The Green Bay Packers have staved off draft talk these last few weeks with their recent resurgence as their playoff hopes got a huge boost during this three-game winning streak, along with them receiving quite a bit of help as well. However, regardless of whether a season is great or poorly going, it’s never too early to look ahead to the upcoming draft.
The College Bowl Season is well underway, and Saturday, we have the College Football Semifinals taking place. The first matchup is between TCU and Michigan, followed by Ohio State and Georgia.
In terms of positional needs for the Green Bay Packers in this upcoming draft, you can again put wide receiver on that list with only Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Samori Toure under contract in 2023. However, while a top-100 pick at the position wouldn’t surprise me, my guess is that the Packers add a veteran to their young mix before spending a first-round pick on a receiver.
A few positions that must be addressed somewhat early on include safety and tight end. The safety position is in need of an overall after very much underwhelming this season. On top of that, Darnell Savage, who will be playing 2023 on a fifth-year option, and seventh-rounder Tariq Carpenter are the only safeties under contract next season. The tight end position is similar, with Josiah Deguara, who is more of an H-back, the only one under contract in 2023.
Edge rusher, meanwhile, is a premier position in the NFL and can always be addressed. The good news is that Kingsley Enagbare looks like a fifth-round steal at this point, but the depth at the position can still be very much improved. Rashan Gary will be coming off an ACL injury, and Preston Smith may only have one or two years left in Green Bay. Overall, the Packers’ pass rush without Gary has been very inconsistent. Addressing the interior defensive line at some point should be on the to-do list as well for Brian Gutekunst, with Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry set to be free agents.
Offensive tackle is an interesting position for the Packers. It could be a position of strength and depth in 2023 with David Bakhtiari, Yosh Nijman, and Zach Tom, along with Elgton Jenkins as an option as well. On the flip side, and while my guess is Bakhtiari is back, the Packers can create cap space by moving on from him in 2023. Nijman will likely only be back on a one-year restricted free-agent deal as well, and Jenkins is truly at his best at guard. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the Packers spent a first-round pick on the position, given its importance.
Lastly, running back will be worth monitoring as well. Although I certainly don’t expect a first-round pick to be spent on the position, if the Packers move on from Aaron Jones in favor of salary cap savings, it very much becomes a major need.
Using PFF’s top-100 big board, here are some players to keep your eyes on during today’s CFP Semifinal matchups.
TCU v. Michigan
Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU
Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU
Steven Avila, IOL, TCU
Mike Morris, Edge, Michigan
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
Mazi Smith, IDL, Michigan
DJ Turner, CB, Michigan
Ohio State v. Georgia
CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Luke Wypler, C, Ohio State
Zach Harrison, Edge, Ohio State
Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
Jalen Carter, IDL, Georgia
Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia
Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
At 7-8, the Green Bay Packers currently hold the 17th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Packers have eight picks in total at the moment, including one in each of the first five rounds, none in round six, and three in the seventh round.
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