2024 NFL Draft - Packers Focused

[young guns]

Getting a projected stud tackle like that is tempting.  However personally, I would find it difficult to pull the trigger on something like that just because we have so many other holes to plug and that's a lot to spend on one spot.

[BrewerFan]

23 hours ago, young guns said:

Getting a projected stud tackle like that is tempting.  However personally, I would find it difficult to pull the trigger on something like that just because we have so many other holes to plug and that's a lot to spend on one spot.

I'd agree. You wish they'd have insisted on that 1st from the Jets, especially now(how set up would we be for the future if we had gotten that? Maybe if Murphy doesn't run his mouth)...but I'm thinking you could get someone like Fautanu by giving up 58 and moving up and still have 2 more premium picks. And Fautanu could actually help more this year. 

I'd be so tempted by the idea of moving up to #6 as @reillymcshanesuggests since I've been mocking Alt to the Packers since they were 2-5 and it looked like a lost year, but I think that's not only too much to give up, but I don't think the Giants would make that deal.

 

I throw the charts out when there are truly elite players atop the draft. With 3 WRs that scouts are saying would each be top 3-5 picks in most drafts and 3 really good QBs, I think trading into the top 6 would cost even more. So I'll let the Vikings do the reverse Herschel Walker...if it were up to me.

[Matt Breen]

Dane Brugler of the Athletic has released his 'Beast' NFL draft guide. It's 300+ pages with 1900 players listed. It is a beast of a thing, and really cool. 

Warning: as it is from the Athletic, it is subscriber based content.

https://theathletic.com/5399690/2024/04/10/nfl-draft-2024-the-beast-dane-brugler/

[JosephC]

On 4/6/2024 at 2:08 PM, reillymcshane said:

I am fascinated by Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt. 

Packers get 1st (#6) and 4th (#107) from the Giants.

Giants get 1st (#25), 2nd (#41), 2nd (#58) and 3rd (#88) from the Packers.

If Alt was on the table at #6, would you do this?

No.  I would only make a move like this if the team had one glaring need and getting one guy to fix that spot could be the last piece to put the team over the top.

I don't think I'd put left tackle as the team's biggest need.  I'd go linebacker as need #1, safety as need #2 and left tackle as need #3.

It wouldn't surprise me to see the Packers make a trade up to get a left tackle in this draft.  From what I've read, it seems pretty clear that there is not a linebacker or safety worth #25.  Maybe one could make the argument that if the Packers traded down to #32, that they could justify taking a linebacker or safety as a first rounder but in that lower slot.  I'm skeptical that there is a linebacker or safety worth taking in the top 40.  So if Gutekunst sticks to the needs list, left tackle is a pretty decent bet.

I had them taking Jordan Morgan in my last mock.  Personally, I don't think Morgan is worth #25 either.  But one thing worth noting is that this draft is filled with right tackle prospects, but there is a lack of left tackles.  If the Packers do not grab a left tackle early, it is going to be tough to find one later.  I personally would be in favor of trading #25, a third rounder and another later round pick (could be a 2025 pick) to move up six or seven spots and take Troy Fautanu, which seems like pretty solid value at that spot and still leaves the Packers 3 day two picks to address linebacker, safety and fill another spot.  That is about as aggressive as I would get with the first round pick.

 

[jay87shot]

23 hours ago, JosephC said:

No.  I would only make a move like this if the team had one glaring need and getting one guy to fix that spot could be the last piece to put the team over the top.

I don't think I'd put left tackle as the team's biggest need.  I'd go linebacker as need #1, safety as need #2 and left tackle as need #3.

It wouldn't surprise me to see the Packers make a trade up to get a left tackle in this draft.  From what I've read, it seems pretty clear that there is not a linebacker or safety worth #25.  Maybe one could make the argument that if the Packers traded down to #32, that they could justify taking a linebacker or safety as a first rounder but in that lower slot.  I'm skeptical that there is a linebacker or safety worth taking in the top 40.  So if Gutekunst sticks to the needs list, left tackle is a pretty decent bet.

