Packers Draft Grades Range from A to C-minus
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Grading an NFL Draft the moment it ends is like taking final exams during the first day of the semester.
Of course, getting through at least a couple NFL seasons is the more appropriate time to hand out grades. But just as it’s impossible to ignore a batch of fresh chocolate-chip cookies, it’s a scientific fact that it is impossible not to dive into draft grades. (You did click on the link, right?)
So, here are 16 sets of grades – 13 that graded the full trade and three sets of individual grades from Saturday’s final four rounds.
Green Bay Packers 2023 NFL Draft Picks
Round 1 – No. 13 (from N.Y. Jets): Lukas Van Ness, DL, Iowa
Round 2 – No. 42 (from CLE, NYJ): Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Round 2 – No. 50 (from Tampa Bay): Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State
Round 3 – No. 78: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State
Round 4 – No. 116: Colby Wooden, DT, Auburn
Round 5 – No. 149: Sean Clifford, QB, Penn State
Round 5 – No. 159 (from JAX, ATL, DET): Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia
Round 6 – No. 179 (from HOU and TB): Karl Brooks, DE, Bowling Green
Round 6 – No. 207 (from SF, HOU, NYJ): Anders Carlson, K, Auburn
Round 7 – No. 232: Carrington Valentine, CB, Kentucky
Round 7 – No. 235: Lew Nichols III, RB, Central Michigan
Round 7 – No. 242: Anthony Johnson Jr., S, Iowa State
Round 7 – No. 256: Grant DuBose, WR, Charlotte
NFL Draft Grades
Much longer summations are available by following the links.
The Athletic’s Seth Dochterman: A
Wooden, Brooks and Valentine could have “big roles” on defense and Clifford will make the roster “better.” The Packers were one of only five teams to get better than an A-minus.
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: A-minus
The three-day grade was an A-minus, with the Packers getting an A for their nine-player haul on Saturday. Wooden and Brooks added badly needed depth to a defensive line that lost Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry in free agency. Clifford has the traits to be a “solid backup.” Wicks and DuBose brought the three-day total to three receivers and two tight ends.
Pro Football Network’s Ryan Gosling: A-minus
The Packers drafted a “middling” quarterback and a “shaky” kicker but did well, otherwise. Of the nine picks in Day 3, six were given some sort of A. That’s led by the A-plus for Carrington.
Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano and Matt Verderame: B-plus
Green Bay’s class ranked eighth. Van Ness will join Rashan Gary and Preston Smith to provide a powerful trio of pass rushers and Jordan Love was given a lot of help with three receivers and two tight ends.
Kiper liked the Day 2 picks on the tight ends and Reed. “This is how you support an inexperienced passer,” Kiper wrote. Of the Day 3 picks, his favorites were Valentine and Johnson.
On the defensive line, Wooden brings “inside-outside” versatility and Brooks makes the “absolute most” out of his skill-set. Johnson was their 12th pick but has starter potential.
CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco: B-plus
The best pick was Musgrave and the worst pick was Reed. “This draft would have made Aaron Rodgers happy,” Prisco wrote. “Too bad it's all for Love.”
NFC North reporter Carmen Vitali for a “petty” pick at receiver in the first round. Instead, the Packers drafted Lukas Van Ness with that top pick. With that, Green Bay’s defense has run out of “excuses” to be something better than mediocre.
Green Bay’s draft grade was ranked 14th. You “can’t argue” the Packers got better by trading Aaron Rodgers and adding two tight ends and one receiver in the first three rounds.
Chicago got a B-plus, Minnesota a B and Detroit at C-minus.
Clifford “hilariously” is three months older than Love. The pick was a huge surprise at that juncture, which Kelly attributed to the 49ers’ success with last year’s Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy, last year.
New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy: B
Green Bay’s drafted ranked 12th overall. Taking two tight ends early worked for the 2010 Patriots and 2018 Ravens, Dunleavy noted.
Van Ness was a “reach” and the two tight ends were “confusing.”
The Associated Press’ Rob Maaddi: B-minus
Maaddi listed the guys who catch passes.
The Washington Post’s Mark Maske: B-minus
Van Ness is an “excellent prospect” but perhaps was not “proper value.”
Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar: C
This draft was “odd,” Farrar wrote. He liked the tight ends and thought getting Johnson in the seventh round was “larceny.” However, Van Ness wasn’t even in Farrar’s top five among edge rushers, Reed was a reach and Clifford had an “undraftable” grade.
Of Green Bay’s 13 picks, only one merited a grade higher than a B-plus. What most “dubious” decision? Trading out of No. 45 to select Michigan State’s Reed at No. 50, then watching the Detroit Lions fill a need with the top safety, Alabama’s Brian Branch.
The Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer: C-minus
Green Bay’s draft grade ranked 27th. Defensive linemen Van Ness and Wooden “need a lot of work” before they can help on defense. Clifford was a “wasted” draft pick and “undraftable.”
Live Grading
The 33rd Team was among the outlets that graded every pick as they were made.
Best: Valentine and Johnson were B-plus. Of Carrington, the staff wrote, “Valentine already shows the skills and temperament to be highly effective in press coverage. If he can improve his vision and discipline, he has a chance to be a well-rounded NFL starter. This is excellent value on Day 3.”
Worst: Clifford and Anders were C-minus. Along with making just 71 percent of his field-goal tries for his career, Anders had five kicks blocked.
CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso: A for Wooden
Best: Wooden got an A as a “legit pass rusher” at defensive tackle who will battle against the run. Three of the four picks in the seventh round – Valentine, Johnson and DuBose – got A-minus. DuBose is a “big-time sleeper” with a nasty demeanor and Valentine plays “nasty,” a well.
Worst: Clifford got a C-minus. The Packers needed to add a quarterback behind Jordan Love and Danny Etling but Clifford has been inconsistent with reading coverage and accuracy.
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski: D for Clifford
Best: Wooden got a B-plus. “Wooden is exactly the type of player the Green Bay Packers like along their defensive front. He can join Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt to form an ideal three-man front in base sets.”
Worst: Clifford got a D as he lacks the “physical tools” for the position. He was one of only seven D grades in Day 3.
More Green Bay Packers News
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First-round grades for Lukas Van Ness
Doubling up on tight end gambles
