The Green Bay Packers have had a rough go of it in the 1st round over the past couple of years. At least when it comes to impressing top draft experts. They were ridiculed for the decision to trade up for quarterback Jordan Love in 2020, believing he had no business going than high. Time has proven them correct. In 2021 they grabbed cornerback Eric Stokes. While he had a strong rookie season, it came at the expense of helping provide Aaron Rodgers with more firepower. That concern became a reality when Green Bay scored 10 points in their playoff loss to San Francisco.
After trading Davante Adams to Las Vegas, everybody felt this was finally the year Green Bay would be proactive in giving their aging star QB some help. Then GM Brian Gutekunst did it again, drafting not one but two defensive players with the 22nd and 28th overall picks. People were perplexed. Not just by the general decisions themselves, either. Several draft experts questioned the players they took, especially on ESPN.
Mel Kiper Jr. (on 1st round losers)
“This is all about the Packers projecting (Quay) Walker’s potential, because he’s 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds and ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash at the combine. He has some talent, but I didn’t see him put it all together in college. I have Walker at No. 43 overall on my Big Board, so this was a reach.
(Devonte) Wyatt is a nice player, but Green Bay passed up North Dakota State wide receiver Christian Watson, which must mean the franchise thinks it can upgrade with a veteran for Aaron Rodgers to target.”
Jordan Reid (on his most head-scratching pick)
“Quay Walker, ILB to the Green Bay Packers. Linebacker was one area where the team didn’t have a pressing need, and the selection of Walker seemed premature. There were better players on the board at the time, and the Packers could have selected edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II or a wide receiver at No. 22 overall. Instead, they elected to stay with their philosophy of not taking a receiver on Day 1.”
Many believe Walker wasn’t even the best linebacker on that Georgia defense. Teammate Nakobe Dean made far more impact plays. Walker just has the good fortune of being bigger. The NFL loves size this time of year. So the Packers are gambling on his upside. As for Wyatt, there is no doubt he’s got burst as an interior pass rusher. Yet it didn’t always show in his production. Not to mention he turned 24-years old in March.
Green Bay Packers are leaning on Rodgers more than ever.
They are trying nearly hard enough to help. Look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by comparison. They already had two studs at wide receiver in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Rather than rest on their laurels, they signed Russell Gage while also trading for guard Shaq Mason. That is a team committed to helping Tom Brady continue to excel. What excuse do the Packers have for not doing the same?
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Adams is gone. Their top options at wide receiver are Sammy Watkins, Allen Lazard, and Randall Cobb. More help may still come via the 2nd round on Friday, but it still feels like a weak gesture by the organization. They seem to be taking Rodgers’ excellence for granted, believing he’ll make chicken salad out of chicken s**t. That may work fine in the regular season, but it’s haunted them for years in the playoffs.
Maybe Gutekunst gets the last laugh.
Maybe Walker and Wyatt both become stars. Yet it’s hard to deny the warning signs. Their stubborn refusal to be more active in helping their quarterback with his prime closing could end up being the epitaph for their extended run of dominance over the past 30 years.