I had them taking Jordan Morgan in my last mock.  Personally, I don't think Morgan is worth #25 either.  But one thing worth noting is that this draft is filled with right tackle prospects, but there is a lack of left tackles.  If the Packers do not grab a left tackle early, it is going to be tough to find one later.  I personally would be in favor of trading #25, a third rounder and another later round pick (could be a 2025 pick) to move up six or seven spots and take Troy Fautanu, which seems like pretty solid value at that spot and still leaves the Packers 3 day two picks to address linebacker, safety and fill another spot.  That is about as aggressive as I would get with the first round pick.

 

To go up to 6 is going to cost alot more, add in next years 1st and you are close. I like Alt a bunch but we can find o-line help cheaper.

[nate82]

7 minutes ago, jay87shot said:

To go up to 6 is going to cost alot more, add in next years 1st and you are close. I like Alt a bunch but we can find o-line help cheaper.

I think he meant moving up to around 16-19 and not the 6th pick in the draft. 

[patrickgpe]

I don't think the Packers are in the position to trade all of their day 1 and 2 picks to get a tackle. I was more apt to wanting a tackle when the Packers were higher. If Barton  or Guyton was around at 25, I'd be fine with that and they seem like an OL line player that the packers like. 

I want the Packers to address the secondary early. Now that DeJean seems more of a projected safety, he looses some of his luster.  There seems to be a ton of day 2 safeties that I like. 

[nate82]

I know the Bears are heavily interested in the OT from Yale.  I have heard the Packers are also interested in him.  He has a day 2 grade (Kiran Amegadjie).

If the Packers go OT I think that is who they go with. 

[patrickgpe]

2 minutes ago, nate82 said:

I know the Bears are heavily interested in the OT from Yale.  I have heard the Packers are also interested in him.  He has a day 2 grade (Kiran Amegadjie).

If the Packers go OT I think that is who they go with. 

The guy that I don't want is Mims. Injury history and is just huge. Red Flags all over. 

[nate82]

This is my best guess for the Packers draft:

25 traded to the Chiefs for 32, 173, 2025 2nd and 3rd round picks. 

 

 

And my Bears picks if anyone is interested:

[jay87shot]

Here is my favorite mock as of now

1)C Jackson Powers-Johnson    I am not a huge Myers fan, one of Myers/Johnson could move to G this year and solidify the interior line before we lose Myers next year (potentially). Johnson would anchor a more power centered run game.

2)S Tyler Nubin     I think he would be a perfect fit next to McKinnley, I wouldn't mind taking him in the 1st even if it is a bit of a reach.

2)T Kingsley Suamataia   This is kind a an upside pick, he was a huge recruit and wasn't exceptional at BYU. He has all the potential of a top 10 pick but may need a year to realize his potential.

3)LB Junior Colson    I am at the point where I like most of the LB's but don't love any of them, we can get a good one in the 3rd and maybe double up later in the draft.

3) S/CB Dadrion Taylor-Demerson   Demerson would be a nice depth pick, he could play in a lot of sub packages early in his career and has the upside to be a solid starter at S or CB because of the athletism. 

4) TE Theo Johnson   At 6'6" 260, he was a combine star.  He didn't have a great career and Penn. St but again this would be an upside pick and give us insurance if Kraft or Musgrave get inquired.

5) RB Ray Davis    Kind of like LB, I like a lot of the RB's but haven't found that guy. There will be some good RB's that fall to day 3. 

6)LB Nathaniel Watson  Super productive college career, as a 3rd/4th ilb we will take it. 

6) DL/Edge Logan Lee   Another productive career, at 6"5 280ish he can be used a bunch of ways.

7) QB Austin Reed   Kind of a project at QB, but with Clifford there is upside, I like an old school gunslinger.

7) K Will Riechard     Please no Carlson, I know we signed guys to compete with Carlson, Riechard was pretty reliable at Bama I will take it.

