Smetana's 2023 NFL Draft (5 Rounds)

[smetana34]

I do one every year, and I haven't had as much time to dedicate this year as I have in years past, so I focused more on the order I'd like to see the positions addressed. I'm only doing the first five rounds because I haven't done enough research into late round prospects. Anyway

Green Bay does end up trading Rodgers to the Jets for Corey Davis, #43, a 4th this year, and a conditional 2nd next year. 

With selection #15, Green Bay selects: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, IOWA 

This is Green Bay's biggest positional need, and it's a great year to need an edge or two. With Gary coming off an ACL, and Smith set to be 30, this position could us some more investment. Enagbare is a nice rotational piece, but we shouldn't count on him playing signifcant snaps. Powerful, long, and possess's excellent size. Still relatively new to the position, so he will need work to enhance the pass rush repertoire, but while he develops he's still a strong run defender and can win with power alone. His ceiling is very high

 

With selection #43, Green Bay selects: Darnell Washington, TE, GEORGIA

It's no secret: Green Bay desperately needs to add to the TE room. Insert Washington. The tight end position as a whole is very hard to evaluate, and Washington isn't much different. He wasnt used much as a receiver, so projection is required there. But what we do know is that at the bare minimum he is going to be a dominant blocker. With the offensive line being a little more in flux this year than usual, being able to deploy Washington as a sixth lineman will be a welcome site for Lafluer and the offense. While he doesn't have a ton of production, that can largely be attributed to the targets he had to share the field with. All you have to do is watch a game to see how he can dominate smaller secondary players or slower linebackers. With a wide wing span he's able to high point the football with ease. Adding him to the TE room completes the offense for Love, and gives him a full stable of capable weapons. 

 

With selection #45, Green Bay selects: Keeanu Benton, DL, WISCONSIN

Games are won and lost in the trenches, and the DL needs some additions with the departures of Reed and Lowery. Benton has the size to play anywhere along the defensive line, and has a quick first step needed to generate pressure. He had a great Senior Bowl, followed by an impressive Combine, and as a result has shot up draft boards. Extremely strong, the ability to anchor, and his length makes him a menace in the run game. Has a background in wrestling which is always a plus. Combine all that with a high motor, and Benton's best football is still ahead of him. 

 

Green Bay see's a player they like still sitting there at the end of the 2nd round, and package their 3rd rounder (78) and the Jets 4th (112) to select: Sydney Brown, S, ILLINOIS

 

Amos departs and we need a replacement. Can literally play anywhere. Pop on a tape and you'll see him near the LOS one play, in man the next, and playing in a deep zone the next. He has an incredible football IQ, is a very willing hitter, and has a nose for making impact plays on the football. He's a decorated track star, so speed is a non issue. With his versatility, stature, and IQ he has an extremely high floor, and it would not shock me to see him selected at the end of the 1st. He needs to clean up his tackling technique, but he's willing to stick his nose in there, and that's 90% of the battle

 

With the 116th selection, Green Bay selects: Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas

He gets massively overshadowed by his running mate Bijan, but Johnson is a perfectly cable runner in his own right, and might be the best pass blocker in this class. 6'1" and 225 so he's got great size and has extreme versatility, lining up in the slot, running routes, and ran their wildcat. He's a true three down back who was stuck behind a generational talent. Instead of transfering or pitching a fit, and stayed at Texas and grinded it out. He's a load to bring down, routinely falling forward, can properly identify the running lanes, and has the long speed to pull away from defenders. He doesn't have elite change of direction or quickness, but that's the only thing stopping him from being a Top 50 pick. He doesn't have any true weakness's, and allows GB to let Dillon walk or release Jones after this season. 

 

With the 149th selection, Green Bay selects: Dorian Thompson-Robinson ,QB, UCLA

It's a repeat of 2009, Love taking over and no backup on the roster, GB hedges their bet with a draft pick in DTR. He doesn't possess elite size, but standing 6'1" and weighing 200 pounds, size isn't a deterant. DTR gets the ball out quickly, a plus athlete (was a WR in high school) and has more than enough arm strength to make all the throws. Being relatively new to the position, he's shown improvement every year. Release can get a bit long, and sometimes his footwork gets sloppy, but I have all the faith in the world that Clements can work that out of him. If he can add 10lbs without sacrificing some of his speed and quickness, he very well can turn into a player in this league. 

 

With selection #170, Green Bay selects: Jake Moody, K, Michigan

Crosby is gone, meaning there's an opening for the position for the first time in 17 years. Moody has a strong leg, is highly accurate, and is used to kicking in cooler weather. He's worth a shot

 

Closing thoughts: realistically Green Bay can use a player at every position. I would've liked to have added an OL and a WR to the team through the draft, but after a significant investment last year (2nd and 4th at WR, 3rd and 4th on the OL) I think those guys all deserve to show if they can take a 2nd year jump before we sink more significant capital into the positions.  I have faith in Watson, Doubs, and Tom not regressing (less enthused about Rhyan after showing nothing last year) and with the vets returning (Bahk and Jenkins looking back and ready to roll) and Davis being added to the receiver room, I think that the offense is more of less set in it's positions, and Love has a good enough supporting cast to show if he's actually got the goods or not. The defense has seen significant investment the last decade, and it's disappointing that we're still average at best there, but I'll never be upset about investing into the defense; that's what wins in the playoffs. I think all three defensive picks can find some early playing time and make impacts, especially Brown. It would be nice to finally find a running mate for Clark, and I think Wyatt and Benton can eventually become those guys. 

Edited April 18, 2023 by smetana34

[R T]

You killed it until you took a kicker in the 5th. Nice draft. 

[{Family Ghost}]

Just now, R T said:

You killed it until you took a kicker in the 5th. Nice draft. 

I'd be fine with a 5th round kicker if he becomes the guy for a decade or more. 

[ThatJerkDave]

I love the first 4 picks.

[packfanfb]

Assuming we actually land Davis, I could live with this. I wouldn't make the move for Brown though, I would stick with my picks and land a WR in the 3rd and/or a pass-catching TE in the 4th. Washington probably isn't going to be a big receiving option in year 1 because he's raw in that department. 

Don't mind the Johnson pick at 116, although I'd be perfectly fine if the Packers don't go RB this draft. Even if they lose one or both of Jones/Dillon, RB is by far the easiest position in the league to plug and play a rookie. The Chiefs just proved that with a 7th rounder last season. I might grab a later day 3 RB but I'm fine if we skip that position until next year.