Getty The Green Bay Packers could move up in the 2023 NFL Draft to take a big swing on an exciting wide receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba out of Ohio State.
The Green Bay Packers have plenty of needs heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, but if general manager Brian Gutekunst wants to take a big swing in the post-Aaron Rodgers era, he could move up to take the top receiver in the draft class.
Gutekunst was able to acquire some significant draft capital by sending Rodgers to the New York Jets. The trade involved a first-round pick swap that moved the Packers up to the 13th pick, the 42nd pick, and a conditional second-round pick in 2024.
With some extra draft assets to work with, the Packers could work on trading up for a key playmaker. Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay proposed a draft-day trade that would allow the Packers to move up to the 10th pick for Ohio State wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba in exchange for No. 13 and a third-round pick.
“Jumping ahead three spots to No. 10 would give Green Bay a much better opportunity to secure the potential superstar wideout,” Kay said. “It will likely cost a late Day 2 pick to pull off the leap, but it’ll be worth it to provide Love with a playmaking receiver as he prepares for his first season as the Packers’ new starting signal-caller.”
The Packers Need Help At Wide Receiver
The Packers may have other positional needs, but if they want to set up Jordan Love for success in 2023, they’re going to need to provide him with more weapons.
Christian Watson had a breakout rookie campaign for the Packers. After early-season struggles the second-round pick finished the year with 41 receptions for 611 yards and seven touchdowns, picking up another two scores on the ground while routinely generating explosive plays.
However, the Packers lack any kind of true (and consistent) No. 2 playmaker next to Watson. In fact, every Packers receive currently under contract is a fellow rookie with Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure, and Bo Melton all entering their second NFL seasons.
A veteran receiver would be a big boost for the Packers, but there are few realistic options still available. The team has previously been linked to Jets wideout Corey Davis, but there’s still a good chance that the former top draft pick stays on New York’s roster.
If the Packers aren’t able to find an established veteran, they could look to take a swing on a prospect like Smith-Njigba early in this year’s draft to let the young receiver group grow with Love.
Other Packers Round 1 Draft Targets
Smith-Njigba may be the most exciting potential Packers first-round pick, but the team hasn’t taken one that early since Javon Walker in 2002. Instead, the Packers are more likely to go in a different direction.
Based off of the team’s top-30 visits, a top-tier tight end in this class could be of interest to them. The top three prospects at the position have all been brought in for visits to Green Bay, including the massive prospect Darnell Washington.
Don’t sleep on the Packers looking for a long-term successor to David Bakhtiari, either. Gutekunst attended Tennessee’s pro day and brought in right tackle Darnell Wright for a visit, and it could be possible that the team moved up from 15 to 13 to ensure that they could land the dominant OL prospect.
Regardless of who the Packers take, fans will be anxiously waiting for their team to be on the clock on Thursday, April 27.