I think this draft has a nice blend of upside and day 1 ready guys that would provide depth now and some all-pro's later.

[BrewerFan]

2 hours ago, patrickgpe said:

I don't think the Packers are in the position to trade all of their day 1 and 2 picks to get a tackle. I was more apt to wanting a tackle when the Packers were higher. If Barton  or Guyton was around at 25, I'd be fine with that and they seem like an OL line player that the packers like. 

I want the Packers to address the secondary early. Now that DeJean seems more of a projected safety, he looses some of his luster.  There seems to be a ton of day 2 safeties that I like. 

I'm not sure if that's the case...if anything, I think the pendulum has swung back more toward CB after his workout...albeit one lacking the 3-cone and short shuttle.

He's such a good athlete that even if he is a safety, I'd gladly take him and pair him with McKinney. You can play each in the box, single high...whatever, they'd be interchangeable. 

 

The Packers are also apparently very high on Tom at Center per Rob Demovsky who said someone in the building said he's "a Pro-Bowl Tackle, an All Pro Guard and a HOF Center."

That's great and I think we've talked about him quite a bit at Center. That'd tell me they're really looking at an OT prospect. Fautanu makes the most sense there with where the Packers are drafting and how realistic they can move up without giving up too much draft capital. 

[Oxy]

My prediction is that Gutey trades up and nabs a guy high on their list but with a top 50-75ish grade by everybody else at a position of questionable need.  This will be doubly annoying when somebody who was supposed to be picked in the top 15 will fall to 25 and maybe further.

The annoyance will last for a few weeks.  Once mini-camp get underway it will be an afterthought...and by the second preseason game it will be completely forgotten as the depth chart has little to nothing to do with draft order.

The Packers will win the division with a combination of high picks, low picks, not-even-picked, and scrap heap waiver claims/signings off other teams practice squads.

[LouisEly]

Not sure what made me look this up (I think Oxy's what I hope was sarcastic prediction, given that the Packers haven't traded up since 2020), but for all the flak that Royce Newman and A.J. Dillon have gotten, according to pro-football-reference.com Royce Newman is tied for the 4th highest weighted career AV among all 4th round picks that year and A.J. Dillon has the 9th highest weighted career AV among all 2nd round picks that year, and Newman and Dillon were both the 3rd to last picks in their respective rounds.

Those two draft classes league-wide were just duds.

[BrewerFan]

3 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

Not sure what made me look this up (I think Oxy's what I hope was sarcastic prediction, given that the Packers haven't traded up since 2020), but for all the flak that Royce Newman and A.J. Dillon have gotten, according to pro-football-reference.com Royce Newman is tied for the 4th highest weighted career AV among all 4th round picks that year and A.J. Dillon has the 9th highest weighted career AV among all 2nd round picks that year, and Newman and Dillon were both the 3rd to last picks in their respective rounds.

Those two draft classes league-wide were just duds.

So...3 drafts. And they traded up several times before that. He gave up multiple 2nds to trade up for Watson. In two of those 3 years he didn't trade up, he did acquire higher first rd picks via trade. He's openly said he's open to trading up or using picks to acquire veterans this year given his draft capital. 

I don't think it's so outrageous that to suggest would have to be sarcastic. 

 

Obviously, he was tongue-in-cheek about the fan reaction, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see the Packers move up 6-8 spots in this draft. Particularly given the recent comments about Tom as a center. 

 

[JosephC]

21 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

The Packers are also apparently very high on Tom at Center per Rob Demovsky who said someone in the building said he's "a Pro-Bowl Tackle, an All Pro Guard and a HOF Center."

 

If that's what the Packers are thinking, then that is something that does not leave the building this close to the draft.  If anything, I'd interpret this information as good old-fashioned NFL draft deceptiveness, and in reality the Packers have no round one interest in taking a right tackle and perhaps don't have round one interest in taking either a right or left tackle.

