Season-Ending 2023 NFL Draft Grades: Packers ‘Reshape’ Franchise

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The headline at NFL.com says it all.

The Green Bay Packers had a “franchise-altering” draft class in 2023.

Draft grades immediately after the draft are as silly as handing out a coveted Masters Green Jacket after the annual Par-3 Tournament. Grading them with their rookie season complete is a lot more meaningful. In his postseason grades, NFL.com’s Eric Edholm awarded the Packers a B-plus. Only the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams did better among NFC teams.

While Lukas Van Ness was the first-round pick, the headliners from general manager Brian Gutekunst’s sixth draft class wound up being the receivers and tight ends selected in the next four rounds.

Second-round tight end Luke Musgrave was on his way to threatening the Packers’ single-season record for most receptions by a tight end before suffering a lacerated kidney. Enter third-round tight end Tucker Kraft, who among all NFL tight ends ranked seventh in receptions and ninth in yards during the final seven games.

Combined they caught 65-of-84 passes (77.4 percent) for 707 yards (10.9 average) and three touchdowns and “rais(ed) the intrigue factor” on offense, Edholm said.

The Packers traded back twice before landing receiver Jayden Reed in the second round. Tough as nails and an instant playmaker, Reed led the team with 64 receptions for 793 yards (12.4 average) and 10 total touchdowns. Among all NFL rookies, he was sixth in receptions, fifth in yards and second with eight receiving touchdowns.

Fifth-round receiver Dontayvion Wicks flourished as the season progressed and finished with 39 receptions for 580 yards (14.9 average) and four touchdowns. Wicks showed some excellent route-running ability and led the team in missed tackles and yards after the catch per reception. He was top five in the draft class in yards per route, missed tackles and YAC per catch.

“Where do they find these guys?” Edholm said. “The Packers’ young WR corps could be the best in football before long.”

While Gutekunst was criticized for not adding a veteran receiver or tight end to help the transition at quarterback from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love, he was right to let the youngsters learn on the job and grow up alongside Love.

“I think the biggest thing for me is when you have competition in those rooms, it just allows for guys to accelerate their growth,” Gutekunst said. “When they have to compete each and every day for snaps and playing time, I just think it accelerates everything. That’s our job, to continue to infuse talent into this roster and make it competitive.

“It’s going to be interesting and fun to watch, and I’m excited to see these guys continue to grow and get to different levels, and what Matt and his staff can do with them.”

Van Ness had a sack in Week 1, went nine games without another sack, then had three in the final six games and another in the playoffs. He tied for second on the team with eight tackles for losses.

“He has future standout written all over him,” Edholm wrote.

Defensive linemen Colby Wooden (fourth round) and, especially, Karl Brooks (sixth round) were immediate contributors. Based on a strong training camp and preseason, fifth-round quarterback Sean Clifford seems locked into the No. 2 job for the next three years. And seventh-round cornerback Carrington Valentine rarely looked like he was in over his head as a 12-game starter.

Of Gutekunst’s 13 picks, only seventh-round running back Lew Nichols (released) and seventh-round receiver Grant DuBose (practice squad) didn’t contribute. And the jury is out on kicker Anders Carlson, the sixth-round pick who led the NFL in missed kicks during the regular season and missed two more in the playoffs. Unlike last summer, he’ll have to win the job in training camp.

Summarized Edholm accurately: “It’s hard not to recognize how this group reshaped the franchise.”

Click here for the full NFC North grades.

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