An Explanation on How the Packers Didn’t Draft a Wide Receiver

Green Bay shocked the world throughout their draft. They’ve received some of the worst draft grades from those who analyst drafts. The Packers decided against drafting a wide receiver. This is something that will be talked about all summer, and when the receiving core struggles at some point, people will rage again. Green Bay should have found a way to draft a receiver on Friday night. But they didn’t mean Packers made their bed with having their receiving core for another year. Is that the right move? That answer is still to be determined. Like we did with Jordan Love on Friday, let’s try to figure out how why a receiver wasn’t selected this weekend.
Where you draft matters when trying to select a certain position. Everyone knew this was a loaded draft full of receivers. If Green Bay selected where Philadelphia did, Jalen Reagor or Justin Jefferson is a Packer. But they wouldn’t have been a playoff team last season if they were Philadelphia. Michael Pittman and Tee Higgins didn’t cut Green Bay as first-round selections even if many others believed that to be the case. This is a tough pill to swallow, but the Packers’ front office saw it differently than you.
In Round 2, Green Bay should have tried to move up to draft Denzel Mims before the New York Jets did. That would have been an easy solution. If the Packers drafted Mims in the second round, there is not the fury we will see this summer. But here’s the problem, who would have the Packers moved up with? Minnesota isn’t helping Green Bay. Los Angeles Rams drafted a receiver. At that time, Baltimore needed a receiver too but they went running back as well in Round 2. No one was likely moving from their spot. The next receiver wouldn’t be drafted until pick 80.
Round 3 is the one that fires people up because they took Josiah Deguara, someone that most believe could have been picked up in the sixth round. That could be true, but if the guy is getting compared to Kyle Juzcyhck, don’t you think some other team would have wanted him earlier? Las Vegas Raiders drafting two receivers back-to-back hurt Green Bay’s chances to grab one in Round 3. The next receiver drafted would be Gabriel Davis drafted 34 picks after the Packers.
After Round 3, Green Bay believed what they have at 1265 Lombardi is better than anything in the later rounds. Packers have found success in the late rounds with receivers, but that’s not a given. They’re a crapshoot. For every Donald Driver, there is a DeAngelo Yancy. Packers expect big production from Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, Allen Lazard, and others. This is a major risk, but one that Green Bay is willing to take. They’re more confident in their guys than all of us are. One group will be right by the end of December.
While you’re outraged about the Packers’ draft this week, remember that they have a plan. Even if it doesn’t feel like, they know what they’re doing. This isn’t some conspiracy. You have every right to think it is a shitty way to approach the draft. People thought this about the 2012 Seahawks draft that resulted in Bobby Wagner, Russell Wilson, Bruce Irvin, one of the worst drafts of that year. They won a Super Bowl a few years later. Just a thought.
Charlie.