It could be true, Myers gets pretty much poor reviews from everyone, but the timing of the statement makes me really skeptical. 

[LouisEly]

Exactly - we are at the height of lying season.  And why would they want Tom to know that?  Pro Bowl RTs get paid a lot more than HOF centers - the top RTs are getting $18M-$20M/year, the top centers are getting $13M/year.   All things being equal, if the Packers plan was to move him to center then wouldn't Tom rather wait and take a free agent contract from another team at RT value than sign an extension with the Packers at OC rates?

[BrewerFan]

2 hours ago, JosephC said:

If that's what the Packers are thinking, then that is something that does not leave the building this close to the draft.  If anything, I'd interpret this information as good old-fashioned NFL draft deceptiveness, and in reality the Packers have no round one interest in taking a right tackle and perhaps don't have round one interest in taking either a right or left tackle.

It could be true, Myers gets pretty much poor reviews from everyone, but the timing of the statement makes me really skeptical. 

It's been pretty well known that Tom's best position is Center since he came out. 

And the timing of the statement is just when Rob decided to share it...assuming it's true. I don't think the Packers are real big on smokescreens. They were conntected with Love, Watson, Wyatt, Jaire, Jackson all before the draft. I don't recall any disinformation from them. 

[LouisEly]

1 minute ago, BrewerFan said:

It's been pretty well known that Tom's best position is Center since he came out.

That's been more hypothesis from reporters/fans than anything.  The Packers' actions don't exactly align with that.  When they've had a backup center in I recall it's mostly been Runyan.  And they didn't draft a RT last year so that Tom could move to center.

If those statements are true, then why wasn't he playing center over Myers and why didn't they draft a RT last year so that he could move to center?  Either Myers is a lot better center than people think - which isn't a bad thing - or that isn't exactly how the team feels about Tom.

[BrewerFan]

11 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

That's been more hypothesis from reporters/fans than anything.  The Packers' actions don't exactly align with that.  When they've had a backup center in I recall it's mostly been Runyan.  And they didn't draft a RT last year so that Tom could move to center.

If those statements are true, then why wasn't he playing center over Myers and why didn't they draft a RT last year so that he could move to center?  Either Myers is a lot better center than people think - which isn't a bad thing - or that isn't exactly how the team feels about Tom.

Gutey answered that pretty clearly. They didn't have an OT with a rd 1 grade on them after Wright was gone.

Last year was a particularly weak OT class. THIS year is a particularly deep OT class. 

 

[LouisEly]

On 4/13/2024 at 1:58 PM, BrewerFan said:

Gutey answered that pretty clearly. They didn't have an OT with a rd 1 grade on them after Wright was gone.

Last year was a particularly weak OT class. THIS year is a particularly deep OT class. 

 

Why does he have to be a 1st rounder?  Why can't he be a 2nd rounder or 3rd rounder or even a 4th?  They've had plenty of success developing OL who were not 1st round picks.  They didn't draft an OL at all in 2023 to even try to move Tom to center even though they had 13 draft picks.

In 2019 the Packers had two first-round picks - #12 and #30 overall.  They brought in Greg Little, Jonah Williams, Andre Dillard, Kaleb McGary, and Tytus Howard, all OL who went in the 1st or very early 2nd, along with Montez Sweat and Jeffrey Simmons, who also went in the 1st round.  They drafted Rashan Gary and Darnell Savage, and didn't draft an OL at all.  Just because they bring in a couple of OT on visits doesn't mean they are going to draft one.  Love was a virtual visit and Wyatt was an in-person visit, but no virtual or in-person visits for Stokes, Walker, or Van Ness.  Bringing in a guy who is projected to go early has been more of an indication that they aren't going to draft them than they will.

If you think a guy is a Hall of Fame type of player at one position, why is he playing another?  Just doesn't add up.

