Thursday night will play out. All that's left to do now is wait to find out.