[adambr2]

On 4/7/2024 at 2:53 PM, BrewerFan said:

I'd agree. You wish they'd have insisted on that 1st from the Jets, especially now(how set up would we be for the future if we had gotten that? Maybe if Murphy doesn't run his mouth)...but I'm thinking you could get someone like Fautanu by giving up 58 and moving up and still have 2 more premium picks. And Fautanu could actually help more this year. 

 

I'm sure if we could have insisted on a guaranteed 1st, we would have. The leverage just wasn't there. All the more reason I wish we'd have moved on after 2021 when the leverage would have been there, but what's done is done now. I'm happy that we got what we got. Sucks that Rodgers tore his Achilles about 4 seconds into the season, obviously. 

Deep draft though, so it's a good year to have two 2nds. 

[CheezWizHed]

20 hours ago, LouisEly said:

If you think a guy is a Hall of Fame type of player at one position, why is he playing another?  Just doesn't add up.

Yes, this whole thing is just odd.  Seems like a pre-draft smokescreen to me. 

Last pre-season, I was pretty vocal (can you be vocal with printed words??) about Tom moving to C, Myers to RG and having Bakh(pre-injury)/Nijman at LT/RT. But Tom barely even got snaps at C.  I can't remember a single snap in preseason at C; just some at RG if I recall. After Bakh was hurt, I can understand leaving Tom at RT, but he has barely spent any time at C since he was drafted. So, calling him a HOF center now... just seems odd. 

I suppose we need to assume our 1st round pick is a C this year... 😅

[Fear The Chorizo]

5 hours ago, adambr2 said:

I'm sure if we could have insisted on a guaranteed 1st, we would have. The leverage just wasn't there. All the more reason I wish we'd have moved on after 2021 when the leverage would have been there, but what's done is done now. I'm happy that we got what we got. Sucks that Rodgers tore his Achilles about 4 seconds into the season, obviously. 

Deep draft though, so it's a good year to have two 2nds. 

2021 Rodgers trade hindsight isn't that cut and dry though....trading Rodgers before the 2022 season started likely forces Love in at starter too soon and potentially warps his progression to the point the Packers may be looking for an alternative franchise qb in this draft instead of feeling like they're set there for the next 7-8 seasons.

When you have the reigning league MVP on your roster, you should have the luxury of sticking with him 1 year too long - especially if that timing also makes sense in your heir-apparent's development timeline.  I've got zero problems with waiting until last offseason to trade Rodgers with how things have turned out.  Taking a different approach and expecting a better outcome at present than the one the Packers have is truly asking for too much.

[BrewerFan]

23 hours ago, LouisEly said:

Why does he have to be a 1st rounder?  Why can't he be a 2nd rounder or 3rd rounder or even a 4th?  They've had plenty of success developing OL who were not 1st round picks.  They didn't draft an OL at all in 2023 to even try to move Tom to center even though they had 13 draft picks.

In 2019 the Packers had two first-round picks - #12 and #30 overall.  They brought in Greg Little, Jonah Williams, Andre Dillard, Kaleb McGary, and Tytus Howard, all OL who went in the 1st or very early 2nd, along with Montez Sweat and Jeffrey Simmons, who also went in the 1st round.  They drafted Rashan Gary and Darnell Savage, and didn't draft an OL at all.  Just because they bring in a couple of OT on visits doesn't mean they are going to draft one.  Love was a virtual visit and Wyatt was an in-person visit, but no virtual or in-person visits for Stokes, Walker, or Van Ness.  Bringing in a guy who is projected to go early has been more of an indication that they aren't going to draft them than they will.

If you think a guy is a Hall of Fame type of player at one position, why is he playing another?  Just doesn't add up.

They were also expecting Bakh back...and if you'll recall, he was getting snaps at both Center and RT.

 

It does add up. They want the best 5 players out there. Myers happened to be one of the best 5. He's a pending FA. 

I'm also trying to figure out where on Earth I said "because they brought someone in means they're going to draft them?" Did I miss that? I've actually said the opposite, the Packers tend to not draft the players they bring in for the top 30 picks. 

How did this become about pre-draft visits at all?